If you’ve been reading the news lately, you might know that AI – artificial intelligence – is a hot topic across many sectors right now, including education. The role of AI in education is a contentious issue, and concerns have been raised from the perspective of both students and educators. In the realm of college admissions, many find themselves wondering about the viability of AI, like ChatGPT, to write application essays. But what about the other side – how are admissions officers using artificial intelligence?
The Role of AI in Admissions Offices
As the use of artificial intelligence has become more prevalent, students and parents are becoming increasingly concerned about whether admissions decisions are being made by a human or a machine. In reality, even as the use of AI by admissions officers becomes more widespread, there is still a human element in the process.
Right now, AI is mainly used as a tool to automate the admissions process and make certain aspects more efficient. Admissions officers use AI to analyze aspects of an applicant’s profile like their transcript and standardized test scores. Essentially, at some institutions, AI is used to perform an initial screening of GPAs and test scores and eliminate applicants who don’t fit the school’s minimum criteria. Then, applications that pass the AI screening move forward to be evaluated by admissions officers.
Reviewing transcripts or self-reported grades is the most common use of AI in admissions today. Schools that use a self-reported academic record system, like Texas A&M does, often rely on AI to analyze the data that students input. Artificial intelligence re-calculates an academic GPA that removes the grades from “non-academic” electives and weights advanced courses, like AP, IB, and honors classes, more highly. Then, the system analyzes this data alongside the student’s SAT or ACT score to attempt to assess their potential for success at the school.
Evaluating transcripts is currently the primary use of AI in college admissions, but some institutions are already using it to scan letters of recommendation and essays. This might scare you, but don’t panic – your application is still being read by a human admissions officer, and AI isn’t making any final decisions.
What Is the Future of AI in College Admissions?
It’s expected that more and more institutions will start incorporating AI into their admissions processes in the coming years. Experts predict that more schools will move to the aforementioned model of using AI to evaluate transcripts. On top of that, admissions offices may use AI to assess transcripts more specifically for grades in certain courses. For example, if you’re applying to study engineering, AI may be used to scrape your transcript and quantify your performance in math classes specifically.
The use of AI in the admissions process may expand even more in the future, and more schools may start using AI to assess essays and recommendation letters as well. In a recent study, researchers from the University of Colorado-Boulder and the University of Pennsylvania used AI to evaluate personal qualities in student writing samples. After the AI model was trained by experienced admissions officers, it was able to identify non-academic personal qualities in students reliably and effectively. In the future, will a machine decide what qualities like “teamwork” and “perseverance” look like on a college application?
College admissions can already be intimidating without thinking about the nebulous role of AI in its future. You might be wondering, “What does all of this mean for me and my family?”
Right now, that’s a pretty difficult question to answer. For one thing, since artificial intelligence systems factor in test scores when screening applications, we recommend preparing for and taking the ACT or SAT, even if applying to test-optional schools. Additionally, since essays are still read by admissions officers (for now), it’s important to put enough weight on this part of your application – it might be one of the only pieces that will be seen by human eyes.
If all of this information about AI scares or overwhelms you, take a deep breath! At The Enrichery, we’re always happy to support families through the college admissions process, even as it undergoes considerable changes. For expert assistance through the entire journey, our College Admissions Workshop will help your family navigate the complex admissions landscape. To learn more about how The Enrichery can help your family with the application process, give us a call at (713) 370 – 4118 or contact us today!
