“It is important for people to understand that AIs are nothing more than a tool. Like any other tool, it is neither intrinsically good nor bad. It is solely what we choose to do with it. I believe that we can do extraordinarily positive things with AIs."

– Daniela L. Rus (first woman to lead MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL))

“It’s bad enough stealing content, but with ChatGPT you’re not even stealing from a real person.”

– Toby Reed, Senior at Fremont High in Oakland

We wrote a previous blog exploring concerns about ChatGPT and the college essay process, but in this changing landscape, there is always more to consider. 

AI and Students

Starting with students, here is a hopeful statistic. A December 2023 survey by ACT found that only 10% of students considered using AI to write their college admissions essays. However, more students reported using AI when it comes to their supplements. 

Given this, it will be necessary for college essay coaches and other advisors to check their facts, as AI generators can sometimes take liberties when coming up with course names or mission statement quotes. Further, they should take extra time to explain why making supplemental essays unique is essential to creating a holistically impressive and cohesive application.

When ranking the reasons they WOULD use AI on their college application essays, students listed:

1. Essay grammar and sentence composition 
2. Idea generation 
3. Essay structure 
4. Convenience 

Assessing what type of student writer (Average → Advanced) they are working with at the beginning of the process can help parents and essay experts navigate these with them.

AI and Colleges

When it comes to the other side of the equation regarding admissions officers' policies on AI and their own AI usage, there are a few key points students, parents, and coaches might find helpful to remember.

First, when scanning applications for AI usage by students, things can get hairy fast. One scholar in a Wired article noted that even a 1% rate of false-positives is problematic because that means for every 1,000 essays, 10 students could be accused of an academic "crime" they didn’t commit! Common App’s CEO, Jenny Rickarr, reminded us that if Common App concludes that a student plagiarized, then that student’s account may be terminated, and Common App will notify the campuses to which the student applied.

A September 2023 survey found that 50% of admission offices now use AI, with 80% projected to adopt AI tools this year. However, they aren’t just using AI to detect student “plagiarism." 

As a College MatchPoint survey revealed, while only 13% of counselors surveyed noticed AI-generated content in student essays and applications in the most recent application season, 69% anticipate extensive future usage by colleges for screening and evaluation. 

Building on this stat, the most worrisome information from a recent College MatchPoint webinar is that colleges admit they have begun using AI for “first reads” or “final reads” of student applications. This is likely intended to help weed out those students who don’t meet their quantitative standards. While this might involve screening for test scores and accolades rather than essays, it is important to remember this tidbit as AI capabilities continue to expand. 

AI isn’t going anywhere so learning how to use it ethically AS WELL AS effectively defend against its use as an assessment tool by colleges will be crucial in the coming years. 

Sources:

“8 in 10 Colleges Will Use AI in Admissions by 2024.” Intelligent, 27 Oct. 2023, www.intelligent.com/8-in-10-colleges-will-use-ai-in-admissions-by-2024/. 

Beam, Christopher. “The Ai Detection Arms Race Is On-and College Students Are Building the Weapons.” Wired, Conde Nast, 14 Sept. 2023, www.wired.com/story/ai-detection-chat-gpt-college-students/. 

College MatchPoint

Jones, Carolyn, and Mikhail Zinshteyn. “College Application Season Is Here. so Is the Struggle to Find out If AI Wrote Students’ Essays.” CalMatters, 12 Oct. 2023, calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2023/10/college-application-essays/. 

Schiel, Jeff, et al. ACT Research, pp. 1–38, High School Students’ Use and Impressions of AI Tools.