ChatGPT and the college application essay

[Anonymous]

I hope admission offices will become acutely aware of these systems. It should become common practice for offices to take the themes of an admitted student’s essay and run it through these bots to ensure something very similar doesn’t spit out. In fact, the next evolution of the technology should be to compare two writing samples - the student’s and the bot’s - for percent similarity. Another approach would be for students to sit for a timed, proctored essay. Of course, we’re now headed back to tests and the inequity around them, but the integrity of the admissions process is important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope admission offices will become acutely aware of these systems. It should become common practice for offices to take the themes of an admitted student’s essay and run it through these bots to ensure something very similar doesn’t spit out. In fact, the next evolution of the technology should be to compare two writing samples - the student’s and the bot’s - for percent similarity. Another approach would be for students to sit for a timed, proctored essay. Of course, we’re now headed back to tests and the inequity around them, but the integrity of the admissions process is important.

There are apps in the works to identify this. Google has plans to deprioritize AI-generated content and I'm sure those tools will be available to colleges and whoever else needs them soon. The window of opportunity for college essays using Chat is very small and ends this season. Colleges can always ask for a writing sample from a kid's HS English class. Not that difficult to ask 12th grade teachers to assign out a prompt that's similar to a common app essay and have the kids write it in class. Colleges could ask for that particular essay.

[Anonymous]

This thread has gone quiet. Are parents busy getting their children to generate new essays?

[Anonymous]

Need to ask students for a graded essay a la Oxbridge

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just out of curiosity I started using the ChatGTP bot to write some personal essays, A la common app.

Here was my first request:

Write a 500 word college application essay connecting my love for Legos with my interest in bicycle transportation.

Here was the answer - within 60 seconds

As a child, I was always drawn to the bright colors and endless possibilities of Legos. I would spend hours lost in my own imagination, building elaborate structures and cities with the small plastic bricks. Little did I know at the time, this love for Legos would shape my future interests and passions in a way I could have never predicted.

While I still enjoy the occasional Lego set, my interests have evolved over the years. As I grew older, I became increasingly interested in sustainable transportation and the ways in which we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. It was around this time that I discovered the world of cycling.

At first, my interest in cycling was simply a way to stay active and have fun. But as I delved deeper into the world of bike culture, I began to see the many benefits of bicycle transportation. From the health benefits of regular exercise to the environmental benefits of reducing emissions, it was clear that cycling was a win-win for both individuals and society as a whole.

As I continued to explore the world of cycling, I couldn't help but draw comparisons to my childhood love of Legos. Both cycling and Legos are all about creativity, problem-solving, and finding new and innovative ways to approach challenges. Whether it's building a new bike trail or constructing a intricate Lego model, the process of creation is both rewarding and stimulating.

But beyond the personal enjoyment and fulfillment that both Legos and cycling bring, there is a larger societal impact at play. Legos have long been a tool for educational development, teaching children skills such as spatial reasoning and creativity. Similarly, cycling has the potential to be a powerful force for change in the world. By promoting sustainable transportation, we can work towards reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and combating climate change.

As I look towards my future, I am excited to continue exploring the intersection of my two passions: Legos and cycling. Whether it's through the design and creation of innovative cycling infrastructure or the use of Legos as a tool for educational development, I am eager to make a positive impact on the world.

In conclusion, my love for Legos and my interest in bicycle transportation may seem like unrelated passions, but they are actually deeply interconnected. Both allow for creativity, problem-solving, and personal fulfillment, and both have the potential to make a positive impact on the world. It is this combination of interests that makes me a unique and passionate candidate for college, and I am excited to see where my passions will take me in the future.

I'm pretty impressed but... I wanted it to be better.

I refined it with these two requests:

add more details about bike transportation and building things efficiently

and

More details about Legos and efficient problem solving

and got back THIS:

As a child, I was always drawn to the endless possibilities of Legos. With just a few bricks, I could create almost anything my imagination could conjure up. This early exposure to building and problem-solving with Legos helped to shape my analytical and creative thinking skills, and I have continued to turn to Legos as a source of inspiration and challenge throughout my life.

