The college admissions process is a pivotal moment in a student’s academic journey, offering opportunities for intellectual growth, self-discovery, and personal achievement. With the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence, parents now have powerful tools at their disposal to support their children. However, while AI can enhance the admissions journey, it also raises complex questions about originality, critical thinking and ethics. Understanding how to navigate these challenges can empower families to make informed decisions and ensure students present their best, most authentic selves.
Embracing AI As An Ally, Not a Substitute
Generative AI is revolutionizing education, providing students with AI-driven tutors, adaptive learning models, and writing assistants. Deloitte’s report, “How Higher Education Can Realize the Potential of Gen AI,” underscores how AI-based tutoring systems offer customized learning experiences tailored to individual student strengths and challenges . These tools can be transformative—helping students refine their writing, develop stronger study habits, and grasp complex subjects in ways that align with their learning styles.
Yet, while AI can serve as an effective learning aid, it must remain just that—an aid. Over-reliance on AI can diminish independent thinking, a concern highlighted in a Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University study on Generative AI and Critical Thinking. This study found that knowledge workers who depend too heavily on AI engage in fewer complex cognitive processes. In the context of college admissions, students should use AI to enhance, not replace, their own critical thinking and creativity, otherwise students will rob themleves of a valuable learning opportunity.
Encouraging Critical Thinking In An AI-Driven World
The ability to think critically and independently remains essential, especially as AI-generated content becomes more prevalent. The Children’s Manifesto for the Future of AI, features perspectives by young people targeted to world leaders about the future of AI. Much of the feedback stresses the need for AI literacy in education, including teaching students how to distinguish between AI-generated and human-created content. As AI plays an increasing role in academic life, parents can help their children develop a discerning mindset by encouraging discussions about AI’s strengths and limitations and by becoming AI literate themselves.
A key strategy for parents is to ask students to evaluate AI-generated content and cross reference other sources, rather than passively accepting it as the truth. For instance, after using AI to generate a study guide or essay outline, students should compare it to other materials and refine it with their own insights. Teaching young learners to question and validate AI outputs will serve them well in college and beyond.
The Copyright Implications Of Using AI In College Essays
A particularly thorny issue in the AI era is its role in college essay writing. The U.S. Copyright Office’s recent report on AI and Copyright Law confirms that AI-generated outputs alone are not eligible for copyright protections. This has significant implications for college applicants: Admissions officers are looking for authentic personal statements that provide a specifics and original thinking.
While AI can be an excellent brainstorming partner—helping students organize their thoughts or reframe ideas—final essays must be distinctly personal. If a student’s voice is lost in overly polished, AI-generated text, it could raise red flags for admissions readers. Deloitte’s research notes that universities must balance AI’s potential with concerns about academic integrity. Students and parents can be proactive by engaging with colleges on these issues—asking admissions offices how they evaluate AI-assisted work and staying informed about evolving institutional guidelines.
Several universities have recently established policies regarding the use of generative AI in their admissions processes:
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech): For the Fall 2025 application cycle, Caltech has issued guidelines on the ethical use of AI. The institution emphasizes that while AI tools are accessible, applicants should ensure their essays reflect their unique voice and not rely on AI-generated content.
• Yale University: Although Yale has not released an official policy, its admissions office informally cautioned against the use of AI-generated content in application essays during an episode of their podcast, “Inside the Yale Admissions Office.”
• Georgia Institute of Technology: Georgia Tech has issued a statements addressing applicants’ use of AI in their submissions, underscoring the acceptance of student using AI as a collaborator. From their policy: “In the same way you would not copy directly from any other source you may incorporate into the writing process, you should not copy and paste directly out of any AI platform or submit work that you did not originally create.”
A good rule of thumb? AI can aid the writing process, but the ideas and content must be original and true to the student’s lived experience. Students should approach their essays as deeply personal reflections, ensuring that their unique experiences, insights, and growth are at the heart of their narratives.
Fostering Self-Discovery And Authentic Storytelling
At its core, the college admissions process is about self-discovery, as I discuss in my book Get Real and Get In. AI can support this journey by offering structured brainstorming sessions, helping students identify themes in their experiences, and even suggesting ways to refine their storytelling. However, the real magic happens when students engage deeply with their own stories, drawing connections between their passions, challenges, and aspirations.
Encourage your child to ask:
• What drives me?
• What moments have shaped who I am today?
• How do I want to contribute to my college community and beyond?
These reflections will lead to an application that stands out—not because it’s perfectly written, but because it’s deeply human.
The landscape of college admissions is evolving rapidly, and AI is undeniably part of that transformation. The goal is not just to get into college but to emerge from the process with a stronger sense of self, the ability to think independently, and the integrity to stand by one’s work. In an AI-driven world, these qualities will remain as valuable as ever.