Avoid Trusting ChatGPT for Important College Admission Counseling Advice
In today's competitive application landscape, students are required to stand out from the crowd. Showcasing unique qualities and interests that set them apart from other strong applicants in their field is crucial. However, when it comes to the college application process, AI should not be seen as a substitute for human expertise, deep strategy, or thoughtful narrative-building.
AI tools, such as ChatGPT, can be helpful in certain aspects of the process, such as aggregating data, identifying patterns, and predicting word sequences. But they fall short when it comes to identifying and reflecting a student's specific, individual, and interdisciplinary interests. AI lacks the ability to synthesize nuanced personal narratives across diverse fields, display genuine human introspection, emotional depth, and the capacity for complex critical thinking skills—qualities highly valued by top colleges in applications.
AI-generated language and ideas in personal statements or supplemental essays may not help a student stand out among talented applicants. In fact, admissions officers can easily detect inauthenticity, and any AI language may signal a lack of skill, creativity, or commitment to the school.
Excavating a student's genuine, intersectional interests and reflecting them in compelling, tangible ways on an application is only possible through extensive expertise, human connection, and dedicated mentorship. For instance, a student interested in law who enjoys playing video games might start a podcast discussing emerging ethical issues in new gaming technologies or a club for playing video games and then analyzing the laws of their virtual landscapes. A student interested in computer science who developed an interest in Classical literature might distinguish their application by creating interactive digital models of manuscripts or writing essays about the similarities between learning Latin and Python.
The college admissions process has become increasingly complex, requiring students to respond to changes in policies, requirements, best practices, and strategies. Students are faced with questions about test-optional schools, school categorization (match, safety, reach), essay content variation for different schools, summer programs, and authenticity of passion projects. Navigating these complexities requires human skill that AI simply cannot emulate.
While AI can be a useful tool, it should not be a student's primary source for application strategy. Families who rely solely on AI for their college application strategy risk producing applications that are flat and standardized and lack the substance and originality that top colleges seek. Instead, students should seek out dedicated mentors who can help them uncover their unique strengths and interests and guide them in presenting these in a compelling manner.
In conclusion, while AI has its place in the college application process, it should not replace human expertise and mentorship. Students seeking to stand out in a competitive landscape should focus on showcasing their unique passions, experiences, and ideas, and seek guidance from human advisors to help them do so effectively.
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