One aspect of Legos that particularly interests me is the way in which they can be used to teach efficient problem-solving and design principles. For example, when building with Legos, it is often necessary to use a limited number of bricks to construct a functional and aesthetically pleasing model. This requires careful planning and the ability to think creatively in order to find the most efficient solution.

This concept of efficient problem-solving is something that I have found to be applicable in many areas of my life, including my interest in cycling. Whether it's designing a bike-friendly city or creating a maintenance plan for a fleet of bikes, finding the most efficient and effective solution requires careful planning and the ability to think outside the box.

In addition to teaching problem-solving skills, Legos also encourage creativity and the ability to think in three dimensions. As a child, I would often spend hours lost in my own imagination, building elaborate structures and cities with the small plastic bricks. This early exposure to spatial reasoning has proved invaluable in my studies and future career goals.

Overall, my love for Legos has had a lasting impact on my personal and professional development. From teaching me the value of efficient problem-solving to fostering my creativity and spatial reasoning skills, Legos have played a vital role in shaping the person I am today. I am confident that this passion will continue to guide me in my college studies and beyond, and I am excited to see where it will take me next.

This was written in less than 5 minutes, start to finish. What do you think?

I teach gifted 10 and 11 year olds. I wasn’t that impressed. However, May this is spectacular for ungifted 18 year olds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just out of curiosity I started using the ChatGTP bot to write some personal essays, A la common app.

Here was my first request:

Write a 500 word college application essay connecting my love for Legos with my interest in bicycle transportation.

Here was the answer - within 60 seconds

As a child, I was always drawn to the bright colors and endless possibilities of Legos. I would spend hours lost in my own imagination, building elaborate structures and cities with the small plastic bricks. Little did I know at the time, this love for Legos would shape my future interests and passions in a way I could have never predicted.

While I still enjoy the occasional Lego set, my interests have evolved over the years. As I grew older, I became increasingly interested in sustainable transportation and the ways in which we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. It was around this time that I discovered the world of cycling.

At first, my interest in cycling was simply a way to stay active and have fun. But as I delved deeper into the world of bike culture, I began to see the many benefits of bicycle transportation. From the health benefits of regular exercise to the environmental benefits of reducing emissions, it was clear that cycling was a win-win for both individuals and society as a whole.

As I continued to explore the world of cycling, I couldn't help but draw comparisons to my childhood love of Legos. Both cycling and Legos are all about creativity, problem-solving, and finding new and innovative ways to approach challenges. Whether it's building a new bike trail or constructing a intricate Lego model, the process of creation is both rewarding and stimulating.

But beyond the personal enjoyment and fulfillment that both Legos and cycling bring, there is a larger societal impact at play. Legos have long been a tool for educational development, teaching children skills such as spatial reasoning and creativity. Similarly, cycling has the potential to be a powerful force for change in the world. By promoting sustainable transportation, we can work towards reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and combating climate change.

As I look towards my future, I am excited to continue exploring the intersection of my two passions: Legos and cycling. Whether it's through the design and creation of innovative cycling infrastructure or the use of Legos as a tool for educational development, I am eager to make a positive impact on the world.

In conclusion, my love for Legos and my interest in bicycle transportation may seem like unrelated passions, but they are actually deeply interconnected. Both allow for creativity, problem-solving, and personal fulfillment, and both have the potential to make a positive impact on the world. It is this combination of interests that makes me a unique and passionate candidate for college, and I am excited to see where my passions will take me in the future.

I'm pretty impressed but... I wanted it to be better.

I refined it with these two requests:

add more details about bike transportation and building things efficiently

and

More details about Legos and efficient problem solving

and got back THIS:

As a child, I was always drawn to the endless possibilities of Legos. With just a few bricks, I could create almost anything my imagination could conjure up. This early exposure to building and problem-solving with Legos helped to shape my analytical and creative thinking skills, and I have continued to turn to Legos as a source of inspiration and challenge throughout my life.

One aspect of Legos that particularly interests me is the way in which they can be used to teach efficient problem-solving and design principles. For example, when building with Legos, it is often necessary to use a limited number of bricks to construct a functional and aesthetically pleasing model. This requires careful planning and the ability to think creatively in order to find the most efficient solution.

