Is it okay to use AI to help draft my college essay?
So lately I’ve been seeing a ton of talk about using AI tools for college essays. I’m a current senior and honestly struggling a bit with brainstorming ideas and making my essay sound polished.
I’ve played around with some AI writing tools to help organize my thoughts and even suggest different ways to phrase sentences. Is this considered cheating or is it normal at this point? I’ve heard some colleges might use AI detectors, but I honestly just want my essay to represent who I am.
How are other people using AI in the process? Am I risking anything by getting inspiration or help from these tools as long as I’m still writing the actual content and sharing my story? I’m worried about crossing any ethical lines.
I’ve played around with some AI writing tools to help organize my thoughts and even suggest different ways to phrase sentences. Is this considered cheating or is it normal at this point? I’ve heard some colleges might use AI detectors, but I honestly just want my essay to represent who I am.
How are other people using AI in the process? Am I risking anything by getting inspiration or help from these tools as long as I’m still writing the actual content and sharing my story? I’m worried about crossing any ethical lines.
6 months ago
•
71 views
Caroline Benson
• 6 months ago
Advisor
Your question is understandable—AI tools have become extremely popular with students looking for everything from brainstorming support to sentence-level revisions.
In general, it is absolutely fine to use AI as a tool for idea generation, organization, or refining your writing, as long as the content, voice, and perspective are authentically yours. Many students use AI to ask for feedback, get unstuck, or play with the phrasing of their thoughts, similar to how they might ask a teacher or friend for feedback. It only becomes an ethical issue when someone copies large chunks of text written entirely by AI—or represents AI-generated content as their own deep, personal reflection without meaningful revision.
Colleges expect your essay to represent you: your writing, insights, and story. AI can give you prompts or help you see your own words in a new light, but be careful to use it as an assistant, not a replacement. If you take an AI suggestion, make sure to rewrite it in your own style and voice. This not only keeps your writing personal, but it also avoids potential problems with AI-detection software, which some schools do use to check for authenticity—although these detectors aren't perfect.
Plenty of other students use AI tools to brainstorm or tighten up drafts, often treating them as a more interactive, immediate version of a writing tutor. For example, you might ask, “What are some unique angles for my summer camp experience?” and then use the responses only as thought starters. Or you could paste a sentence in for suggestions on how to make it more active or concise, and then tweak the suggestions to sound like you.
As long as you’re making sure every story, reflection, and idea really represents you, using AI for feedback or inspiration is reasonable—and honestly, pretty normal these days. But avoid wholesale copying or relying on AI to answer deeply personal prompts for you. Admissions officers are looking for genuine student voices, and if your application sounds generic, impersonal, or inconsistent with your other materials, it will stand out in the wrong way.
If you’re ever unsure, try reading your essay aloud. If it sounds like something you’d say to a friend (but a bit more polished), you’re on the right track!
In general, it is absolutely fine to use AI as a tool for idea generation, organization, or refining your writing, as long as the content, voice, and perspective are authentically yours. Many students use AI to ask for feedback, get unstuck, or play with the phrasing of their thoughts, similar to how they might ask a teacher or friend for feedback. It only becomes an ethical issue when someone copies large chunks of text written entirely by AI—or represents AI-generated content as their own deep, personal reflection without meaningful revision.
Colleges expect your essay to represent you: your writing, insights, and story. AI can give you prompts or help you see your own words in a new light, but be careful to use it as an assistant, not a replacement. If you take an AI suggestion, make sure to rewrite it in your own style and voice. This not only keeps your writing personal, but it also avoids potential problems with AI-detection software, which some schools do use to check for authenticity—although these detectors aren't perfect.
Plenty of other students use AI tools to brainstorm or tighten up drafts, often treating them as a more interactive, immediate version of a writing tutor. For example, you might ask, “What are some unique angles for my summer camp experience?” and then use the responses only as thought starters. Or you could paste a sentence in for suggestions on how to make it more active or concise, and then tweak the suggestions to sound like you.
As long as you’re making sure every story, reflection, and idea really represents you, using AI for feedback or inspiration is reasonable—and honestly, pretty normal these days. But avoid wholesale copying or relying on AI to answer deeply personal prompts for you. Admissions officers are looking for genuine student voices, and if your application sounds generic, impersonal, or inconsistent with your other materials, it will stand out in the wrong way.
If you’re ever unsure, try reading your essay aloud. If it sounds like something you’d say to a friend (but a bit more polished), you’re on the right track!
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Caroline Benson
Upstate New York
Columbia University (BA); American University in Cairo (MA); Middlebury College (MA)
Experience
9 years