Students applying to college know they can't — or at least shouldn't — use AI chatbots to write their essays and personal statements. Yet, it might come as a surprise that some schools are beginning to leverage artificial intelligence to read and evaluate these submissions.
According to admissions directors, AI tools are evolving into a part of the college application screening process. Some institutions are discreetly incorporating AI into their evaluations, while others openly embrace its potential to expedite application reviews and even perform certain assessment tasks more efficiently than human reviewers.
“Humans get tired; some days are better than others. The AI does not get tired. It doesn't get grumpy. It doesn't have a bad day. The AI is consistent,” explains Juan Espinoza, vice provost for enrollment management at Virginia Tech.
This fall, Virginia Tech is introducing an AI-powered essay reader, which is expected to enable earlier admissions decision notifications — potentially a month sooner than prior years — by aiding in the sorting of tens of thousands of applications.
Colleges emphasize they are not solely depending on AI for admissions decisions but rather utilizing it to check transcripts and streamline mundane tasks. However, AI is also influencing how applicants are evaluated, particularly at elite institutions that are scrutinizing meticulously curated application packages crafted with professional admissions consultants.
For example, the California Institute of Technology is set to implement an AI tool aimed at assessing the "authenticity" of research submitted by applicants. Here, students will upload their research projects to an AI platform that conducts video interviews with them, subsequently reviewed by faculty members.
Despite the benefits, the use of AI hasn't been without criticism. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill faced backlash after it was disclosed that AI was employed to assess applicants' grammar and style. In response, the university reassured that AI's role is complementary, providing insights on students’ essays alongside comprehensive evaluations by trained human assessors.
Engagement with the AI tools presents a delicate balance for colleges, particularly as they desire to maintain transparency and authenticity in the application process. Institutions like Virginia Tech have developed their AI systems to ensure effectiveness while facilitating workload management for increasing application volumes.
As the landscape of college admissions continues to evolve with AI, institutions are investing in this technology to provide more effective evaluations while addressing ethical considerations to uphold integrity and fairness in the admissions experience.