This concept of efficient problem-solving is something that I have found to be applicable in many areas of my life, including my interest in cycling. Whether it's designing a bike-friendly city or creating a maintenance plan for a fleet of bikes, finding the most efficient and effective solution requires careful planning and the ability to think outside the box.

In addition to teaching problem-solving skills, Legos also encourage creativity and the ability to think in three dimensions. As a child, I would often spend hours lost in my own imagination, building elaborate structures and cities with the small plastic bricks. This early exposure to spatial reasoning has proved invaluable in my studies and future career goals.

Overall, my love for Legos has had a lasting impact on my personal and professional development. From teaching me the value of efficient problem-solving to fostering my creativity and spatial reasoning skills, Legos have played a vital role in shaping the person I am today. I am confident that this passion will continue to guide me in my college studies and beyond, and I am excited to see where it will take me next.

This was written in less than 5 minutes, start to finish. What do you think?

I teach gifted 10 and 11 year olds. I wasn’t that impressed. However, May this is spectacular for ungifted 18 year olds.

I would not be impressed that a teen or adult wrote any of these essays.

I would be impressed if they wrote them as fast as the bot did (1 minute or less, for 500 words.). Yeah, that's impressive for a human.

I am EXTRAORDINARILY impressed than a non-human entity was able to write this, in a minutes, and then apply feedback, and mostly get everything right. Artificial intelligence, not a person.

You aren't? Did you think AI had this capacity already?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope admission offices will become acutely aware of these systems. It should become common practice for offices to take the themes of an admitted student’s essay and run it through these bots to ensure something very similar doesn’t spit out. In fact, the next evolution of the technology should be to compare two writing samples - the student’s and the bot’s - for percent similarity. Another approach would be for students to sit for a timed, proctored essay. Of course, we’re now headed back to tests and the inequity around them, but the integrity of the admissions process is important.

So pretty soon, we are going to have to prove what we wrote was not written by a bot?

But the bot gets trained by looking at everything that humans write... so... this is just going to become a literary arms race, isn't it?

[Anonymous]

Holy sh*t, that freaks me out. My kid spent countless hours writing his essays and at first felt shady asking Quillbot to paraphrase parts to try to get under word limits (he's verbose).

[Anonymous]

So for all of you parents pushing CS majors, it also writes code. Oh no!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So for all of you parents pushing CS majors, it also writes code. Oh no!

Well, it writes snippets of code. Basically replaces what would take a few minutes of searching on stack overflow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So for all of you parents pushing CS majors, it also writes code. Oh no!

It writes thank you notes!

Thank you - aunt C - fitbit - get in shape this spring - great to see you last month.

Hey Aunt C,

I just wanted to say thank you for the Fitbit. I am so excited to start using it and getting in shape this winter and spring. Your gift means a lot to me and I really appreciate your generosity.

It was also great to see you last month! It's always such a pleasure to catch up with you and hear about all the exciting things going on in your life.

Thanks again for the fitbit. I can't wait to start tracking my steps and getting my exercise on.

Take care,
[Your Name]

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

This really is crazy and like that link someone posted this quite a way to get a first draft. Like with the Chinese food one, it sounds super generic but add some details and personal anecdotes and whoa…

Personally, I think these essays should be a thing of the past. The while introspective personal statement thing is BS. I like a promotblike tell me which historical figure you’d like to have dinner with or something, or some other prompt where it’s more of a level playing field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just out of curiosity I started using the ChatGTP bot to write some personal essays, A la common app.

Here was my first request:

Write a 500 word college application essay connecting my love for Legos with my interest in bicycle transportation.

Here was the answer - within 60 seconds

As a child, I was always drawn to the bright colors and endless possibilities of Legos. I would spend hours lost in my own imagination, building elaborate structures and cities with the small plastic bricks. Little did I know at the time, this love for Legos would shape my future interests and passions in a way I could have never predicted.

While I still enjoy the occasional Lego set, my interests have evolved over the years. As I grew older, I became increasingly interested in sustainable transportation and the ways in which we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. It was around this time that I discovered the world of cycling.

