Chicago Booth overhauled its MBA application essays, replacing longer essays with four required short-answer prompts capped at 300 characters each, plus an optional 300-word essay for gaps or low test scores. The University of Chicago Booth School of Business said the new structure compresses what applicants had previously expressed in more open-ended formats. The change comes as business schools tighten application processes amid worries that generative AI can produce polished, generic essays. Booth joins peers adopting AI disclosure expectations and other safeguards, while aiming to make the application feel more manageable for applicants without losing content that admissions teams use to assess fit.