You’ve spent months crafting the perfect college essay—pouring your heart into every paragraph, agonizing over word choices, and making sure your authentic voice shines through. But here’s something that might surprise you: before any human admissions officer reads your application, artificial intelligence may have already scored it.
In 2026, AI is quietly revolutionizing how colleges evaluate applications. Schools like Caltech, Virginia Tech, and UNC Chapel Hill are deploying sophisticated algorithms to analyze essays, scan transcripts, and even conduct video interviews. For the class of 2030 and beyond, understanding how AI shapes admissions decisions isn’t optional—it’s essential.
How Colleges Are Using AI in Admissions Right Now
The rise of AI in college admissions isn’t speculation—it’s happening today. According to AP News, AI tools are now being incorporated into how student applications are screened and analyzed at multiple universities across the country.
Here’s what AI is currently doing behind the scenes:
- Scoring essays: AI models trained on thousands of past applications evaluate writing quality, themes, and authenticity
- Analyzing transcripts: Algorithms standardize grades from different schools and identify course rigor
- Screening recommendations: AI flags “boilerplate” language in letters of recommendation that may suggest weak endorsements
- Predicting enrollment: Yield models estimate which admitted students are most likely to enroll
- Conducting interviews: AI chatbots interview applicants about their research projects via video
“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,” Juan Espinoza, vice provost for enrollment management at Virginia Tech, told AP News.
Which Colleges Are Using AI to Read Applications?
While not every school is transparent about AI usage, several major institutions have confirmed they’re deploying these tools:
Virginia Tech: AI as a “Second Reader”
Virginia Tech has developed an AI-powered essay reader that replaces one of two human reviewers for short-answer essays. According to Top Tier Admissions, the school spent three years developing the system, which was trained on past applicant essays and scoring rubrics.
The numbers are staggering: the AI can scan approximately 250,000 essays in under an hour—compared to a human reader who averages two minutes per essay. Virginia Tech expects to save at least 8,000 hours of reading time and deliver admissions decisions a full month earlier than usual.
Caltech: AI Video Interviews for Research Projects
The California Institute of Technology is using AI as a “gauge of authenticity” for students who submit research projects. Applicants upload their research to an AI chatbot that interviews them about it on video, which is then reviewed by Caltech faculty.
“Can you claim this research intellectually? Is there a level of joy around your project? That passion is important to us,” Caltech admissions director Ashley Pallie told AP News.
Georgia Tech: AI Transcript Analysis
Georgia Tech is rolling out AI tools to review college transcripts of transfer students, eliminating manual data entry and speeding up credit transfer decisions. The school is also testing AI tools to identify low-income students eligible for Pell Grants who may not have realized their eligibility.
Stony Brook University: AI Summaries
Stony Brook University in New York is using AI to review transcripts and testing tools that summarize essays and recommendation letters, highlighting important details—like if a student overcame illness or family hardship—that an admissions officer should consider.
UNC Chapel Hill: Facing Backlash
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill faced significant criticism after The Daily Tar Heel reported the school was using AI to evaluate grammar and writing style in applicants’ essays. The university has since clarified that every application “is evaluated comprehensively by extensively trained human application evaluators.”
What AI Actually Analyzes in Your Essay
According to Maria Laskaris, former Dean of Admissions at Dartmouth College, AI tools used in admissions can:
- Categorize essays by theme (such as “overcoming adversity” or “questioned belief”)
- Flag specific keywords or patterns that correlate with successful applicants
- Detect generic, boilerplate language in recommendation letters
- Cross-reference the tone of recommendations against a student’s activities and essays for consistency
- Identify anomalies that might indicate inflated or inauthentic applications
Many selective institutions use Slate, an information management system, which includes “Reader AI” functionality. According to Slate’s promotional materials, this AI acts as “your knowledgeable colleague, able to quickly analyze and identify pertinent details in letters of recommendation, college essays, or any other document you provide.”
Why Colleges Are Embracing AI Despite Controversy
The simple answer: applications are overwhelming admissions offices. According to Common App’s December 2025 report, the number of students applying through its portal increased by 4% compared to the previous year, with total applications up 9%.
Virginia Tech alone received a record 57,622 applications last year for just 7,000 freshman seats. Even with 200 human essay readers, the school struggled to keep up—which is why AI assistance became attractive.
Additional factors driving AI adoption include:
- Test-optional policies: With fewer standardized scores to compare, schools rely more heavily on essays and other qualitative factors
- Rising application volume: Students now apply to an average of 5.38 schools, up from 5.11 the previous year
- Pressure for earlier decisions: Families want answers faster, pushing schools to streamline review processes
- Detecting AI-written essays: Ironically, schools use AI to catch students who used AI to write their applications
The Enrollment Cliff: Why This Matters More Than Ever
While applications are up at selective schools, the broader higher education landscape faces a demographic crisis. According to CollegeData, 2026 marks the beginning of the “enrollment cliff”—a drop in the number of 18-year-olds in the U.S. that’s projected to decline by 15% by 2029.
