Over the past year, we have witnessed the rise of accessible AI platforms as well as their impact on various sectors—with ChatGPT leading the charge. In this blog post, we will delve into the concerns and challenges associated with AI in college admissions and discuss potential changes to traditional essay writing prompted by the advent of AI. We will also explore how AI tools like ChatGPT can benefit both colleges and high school students in simplifying and streamlining the admissions process.
Over the past year, we have witnessed the rise of accessible AI platforms as well as their impact on various sectors—with ChatGPT leading the charge. Concerns about the implications of AI are extremely justified, particularly when it comes to students trying to gain an advantage by having chatbots write their application essays for them. On the other hand, there may be other, more appropriate applications of AI to the admissions process.
In this blog post, we will delve into the concerns and challenges associated with AI in college admissions and discuss potential changes to traditional essay writing prompted by the advent of AI. We will also explore how AI tools like ChatGPT can benefit both colleges and high school students in simplifying and streamlining the admissions process.
Concerns about AI programs like ChatGPT in college admissions are legitimate. One major issue is academic and personal integrity. When students submit their applications through platforms like the Common App, they are required to affirm that the work submitted is entirely their own. If universities discover that applicants have used AI to write their essays, this could result in the revocation of admission offers.
While the volume of applications increases and admissions office staffing holds steady, questions have been raised about whether busy admissions officers will be able to thoroughly assess each essay for authenticity. However, AI struggles to fully capture nuanced writing, especially in areas like creativity, humor, and sarcasm, so it is ultimately likely they will be able to very easily spot AI-generated personal statement essays. That’s especially true at colleges which utilize committees or multiple readers, who are likely to become skilled at spotting writing that feels “off.”
Another concern is the potential exacerbation of the digital divide. As free versions of AI tools become scarce, this may create greater equity gaps for students, schools, and families without access to these (paid) resources. Even an increased legitimate reliance on AI in admissions—in the ways discussed below—could inadvertently disadvantage those who lack the means to utilize such technology.
To address the challenges posed by AI, several changes to traditional college application essay writing are being considered or have already been implemented. These include:
AI, particularly tools like ChatGPT, offers several advantages for colleges during the admissions process. One significant benefit is the ability to efficiently summarize recommendation letters. With tens of thousands of applications flooding admission offices, this technology can help extract key quotes and anecdotes from letters, aiding in the evaluation process. Large institutions, such as the University of Michigan, which received nearly 90,000 applications last year, could greatly benefit from this efficiency. Moreover, AI can assist in the application summary and rating processes, allowing colleges to manage the increasing volume of applications without expanding their staff.
From the high school side, AI could offer valuable time-saving benefits to the early college research process.
It can generate college research lists, predict admissibility, and plan college visit trips within seconds. This is particularly advantageous for large public high schools where school counseling caseloads can range from 200 to 700 students, depending on the state.
AI tools like ChatGPT will likely begin to provide much-needed support to overwhelmed counselors, enabling them to offer more personalized guidance to students.
AI, particularly ChatGPT, has the potential to revolutionize the college admissions process by simplifying tasks for both colleges and high school students. However, concerns about integrity and equity must be addressed. As colleges adapt to the digital age, changes to traditional essay writing may become a necessity. Balancing the benefits of AI with its challenges is crucial as we navigate the evolving landscape of college admissions.
