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ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence content generators (Claude, Gemini, Jasper, etc.) are a tempting resource for students faced with writing dozens of college essays. Running a prompt through AI will yield an essay that seems well-written and better organized than most students can produce... that is, unless you try to figure out what it actually means or try to connect with the writing on an emotional level.
AI uses patterns to generate content, creating a buzzword-heavy, superficial writing style. When a student inputs a college admissions prompt, AI will use millions of examples to generate its content—but it won’t generate anything new. When our main goal is to help our students stand out by demonstrating their potential for success, working from a pattern is exactly what we don’t want students to do!
When reviewing essays, look for a combination of the following flags. If an essay has only one or two of these issues, there is no need to be alarmed—instead, scroll down to read “Is it AI… or a high school student?”
- Overly Structured Writing: AI tends to produce essays with clear, clean paragraph transitions that follow expected narrative arcs.
- Polished Language and Vocabulary: The writing may use sophisticated phrasing that feels out of step with a typical high school student voice.
- Generic or Broad Reflections: Conclusions often feel universally applicable (e.g., “I learned to persevere,” “the experience shaped my growth,” “I realized the value of teamwork,” etc.) rather than personal—and sometimes they aren’t even appropriate for the theme of the essay.
- Lack of Unique Details: Specific moments, dialogue, or idiosyncratic observations are often missing, which are hallmarks of human writing.
- Even Tone Throughout: Essays may lack emotional highs, lows, or imperfections, creating a smooth but artificial flow.
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Resources for Spotting AI-Generated Text
- Here is an example of an AI-generated essay with a key to help you find the patterns and buzzwords.
- Here is a list of patterns and buzzwords commonly used in essays written with AI.
Examples of AI-Influenced Content (click the arrow to expand)
Buzzwords/phrases that sound good, appropriate even for a college essay, but often aren’t tied to the actual context of that section
- “The lessons I learned” (with no named lesson)
- “Transcends” (with no contrast of something transcending something else)
- “Transformative” (with no action that shows a change)
- “Testament”
- "My journey of discovery" or "a journey toward impact"
- “Tapestry of diversity”
Scrabble words
- “Myriad”
- “Enigma”
- “Formidable”
- “symbolic significance”
Vague claims with zero evidence
- “This openness has deepened my connections with individuals from all walks of life, allowing me to forge bonds built on empathy and understanding.”
- “I found that keeping an open mind during these exchanges illuminated the power of diverse perspectives.”
- “I have since forged friendships with individuals from different continents, each bond a testament to the enduring impact of genuine cross-cultural understanding.”
- “RPI is unlike other universities that may force me to adjust my aspirations to fit a set path."
- “The kitchen, once a realm of mystery, became a place of shared experiences and valuable life skills.”
- “This awareness has helped me foster a more inclusive perspective in my interactions, celebrating the richness of cultural diversity.”
Some phrases just don’t sound human
- “I am grateful for the wisdom gleaned from a childhood ceremony that propels me forward.”
- “This university beckons me…”
- “I admire how Dr. So & So utilizes computational methods to decipher the enigmas of biomolecules.”
Also, look for…
- Abrupt shifts in tones between paragraphs
- An overabundance of summarizing statements
- Clunky adjective-noun and adverb-verb pairings—and an overreliance on these pairings
- A general lack of emotion or depth paired with familiar/expected takeaways
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Is It AI… or a high school student?
High school writers, especially in early drafts, will use generalized and broad language, take meandering detours in their narratives and their tone, and rely too heavily on buzzwords instead of focusing on personal, unique insights. And, many times, a first draft conclusion will have nothing to do with the rest of the essay! Students often don’t know how to get to where they think they want to go!
Unfortunately for those of us who work with high school writers, those are the same issues often present in AI-generated and AI-polished essays. These correlations make identifying AI in our student population particularly tricky!
