AI and Admission Essays: A Cautionary Guide
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized many industries, and education is no exception. With tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly readily accessible, students may be tempted to use AI to tackle their college admission essays. However, while AI offers certain conveniences, it falls woefully short in areas where a personal narrative, reflection, and authenticity are required. Let’s explore why relying on AI for your college essays could hinder rather than help your application—and how services like Momentum College Prep provide a far more effective alternative.
Included:
1. Why AI Struggles with Narrative Voice and Reflection
2. Where AI Can Be Helpful
3. Beware of AI Detection Software
4. The “Why Us” Essay: A Pitfall for AI Users
5. The Final Word: Why Human Guidance Matters
Photo description: Robot’s hand reaching out for a human hand.
1. Why AI Struggles with Narrative Voice and Reflection
A great college essay isn’t just a writing exercise—it’s a deeply personal story that reflects your unique experiences and how they’ve shaped you. This is where AI falters. AI can’t truly understand or convey emotions, personal growth, or nuanced insights because it lacks the lived experience and human intuition necessary for self-reflection.
Take this Common App prompt as an example:
"Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?"
AI might generate a generic response to this question, but it won’t capture the inner conflict, the specific details of your story, or the profound growth that the admissions committee wants to see.
At Momentum College Prep, our counselors work closely with students to uncover these personal stories. During individualized sessions, they ask probing questions, helping students reflect on their experiences and connect the dots between their past and their aspirations. For example, if a student struggles to brainstorm for this prompt, our counselors might ask:
What’s a belief or tradition in your family that you’ve grown to see differently?
Have you ever taken a stand on something unpopular among your peers?
These personalized conversations lead to essays that are deeply authentic and compelling—qualities AI simply cannot replicate.
2. Where AI Can Be Helpful
While AI may not be able to craft a compelling essay, it can assist in other ways:
Spelling and Grammar: AI tools like Grammarly can help you proofread your essays, ensuring they’re free of typos and grammatical errors.
Outlining Ideas: Struggling to organize your thoughts? AI can help draft a basic outline, which you can then personalize and expand upon.
Teacher Recommendation Letters: AI can help draft templates or frameworks for letters of recommendation. These can serve as a starting point for your teachers, especially if they ask for input.
Even in these areas, it’s crucial to rely on human oversight and review to ensure the final product is polished and accurate.
3. Beware of AI Detection Software
Colleges and universities are well aware of AI’s growing prevalence, and many are adopting sophisticated AI-detection software to maintain the integrity of their admissions process. Submitting an AI-written essay could result in automatic disqualification of your application.
Admissions officers are trained to spot essays that lack a personal touch or have an overly generic tone. Do not jeopardize your chances of admission by cutting corners. A service like Momentum College Prep ensures that your essays are not only authentic but also polished to perfection—without risking plagiarism or AI flags.
4. The “Why Us” Essay: A Pitfall for AI Users
The “Why Us” prompt is another area where AI often falls short. For example, a prompt like:
"Describe how you would contribute to and benefit from the academic, social, and cultural life at [University Name]."
Using AI to research schools can backfire if the information it provides is outdated or incorrect. Universities frequently update their programs, initiatives, and values, so relying solely on AI could lead to inaccuracies that make your essay seem uninformed.
At Momentum College Prep, we stress the importance of visiting university websites to gather current, specific details for these prompts. This ensures your essay is tailored to the school and demonstrates genuine interest.
5. The Final Word: Why Human Guidance Matters
Your college essay is one of the most personal and impactful parts of your application. While AI can assist with technical aspects like grammar and structure, it cannot replace the human insight, reflection, and narrative voice needed to craft a standout essay.
At Momentum College Prep, our counselors’ personalized approach ensures that every essay is as unique as the student behind it. By building meaningful relationships with clients, they help uncover the stories that only they can tell—and package them in a way that resonates with admissions committees.
Don’t leave your future in the hands of an algorithm.
Invest in personalized guidance, and let your authentic voice shine through.
