Takeaways from How Much AI Is Just Right In The College Essay?
A little goes a long way
College applicants and application readers appear to be, in turns, intrigued, entranced, and appalled by the many ways artificial intelligence tools can influence the writing process. Most agree that less AI in the essay is better than more, but how much is too much? Amy and Mike invited educator Razi Hecker to explore how much AI is just right in the college essay.
Listen to the full episode HERE before or after you review the key takeaways, topic breakdowns, and questions answered from this episode.
Key Takeaways
AI can be a valuable tool in the essay writing process, particularly for ideation and editing, but should not generate substantive content
Effective essays focus on the "why" and "how" rather than just the "what," which AI struggles to authentically capture
Using AI requires careful consideration of ethics, risk of detection, essay quality, and personal growth through the writing process
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Topical Breakdown
AI's Role in Essay Writing
AI can serve as a simulated essay tutor, especially beneficial for students who can't afford coaching
Useful for initial brainstorming, creating outlines, and checking if anecdotes align with the essay's thesis
Can help with grammar and style editing, but caution is needed to avoid detection by AI checkers
Ethical Considerations and Risks
Common App considers AI-generated content a form of plagiarism
Risk of detection varies, with shorter essays (50-125 words) potentially easier to "get away with" using AI
AI checkers have varying accuracy, with false positives possible
Effective Essay Structure
Strong essays have three components: why, how, and what
AI can help with the "what" but struggles with authentic "why" and "how" elements
Students should develop a thesis but not explicitly state it in the essay
AI as a Tool for Equity
AI can level the playing field for students without access to high-level tutors
Requires understanding non-intuitive ways to use AI effectively in the process
Next Steps
Students should focus on developing the "why" and "how" aspects of their essays, using AI as a supplementary tool
When using AI for editing or condensing, manually review and adjust to maintain authenticity
Consider using AI checkers to ensure essays don't flag as AI-generated, but be aware of potential false positives
Q&A
Should students entirely avoid AI when writing essays?
Consider these four factors:
Ethics - Common App considers AI a form of plagiarism
Risk of getting caught - Some colleges use AI checkers
Personal growth - Writing essays can be a self-fulfilling journey
Essay quality - AI struggles with "why" and "how" aspects
Where and how should AI be used in the essay process?
Most helpful at beginning and end of process
Use as simulated essay tutor to brainstorm ideas
Prompt AI to ask questions back to dig deeper
Can help condense longer essays, but be cautious of AI detection
Useful for creating outlines and checking if anecdotes support thesis
Can help with grammar/style editing at end, but may trigger AI checkers
How can students avoid essays being flagged as AI-generated?
Shorter essays (50-125 words) harder for AI checkers to evaluate
When condensing with AI, manually rewrite parts to match original voice
Use AI to identify areas for improvement, but make edits manually
Run drafts through AI checkers and revise if flagged
How can AI be used effectively and ethically as part of the essay process?
Focus on the "why" and "how" of your story, not just the "what"
Use AI as a tool for self-reflection and ideation
Maintain narrative integrity and authenticity
View AI as a helpful companion, not a replacement for your own voice