Artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT are becoming a routine part of the university admissions process—for students and, increasingly, for admissions offices themselves. Some universities, like UNC Chapel Hill, now use AI to score writing quality before a human ever reads an essay. Others, like Duke, have stopped assigning numerical scores to essays altogether, opting for a more holistic review.

In this changing landscape, one question keeps coming up for students and parents alike:

Can a chatbot write a better university essay than a student?

The short answer is no. And that’s a good thing.

Why Real Essays Still Matter in an AI World

Students who take the time to reflect, write honestly, and revise with care often produce essays that stand out—not because they sound professional, but because they sound like themselves.

Admissions officers aren’t looking for a flawless narrative. They’re looking for genuine insight: how a student thinks, what they care about, and how they’ve grown.

This year reinforced a key truth: The most impactful essays weren’t the ones that sounded impressive. They were the ones that felt human.

AI Should Be a Tool, Not the Author

More students are experimenting with AI during the writing process—to brainstorm, organise ideas, or overcome writer’s block. Used sparingly, AI can help students feel less overwhelmed.

But when AI becomes the author, the student’s voice often disappears.

Admissions offices are taking note. In 2024, Duke University revised its essay review process. Rather than scoring essays numerically, Duke readers now focus more holistically on authenticity—a direct response to the rise in AI-generated content.

Caltech also took a firm stance: “Overuse of AI will diminish your individual, bold, creative identity as a prospective CalTecher,” their admissions team stated. They made it clear that they don’t want essays that read like ChatGPT. They want to hear the student.

‍This was the theme of the year: It’s not whether AI can help; it’s whether the essay still sounds like the student. If the voice is lost, the connection is too.

Authentic Voice Is Still the Gold Standard

The best essays don’t try to sound like they were written by a professional. They sound like a student who has taken the time to reflect on what matters.

They are specific. Grounded in lived experience. Imperfect, but real.

MIT Admissions puts it this way: “There is no formula for a great essay, and there is no one way to be authentic.”

That’s the point. The personal statement isn’t a performance. It’s a reflection.

What admissions officers value most is a clear, personal perspective. This often comes through meaningful stories that may take a bit of reflective digging to access:

• A student who solved a real problem in their community
• A moment of failure that sparked growth
• A shift in perspective that shaped their goals

These essays don’t try to impress. They try to connect. And they do.

What Students Can Do That AI Can’t

Here’s what students consistently do better than any chatbot:

Tell a story only they could tell.

Students have lived the moments they’re writing about. They know the details. They know how it felt. Whether they’re writing about a family responsibility, a challenge at school, or a meaningful success, the insight is theirs. AI can’t replicate that.

Use a voice that reveals who they are.

AI tends to sound polished and neutral. It avoids risk. Students can write with curiosity, vulnerability, or humor—and those are the moments that resonate with readers.

Make original connections.

AI repeats patterns. Students generate insight. They can reflect on how experiences shaped their values and how past challenges connect to future goals. These personal connections make essays memorable.

What This Means for the Class of 2026 and Beyond

AI isn’t going away. Students will continue to explore it. But this year made one thing clear:

The most effective essays still came from students who wrote with intention, reflection, and their own voice.

As universities adapt their review practices in response to AI, the emphasis on authenticity will only grow. The personal statement remains one of the few places where students can shape how they’re understood, and that’s most powerful when the voice is unmistakably their own.

How Families and Counselors Can Support Authentic Writing

• Encourage reflection before writing begins. Help students identify meaningful moments. Ask what they’ve learned and how they’ve grown. Great writing starts with reflection.
  

• Shift the focus away from perfection. First drafts should be exploratory. Writing is a process. Help students get ideas down, then revise for clarity and voice.

• Celebrate voice over polish. The most impactful essays weren’t always perfect. They were personal, specific, and reflective. They helped admissions officers see the person behind the application.