Should I use AI to write a school admissions essay?
I used to worry that when an admissions essay had grammatical, punctuation, or spelling errors, a school would think a student hadn’t taken their application seriously. Now I welcome them. I appreciate errors in writing as a sign of personal engagement and care in an essay.
No admissions officer who is reviewing application essays and is putting together a class wants to feel like they’re reading the words prepared by an LLM like Claude or ChatGPT. Not only can it be insulting, it may also break the school’s AI policies, and above all, it’s typically boring! While AI may tell a story logically and seamlessly, the result is often an essay devoid of humanity and soul.
When to use AI when applying to schools
AI is everywhere — and it can genuinely help with a school search. But used carelessly, it can seriously backfire. I use an LLM (Large Language Model like Claude or Chat GPT) for my own work. I’m not an AI naysayer; one needs to be judicious about its use. School searches and applications are about building relationships with people in admissions and ultimately finding a community where you can build an enduring relationship. That requires being present and engaged in a very personal experience.
What to expect when you’re expecting an admissions decision
After pouring your heart into essays, your time into school visits, and biding your time through the months of February and March, “Decision Week” can feel abrupt and mystifying. Below I’ll break down five types of decisions you could receive.