How do colleges actually detect AI-generated content in application essays?
I’ve been hearing so much talk about colleges using tools to spot AI in application essays and it’s making me worried.
Do admissions officers really use AI detectors when reading personal statements? If they do, are these detectors accurate? I used Grammarly and ChatGPT a bit just to brainstorm ideas but the essay I submitted is completely my own work. Now I’m just paranoid that the process might flag me for something I didn’t actually do.
If anyone knows how colleges approach this or if they manually check for AI, please let me know. I want to make sure I’m not at any risk just for using online tools while writing. My anxiety is through the roof about this topic.
Do admissions officers really use AI detectors when reading personal statements? If they do, are these detectors accurate? I used Grammarly and ChatGPT a bit just to brainstorm ideas but the essay I submitted is completely my own work. Now I’m just paranoid that the process might flag me for something I didn’t actually do.
If anyone knows how colleges approach this or if they manually check for AI, please let me know. I want to make sure I’m not at any risk just for using online tools while writing. My anxiety is through the roof about this topic.
2 weeks ago
•
24 views
Lydia Schooler
• 2 weeks ago
Advisor
As a Yale graduate and college admissions advisor with over 8 years of experience helping students craft essays for top schools, I’ve worked with many who share your concern about AI detection. Here’s how colleges are actually approaching it.
Most colleges do not rely solely on automated AI detectors to screen essays. While some have experimented with these tools, they are far from perfect and often flag authentic, human-written essays as AI-generated. Because of this, admissions officers treat detection results with caution and almost never make decisions based only on them.
If an essay raised a strong suspicion—being completely generic, very different from the rest of your application, or using noticeably robotic language—an officer might review it more closely. This could involve reading it alongside other parts of your application or checking with a counselor or teacher for context. But this is rare and usually reserved for extreme cases, not for normal use of tools like Grammarly or brainstorming with ChatGPT.
Your approach—using Grammarly for proofreading and ChatGPT for brainstorming, but writing the essay yourself—is widely considered acceptable. Many students use spelling and grammar aids, suggestion features in Google Docs, or feedback from teachers. As long as the final essay reflects your authentic ideas and voice, admissions officers do not see it as a problem.
The key is authenticity. Officers care far more about genuine, personal stories than perfect grammar. If your words and ideas are truly yours, you have nothing to worry about. Nothing in your process would raise concern.
Over the past 8 years, I’ve helped thousands of students craft essays and applications that stand out at the most selective schools. I’m currently offering free consultations for new Sundial families, where we can review your goals, brainstorm essay ideas, and outline a clear application strategy. You can book one directly through my profile—spots this month are limited.
Most colleges do not rely solely on automated AI detectors to screen essays. While some have experimented with these tools, they are far from perfect and often flag authentic, human-written essays as AI-generated. Because of this, admissions officers treat detection results with caution and almost never make decisions based only on them.
If an essay raised a strong suspicion—being completely generic, very different from the rest of your application, or using noticeably robotic language—an officer might review it more closely. This could involve reading it alongside other parts of your application or checking with a counselor or teacher for context. But this is rare and usually reserved for extreme cases, not for normal use of tools like Grammarly or brainstorming with ChatGPT.
Your approach—using Grammarly for proofreading and ChatGPT for brainstorming, but writing the essay yourself—is widely considered acceptable. Many students use spelling and grammar aids, suggestion features in Google Docs, or feedback from teachers. As long as the final essay reflects your authentic ideas and voice, admissions officers do not see it as a problem.
The key is authenticity. Officers care far more about genuine, personal stories than perfect grammar. If your words and ideas are truly yours, you have nothing to worry about. Nothing in your process would raise concern.
Over the past 8 years, I’ve helped thousands of students craft essays and applications that stand out at the most selective schools. I’m currently offering free consultations for new Sundial families, where we can review your goals, brainstorm essay ideas, and outline a clear application strategy. You can book one directly through my profile—spots this month are limited.