AI Tools Transform College Admissions Process Amid Ethical Concerns

Thu Dec 04 2025 13:23:50 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As students continue to be cautioned against using AI in their college applications, institutions are increasingly adopting AI for screening and evaluating applicants' materials to improve efficiency and reduce processing times.

Colleges are incorporating AI technology into their admissions processes, with tools that help manage applications and review essays more efficiently. While some schools debate the ethical implications, others highlight AI's potential to streamline operations and enhance the evaluation of student submissions. High-profile institutions like Virginia Tech and the California Institute of Technology are leading the charge, despite concerns from various stakeholders about transparency and fairness.

Students applying to college know they can’t — or at least shouldn’t — use AI chatbots to write their essays and personal statements. So it might come as a surprise that some colleges are now using artificial intelligence to read them.

AI tools are being used in the admissions process across various institutions, assisting with the crucial task of screening and analyzing student applications. As colleges grapple with the implications, many are adopting AI to speed up their processes and improve the accuracy in evaluating submissions.

“Humans get tired; some days are better than others. The AI does not get tired,” explains Juan Espinoza, vice provost for enrollment management at Virginia Tech, which has recently introduced an AI-powered essay reader expected to expedite admissions notifications by up to a month.

Despite some colleges integrating AI quietly, many institutions are facing pushback regarding its use for evaluating writing quality or grammar in applicants' materials. Virginia Tech's approach allows the AI to confirm human readers' scores, ensuring consistency in evaluations.

The California Institute of Technology is set to implement its own AI tool, designed to assess authenticity in research projects students submit with applications. This trend raises questions about the balance of human judgment versus machine evaluation.

Concerns and Reactions

The rapid integration of AI into admissions has stoked concern amongst applicants and educators alike regarding transparency and fairness. Following criticism, the University of North Carolina updated its admissions website to clarify that while AI is utilized for certain data assessments, human evaluators remain integral to the holistic review process.

Colleges are aware of the sensitivity surrounding AI's role in admissions and are taking steps to ensure ethical practices align with their values. As reported, many are exploring AI’s potential for simplifying processes while being transparent about its limitations.

Schools like Georgia Tech are leveraging AI to automate tedious tasks, such as reviewing college transcripts for transfer applicants, thus minimizing errors and expediting decision-making for students.

As AI tools become more prevalent, the balance between technology and human input remains pivotal. The future of admissions may well see further integration of AI, particularly as educational challenges evolve.