Business schools are shifting admissions operations as AI use grows and applicants adapt. Admissions consultants predict 2026 will be a year of tighter scrutiny of AI‑assisted applications, wider adoption of video assessments and renewed emphasis on authentic, human‑sourced evaluation methods. Programs also report demand for online MBAs that enable career changers to pivot without leaving the workforce: recent OMBA data show one in four online MBA graduates changed employers after finishing their degrees. Schools are expanding video components and redesigning evaluation rubrics to surface genuine problem‑solving and communicative presence. Admissions directors and consultants say the net effect is an arms race of tools and countermeasures: schools increasingly use video and situational tasks to get beyond polished essays and AI‑generated answers while online formats continue to broaden access for mid‑career and career‑pivot students.