Navigating the Ethical Use of AI Tools in College Admissions

Amid a rapidly evolving tech landscape, we’re sharing advice on how students may ethically approach the use of AI tools in the college admissions process. Many colleges have developed or are developing policies around the use of these tools in the crafting of applications to their institutions. Prospective applicants should review each college’s guidelines and policies to make sure they are in line with each college’s expectations. Note that colleges might not all share the same approach. 

What NOT to Do

 

Copy AI-generated content: Never copy and paste AI-generated content into an essay or ask AI to create an outline or draft of your essay, even if you intend to edit it later. 

Seek essay ideas from an AI tool: Remember that AI hasn’t lived your life and cannot put the “personal” in “personal essay.” AI produces content based on common examples from its training data, which often results in clichés and run-of-the-mill ideas. 

Blindly trust AI-sourced information: If you use AI to research colleges or the admissions process, always verify the information. AI might not provide accurate or up-to-date details, so we do not recommend using it to craft ‘why this college’ or ‘why this major’ supplemental essays. These essays should reflect your personal research and deep reflection on your choice of major. You also want to avoid a situation where an AI tool shares with you an outdated application essay prompt or deadline! 

Ethical Uses of AI Tools

  If permissible under each college’s policies, you may consider using AI in the following ways: 

College essays and resumes: 

• Brainstorming exercises: You may use AI to lead you through an interactive brainstorming exercise that helps you reflect on your experiences, inspirations, values, goals, and interests. Make sure to include in your prompt a directive to the AI tool to not provide you with any written content or outlines. 
• Reviewing grammar and spelling: You may request AI to conduct a grammar and spelling review of your essay draft. Include a directive for the AI to only identify errors, not rewrite your draft. 
• Enhancing clarity and structure: Ask AI for feedback on the clarity and structure of your draft. Specify that the AI should not write a new version but only provide the requested input. 

College and application process research: Use AI to gain insights into a college’s campus culture, values, strengths, and distinctive features. You may even ask AI to identify colleges based on factors important to you. Additionally, you could request that an AI tool provide information about a college’s admissions process. As you do so, make sure to direct the AI to provide sources or links and to prioritize information from official university websites and other reputable sources. 

Preparing for a College Interview: Use AI tools to help you prepare for college interviews by sharing possible questions. You could interact with the AI tool by answering the questions and then requesting feedback on your approach. 

AI tools may feel like a huge timesaver in the midst of an arduous and stressful admissions process. At the same time, we want applicants to avoid situations where admissions readers suspect work not to be original, or where applicants use information that is not factual. We also want students to produce original work because that’s the best way to celebrate their individuality—something key to helping applications shine.