Be aware that all colleges do not have a standard policy when it comes to using AI in your admission essays. Some colleges state they are ok with students using it to develop ideas and others might have a policy that states that the essays must be 100% authentic to you. Please check the policy for each college you’re planning on applying to before starting your essays to ensure you’re complying with their rules and regulations.

Still, we know you’re tempted to use AI to help write your essays. If you are planning on using your AI, please use it solely as a support tool in essay writing and ensure the final product is authentic and represents your unique voice. Here’s how students can approach this:

1. Start with Personal Reflection

Spend time brainstorming meaningful experiences, values, or challenges that define you. Clarify your ideas through freewriting, journaling, or talking with a mentor.

Think about stories only you can tell—specific moments that reflect your personality, growth, or goals.

2. Use AI for Support, Not Substitution

Brainstorming: Ask AI for ideas to structure your essay or expand on a general topic.

• • Example: “How can I write about my experience as a team captain to highlight leadership and teamwork?”

Draft Feedback: Run your draft through AI to get suggestions for improving flow, grammar, or clarity.

• • Use prompts like: “Rewrite this to make it more concise” or “Can you suggest improvements for my conclusion?”

Research: AI can help refine how you connect your essay to a college’s values or programs, but make sure these connections feel genuine.

3. Focus on Your Unique Voice

After using AI, edit extensively to ensure the essay reflects your personality, tone, and perspective. AI-generated content can sound polished but often lacks emotional authenticity or personal quirks that make your essay memorable.

Speak aloud as you write or read the essay to hear how natural it sounds—does it feel like you?

4. Infuse Specific Details

Use real names, dates, places, and vivid anecdotes to personalize your essay.

• • Example: Replace “volunteering taught me compassion” with “seeing Maria’s smile when I handed her a burrito reminded me that small acts can have a big impact.”

These specific details make your essay harder to replicate and clearly distinguish it from generic, AI-like content.

5. Review and Revise

Use AI to suggest edits, but always revise manually afterward. Compare drafts to ensure the changes reflect your intent and maintain your voice.

Seek feedback from trusted teachers, counselors, or peers to ensure the essay resonates and sounds authentic.

6. Test for AI Detection

Why Test? Some colleges may use AI detection tools to check for authenticity. Testing your essay ensures it’s less likely to be flagged as AI-generated.

Recommended AI Detection Sites:

• • GPTZero: Designed for educators to identify AI-written text. Provides detailed insights on likelihood and areas that may seem artificial.
  • OpenAI’s AI Classifier: A free tool by OpenAI to assess whether text may be AI-generated.
  • Turnitin (AI Detection): Some schools use this tool, which now includes AI-detection features.
  • Copyleaks AI Detector: An advanced tool for detecting AI in text.
  • Sapling AI Detector: Good for quick checks of whether your text has AI-generated patterns.

7. Make it AI-Augmented, Not AI-Generated

Your Role: Let AI be a collaborator, not the creator. You drive the ideas, tone, and narrative.

The Goal: Colleges want to hear your voice, perspective, and growth—not a polished but impersonal version.

8. Ensure Consistency Across Application

Your essay should align with the tone, interests, and achievements in the rest of your application. A mismatch between your essay and other materials (like your extracurriculars or recommendation letters) may raise red flags.

Remember, AI is a powerful tool to enhance your writing, but authenticity makes your essay stand out. If you use AI, ensure the core ideas, storytelling, and revisions are your own. Even if less polished, an authentic essay will resonate more with admissions officers than a generic or overly refined piece.

or number 6, what’s an allowable percentage of AI detection

There isn’t a universally accepted allowable percentage of AI detection for college essays, as most colleges don’t explicitly disclose their policies or thresholds for AI-generated content. However, here are some considerations:

General Guidelines for AI Detection Scores

Aim for Minimal Detection (0-10%)

Essays that score in this range will likely appear fully human-written, especially when personal stories and unique details are included.

• • A low score reassures admissions officers that the essay reflects the student’s voice and effort.

Moderate Scores (11-30%)

• If the detection falls within this range, it could indicate using AI-assisted phrasing or ideas, which might raise some questions. Revise flagged sections to add more personal anecdotes or unique expressions.
• • AI detectors may also flag common phrases or structures as generated content, so context matters.

High Scores (Above 30%)

• A high AI detection score increases the likelihood of suspicion. Admissions officers may view this as a lack of authenticity or effort, even if the essay was genuinely collaborative with AI tools.

Tips for Staying Below Detection Thresholds

Rephrase AI-Generated Suggestions:
Rewrite flagged phrases to reflect your natural tone and style.

• Example: AI-generated “The indelible impact of leadership is evident in every facet of my life” → “Being a leader has shaped how I approach challenges and help others succeed.”

Infuse Personal Experiences:
Include unique details that AI wouldn’t know or generate on its own. These specifics (like names, dates, or personal quirks) make the essay feel human and personal.

Test and Revise:
Run your essay through an AI detector, identify flagged areas, and rewrite those sections to match your voice better.

Use AI Sparingly:
Avoid using AI for full essay generation. Instead, use it for brainstorming, grammar suggestions, or structural guidance.

Take A Balanced Approach

If you’re using AI tools, the goal is not just to pass AI detectors but to write an authentic essay that reflects your voice, values, and experiences. Even if some AI assistance is detectable, admissions officers are unlikely to penalize you if the essay feels genuine and aligns with the rest of your application.

Focus on ensuring that the ideas, structure, and core content are fully yours, and revise AI-generated sections to maintain authenticity. This approach will reduce detection scores while producing a compelling essay.