As we come to the end of this application season, this is a pressing concern which I wish to write about. As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies like ChatGPT evolve, their implications for college admissions are profound. These tools generate text that closely mimics human writing, opening up both opportunities and ethical dilemmas. The shift brought by AI is challenging traditional notions of authenticity and evaluation in college application processes.
The Role of Personal Essays in College Admissions
For many years, the personal essay has been a cornerstone of college applications, particularly among elite institutions. Admissions officers often use these essays to gauge an applicant’s character, resilience, and potential. However, the pressure to craft a compelling narrative has left many students feeling they must create a unique writing voice that may not be entirely genuine. Being a good writer is a difficult skill to acquire and develop. I may be a good doctor,engineer, architect or aspiring high school student but writing might not be my forte. AI tools can be especially helpful for international students or non-native English speakers /writers. AI can help clarify complex ideas or stories and improve the overall readability of your personal statement. Particularly given the challenge of wrestling with strict character limits, such as 150/700 characters on the Common App/ERAS, AI can assist you in creating succinct yet impactful descriptions of experiences.
Authenticity vs. AI Writing
With AI tools capable of producing coherent and well-structured essays, concerns arise regarding the authenticity of these submissions. As colleges reevaluate their admissions processes, a pressing question emerges: Does the introduction of AI signify the end of the personal essay? While AI can generate decent essays, they often lack the personal touch, insight, and sincerity that come from genuine human experiences.
The Impact of AI on Writing Quality
While AI can assist applicants in developing succinct and impactful descriptions, it may struggle to convey the true essence of an individual’s voice. A well-crafted essay often reflects the applicant’s thoughts and experiences, elements that AI struggles to replicate authentically. Although tools like ChatGPT can create passable essays, the effectiveness of these tools is heavily reliant on the quality of input provided by users.
Ethical Considerations in Using AI
The ethical implications of AI use in college admissions are complex. While it is generally accepted that students should submit work that is entirely their own, the line becomes blurred when considering AI’s role in the writing process. Although AI can provide helpful suggestions and structure, over-reliance on these tools could lead to questions about the integrity of the work submitted.
Admissions Officers and Identifying AI Use
Many admissions officers believe that personal interviews can reveal discrepancies between an applicant’s spoken responses and their written essays, potentially exposing the use of AI in crafting these submissions. The nuanced human elements of communication often shine through in conversation, serving as a check against artificially polished narratives. The personal essay has long been a staple of the application process at elite colleges, not to mention a bane for generations of high school students. Admissions officers have often employed applicants’ essays as a lens into their unique character, pluck, potential and ability to handle adversity. As a result, some former students say they felt tremendous pressure to develop, or at least concoct, a singular personal writing voice. But new A.I. tools now threaten to cast doubt on the legitimacy of applicants writing samples as asuthentic products of their intellect and creativity. That has forced colleges to rethink their admission process and weightage on written content.
The Debate on Application Essays
The debate surrounding the necessity and ethical implications of requiring application essays is ongoing. If essays are a significant factor in admission decisions, how can institutions ensure that these writings are genuinely reflective of the student’s capabilities? This raises questions about whether it is fair to require such essays in light of the challenges presented by AI. There have always been concerns over the use of the PS and the LOR in applicant evaluation; AI only exacerbates these and may ultimately lead to a decline in the importance of these data points in the application package
Guidelines for AI Use in Applications
Currently, institutions like the Association of American Medical Colleges provide guidance that emphasizes the importance of originality in personal statements. While AI tools can be beneficial for checking grammar and improving readability, they must not replace the applicant’s authentic voice. Institutions encourage the use of other resources, such as mentors and advisors, to enhance writing while maintaining its integrity. Many universities have their individual policies for example University of Michigan Law School States following policy “Applicants ought not use ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence tools as part of their drafting process. Applicants may, however, use electronic tools (like Grammarly or spellcheck), or may, similarly, ask pre-law advisors, mentors, friends, or others for basic proofreading assistance and general feedback and critiques.”
Conclusion: Navigating the New Landscape
The introduction of AI tools like ChatGPT into the college admissions process presents both challenges and opportunities. We also need to agree that since AI tools are “generative learning“; based on kind of questions (prompts) asked to AI in the last few admission cycles, going forward it is possible that AI outputs shall become more refine and humane. As institutions grapple with these changes, the fundamental value of personal narratives remains crucial. While AI can assist in the writing process, the essence of a compelling essay lies in its authenticity—an aspect that technology cannot fully replicate. Moving forward, colleges must balance the benefits of AI with the need to maintain genuine connections in their admissions processes. Also students should remember that their original story and voice of heart is not lost in the fancy language of generative writing applications.
