Should I Be Worried About AI In College Admissions? How Does AI Affect My Admission Chances?

Institutions like Brown University do not permit the use of AI in admissions essays, while Cornell University condones “ethical uses of generative AI.” Meanwhile, the University of California schools do not use artificial intelligence in their application review process, but threatens to disqualify students from the UC admissions entirely. Naturally, this leads many students to either take the safe approach and avoid the use of AI in their admissions essays or check each individual college’s policy, but what about how the colleges themselves are using AI in the admissions process? Our findings are quite surprising. 

No Universal Stance on AI

According to a recent study, about 70% of schools have no explicit AI policy, 23% permit limited use, and 7% ban AI use. Colleges that permit limited use such as Cornell University considers ethical uses as “researching colleges, brainstorming essay topics, and reviewing the grammar and spelling of your completed essays.” Now that doesn’t mean that their stances won’t change. In fact, some universities like Georgia Institute of Technology are experimenting with AI in replicating admissions decisions. This may change their stance on how students themselves can use artificial intelligence in the process.  

Using AI to Assist in Evaluating Applicants

There are an increasing number of universities that are implementing AI in evaluating applicants. Some schools like Stony Brook University are using  programs like EddyAI to “automate transcript processing, GPA recalculations, and duplicate transcript detection.” Others like University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are also using AI to flag essays and letters of recommendations for trends and keywords. 

AI Affect On Admission Chances

For some colleges, yes, because institutions are using AI detection programs so see if students have plagiarized their work. Only the University of California schools have stated that they do not use artificial intelligence in their application review process. Most universities have not made public statements about how they use AI in their admissions. 

What Does This Mean For Students?

Artificial intelligence is changing the way students and universities engage with admissions. What is clear is that colleges and universities are still maintaining their drive to discover the best applicants that fit their missions, albeit with a bit more nuance. The best thing that students can do is be cognizant of their writing process and learn to write in a way that best encompasses who they are as a person. Everyone has a unique story to tell, but it’s all about how you tell it that can set you apart from others.  

Key Takeaways

• Every college and university has a different stance on AI
• Some are using AI to evaluate student transcripts, letters of recommendation, and application essays. 
• Most colleges have not publicly stated their stances on AI use. 
• The University of California schools do not use artificial intelligence in reviewing applications.