Generative tools like ChatGPT, GrammarlyGO, and Claude have had students in a chokehold since the creation of AI — a reliance that continues to build every school year.
Students have started using them in their college applications, which is reshaping college admissions as a whole.
Approximately one in three high school seniors are using generative AI in their college essays, with one in 17 using it to write their final draft.
From using them as tools to brainstorm, to having them write entire supplemental essays, these AI tools can be found at every step of the application process.
While students and colleges alike have embraced the changes AI brings to the system, it’s critical for applicants to understand the potential consequences.
Using essay prompts and including personal experiences, students have been using AI resources in writing entire essays, tainting the personal insight colleges interpret, says Education Week, a news organization covering K-12 education.
Students who use to AI write their essays for them can sever a possible connection with the question or material,
“The point is that the student has cheated themself out of an opportunity to be in a relationship with something, i.e. a book or an article,” LA teacher, Lawrence Uhlman said.
While colleges don’t have policies forbidding AI use entirely, there are policies cracking down on its use. The Common Application, better known as “Common App” is a college application portal, one of the many prohibiting the use of AI in writing, considering it plagiarism.
Some colleges also have individual statements and policies defining what is and is not an acceptable usage of AI in the essay writing process.
Colleges use AI detection software, allowing admissions officers to easily differentiate an authentic piece of writing from an AI generated text.
Being detected using AI can have severe consequences, even resulting in the institution rescinding admission, says the Ivy Coach, a blog dedicated to advice on college admissions, written by former admissions officers.
Common app’s universal policy rules that using AI for generating an essay is considered fraud and can lead to severe consequences such as investigation, notification to all colleges you applied to, and a permanent ban from the platform.
All this is not to say that students should avoid using AI entirely, there isn’t really a foolproof way to avoid artificial intelligences, as they show up everywhere in the application process — but the key to using AI both ethically and intentionally is by knowing its proper uses, states Christopher Rim from Forbes Magazine.
While AI is helpful for brainstorming and researching, it is not for storytelling when it comes to writing personal or supplemental essays.
More specifically, acceptable uses of AI for college applicants include using it as a tool for support – for brainstorming ideas, grammar & spelling, research on college policies, or asking it to help summarize a list of activities for specific word counts.
All of these uses warrant no punishment and are perfectly ethical, however there are uses of AI that do garner consequence.
These include: generating actual essay content and writing personal statements/ supplements, as expressed in many policies surrounding AI applications, including the Common App policy.
Understanding which steps of the process that it can be used in is critical to having success.
For students struggling with confidence in their writing, here is what I suggest: start with your own ideas.
Make sure you complete your initial draft using your own thoughts and voice before seeking any AI assistance.
Use any AI assistance for editing minor things like punctuation and grammar, not ghostwriting. Evaluate and revise any AI suggestion, do not automatically accept its recommendations, as they can be flawed.
When writing, focus on authenticity. Use specific, personal anecdotes that an AI would not be able to generate on its own. A more unique story will make your essay more compelling to admissions officers.
Check the policies of the colleges you apply to. Not all institutions have the same rules regarding AI, do this before submitting, ensuring your essay complies with the specific guidelines for each school on your list.
Some colleges may ask about AI use, being transparent about using it for limited tasks like brainstorming or proofreading is generally acceptable.