This creates a paradox: while elite schools are flooded with applications, smaller colleges are struggling to survive. Inside Higher Ed reports that 16 nonprofit colleges announced closures in 2025 alone, including Northland College in Wisconsin and Sterling College in Vermont.
For students, this means competition at top schools remains fierce, but opportunities may be expanding at schools willing to offer more generous financial aid to attract applicants. Check out our guide to 2026-27 FAFSA changes to maximize your financial aid options.
Testing Makes a Comeback: What the Data Shows
Despite the rise of test-optional policies, submitting test scores is becoming more advantageous again. According to Common App data, students who submitted test scores with their December 2025 applications rose by 11% compared to the previous year, while applications without scores decreased by 2%.
Several elite schools have returned to requiring standardized tests, including Harvard, Dartmouth, Brown, and the University of Florida.
“If a student’s test scores are not nearly as strong as their transcript, they should consider looking at long-standing test-optional colleges, like many small liberal arts colleges, or adjust their college list to make sure their lower scores—or a lack of scores—won’t hurt them,” advises independent counselor Sara Harberson.
How to Write for AI (Without Losing Your Human Voice)
Here’s the good news: every college stresses that humans still make final admissions decisions. AI is a tool, not a gatekeeper. But knowing it’s part of the process should inform your strategy.
Do This:
- Be authentic: AI is designed to detect patterns—genuine, distinctive stories that resist easy categorization stand out
- Show consistency: AI may cross-reference your essay with your activities list and recommendations; make sure your application tells a coherent story
- Provide evidence: “With AI making it easier than ever to refine language, titles alone don’t carry the weight they once did,” says Mark Zawel, CEO of AcceptU. Include tangible proof of your accomplishments
- Avoid generic language: Boilerplate phrasing in essays or recommendations can be flagged by AI as weak
Don’t Do This:
- Don’t use AI to write your essay: Schools are actively looking for AI-generated content—and the irony of using AI to detect AI usage is not lost on anyone
- Don’t game the system: Trying to reverse-engineer what AI looks for is a losing strategy; admissions officers can spot inauthentic applications
- Don’t obsess over keywords: Write naturally, not like you’re optimizing for a search engine
“The process isn’t about stacking achievements anymore, it’s about standing out through authenticity and depth,” write counselors at North Shore College Consulting. “Admissions officers aren’t asking, ‘What has this student accomplished?’ They’re asking, ‘What kind of person is this student becoming?'”
The Future: Will AI Eventually Make Decisions?
For now, colleges unanimously insist that AI assists—but doesn’t decide. “Final admissions decisions will be made exclusively by qualified and trained admissions professionals,” Virginia Tech’s official policy states.
But the trajectory is clear. “Ten years from now, all bets are off. I’m guessing AI will be admitting students,” Emily Pacheco, founder of NACAC’s AI and admission special interest group, told AP News.
The National Association for College Admission Counseling updated its ethics guide this fall to address AI, urging colleges to ensure usage “aligns with our shared values of transparency, integrity, fairness and respect for student dignity.”
Whether you see AI as a helpful efficiency tool or an intrusion into a deeply personal process, one thing is certain: it’s here to stay. The students who understand this shift—and adapt their approach while staying true to themselves—will have the best chance of success.
Looking for more ways to prepare for college in 2026? Check out our guides to AI study tools for students and what the job market wants from graduates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can colleges tell if I used ChatGPT to write my essay?
Yes, many schools are deploying AI detection tools specifically to identify AI-generated content. Beyond detection software, human readers are also trained to spot formulaic writing that lacks personal voice. Using AI to write your essay violates most schools’ honor codes and could result in application rejection.
Does AI give my essay a score before a human reads it?
At some schools, yes. Virginia Tech’s AI essay reader scores short-answer essays alongside a human reader. If the scores differ by more than two points on a 12-point scale, a second human reviewer steps in. Other schools use AI to summarize or categorize essays rather than directly score them.
Will AI make it harder to get into college?
Not necessarily. AI primarily helps admissions offices process applications more efficiently, which can benefit applicants through faster decisions. However, AI may make it harder to get away with inflated or inauthentic applications, as algorithms excel at spotting inconsistencies.
Should I change how I write my essay because of AI?
Focus on authenticity rather than trying to game AI systems. Write for the human reader who will ultimately evaluate your application. Genuine, distinctive essays that tell your unique story remain the most effective approach.
Are highly selective schools more likely to use AI?
Both highly selective schools (like Caltech and Virginia Tech) and large public universities (like Stony Brook and Georgia Tech) are adopting AI tools. The technology is attractive to any institution dealing with high application volumes or seeking to streamline administrative processes.
