Do colleges know if you use AI for essays?

I heard about AI being used to write essays or even entire applications. How do colleges know if an applicant uses it, and what are the consequences if someone is caught using AI for their essays? Just curious!

Colleges might not know for certain if an applicant has used AI for their essays, but they can typically identify if an essay seems impersonal, generic, or mismatched to the rest of the application. Admissions officers are trained to recognize authentic personal voices and have generally read thousands of essays, so they are skilled at detecting essays that do not seem genuine.

If a college suspects an applicant has used AI for their essay, they may choose to investigate further, potentially reaching out to the student, their counselor, or their teachers for more information. If an applicant is caught using AI for their essays, the consequences can be severe. Each college has its own policies, but consequences might include having their application denied, losing any offers of admission, or even facing disciplinary action if they are already enrolled as a student.

Using AI for essays is generally considered unethical and goes against the spirit of the personal essay, which should be an opportunity to showcase an applicant's unique experiences, perspectives, and voice. Therefore, it's important for applicants to be genuine and authentic in their essays, as this not only avoids possible consequences but also increases the chances of an applicant standing out to admissions officers who want to get to know the real person behind the application.