Fortunately for us, our pedagogy is prepared! Prompt’s approach can work wonders to dig deeper into a student’s experiences and insights using scaffolding, instructional insights, and buy-in strategies. By approaching AI-influenced essays as a content issue, we can use our strengths as educators to provide a roadmap for a successful essay. Of course, it is up to each student to decide if they want to engage with our feedback, but we are well equipped to support students in replacing AI-influenced content with authentic narratives and reflections. It’s what we do best!
⬇️ Take a look at the following Why Us? essays, one written by AI, the other by a student:
AI-generated:
As a high school senior eagerly planning my next academic chapter, I find myself drawn to the University of Illinois for a myriad of compelling reasons. This esteemed institution, nestled in the heart of the Midwest, embodies the perfect blend of academic excellence, a vibrant community, and a commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity.The University of Illinois’ reputation for cutting-edge research and innovative learning opportunities aligns perfectly with my desire to challenge myself and contribute to meaningful discoveries. Whether it’s collaborating with faculty on groundbreaking projects, accessing state-of-the-art resources, or diving into interdisciplinary coursework, I am excited to immerse myself in an environment that prioritizes both intellectual growth and real-world impact.Beyond academics, the university’s vibrant campus culture promises a community where I can grow not just as a student, but as a person. From its diverse student body to its wealth of extracurricular opportunities—whether joining student-led organizations, participating in cultural events, or volunteering through community outreach programs—I see the University of Illinois as a place where I can build lasting relationships, learn from different perspectives, and contribute meaningfully to campus life.
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Written by student:
Looking forward to my next academic chapter, I am enthused to pursue a degree in the School of Media and Cinema Studies at the University of Illinois for a plethora of reasons. I'm invested in the Midwestern values that the UIUC community offers, especially considering that you have the most students of color among top-ranked Midwest universities.Looking forward to my next academic chapter, I am enthused to pursue a degree in the School of Media and Cinema Studies at the University of Illinois for a plethora of reasons. I'm invested in the Midwestern values that the UIUC community offers, especially considering that you have the most students of color among top-ranked Midwest universities.I am eager to participate in opportunities for mentorship and to also build community through programs like SEEDS. As a first-generation student, I know this community will be an invaluable support to me, and someday, I hope to become a mentor myself.I have created many films as a budding filmmaker, but I have had limited resources. At the University of Illinois, I know I won't be looked down upon because of classes like Smart Phone Cinema and Popular Culture MACS 320. Of course, I'm also excited to start using professional tools in the cutting-edge studios and to work with professors who are also experts in the field and will teach me all of the skills I need to be a successful filmmaker!
There are a lot of similarities here, with generalizations and a lot of extra wording that could be condensed to make room for more specific research and personality. Still, we at least see a few entry points in the student-written draft to build from—and our feedback would make this essay more precise and personal in no time!
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How Colleges are Responding
AI has a huge impact on writing style, even if students just use it to polish their writing. As such, colleges are looking for authenticity and personality in essays more than ever!
Essays are very much part of our understanding of the applicant, we’re just no longer assuming that the essay is an accurate reflection of the student’s actual writing ability. [Essays will now be used to] help understand the applicant as an individual rather, not just as a set of attributes and accomplishments. [The admissions office now values essays that give] insight into who the unique person is whose application we’re reading… content and insight matter more than style.
— Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Christoph Guttentag, Duke University
Some colleges are employing AI checkers as part of their review process, while others are simply discarding any application with suspected content. (Exact stats are tricky, as many schools aren’t forthcoming on their process and/or prefer phrasing like “we use a holistic process” and “we use software only for data analysis.”) Because the process of confirming AI can be very time-consuming—and because the admissions landscape is so competitive—even if a single section of an essay is flagged as being potentially AI-influenced, it’s likely the entire application will be rejected.
While we believe AI has a lot of strategic uses in the brainstorming and revision process, especially when it comes to accessibility for under-resourced students, we discourage the use of AI for any kind of content generation. Some students think they can generate a "first draft" with AI and then edit it “enough" to make it sound like them. However, the more editing that is done, the more disparities there will be in tone and writing style, making the AI-generated content even more apparent. This is why we suggest always highlighting the most flagrant issues and recommending that the content is replaced rather than edited.
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