Not long ago, the hardest part of writing a college essay was figuring out where to start. Now, students are facing a different kind of question: Should I be using AI to help me do this?
With tools like ChatGPT everywhere, it’s easy to see the appeal. A blank page can turn into a full draft in seconds. But when it comes to college applications, the essay isn’t just another assignment to get done—it’s one of the few places where a student’s voice, perspective, and story take center stage.
So where does AI actually fit into this process? What’s allowed, what’s not, and what might quietly work against you? Let’s take a closer look.
Why Everyone Is Talking About AI and College Essays
It’s not just students asking these questions—this is happening across classrooms, admissions offices, and family dinner tables. In a relatively short amount of time, AI has gone from something most people had barely heard of to something students can access instantly, whenever they get stuck.
And college essays, by nature, are the kind of assignment where getting stuck is part of the process. They ask for reflection, vulnerability, and a level of self-awareness that doesn’t always come easily on demand. So it makes sense that when a tool appears that promises to make that easier — especially among other school work and demands common during this part of high school — students are paying attention.
Many, if not all, colleges use AI in some capacity to identify computer-generated content in student applications. This includes transcripts and information about GPA and other fact-based information. What is important to understand is that colleges are also starting to try to spot AI content in student essays, and if discovered, it could mean not only discarding the application from that college, but also the sharing of this infraction with The Common Application and, therefore, all schools to which the student has applied. If a student has already been admitted, the offer of admission can be revoked, and students can also be expelled.
The Risks of Using AI to Write Your Essay
In the work that I do, the use of artificial intelligence to assist with a personal statement is counterintuitive to the mission. Although I am not a fan of the use of the word “unique” in the effort to create an essay that is true to you and only you, this is only because it creates stress around what feels like an unattainable goal. When I work with students, my mission is to help them find their identity and communicate this through the telling of a story that is, in fact, unique to them. This only happens through conversation and allowing the student the space and opportunity to think, reflect, and write. This takes time and is likely why students are drawn to the allure of AI to do the work for them.
Although AI is constantly evolving and seems to know the student better than they know themselves, AI can also lead students down a path that may not be an authentic representation. This risks skewing the complete picture that the application is attempting to present to the reader and, in fact, could lead the student in a direction they do not want or need to go. AI can’t discern nuanced conversations, which are able to unearth the essay within: the story that should be told.
Can You Use AI for College Essays?
If you’ve found yourself wondering, “Can I use AI for my college essay?”—you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions students (and parents) are asking right now. Tools like ChatGPT make it incredibly easy to generate ideas—or even full drafts—in seconds. But when it comes to college applications, the answer isn’t as simple as yes or no. Before you open a new tab and start prompting, it’s worth understanding what’s actually allowed, what crosses a line, and why this part of the process matters more than it might seem.
I suggest seeking specific information online about each school on your list, as some have a zero-tolerance policy. Others allow you to use AI to brainstorm, refine, and edit. Because there is no universal “yes” or “no” when it comes to using AI to write your college essay, it is imperative to do your school-specific research.
What Colleges Actually Say About AI Use
Given that most students will apply through the Common Application, know that you will be asked to sign an attestation statement that reads:
“I certify that all information submitted in the admission process — including this application and any other supporting materials — is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented, and that these documents will become the property of the institution to which I am applying and will not be returned to me. I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false.”
Students need to check a box before submitting the application. Please know, this is an honor statement, and by checking the box, you are being honest about how you used AI or any other guide to submit your application.
Do any colleges allow ChatGPT for brainstorming?
According to Education Week, Schools like Caltech and Georgia Tech explicitly say AI can be used to brainstorm, edit, or refine ideas, as long as the final writing is your own. At places like Swarthmore College, AI use is partially allowed, including brainstorming and light editing, but students may need to disclose how they used it. Harvard University prohibits AI use entirely—even brainstorming and many schools (and programs) treat any AI involvement as a violation of academic integrity.
Think about it this way: If you asked a parent, friend, teacher, or tutor to take a look at your writing for spelling, grammar or overall content, this would be viewed as prudent attention to detail. But, if you asked those same people to write a paragraph or a complete first draft of an essay, would this produce an honest reflection of your work? A very real concern is that if we use AI to tell us how we are thinking and what we want to say, we risk losing the ability and the confidence to use our own voice.
A Better Approach: Writing an Essay That Actually Sounds Like You
A recent student of mine was willing to be vulnerable about a challenging relationship in high school. She shared the painful ups and downs and the ultimate decision to forgive and let go. During weeks of conversation, she told me how much she had grown from the experience while also sharing a story about a loved art form. It involves putting clay pots into pits of soot and fire, causing them to crack and build up debris. They are then scrubbed to find fissures in the clay and to later seal them in. She told me that the pot was always more beautiful after it went through the fire, and she wove these two experiences together to create the most beautiful representation of who she is, how she thinks, and what she will contribute to the college campus.
Another student wanted to write about his years as a summer camp counselor. His stories highlighted an experience with a young boy who was struggling to fit in, all while he, the counselor, felt unqualified to support the young camper and his challenging behaviors. While we talked, I discovered his love of chess and how the young camper shared this passion. My student weaved together a riveting story about the game of chess and the careful thought that goes into every move. Each move of a pawn or knight echoed the moves made between counselor and camper. This remains a favorite essay.
I could tell you dozens and dozens of stories. One student wanted to write about making pizza, and another about collecting sea glass. Many have written about their love for books and an equal number about awkward moments. I could line them all up, and no two are alike because each is uniquely theirs, shaped by thought, reflection, and growth. Colleges want to hear about you, from you, and I fear that the overuse of AI could eventually eliminate your voice and the confidence to use it.