Should Students Use Generative AI to Write College Essays?

Writing college application essays is daunting, especially for students juggling schoolwork,  extracurricular activities, and personal responsibilities. More and more applicants are turning to generative AI tools, using them to brainstorm, edit, or even fully write essays. Although ChatGPT or Gemini may seem like the answer to easier writing, using AI may actually harm more than help your application essays.

How does using AI to write college essays affect how admissions readers evaluate them?

Admissions officers are evaluating applicants not just as potential students, but as potential community members who will join and shape their campus over the next four years. Strong application essays offer admissions officers a glimpse of an applicant’s personality that test scores, transcripts, and extracurriculars alone can’t convey. 

AI models are built on algorithms that allow them to adeptly mimic different writing styles, but, at the end of the day, they follow predictable patterns. AI-generated topics are often repetitive, and AI-generated essays can come off as formulaic. What may read like a unique essay to you often does not to an admissions officer or reader who reviews thousands to tens of thousands of applications each season. When hundreds or thousands of essays are using the same topics, words, or flow, many readers notice which students chose to use AI and which students took the time and effort to write their own essays. 

Each year, certain flagwords emerge that denote AI use in essays. When thousands of students write about “delving” into the “mosaic” or “tapestry” of their lives, what may seem like a unique or interesting metaphor or word choice ends up as commonplace. The same thing can happen when brainstorming essay topics—AI tends to suggest the same handful of ideas, so the majority of applicants end up writing about the same generic topics. You can help distinguish yourself within the applicant pool by taking the time to think of personal topics that let readers know more about your individual journey.

When writing supplementary essays, relying on AI for topic ideas can lead to a common trap: incorrect or outdated information. AI models can suggest that you write about programs or classes that are no longer offered or never existed in the first place! Additionally, some students choose to write their main Common Application essay themselves but use AI to generate supplemental essays. This can lead to inconsistency in an overall application; one essay showcases authentic voice while the others read as generic.

By researching schools’ specific programs or opportunities and taking the time to personally write your supplements, you can create a cohesive application and craft meaningful essays that demonstrate to a reader your genuine interest in their school.

So, should students use AI to help write their college application essays?

In short: very sparsely and with great care! AI is a double-edged sword. It is a powerful tool for avoiding typos and fixing punctuation, but a liability when used for the more nuanced aspects of personal writing. AI can’t brainstorm, write, or edit with the same knowledge or expertise as a real person, and students may lose the chance to showcase their personal story and stand out from the crowd.

(Want to learn more about how we at ILUMIN can guide you through college applications and the essay writing process? Feel free to schedule a free consultation with us, or check out our specific essay consulting services.)