Do colleges actually check essays for AI usage?
I keep hearing that some colleges are starting to use AI detectors on essays. I'm a high school senior working on my Common App, and honestly, I'm a little anxious about this. I've read articles about AI-generated writing, but I write all my essays myself, sometimes with help from Grammarly or my English teacher for edits.
Is it true that schools are really screening for AI? How strict are they, and how accurate are those tools anyway? If anyone knows how colleges are handling this or if it's just a rumor, I’d appreciate it if you could share your experience or insight. I just don’t want my essay flagged unfairly when I put so much work into it.
Is it true that schools are really screening for AI? How strict are they, and how accurate are those tools anyway? If anyone knows how colleges are handling this or if it's just a rumor, I’d appreciate it if you could share your experience or insight. I just don’t want my essay flagged unfairly when I put so much work into it.
5 months ago
•
50 views
Camille Luong
• 5 months ago
Advisor
Your concerns are definitely understandable, especially with how much buzz there is around AI and college applications this year. Colleges are aware of the rise in AI-generated text and some schools have started experimenting with various AI-detection tools, but there's no widespread, standardized process in place yet. Most colleges are not routinely running every essay through AI detectors right now.
The main issue is that AI detectors available today (like GPTZero or other similar tools) aren't always reliable or accurate. These programs can produce false positives, labeling original work as 'likely AI-generated' due to style choices, vocabulary, or even grammar corrections done with tools like Grammarly. Universities know this, so they are cautious about making serious decisions (like rejecting applicants) solely based on these tools.
Instead, admissions officers are trained to spot essays that don’t match up with the rest of your application—like if your writing style is radically different from your other submitted materials, or if your content seems generic and impersonal. If something raises a red flag, they might request additional writing samples, such as graded essays from your school or a brief on-the-spot response. But this is still pretty rare.
There have been some instances where colleges made public statements about essays needing to be original, mostly to put applicants on notice. For example, some state schools have added warnings to their prompts, and a handful of institutions piloted AI-detection tools last year. However, most are relying on human judgment for now.
If you’re writing your essays yourself and just getting normal help from teachers or editing platforms, you don't need to worry. Just avoid copying from outside sources or using AI programs to generate your actual content. As long as your essay reflects your voice and story, you’re doing all the right things.
If it helps, you can run your essay through one of the free detectors online to see what they say, but don't panic if your score isn’t perfect. Reach out to your college counselor or English teacher for another set of eyes if you want extra reassurance. Admissions teams have seen a huge range of writing styles, and what matters most is that your essay feels authentic and personal to you.
The main issue is that AI detectors available today (like GPTZero or other similar tools) aren't always reliable or accurate. These programs can produce false positives, labeling original work as 'likely AI-generated' due to style choices, vocabulary, or even grammar corrections done with tools like Grammarly. Universities know this, so they are cautious about making serious decisions (like rejecting applicants) solely based on these tools.
Instead, admissions officers are trained to spot essays that don’t match up with the rest of your application—like if your writing style is radically different from your other submitted materials, or if your content seems generic and impersonal. If something raises a red flag, they might request additional writing samples, such as graded essays from your school or a brief on-the-spot response. But this is still pretty rare.
There have been some instances where colleges made public statements about essays needing to be original, mostly to put applicants on notice. For example, some state schools have added warnings to their prompts, and a handful of institutions piloted AI-detection tools last year. However, most are relying on human judgment for now.
If you’re writing your essays yourself and just getting normal help from teachers or editing platforms, you don't need to worry. Just avoid copying from outside sources or using AI programs to generate your actual content. As long as your essay reflects your voice and story, you’re doing all the right things.
If it helps, you can run your essay through one of the free detectors online to see what they say, but don't panic if your score isn’t perfect. Reach out to your college counselor or English teacher for another set of eyes if you want extra reassurance. Admissions teams have seen a huge range of writing styles, and what matters most is that your essay feels authentic and personal to you.
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Camille Luong
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Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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5 years
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