Do Colleges Check for AI in College Essays?
Writing College Essays in 2024
The college application process is ever-changing and advancing along with our surrounding world. Students have to face these changes as they continue to apply to these academic institutions as each individual institution has its own set of guidelines and aspirations for which type of student they will admit. When writing a college essay in the year 2024, a student may be tempted to use the new advent of artificial intelligence (AI) to assist them in meeting the guidelines of certain institutions. This increase in accessibility and usage raises the question if colleges will consider a student who utilizes AI in their college essays and applications.
AI Development and Writing
With artificial intelligence advancing at a pace that has never been seen before, it is important to acknowledge its capabilities and the impact it has on the realm of college applications. College applications require students to write about themselves and their experiences in order to give the institution a better overall idea of the student. AI can overly assist the student in completing the writing prompts found on college application essays such as on the Common Application or University of California Application. In addition, many of these AI programs are specifically coded and enhanced to write whatever the user may be thinking of writing. Therefore, the temptation to use these tools rather than the student formulating an essay themselves may be increased due to the appeal of time-saving, ease of work, and an overall increase in efficiency.
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So, Do Colleges Check for AI in College Essays?
Yes, nearly all accredited universities now check for AI-generated content in college application essays. The increased prevalence and usage of AI have prompted colleges to seek means of AI detection as they would prefer to have the student’s authentic writing rather than a computer program’s. A student should be able to adequately meet the college essay's criteria in grammar, flow, and characterization. In addition, many college institutions utilize AI detectors that scan submitted responses to look for a specific type of AI style, types of words used, and overall lack of uniqueness. These means of detection, along with the college’s desire to see the students as their true selves, can be interpreted to prompt students to not use AI and to stick to their own original writing capabilities.
Should You Use AI in College Essays Anyways?
Despite the advancements in artificial intelligence and its ease of overall usage, for a student to best present themselves without jeopardizing their character, writing ability, and overall college application, they should strive to represent their authentic selves as best as possible without utilizing artificial intelligence in their college essays. Colleges can scan and detect the usage of AI in their essays which can impede the chances of a student being admitted if caught. AI tools like ChatGPT can be useful for initial outlines or looking up synonyms, but it's wise to avoid telling it to write the actual bdoy paragraphs from start to finish. Colleges seek students who strive to do their best, encompassing those who are educationally motivated while still preserving their academic integrity. Utilizing AI in a college essay is not a good approach to writing and a student should focus on making their own original pieces of writing.
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