They check a lot of stuff. But do they look for AI in your papers? Find out why and how colleges might check for AI when they let students in.
Students say getting into college is really stressful. A University of Wisconsin-Madison study found about 47% of college students use high-tech help for their schoolwork.
Because of this, schools might use special programs to spot when a student uses AI for homework or research. But does this also happen when you apply to college?
Yes, colleges do look for AI in applications, but each college has its own rules.
Keep reading to find out why colleges worry about essays written by AI and how they catch them during the admission process.
Every year, admissions officers go through thousands of applications, and sometimes, they check if AI wrote any part of them, especially the personal essays.
Here’s why colleges might look for AI in applications:
To truly understand what a student can do and what they’ve been through
The personal essay is a crucial part of college applications. It lets admissions officers really get to know the students applying. This essay is a chance for students to share their talents and past experiences.
Harvard always says “Be yourself” is the most important tip for writing a great college essay. The thing is, essays written by AI just can’t show who you really are in the same way.
To make sure no one has an unfair lead
AI-made words and pictures might be all over today, but not everyone can get their hands on this tech. This could mean some students, those who can use advanced AI, might have an unfair edge.
For instance, students who know their way around AI could use it to craft, tweak, and polish their essays. Having checks for AI use helps the people in charge of college admissions make sure all students are on the same level, being looked at for the work they truly did themselves.
To keep honesty in schools
The International Center for Academic Integrity shares six key values that are important for being true and fair in school work.
Since most schools and colleges have rules about being honest in your work, admissions officers work hard to make sure students’ applications show their own work and no one else’s.
A lot of schools and the people who decide who gets in use special computer programs and take a look themselves to see if a computer helped write your application.
What kind of tech do they use?
A study shows that half of the schools are already using AIin picking students, and a bit more want to start doing this soon. So, what’s the deal with these AI-detecting tools?
There’s a bunch of tech out there made to spot essays written by AI. Mostly, these gadgets are pretty smart and learn how to guess if a text was written by a AI.
Imagine that someone who checks applications uses a tool to see if an essay was made by AI. After checking, they find out there’s a 10% chance it was written by a person and a 90% chance it was made by AI.
This means the tool thinks there’s a very high chance the essay wasn’t written by a person. This part about “Likely AI” is important. Studies that look into how good AI checkers are, such as the Netus.ai checker, show they work pretty well. But, these tools can sometimes get it wrong and say something is made by AI when it’s not.
So, these shouldn’t be the only way someone decides if work is good or not for school. If a tool mistakenly says a student’s essay was made by AI, the student can use a special free tool on their Chrome browser. This tool can show every step they took to write their essay in Google Docs.
People who help decide who gets into college have seen a lot of applications in their job. Because of this, they might notice if an essay doesn’t sound right.
The Washington Post reporters decided to experiment in their story “Can ChatGPT Get Into Harvard?” They showed essays written by ChatGPT and essays written by people to someone who works at an Ivy League college. They wanted to see if he could spot which was which.
He found out that the essays from ChatGPT had these things:
Admission officers use a method called triangulation to understand student applications fully. They search for themes, links, and steadiness in their essays, recommendation letters, and interviews. They want to see if all parts agree.
But, it’s hard to tell if text was made by AI just by looking at it.
A study by the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons showed that people could tell the difference between AI and human-written medical residency applications about 66% of the time. Check out our study, “Can Humans Detect AI-Generated Text?” to find out more.
Personal essays really matter when you’re applying to college. They let students show their true selves. They’re more than just grades, test scores, or hobbies. With all applications looking alike, your special essay can make the difference. It could make the college admit you.
Essays that you write about yourself in college applications aren’t like tests or school grades. Those mostly look at how good you are at studying. A personal essay is different – it shows what you’re really like. It talks about what moves you and what has happened in your life that matters to you. The people looking at your application get to know you better, not just how smart you are.
In the essay, you share stories about yourself that stick in people’s minds. It’s where you talk about big things you’ve faced, what’s made you see the world how you do now, or what you love doing the most. It’s how you show who you are, more than just your grades or achievements.
These essays help to give life to your resume. You get to explain how you’ve become the person you are today because of what you’ve done or been through.
A key role of the personal essay is to check a student’s ability to write. Schools admire students who can share their thoughts clearly in writing and speaking. Personal essays help college officers judge how good a student is at putting across their viewpoints, concepts, and feelings. A clean, compact and reflective essay proves a student’s competence in effective communication, a fundamental skill needed for a successful college life.
Furthermore, the essay is a platform for students to display their inventive side and writing flair. Students can choose a formal or relaxed style; the essay mirrors their knack for storytelling and sharing thoughts in a captivating way. Success isn’t just about perfect grammar and spelling; it’s about the essay’s flow, its intrigue and if it keeps the reader hooked to the end.
Private essays let students show off their personality and honesty. Resumes and grades deal with school wins, but a personal essay tells how a student’s unique traits lead to victory. This is extra key for colleges hunting for folks who will be a positive force on their campus. They look for students that show toughness, sympathy, the skill to lead, and sharp thinking abilities.
Take for instance a student who talks about getting through hard times proves they have grit and willpower, traits schools look for in prospective students. Students, who chat about how they’ve pitched in to their communities or lent a hand to others, are showing they understand others’ feelings and social duty. By opening up these elements of their life, students can express to colleges they’ve got the personality traits that will aid them in doing well not just in school, but also life.
When schools look at applications, they consider how well each student might fit in. The personal essay is key. It shows a student’s values, interests, and personality. Schools can see if these match their community goals. In the essay, students can explain why they like a certain school and how they can add to its spirit. They can talk about the parts of the school’s projects, values, or campus life they like. They can share why they’re drawn to that specific school.
A great personal essay helps schools understand a student’s dreams and their reasons for applying. This way, schools get a picture of how the student can add to the college culture. It’s not just about school grades; it’s about the unique value each student brings.
Before using AI, students need to check the AI rules of each college they’re thinking about. If the rules are not easy to understand, they should ask the admissions office to explain more. Getting into college because of your own hard work is the best feeling!
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