AI and College Admissions: 5 Potential Changes Ahead
By Jacqueline Leppla
As students increasingly turn to AI tools for help with college applications, admissions teams are challenged to evaluate applicants fairly while determining who students really are.
Based on recent reading about admission trends, many schools may experiment with new approaches to ensure authenticity in application materials.
Here are five changes that could be on the horizon:
1. Essays evolving
Essays are likely to remain an important part of college applications. Strong writing and a youthful voice should continue to be important.
Instead of relying heavily on a single long personal statement, colleges may place greater weight on shorter, structured supplemental questions that demonstrate how students think and reason.
Prompts like this can make it easier to compare applicants directly. Good ideas and specific examples could matter more than ever.
2. More real-time writing and videos
Some schools might test formats that capture students' thinking in real time.
Video introductions are already in use at many schools, with formats varying.
Timed writing tasks, or short, recorded video responses to spontaneous questions could be incorporated. This would allow admissions teams to see how students communicate without outside help.
While this might feel a bit intimidating, it could enable more conversational communication than the current admissions landscape allows.
3. Clearer rules about AI use
Most colleges no longer pretend that AI tools aren’t used by applicants.
Instead, many are creating stronger guidelines. A common direction is:
AI for brainstorming or grammar support: acceptable
AI for drafting or rewriting essays: not acceptable
Some schools already ask applicants to disclose whether and how they used AI tools in their application materials. Others might follow.
4. More “proof of real work”
To confirm authenticity, some colleges now request graded classroom papers, which were written under supervision.
These materials provide a baseline for how a student typically writes in a normal academic setting. Admissions officers can compare that work to application essays to see whether the voice and level of sophistication are consistent.
5. Increased project or portfolio review
Another potential change might be a greater emphasis on long-term work.
Research projects, independent studies, creative portfolios, engineering builds, community initiatives, and other sustained efforts offer something AI cannot easily replicate: evidence of commitment and growth over time.
Student Take-Aways
AI should be used carefully as a coach, not a ghostwriter. Helpful for feedback and organization, but not for doing the thinking or writing itself.
Students who develop their own ideas and provide clear examples illustrating their points should continue to stand out, regardless of how application formats evolve.
If you would like help building a thoughtful college list, developing strong essay topics, preparing for interviews or video responses, or navigating any part of the admissions process, please schedule a consultation at HigherEdAdvice.com.
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