Poets&Quants’ review of 2025 MBA class profiles and employment reports, together with guidance for Indian applicants, shows elite U.S. business schools are becoming more selective and strategic in admit decisions. The reporting highlights that Indian applicants, despite strong academic and test credentials, face dense competition and must craft differentiated narratives beyond résumés. Schools’ employment reports reveal placement patterns that matter to applicants and career offices: industry concentrations, employer demand for AI and analytics skills, and the role of leadership narratives in offers. Admissions and career‑services leaders should recalibrate recruiting messaging and candidate coaching to reflect crowded international applicant pools and employers’ evolving hiring priorities.