Do colleges actually check if your essays are written by AI?

It's totally understandable to feel anxious with all the stories swirling around about AI essay detection—this is a concern for lots of students right now. Colleges are definitely aware that AI tools exist, and some are exploring or using detection tools that try to flag essays that might be written by AI. However, there’s no single, universal policy across all schools, and many admit that current AI-detection software is far from perfect. Sometimes, these tools can flag genuine student writing as AI-generated (false positives), or miss actual AI writing entirely.

What admissions readers focus on most is the authenticity of your voice and the content of your story. Admissions officers read thousands of essays, and they’re generally pretty good at sensing when an essay sounds overly generic, unnatural, or inconsistent with the rest of your application. For example, if your essay suddenly uses advanced vocabulary and abstract phrasing you haven’t shown elsewhere (like in your school work or other parts of the app), that might raise eyebrows.

Here’s an example: if you wrote, "As the dichotomy of my existence unfolded in the liminal spaces of adolescence," but nowhere else in your file do you write like that, it could sound off. On the flipside, writing in your genuine voice, even if it’s not perfect, is much more convincing. Admissions officers want to hear your perspective more than anything.

For peace of mind, keep drafts, notes, or outlines to show your process (though it’s rarely requested). And if you’re writing everything yourself, you truly have nothing to worry about. Focus on telling your story as only you can. In short—yes, admissions offices pay attention to essay authenticity, but there’s no need for paranoia if you’re writing your essays honestly. Just keep your voice front and center, and you’re already on the right track.