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.
Use AI for school research, but double-check everything. AI can be helpful when compiling information about schools, but as someone who knows schools well, I know that about half of the information I discover using AI searches is inaccurate or out-of-date. Verify application due dates, standardized test requirements, programmatic offerings, which all change frequently.
AI can help you get organized. AI can be a terrific tool for organizing disparate information, dates, and tasks. It can help you prioritize, break down tasks, and set due dates that help you stay on task.
UseAI for a preliminary school search, but then talk to a professional who knows schools and your child. AI-produced school searches offer limited lists, but miss important schools or suggest schools that are way off because of how they market themselves. Algorithms just don’t understand the nuances of your child or the schools. Professionals who have been on a school campus and have spoken with admission directors, teachers, students, and parents will be able to speak more effectively about a potential fit than those who scrape school websites and school ratings websites.
Make sure you set foot on campus. Part of the fun of school searches can be visiting schools and seeing students in class, different buildings, facilities, and how a school’s values and community are expressed in space. In-person visits are best. Website pictures and videos are helpful, but words and analysis alone typically fail. Visits are when you find the “fit” or the school that just feels right.
Students should never use AI to write essays, and parents should use it only occasionally. Anyone who reads hundreds (or thousands!) of student and parent essays a year can tell instantly when AI has written an essay. I don’t recommend that parents use it for their essays or communication, but there are some exceptions. I’ll address this further in my next post, “Should I use AI to write a school admissions essay?”
AI shouldn’t be used to decide where to go to school. AI can do a lot of things, but school decisions are typically made with the head and the heart in concert. We make lists of the positives and negatives about the program, facilities, community, and commute. And then we’re swayed by how we feel on campus, by watching teachers interact with students in their classrooms, and by hearing directly from the Head of School. The in-person experience makes all the difference. We consider the person we want our child to be when they graduate, and we compare our child to graduates of each institution. School choice encapsulates our sense of who our child is today and our dreams for their future. It’s not an algorithm; it’s a messy and emotional decision. While not always easy, selecting a school and finding the right “fit” for a child is a very human experience.
My conclusion: AI can be a great support tool and organizer, but make sure you’re involved at every step, verifying information and analyzing results. Be careful that you don’t over-rely on AI for tasks that require human expertise or voice. Finding a school is an endeavor full of human decisions and personal emotions– it requires a human touch and thoughtful expertise.
Spruce Advisors is an educational consultancy supporting families applying to preschool–high school in the Bay Area and boarding schools across North America, helping them find the right school for their child.
