GENAI applications & college admissions

GenAI Use by Academic Majors

Based on our interim research findings, GenAI use by students of different academic majors shows the following:

Relationship Between Majors and GenAI Use:

A noticeable pattern of high AI tool usage in quantitatively driven fields such as Economics & Finance and Mathematics & Statistics. This highlights the role of AI is playing in the academic disciplines that require robust data analysis and computational capabilities.

Lower Utilization of GenAI

in disciplines associated with the Humanities and Arts, such as History & Literature and Visual Arts & Music.

Specific GenAI Tool and Major

The choice of GenAItools highlights students’ preferences across academic majors.

-ChatGPT is the most widely used AI tool across all majors, demonstrating its versatility and effectiveness in a variety of academic fields.

- “Other AI” tools ( meaning any AI tools not listed in the survey) also show significant usage, especially in academic majors categorized under "Other" and in Mathematics & Statistics, indicating that some “specialized” GenAItools are widely used and there may be a possible reliance on these “Other” GenAI tools not listed in the survey, it will be very interesting to find out what they are.

- Copilot/Bing has notable usage in Mathematics & Statistics, Other Majors and Economics & Finance.

- Similarly, Gemini/Bard shows some limited usage in 6 out of 9 academic fields.

Note: Findings of our final comprehensive data analysis may or may not differ from the above interim findings, to be revised and updated.

Risks and Benefits of Using ChatGPT for Admission Essays

ChatGPT offers enticing advantages, but it is crucial to understand the potential dangers that could jeopardize your application success. Let's take a closer look at both sides of the coin. (click to watch video)

- Benefits

Source of Inspiration: It can assist in generating unique and creative ideas, exploring different perspectives, and thinking outside the box. It can be a valuable resource for finding captivating essay topics.
Writing Assistance: It can offer suggestions for grammar, style, and overall structure, acting as a personal writing assistant. It can help refine your writing skills and enhance the coherence of your essay, providing valuable guidance for improvement.
Style Emulation: With the ability to mimic various writing styles, ChatGPT allows you to experiment with tones, voices, and approaches. This versatility enables you to find the writing style that best represents your personality and showcases your unique voice.
Learning Experience: It can expose you to new vocabulary, expands your writing skills, and provides feedback and explanations for specific writing choices. It serves as a virtual writing mentor, guiding you towards improvement and fostering a valuable learning experience.

- Risks

Detection of AI-Generated Content: Colleges may employ advanced AI detection software to identify machine-generated essays. Getting caught can lead to severe consequences, including being blacklisted or rejected from the admissions process.
Lack of Personalization and Authenticity: College admission essays should reflect your unique experiences, values, and voice. AI-generated essays often lack the depth, creativity, and engaging storytelling that admissions officers seek. This lack of personal touch can hinder your chances of making a lasting impression.
Ethical Concerns: Submitting an AI-generated essay as your own work raises ethical concerns. It goes against academic integrity and can result in serious consequences for your college admissions.
Loss of Individual Tonality and Voice: ChatGPT cannot accurately mimic your tonality and voice, resulting in an essay that sounds mechanical. This can diminish the impact of your essay and make it less memorable among the countless applications received by colleges.

Understanding the risks associated with using ChatGPT for college admission essays is crucial. Plagiarism detection, lack of personalization and authenticity, ethical concerns, and loss of individual tonality and voice are significant hazards that must not be underestimated. Striking the right balance, prioritizing your own voice, and showcasing your genuine experiences are the keys to success in the admissions process.

GENAI applications & college admissions

GenAI Use by Academic Majors

Risks and Benefits of Using ChatGPT for Admission Essays

list of ai detectors & Detection Report Types

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