At first, my interest in cycling was simply a way to stay active and have fun. But as I delved deeper into the world of bike culture, I began to see the many benefits of bicycle transportation. From the health benefits of regular exercise to the environmental benefits of reducing emissions, it was clear that cycling was a win-win for both individuals and society as a whole.

As I continued to explore the world of cycling, I couldn't help but draw comparisons to my childhood love of Legos. Both cycling and Legos are all about creativity, problem-solving, and finding new and innovative ways to approach challenges. Whether it's building a new bike trail or constructing a intricate Lego model, the process of creation is both rewarding and stimulating.

But beyond the personal enjoyment and fulfillment that both Legos and cycling bring, there is a larger societal impact at play. Legos have long been a tool for educational development, teaching children skills such as spatial reasoning and creativity. Similarly, cycling has the potential to be a powerful force for change in the world. By promoting sustainable transportation, we can work towards reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and combating climate change.

As I look towards my future, I am excited to continue exploring the intersection of my two passions: Legos and cycling. Whether it's through the design and creation of innovative cycling infrastructure or the use of Legos as a tool for educational development, I am eager to make a positive impact on the world.

In conclusion, my love for Legos and my interest in bicycle transportation may seem like unrelated passions, but they are actually deeply interconnected. Both allow for creativity, problem-solving, and personal fulfillment, and both have the potential to make a positive impact on the world. It is this combination of interests that makes me a unique and passionate candidate for college, and I am excited to see where my passions will take me in the future.

I'm pretty impressed but... I wanted it to be better.

I refined it with these two requests:

add more details about bike transportation and building things efficiently

and

More details about Legos and efficient problem solving

and got back THIS:

As a child, I was always drawn to the endless possibilities of Legos. With just a few bricks, I could create almost anything my imagination could conjure up. This early exposure to building and problem-solving with Legos helped to shape my analytical and creative thinking skills, and I have continued to turn to Legos as a source of inspiration and challenge throughout my life.

One aspect of Legos that particularly interests me is the way in which they can be used to teach efficient problem-solving and design principles. For example, when building with Legos, it is often necessary to use a limited number of bricks to construct a functional and aesthetically pleasing model. This requires careful planning and the ability to think creatively in order to find the most efficient solution.

This concept of efficient problem-solving is something that I have found to be applicable in many areas of my life, including my interest in cycling. Whether it's designing a bike-friendly city or creating a maintenance plan for a fleet of bikes, finding the most efficient and effective solution requires careful planning and the ability to think outside the box.

In addition to teaching problem-solving skills, Legos also encourage creativity and the ability to think in three dimensions. As a child, I would often spend hours lost in my own imagination, building elaborate structures and cities with the small plastic bricks. This early exposure to spatial reasoning has proved invaluable in my studies and future career goals.

Overall, my love for Legos has had a lasting impact on my personal and professional development. From teaching me the value of efficient problem-solving to fostering my creativity and spatial reasoning skills, Legos have played a vital role in shaping the person I am today. I am confident that this passion will continue to guide me in my college studies and beyond, and I am excited to see where it will take me next.

This was written in less than 5 minutes, start to finish. What do you think?

I teach gifted 10 and 11 year olds. I wasn’t that impressed. However, May this is spectacular for ungifted 18 year olds.

I would not be impressed that a teen or adult wrote any of these essays.

I would be impressed if they wrote them as fast as the bot did (1 minute or less, for 500 words.). Yeah, that's impressive for a human.

I am EXTRAORDINARILY impressed than a non-human entity was able to write this, in a minutes, and then apply feedback, and mostly get everything right. Artificial intelligence, not a person.

You aren't? Did you think AI had this capacity already?

Do you think this capacity is new this year? The capacity has existed for several years, but it wasn’t available to the general public. You had to apply to use GPT3.

Meanwhile, if this essay is considered impressive when submitted to a college admissions office, that’s pretty depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread has gone quiet. Are parents busy getting their children to generate new essays?

This thread makes me sad. My kid spent weeks on her essay(s), refining and editing. And now authentic essays will mean nothing.
NP