By now most of us have read an article with portions written by ChatGPT, one of the newest and currently free “Generative Pre-trained Transformers,” aka AI-based writing tools. Editorialists include these excerpts as examples to demonstrate both ChatGPT’s abilities and weaknesses. Spoiler alert: I am not going to use AI to write any of this, but I admit it might do a better job. Although grammatically perfect, algorithmic language falls short in other areas due to a lack of true understanding and a tendency to stick to generalizations without citing examples. Professors agree that ChatGPT papers would mostly get D’s and F’s, but many feel that there are productive ways of using it in the classroom. It might not actually be the death knell of human-generated expository writing as feared, but how will college admissions folks deal with the possibility that some admissions essays will not be the applicant’s work?
This latest intrusion of AI into our lives has the college counseling world doing backflips. When I “Googled” ChatGPT being used for college application essays, I saw many related articles, but none were from colleges or universities. Are they not as concerned as the people on the other side of the desk? Some colleges have created options so applicants can express themselves in other ways such as by using videos or artwork. Bowdoin offers an optional video-recorded two-minute spontaneous response. Rice asks applicants to share an image of something that appeals to them. Brown asks for a short video introduction. The holistic portion of the application is about getting to know the applicant and how they might contribute to the college community; it is not about how well an applicant can write. These alternative submissions show an increasing flexibility on the part of the colleges of how they can go about learning more about their applicants. Honestly, applicants have always been able to have someone else write their essays so ChatGPT is just another way to do that.
Colleges are aware that they won’t be able to consistently recognize an essay written by an algorithm. Possible solutions include that they could revert to requiring the writing section of the SAT/ACT as a means of comparison, or they could require proctored writing submissions. Alternatively, they could rework their essay prompts so that they would be impossible for an AI tool to respond to. Colleges are currently focused on reading this year’s applications, so announcements of changes have not yet been made. Time will tell if ChatGPT and the like are a threat to the application process or merely a blip on the screen. I hope that more schools create new ways for applicants to tell their stories. I also fervently hope that students make the ethically correct decision to write their own application essays.
LOL, while editing this, I got a news alert that ChatGPT released an AI detection tool.
I am an Independent Educational Consultant specializing in helping students and their families navigate the college application process. Contact me with questions regarding this or other general college application questions.