Applying to college is a high-stakes endeavor, and the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has added another layer of complexity. Many families ask: Are colleges using AI detectors in the college admissions process? The truth? Some already are, but not in the ways students may think.
Collegewise surveyed students to understand exactly how AI is shaping the way they prepare for college and how that will impact the college admissions process.
Of students surveyed in grades 9 through 12, Collegewise learned:
Participants also reported high levels of concern about AI diluting their voice and personality, particularly in the essay section.
“Nothing can replace the miracle of the human mind, and context counts. I also feel like AI hinders originality,” said one student.
It was clear that most students leveraged AI as a support tool rather than a shortcut, recognizing AI’s limitations and fearing the gamble of using AI for their college applications.
There is some adoption in the college admissions process, but it’s not universal.
In a survey conducted by Intelligent, 80% of participating colleges reported plans to incorporate AI into their college admissions review process in 2024. While the number of colleges that are actively using AI tools in 2026 is unknown, it’s safe to assume that most colleges have started using AI in some capacity.
Colleges are using AI tools to screen and score college essays and auto-reject unqualified candidates.
Colleges are aware that more students are turning to AI tools to help them prepare pieces of their college application. Because of this, colleges are becoming more proactive in how they review applications. In large part, to meet students where they are.
Of the colleges that have been upfront about using AI tools as part of their screening process, here are the ways they are utilizing them:
Some colleges are using AI tools to review college essays, such as the Personal Statement or supplemental essay responses. The University of North Carolina (UNC) began using AI scoring to screen college essays. The AI score provides the college admissions officer with a better understanding of the quality of the essay. The computer-generated score looks at grammar, punctuation, word choice, and other important factors UNC considers when evaluating college essays.
Many colleges have seen a considerable uptick in college application submissions in recent years. Colleges reporting record-high numbers are looking for alternative ways to manage the volume of submissions, with some turning to AI. Virginia Tech reported pairing undergraduate admissions officers with AI tools developed by their researchers to review academic qualifications and college essay quality.
AI tools will allow colleges to filter through the high volume of candidates and determine which students do and do not meet their college’s academic requirements. This will give admission readers more time to read through applications and give students a fair chance.
It’s important to note that while colleges may not have a systematic approach for AI in college admissions, college admissions officers may use AI tools at their discretion if they believe a student has used AI for any part of their college application.
AI has many benefits, but it’s not perfect. And with so much riding on college admissions officers being fair and unbiased, AI can complicate things. The top reasons colleges are not using AI to review applications include:
With more students using AI in high school and in their college admissions preparation, colleges need to respond. At this time, we are in a transitional phase when many colleges are experimenting with AI and others are adopting clearer detection and reviewing measures.
The role of AI detection tools and how colleges use them varies from institution to institution. Still, students should approach the process assuming the possibility that AI could review their application or essay.
Does this mean humans will no longer review college applications? Paul Kanarek, former Collegewise CEO and The Princeton Review Co-Founder, assures that students can breathe easy.
“What we’re hearing is that over the next 2 years, colleges will test AI reliability against human reviewers to understand how much—or little—they can leverage AI in future cycles. Ultimately, AI will change what we do, but it will not replace what we do.”
The landscape of AI in college admissions is evolving. Some colleges are already using AI-detectors, others are considering them, and many more are experimenting as each application cycle passes. What is clear is that AI will not replace the human element of the college admissions process, but it will make it harder for students to cheat the system.
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About Us: With more than 26 years of experience, Collegewise counselors and tutors are at the forefront of the ever-evolving admissions landscape. Our work has always centered on you: the family. And just like we’ve always done, we look for ways for your student to be their best self - whether in the classroom, the applications, or in the right-fit college environment. Our range of counseling, test prep, academic tutoring, and essay management, all with the support of our proprietary platform, lead to 4x higher than average admissions rates.