As AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude become more widely used, students are increasingly turning to them for help during the college application process. While these tools can offer support in brainstorming or editing, it’s essential to understand the risks and limitations. Misusing AI can have serious consequences, including having your application flagged or rejected. Here’s what every applicant should know.

📌 Every College Has Its Own AI Policy

There is no one-size-fits-all rule when it comes to using AI in your college application. Each institution has its own stance—and you are responsible for knowing what’s allowed.

For example, Brown University explicitly states on its website that the use of any form of AI in your application is prohibited, and asks students to certify on their application that they haven't used AI. This includes essays, activity descriptions, and other written components. Ignoring such policies can result in your application being disqualified.

What you should do:
✔️ Carefully review each school’s admissions guidelines
✔️ Search for “AI use” or “application integrity” on the college’s official site
✔️ When in doubt, contact the admissions office directly

✍️ Essays: Keep It Real, Keep It You

Your college essay is meant to reveal who you are beyond your grades and test scores. Admissions officers read hundreds—sometimes thousands—of essays, and they’re looking for your authentic, unique voice.

While it's fine to use AI for:

• Brainstorming topics
• Outlining your structure
• Identifying grammar or clarity issues

It’s not okay to let AI write your essay. Why? Because AI-generated writing tends to be vague, overly polished, and lacking personality—it often sounds “vanilla.” Admissions reps are trained to spot this. They know what a real, heartfelt student essay sounds like. If your writing feels generic or mechanical, it will stand out—and not in a good way.

The goal of the essay is to help colleges get to know the real you. If you rely too heavily on AI, you lose the opportunity to make that personal connection.

📄 Activities List: Edit, Don’t Invent

The activities section often comes with strict character limits, which can make it tough to describe all you’ve done. This is an area where AI can be helpful in moderation:

• Prompt AI to condense your wording to fit character counts
• Use it to make your descriptions more concise and impactful
• Avoid using complete sentences; abbreviations are OK

Just make sure the original content comes from you. Don't ask AI to fabricate or enhance what you’ve done—it should only serve as a tool to clean up your writing.

🚨 Final Take: Use AI Thoughtfully and Transparently

AI can be a powerful tool—but only when used ethically. Think of it as a writing assistant, not a ghostwriter. Colleges want to understand your thoughts, your personality, your experiences—not a machine’s best guess.

Pro Tip: Keep copies of each draft of your work - this way, if there is a question about your writing, you can produce proof that it is in fact your writing.

Ultimately, the most impressive part of your application is you. Don’t let AI dull your shine. Keep your voice front and center—and trust that being genuine is always your best strategy.