Has anyone used an AI grader for their college essays? How accurate are they really?
So, I'm in the middle of finalizing my Common App essay, and I've seen a bunch of websites and tools that claim to grade your essay using AI. I'm not sure if they're actually helpful or just a gimmick?
If you've tried these AI graders, did they give you meaningful feedback? For example, were there suggestions that genuinely improved your essay, or did it just focus on grammar and spelling? I could see how it might catch some small stuff, but I'm worried it could miss the big picture things like tone and storytelling.
Would love to hear your experiences, especially if you compared what AI said to what a teacher or counselor told you. I want my essay to stand out, but I don't want to rely on tools that might be wrong or miss something important!
If you've tried these AI graders, did they give you meaningful feedback? For example, were there suggestions that genuinely improved your essay, or did it just focus on grammar and spelling? I could see how it might catch some small stuff, but I'm worried it could miss the big picture things like tone and storytelling.
Would love to hear your experiences, especially if you compared what AI said to what a teacher or counselor told you. I want my essay to stand out, but I don't want to rely on tools that might be wrong or miss something important!
4 months ago
•
52 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Great question—AI graders for college essays are getting more popular, so a lot of students are wondering about this! Based on what I’ve seen and heard from students who tested these tools, their usefulness really depends on what you want out of feedback and where you are in your writing process.
Most AI essay graders are good at flagging grammar issues, spelling mistakes, and sometimes giving basic comments about clarity and structure. For example, they might point out if you’re overusing passive voice or if your introduction isn’t clear enough. Some advanced platforms also attempt to rate creativity or emotional tone, but they still struggle to truly understand the nuance and uniqueness admissions officers look for.
A lot of students find that AI feedback can help tidy up rough drafts—catching typos, suggesting shorter sentences, or prompting you to cut clichés. One student noticed her AI report kept saying her story was too general, which made her go back and add more specific personal details. That said, when she compared this with comments from her English teacher, the teacher pointed out deeper storytelling issues—like how the essay’s message showed maturity, but the conclusion needed more reflection, which the AI totally missed.
The biggest limitation is that AI can’t really assess the "big picture"—how compelling your narrative is, whether your voice feels authentic, or if your personality shines through. Human readers will often pick up on things an algorithm just can’t, like subtle humor, creative risk-taking, or emotional depth.
If you’re going to use an AI grader, try it out for early drafts to catch low-level errors and get some fresh perspective. But don’t rely on it for final tweaks or holistic feedback. Always ask teachers, counselors, or someone who knows you to look it over—especially for those intangible qualities that make your essay stand out.
To get the best of both worlds, combine the efficiency of AI for surface editing with real, personalized feedback from humans for the heart of your essay. That way, you’ll maximize your chances of submitting something truly memorable!
Most AI essay graders are good at flagging grammar issues, spelling mistakes, and sometimes giving basic comments about clarity and structure. For example, they might point out if you’re overusing passive voice or if your introduction isn’t clear enough. Some advanced platforms also attempt to rate creativity or emotional tone, but they still struggle to truly understand the nuance and uniqueness admissions officers look for.
A lot of students find that AI feedback can help tidy up rough drafts—catching typos, suggesting shorter sentences, or prompting you to cut clichés. One student noticed her AI report kept saying her story was too general, which made her go back and add more specific personal details. That said, when she compared this with comments from her English teacher, the teacher pointed out deeper storytelling issues—like how the essay’s message showed maturity, but the conclusion needed more reflection, which the AI totally missed.
The biggest limitation is that AI can’t really assess the "big picture"—how compelling your narrative is, whether your voice feels authentic, or if your personality shines through. Human readers will often pick up on things an algorithm just can’t, like subtle humor, creative risk-taking, or emotional depth.
If you’re going to use an AI grader, try it out for early drafts to catch low-level errors and get some fresh perspective. But don’t rely on it for final tweaks or holistic feedback. Always ask teachers, counselors, or someone who knows you to look it over—especially for those intangible qualities that make your essay stand out.
To get the best of both worlds, combine the efficiency of AI for surface editing with real, personalized feedback from humans for the heart of your essay. That way, you’ll maximize your chances of submitting something truly memorable!
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Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
Rating
5.0 (5 reviews)