Colleges Embrace AI in Admissions: A Double-Edged Sword

Fri Dec 05 2025 14:41:50 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As students are warned against using AI for application essays, universities are increasingly turning to AI tools to streamline the admissions process and assess applicants more effectively.

While students are advised against using AI for writing their college admissions essays, many colleges have begun to incorporate AI technologies to evaluate applications more efficiently. Institutions like Virginia Tech and Caltech are implementing AI tools to assist in essay readings and interviews about research projects, stressing that the technology is to complement, not replace, human evaluators. However, concerns persist around transparency and the role of AI in ensuring fair admissions processes.

Students applying to college know they can’t — or at least shouldn’t — use AI chatbots to write their essays and personal statements. Yet, colleges are increasingly employing artificial intelligence to facilitate their admissions processes.

AI technology is being subtly integrated into how applications are evaluated, according to admissions directors. While not all schools are forthcoming about their use of AI, it is rapidly becoming a norm in various sectors, including education.

AI can enhance efficiency, allowing universities to sort through thousands of applications quickly. AI is consistent; it doesn’t have bad days like humans do, says Juan Espinoza, vice provost for enrollment management at Virginia Tech, which plans to unveil an AI-powered essay reader this fall.

This innovation is expected to expedite admissions decisions by about a month, significantly reducing the review time for tens of thousands of applications.

Although colleges assert AI won’t determine admissions outcomes, its role in screening applications is growing. Some elite institutions are using AI to sift through curated applications created with guidance from admissions consultants.

The California Institute of Technology is set to introduce an AI tool designed to assess the authenticity of student-researched projects. The tool conducts video interviews to evaluate student engagement with their work.

Despite these advancements, there's hesitance among some colleges following backlash against AI's utilization in admissions. For example, the University of North Carolina faced criticism when it was revealed that AI evaluated applicants' writing quality. The university later clarified that while AI is involved in providing data points, admissions decisions are made by trained human evaluators.

Virginia Tech's AI reader is set to assist in scoring essays but will only serve as a confirmation tool, an approach shared by other colleges exploring the integration of AI in their admissions processes.

However, the integration of AI isn’t just about efficiency; it's also about improving evaluations of applicants’ backgrounds, particularly in cases where students face unique challenges. Institutions are turning to AI tools for analyzing transcripts and summarizing applications, seeking a more streamlined approach.

This rise of AI in admissions signifies a pivotal moment in educational practices, with the landscape continually evolving and colleges embracing technologies that could one day transform how students are admitted.