The use of artificial intelligence is quickly changing the attitude of students toward the process of applying to college. The 20232024 school year is the first full application year during which generative AI tools such as ChatGPT will be widely available in California. High schools and universities are grappling with ethical and practical questions regarding how AI can be a part of this highly personal process in approaching their seniors as they traverse their essays. Some institutions have been drawing firm lines, and some are vague in their policies which- in this case- gives a complicated scenario to all applicants state-wide.
The Student Perspective: AI Use Feels Like Cheating to Many
At Fremont High in Oakland, senior Toby Reed made a clear choice. “No. It’s blatantly plagiarizing,” he stated when asked if he would use ChatGPT for his application essay. For Reed, the issue isn’t just copying—it’s about authenticity. “It’s bad enough stealing content, but with ChatGPT you’re not even stealing from a real person,” he said.
Students across California are grappling with similar ethical dilemmas. Tara Sorkhabi, a senior at Monte Vista High School, echoed the concern. She argued that if AI(AI essays) is allowed in admissions, “admissions officers wouldn’t know who they’re accepting.” For students who invest weeks crafting essays, the idea of machine-generated responses feels unfair.
High School Policies: Guidance Without Clear Boundaries
The policies of high schools are different many times, and it ends up confusing the students. The California Department of Education adopts the use of AI within computer science and media literacy courses. However, with regard to the college essays, the department leaves the choice up to the districts. Most of those districts have anti-plagiarism policies, but they hardly touch on the topic of AI.
Josh Godinez, a counselor at Centennial High and former president of the California Association of School Counselors, acknowledged that many students are using AI for college essays. “We can’t pretend it away,” he said. Despite this reality, the ethical gray zone remains unresolved in most classrooms.
College Reactions: From Strict Bans to Cautious Allowance
Colleges have adopted varying stances. The University of Southern California holds a firm position. “Were we to learn that an applicant had used generative AI for any part of their application, their application would be immediately rejected,” the university stated. However, USC does not use any AI-detection tools, making enforcement difficult.
The University of California system takes a more nuanced approach. While AI can be used for idea generation and editing advice, the final content must be the student’s own. The UC Office of the President said that regular screenings are conducted to verify authenticity but did not disclose specific detection methods. UC Riverside admissions director Veronica Zendejas warned that essays lacking a student’s authentic experience may hurt their chances.
Common App Adds AI Clause Without Clear Definition
Nationally, the Common App now includes restrictions on “substantive” AI use. But the term is left undefined. CEO Jenny Rickard explained that the organization evaluates “the totality of the circumstances” rather than offering a strict rule. If Common App suspects plagiarism, it may terminate the student’s account and notify the colleges involved.
Pomona College, which uses the Common App, has no formal AI policy. Still, admissions director Adam Sapp noted that AI lacks the nuance and personalization colleges value. “It’s not very good at helping a student communicate in their authentic voice,” he wrote.
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AI Detection: Tools Fall Short, False Positives Pose Risks
Even where colleges want to identify AI use, detection is unreliable. ChatGPT’s parent company shut down its own detection tool, citing frequent errors. A Wired article highlighted the problem: even a 1% false-positive rate could wrongly flag 10 out of 1,000 students.
JR Gonzalez, CTO for the Los Angeles County Office of Education, noted that no detection system is fully accurate. Stanford University professor Jeffrey Hancock confirmed the challenge. His research found that humans detect AI writing no better than a coin toss. “As you build detectors, the AI gets better,” Hancock warned.
Coaching vs. Code: Wealth and Equity Still in Play
The question of fairness extends beyond technology. Affluent students have long had access to expensive tutors who help polish essays—legally. These tutors may not write essays outright, but they offer tailored guidance that low-income students often lack.
AI is cost effective, unlike to the students who lack support systems. Hancock explained that students may educate AI models based on essay articles by successful applicants. This is done by a process known as fine-tuning which allows them to come up with answers that resemble good-quality submissions. However critics believe that even this will put the students distance with their voice and personal expression.
Teaching AI Literacy: Schools Caught in Transition
Teachers are also becoming conscious that they cannot neglect the AI option anymore. According to Katherine Goyette, computer science development person at the California Educational Department, “AI has arrived. We must educate teachers and learners how to use it and study it.” She focused on not only language but also morality.
Christine Elgersma of Common Sense Media added that schools should include students in policy decisions. She warned of privacy risks, noting that personal stories entered into AI platforms might reappear in other students’ work. Elgersma also stressed the long-term value of writing. “Developing your own ideas and expressing yourself in words” is a crucial life skill, she said.
The Reality of Application Review: Essays Matter, But Not Alone
At the University of San Francisco, Sherie Gilmore-Cleveland explained that essays rank just behind grades in importance. But she noted that no student with weak academics has ever gained admission solely based on an essay. That said, a strong academic student with a weak essay might be rejected from competitive majors.
Admissions officers from UC Berkeley and Stanford conveyed similar views. They said essays should reflect personal voice and experience. With limited word counts—650 for the Common App and 350 for UC prompts—there’s little room for generic or impersonal language.
