Even with AI tools like ChatGPT and Bard being easily accessible and quick to churn out thousands of words with a keystroke, you still need to know how to write strong personal statements. We understand how easy it would be to input the prompt and let the machine do the rest.
However, there isn’t a tool available that can speak for you or discuss your experiences with as much passion or excitement as you can. Your perspective, thoughts, and voice are unique, and admissions teams would love to hear them. They want to learn more about you, but can’t do that if you send them an AI-generated piece.
It’s okay if you aren’t currently the strongest writer around. Essay writing programs can help reshape how you view the writing process, what goes into creating strong pieces, and offer a safe space to build and refine these skills.
Before we delve too deeply into the value of essay writing programs, let’s take a step back to understand why you shouldn’t use AI for personal statements.
Do College Admissions Teams Check for AI?
Yes, many college admissions teams check for AI-generated content as part of their college admissions process. Even without running essays through AI detectors, language learning models like ChatGPT have a very distinct way of generating text due to the patterns present in their training data. As a result, multiple users inputting similar prompts are very likely to receive strikingly similar results even if these individuals have never met each other before.
In an August 2023 podcast turned blog post, Yale’s director of undergraduate writing and assistant dean of academic affairs at the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning, Alfred Guy, explains it’s easy to tell the difference between an 18-year-old’s writing and that of AI tools like ChatGPT. He acknowledges that it’s possible to manipulate the tool to create more custom pieces, but the effort required to do so is on par with simply writing the content yourself.
Many top universities — like Yale, MIT, and Harvard — currently don’t have formal AI policies, but emphasize the importance of academic integrity. Schools like MIT have created clear guidelines for ethical ways AI could be used for Fall 2026 admissions essays.
Even after reading this, there may still be those wondering…
Can I Use ChatGPT To Write My Personal Statement?
Let us be crystal clear: No, you should not use ChatGPT to write your personal statement because colleges expect students — and by extension applicants — to maintain academic integrity by submitting their own original materials. Providing AI-generated content could be considered a misrepresentation of facts or even fraud since admissions teams are expecting authentic, original works that offer more insight into who you are as a person.
No one can speak for you the way you can. Give your voice and unique experiences the best chance of reaching admissions teams by learning how to write your own personal statements.
What Is the Value of Learning How To Write?
Learning how to write teaches you to think critically about content, logically structure arguments, and create pieces tailored to a specific purpose. This helps you become a stronger communicator, make abstract ideas concrete, and authentically share your perspective. These are all incredibly valuable skills you’ll continue to develop throughout your undergraduate years.
College admissions teams are looking for memorable applicants who stand out in a sea of qualified contenders. The fastest way to do that is to bring personality to your application through your personal statement. Being able to write strong essays helps increase your chances of receiving an acceptance letter.
Are Writing Tutors Worth It?
Writing isn’t solely about the words left on the page. It’s an extensive process that involves brainstorming, planning, organizing thoughts, editing, and revising. It requires you to think critically about the intent behind your writing and pivot when necessary.
Writing tutors can teach you how to approach prompts, make logical arguments, and ensure you’re writing to the prompt while maintaining your voice. They can teach you how to overcome writer’s block or imposter syndrome, and give you the confidence to try again if an idea doesn’t come together how you initially wanted. They can also clarify any questions you have, explain what does and doesn’t work in your essay, and offer tips that bring out the best in your writing.
More importantly, they give you the independence to expertly tackle essays moving forward.
Is an Essay Writing Program Right for You?
If you’ve made it this far and are still unsure whether or not to enroll in an essay writing program, ask yourself:
- Do you dread writing essays?
- Is the writing process difficult for you?
- Are you worried your writing sounds forced or inauthentic to you?
- Have you had trouble writing in the past?
- Would you like to become a stronger writer?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, an essay writing program would be ideal for you. Even if you answered no to these questions, essay writing programs can still be beneficial since they’re often tailored to your individual needs. These smaller class sizes give you more opportunities to receive feedback from tutors, a safe space to explore new ideas and techniques, and a chance to track your progress.
Since essay writing programs are focused solely on improving your writing skills, you can dig deeper into the material instead of rushing through it. Growth happens gradually, but having a dedicated time and space to devote to honing this craft can help you become a strong writer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I write 1,000 words in one hour?
It would depend on how many words you can type per minute, and if it makes sense for what you’re trying to accomplish. If you’re doing stream of consciousness writing to help you get your ideas on a page, sure. Writing 1,000 words in one hour could be beneficial for you.
If you’re trying to write an entire 1,000-word essay from start to finish in only one hour, that may not be the best move. It gives you less time to thoroughly flesh out ideas, and can cause the writing process to be more stressful than necessary. However, if you’ve already thoroughly researched your topic and outlined your essay, giving yourself an hour to type could help you tune out distractions and finish the task at hand.
Is ChatGPT good for writing essays?
No, ChatGPT is not good for writing essays, especially personal statements for college applications. While it can be helpful when brainstorming or checking for grammatical errors, it shouldn’t be used to write essays on your behalf.
Can I pay someone to write my college application essay?
We strongly recommend that you don’t pay someone else to write your college application essay, as this:
- Violates integrity policies that many colleges take seriously
- Can cause your work to sound generic
- Misses the entire point of the essay, which is for college admissions teams to learn more about you
- Robs you of the opportunity to speak directly to college admissions teams
Get Personalized Support in Our College Essay Program
Every student is unique, and this is reflected in how we approach our College Essay program. Our experts offer personalized advice and small class settings to teach students how to clarify their ideas, highlight what makes them unique, and identify gaps within their essays to strengthen and refine their own narrative. Throughout your time with us, you can receive continued support, coaching, and feedback so by the end of our program, you’ll have:
- Up to 4 completed essays
- A completed essay matrix of topics that can be used for other essays
- The skills to confidently complete future essays
Curious how our College Essay program can help you become a stronger writer? Reach out today to get started!
