ChatGPT to the Rescue Ace your College Admissions Essay while Playing by the Rules

Get ahead with ChatGPT How to craft a college admissions essay that follows all the guidelines

The Fine Line in College Essays: Man vs. Machine

Imagine this: college students, armed with the power of ChatGPT, riding a tightrope between academic success and penalty. It’s a delicate balancing act, my friends.

When AI burst onto the scene, colleges panicked. They slapped a big ol’ ban on using bots like ChatGPT for essay writing. Professors and teachers, poor souls, were left grappling with the concept of AI plagiarism. It was like trying to catch Skittles raining down from the sky – tricky stuff.

But hold on to your textbooks, folks! The times, they are a-changin’. Some colleges have come around and are now encouraging students to use generative AI as a tool, but with a caveat: no cheating allowed. Still, the guidance remains as elusive as the Holy Grail, especially when it comes to admissions and those infamous college essays.

“The landscape is shifting, my dear readers, but colleges are far from being on the same page,” said Adam Nguyen, the wise founder of tutoring company Ivy Link. “Elite colleges, in particular, haven’t set any definitive rules on embracing or banishing GPT.”

Now, let’s rewind to February when I, your ever-curious explorer, decided to put ChatGPT to the ultimate test: writing college application essays. The results were rather intriguing, my friends. Two private admissions tutors agreed that the essays had the unmistakable flair of a genuine student. They might have even had a chance at most colleges, but alas, the gates of the most selective institutions remained guarded.

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But here’s the rub: there’s a glaring giveaway when an essay is entirely AI-generated. Nguyen spilled the beans, revealing that these essays tend to be, well, mediocre. Repetition reigns supreme, my dear readers. So if an essay screams, “I’m written by AI!” like a parrot on repeat, it’s safe to say the student will face the wrath of the admissions committee.

Now, let’s tackle the million-dollar question: can students use AI tech to draft or edit their essays? Well, my friends, it’s a gray area as gray as Dumbledore’s beard.

As colleges reluctantly acknowledge the unstoppable march of AI, Nguyen warns that students must tread carefully. There’s a thin line they must walk, balancing between authenticity and assistance from technology.

“You gotta add your personal touch, restructure, and sprinkle in your own language and sentences. That way, the essay becomes yours,” Nguyen advised. “Most colleges would be okay with that, I reckon.”

But wait, there’s more! Nguyen continued, “Don’t make AI your default option. Only use it when you’re truly stuck, as a last resort. Start the engine, but steer the wheel yourself.” He suggests that at least 80% of the essay needs a personal touch for safety’s sake.

“The bottom line is this, my friends: if your essay is top-notch in every way, it won’t ring any alarm bells. Most colleges couldn’t care less if you used GPT to kickstart your writing, as long as they can’t tell the difference,” he added, with a knowing smirk.

So, my fellow scholars, as we venture into this new realm of man and machine colliding in the world of college essays, remember the fine line you must walk. Embrace the power of AI, but wield it wisely. Write with passion, intelligence, and a touch of human brilliance, and soar high in the realm of academia.

P.S. Have any AI-generated essays caused you grief or amusement? Share your tales in the comments below!

• ai
• ChatGPT