Artificial intelligence is everywhere. There are AI customer service chatbots that can walk you through troubleshooting, AI programs that can produce original art, and, yes, AI programs that can write a college essay.
Right now, the AI chatbot that you are likely most familiar with is ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a language-based chatbot that, through prompting, can create humanlike conversational text. And there’s a lot of conversation, questions, and temptation around using ChatGPT in the college admissions process.
CAN I USE CHATGPT TO WRITE MY COLLEGE ESSAY?
Currently, there are no general restrictions on the Common Application for using ChatGPT. Individual colleges may have their own policies regarding ChatGPT that students need to be aware of. As in all things related to college admission policies, it’s important to know the specific requirements of each college on your list.
SHOULD I USE CHATGPT TO WRITE MY COLLEGE ESSAY?
Okay, so if it’s not explicitly breaking the rules to use ChatGPT to write your college essay, should you consider it? That’s what we’re here to discuss today, with help from today’s “guest contributor,” ChatGPT!
Here’s what ChatGPT had to say about using AI to write the college essay:
ChatGPT: While you can use AI tools to help generate ideas or provide guidance for your college personal statement, it is not advisable to use it as the means of writing the statement.
We know it’s tempting to rely on ChatGPT for essay writing. After all, it’s supposed to make the writing process quicker and easier. But before entrusting this important piece of your college application to algorithms, you should understand the potential pitfalls and limitations. In this blog post, we'll delve into five reasons you should exercise caution when using Chat GPT to write your college personal statement.
LACK OF VOICE & ORIGINALITY
Your college essay is an opportunity to let your unique voice and personality shine through. Admissions committees aren’t just interested in your academic achievements; they want to get to know you as an individual. With ChatGPT, you risk losing the personal touch that sets your essay apart. ChatGPT draws from everything it’s “learned” (sample essays on the internet, articles on essay advice, etc…), and produces what it believes an “average teenager” would write. It isn’t trying to sound like YOU.
We love the college essay because it’s your chance to have your voice heard in the application process. Your transcript and activity list reflect you during your high school years, and your recommendation letters allow others to talk about you. But your essay is YOU talking about you and ensuring your reader learns what you think is most important. Don’t give up that opportunity.
ChatGPT: AI-generated content might be polished, but it often lacks the depth and authenticity that come from your own experiences and reflections. An essay without your voice lacks personality and fails to leave a lasting impression. Admissions committees value authenticity, and relying on AI-generated content can make an essay sound artificial and disconnected from the student's true voice.
POTENTIAL INACCURACIES
ChatGPT isn’t capable of independent thought. It does not judge the quality of what it produces or “fact check” its content for accuracy. It may not always provide accurate or up-to-date facts, and including inaccurate information in your essay can significantly weaken your application.
I’ve constantly run into inaccuracies and inconsistencies when playing around with ChatGPT. Here are a few examples that I ran into while working on this post:
Made-up family dynamics or experiences in personal statements
Supplemental “Why this major?” essays including extracurricular activities or accolades a student doesn’t have
Mentioning classes—and entire majors—that no longer exist for “Why this college?” prompts
ChatGPT: The output of AI models like ChatGPT can vary in quality. It may produce irrelevant or poorly constructed content. Relying solely on AI for writing can result in subpar essays that do not effectively convey the applicant's message.
LIMITED UNDERSTANDING OF WHO YOU ARE
No one knows you better than you. Your college essay writing gives you a chance to tell your story, share your values, and convey your aspirations. ChatGPT has no personal knowledge of your life experiences, emotions, and motivations. It may be able to sound like a human, but it cannot think or feel like one. As a result, ChatGPT can’t understand and express your unique journey. When you write your essay, you have the opportunity to explain your own experiences, thoughts, and feelings in a way that AI simply cannot replicate.
ChatGPT: A personal essay is an opportunity to connect with admissions officers on a deeper level, and using AI can diminish that personal connection. AI also lacks personal knowledge of the student's life, personal experiences, passions, or goals. It cannot accurately capture the depth of an applicant's character or motivations, key elements in a college essay.
ChatGPT Essays Do Not Reflect Your Academic Abilities
As we’ve discussed, ChatGPT’s goal is not to create individualized writing. As a result, your ChatGPT-generated essay may not reflect your academic abilities, and that can sometimes be obvious to admissions readers.
A ChatGPT-generated essay may undersell your abilities. Some students may be capable of more complex reflection and critical thinking than an AI-generated essay can capture. And asking ChatGPT to make the essay sound more “intellectual” usually results in the same surface-level reflection while adding too many 5-syllable words.
Highly creative students may find that ChatGPT does not let their abilities shine. Creative thinking (and writing) is so much more than stuffing your essay with adjectives—a ChatGPT favorite.
For students who may have struggled academically, AI-generated content can create a disconnect between their essays and academic history. This mismatch could raise concerns for admissions committees and lead to questions about the authenticity of the application.
ChatGPT: Your college essay is not just a reflection of your writing skills; it's also an opportunity to showcase your academic abilities. The key takeaway is that your college essay should align your academic record and demonstrate your academic growth, even if you've faced challenges.
A CHATGPT ESSAY IS ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS PROMPTING
ChatGPT doesn’t create something out of nothing. Anyone using it must provide effective prompts. And that can be a challenge.
ChatGPT: Vague or poorly-phrased prompts may lead to responses that do not address your question or needs accurately. This can be frustrating and unproductive. ChatGPT may misinterpret your intent, leading to responses unrelated to your query or requiring additional clarifications. Instead of relying on AI as a crutch, take the initiative to craft your essay from your own perspective.
Good prompting requires time, energy, and effort. You may have to go through several rounds of feeding ChatGPT more and more specific or personal information to get the type of response you would like. If you are already working on brainstorming and reflecting to think of better prompts to give the AI to produce a better essay, that time is better spent writing the essay you want to write in the first place. ChatGPT can’t read your mind—but you can.
While AI tools like ChatGPT can technically generate a college essay in under two minutes, they are not a substitute for your authentic voice and personal insights. Your college essays are a chance to make a compelling case for why you should be admitted, and they reflect your abilities, experiences, and aspirations. So, should you use ChatGPT to write your college essay? Proceed with caution, and always ensure that your essay reflects your authentic self.
ChatGPT: Remember that the most powerful and persuasive essays come from the heart and mind of the applicant.