Do colleges check application essays for AI usage?
I'm starting to worry about the whole AI detection thing with college essays. I wrote my Common App essay completely on my own, but I did use Grammarly and ChatGPT to help brainstorm some ideas and to check for grammar mistakes. I've seen people online saying colleges can detect if you used AI even a little, and now I'm paranoid that my essay will get flagged or they'll think I cheated.
Does anyone know if colleges actually run your essays through AI detectors? Or if they can tell if you used certain tools just for editing? I keep hearing conflicting info and it's making me super anxious. If anyone has experience or knows how strict colleges are about this, please share. I'm worried all my hard work might end up backfiring just because I tried too hard to make sure my essay was good!
Also, if you have advice for making sure my essay is safe, that would help a ton. I know not to copy or have an AI write everything, but is there anything else I should watch out for?
Does anyone know if colleges actually run your essays through AI detectors? Or if they can tell if you used certain tools just for editing? I keep hearing conflicting info and it's making me super anxious. If anyone has experience or knows how strict colleges are about this, please share. I'm worried all my hard work might end up backfiring just because I tried too hard to make sure my essay was good!
Also, if you have advice for making sure my essay is safe, that would help a ton. I know not to copy or have an AI write everything, but is there anything else I should watch out for?
6 months ago
•
103 views
Lydia Schooler
• 6 months ago
Advisor
I’m a Yale graduate and college admissions advisor with over 8 years of experience helping students gain admission to top universities like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. I’ve worked with thousands of students on essays, application strategy, and interview prep, so I’ve seen a lot of questions this year about AI detection in college applications.
Here’s the reality: most colleges don’t systematically run every application essay through AI detectors. There’s no universal policy, and while some schools are experimenting with these tools, there’s no evidence they are widely implemented or 100% reliable. AI detectors can also produce false positives, especially with well-edited or formal writing. Colleges know this and are more concerned about essays that clearly don’t match a student’s voice or don’t align with other parts of the application, like graded writing samples.
Using Grammarly or similar editing tools is not considered cheating and is extremely common. These programs mostly check spelling, grammar, and clarity, similar to what a good proofreader would do. Brainstorming with chatbots or online resources is also fine, as long as the final essay is your own original work and ideas. Colleges know students get feedback from digital tools, teachers, parents, or peers — what matters is that your essay still sounds like you.
If you want to be extra safe, make sure your essay reflects your experiences and authentic voice. Don’t have AI rewrite or generate entire sections. If you use AI at all, limit it to grammar checks, brainstorming, or catching repetitive phrasing. Keep drafts to show how your essay evolved, just in case. For example, one student I worked with used Grammarly to fix typos and ChatGPT to suggest uncommon opening lines, but every word in the draft was their own. They were accepted at multiple selective schools with no problem.
Over the past 8 years, I’ve helped thousands of students craft essays and applications that stand out at the most selective schools, including the Ivy League and Stanford. To give each student the highest level of attention, I keep my caseload small — booking early guarantees a place. I’m currently offering free consultations for new Sundial families where we’ll review your goals, brainstorm essay ideas, and outline a clear application strategy. You can book directly through my profile.
Here’s the reality: most colleges don’t systematically run every application essay through AI detectors. There’s no universal policy, and while some schools are experimenting with these tools, there’s no evidence they are widely implemented or 100% reliable. AI detectors can also produce false positives, especially with well-edited or formal writing. Colleges know this and are more concerned about essays that clearly don’t match a student’s voice or don’t align with other parts of the application, like graded writing samples.
Using Grammarly or similar editing tools is not considered cheating and is extremely common. These programs mostly check spelling, grammar, and clarity, similar to what a good proofreader would do. Brainstorming with chatbots or online resources is also fine, as long as the final essay is your own original work and ideas. Colleges know students get feedback from digital tools, teachers, parents, or peers — what matters is that your essay still sounds like you.
If you want to be extra safe, make sure your essay reflects your experiences and authentic voice. Don’t have AI rewrite or generate entire sections. If you use AI at all, limit it to grammar checks, brainstorming, or catching repetitive phrasing. Keep drafts to show how your essay evolved, just in case. For example, one student I worked with used Grammarly to fix typos and ChatGPT to suggest uncommon opening lines, but every word in the draft was their own. They were accepted at multiple selective schools with no problem.
Over the past 8 years, I’ve helped thousands of students craft essays and applications that stand out at the most selective schools, including the Ivy League and Stanford. To give each student the highest level of attention, I keep my caseload small — booking early guarantees a place. I’m currently offering free consultations for new Sundial families where we’ll review your goals, brainstorm essay ideas, and outline a clear application strategy. You can book directly through my profile.
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