Do colleges use AI tools to check application essays?
I recently heard that some colleges might be using AI programs to screen or check student application essays for things like plagiarism or even AI-generated writing. I’m kind of nervous because I used a lot of online tools for grammar and wording suggestions, but I wrote everything myself. Does anyone know if this is actually happening at a lot of schools, or is it just a rumor?
If colleges do use AI, how advanced are these checks, and what exact things are they looking for? I want to make sure my application isn’t flagged by accident. Has anyone had any experiences with this or know how careful we need to be about using online writing help?
If colleges do use AI, how advanced are these checks, and what exact things are they looking for? I want to make sure my application isn’t flagged by accident. Has anyone had any experiences with this or know how careful we need to be about using online writing help?
1 week ago
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6 views
Anonymous
1 week ago
Colleges are beginning to use more technology in the admissions process, and that does include some AI tools in certain cases. It’s true that some schools check essays for plagiarism using established software like Turnitin or similar services, which can flag if parts of your essay match published sources or past submissions.
When it comes to detecting AI-generated writing, this is still an emerging area. Some colleges are experimenting with AI-detection tools, especially since advances in writing software have made it easier for students to get extensive help online. However, these tools are not universally used at all colleges, and their accuracy is far from perfect. Most colleges still rely heavily on human readers.
The main things these checks look for are:
1. Suspiciously generic or repetitive content that doesn’t sound like a high school student.
2. Plagiarism—major copy-paste from online sources, books, or published essays.
3. In some cases, overly polished writing that doesn’t match your grades or other writing samples (like short answers or your schoolwork).
If you wrote your essay yourself and only used grammar or wording suggestions from online tools like Grammarly or spell checkers, you have nothing to worry about. These aids are generally seen as acceptable—just like using auto-correct on your phone. The main concern is when people submit work that wasn’t truly theirs or copy large sections from the internet.
If you’re anxious, try reading your essay out loud to make sure it still sounds like you. Also, keep a few drafts or notes—you’ll have proof of your writing process if you ever need to show it.
Just make sure the story and reflections are your own. As long as you’re not copying text or using AI tools to write most of the essay, it’s extremely unlikely your application will get flagged.
When it comes to detecting AI-generated writing, this is still an emerging area. Some colleges are experimenting with AI-detection tools, especially since advances in writing software have made it easier for students to get extensive help online. However, these tools are not universally used at all colleges, and their accuracy is far from perfect. Most colleges still rely heavily on human readers.
The main things these checks look for are:
1. Suspiciously generic or repetitive content that doesn’t sound like a high school student.
2. Plagiarism—major copy-paste from online sources, books, or published essays.
3. In some cases, overly polished writing that doesn’t match your grades or other writing samples (like short answers or your schoolwork).
If you wrote your essay yourself and only used grammar or wording suggestions from online tools like Grammarly or spell checkers, you have nothing to worry about. These aids are generally seen as acceptable—just like using auto-correct on your phone. The main concern is when people submit work that wasn’t truly theirs or copy large sections from the internet.
If you’re anxious, try reading your essay out loud to make sure it still sounds like you. Also, keep a few drafts or notes—you’ll have proof of your writing process if you ever need to show it.
Just make sure the story and reflections are your own. As long as you’re not copying text or using AI tools to write most of the essay, it’s extremely unlikely your application will get flagged.
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