AI Integration in College Admissions: A Double-Edged Sword

Fri Dec 05 2025 03:48:53 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As college applications surge, many institutions are turning to artificial intelligence tools to streamline the admissions process. However, the reliance on these technologies raises questions about ethics and authenticity in evaluating student applications.

Several colleges are now using AI technologies to assist in evaluating student applications, marking a shift in traditional admissions processes. Tools are being implemented to sort applications faster, review transcripts accurately, and identify authentic student contributions, though some institutions face backlash for their methods. The debate centers on transparency and the integrity of using AI in structuring student evaluations.

Students applying to college know they can’t — or at least shouldn’t — use AI chatbots to write their essays and personal statements. So it might come as a surprise that some schools are now using artificial intelligence to read them.

AI tools are now being incorporated into how student applications are screened and analyzed, admissions directors say. It can be a delicate topic, and not all colleges are eager to talk about it, but higher education is among the many industries where artificial intelligence is rapidly taking on tasks once reserved for humans.

In some cases, schools are quietly slipping AI into their evaluation process, experts say. Others are touting the technology’s potential to speed up their review of applications, cut processing times, and even perform some tasks better than humans.

“Humans get tired; some days are better than others. The AI does not get tired. It doesn’t get grumpy. It doesn’t have a bad day. The AI is consistent,” says Juan Espinoza, vice provost for enrollment management at Virginia Tech.

This fall, Virginia Tech is debuting an AI-powered essay reader. The college expects it will be able to inform students of admissions decisions a month sooner than usual because of the tool’s help sorting tens of thousands of applications.

Colleges stress they are not relying on AI to make admissions decisions, using it primarily to review transcripts and eliminate data-entry tasks. But artificial intelligence also plays a role in evaluating students. Some selective schools are adopting AI tools to vet the increasingly curated application packages developed with the help of admissions consultants.

The California Institute of Technology is launching an AI tool to assess the authenticity of student-researched projects submitted with applications. The students' research is uploaded to an AI chatbot that interviews them on video, with Caltech faculty reviewing the interaction.

“It’s a gauge of authenticity. Can you claim this research intellectually? Is there a level of joy around your project? That passion is important to us,” said Ashley Pallie, the admissions director at Caltech.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill faced backlash after reports emerged about using AI for grammar and style evaluations of applicants’ essays. The university later clarified that AI is intended for data insights and not standalone decision-making.

Several institutions like Georgia Tech and Stony Brook University are exploring varied uses of AI to simplify the admissions processes, highlighting how AI can assist while maintaining human oversight.

As colleges adopt these technologies, they are urged to ensure their practices align with transparency, integrity, and respect for students, reflecting a complex relationship between tradition and innovation in higher education admissions.