Do colleges use AI detectors to check for essay authenticity?

This is definitely a common concern for students right now, and you’re not alone in wondering about it. As of 2024, the majority of colleges don’t universally run submitted application essays through AI detection tools. While some schools have started experimenting with AI detectors, these tools are not reliably accurate yet, and there’s a wide range of limitations. For example, AI detectors can sometimes wrongly flag work that’s actually original and written by a student, just because it follows certain patterns or lacks advanced vocabulary.

Most admissions offices still rely on experienced readers to get a sense of essay authenticity through the voice, detail, and consistency with the rest of your application. Plagiarism checkers like Turnitin or similar software are sometimes used to catch direct copying from the internet or published sources, but it’s rare for colleges to use AI-specific detectors for every essay, especially since those tools are new and produce false positives.

Admissions officers don’t expect your essays to sound like they were written by professional authors—they already anticipate seeing a range of writing styles and abilities from high school students. What they’re truly looking for is your genuine perspective and specific experiences. If you worry that your writing might come off as robotic, focus on including small, personal details or anecdotes only you could tell. For example, instead of saying, “I love biology,” you could describe the moment you realized it: ‘I was hunched over my kitchen counter building a DNA model out of gumdrops, when I realized I couldn’t stop thinking about how those little shapes held the code for every living thing.’

If you’re brainstorming with tools, double check that the final essay sounds like you and truly reflects your thoughts and experiences. Reading your essay out loud is a great way to catch anything that doesn’t sound natural. Ultimately, an authentic, even imperfect voice will stand out much more than something polished but generic. If you have doubts, you could also show your draft to a trusted teacher or counselor and ask if it sounds like your usual writing.

So, try not to stress too much about detectors—focus on being yourself and telling your story.