Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 21:35     Subject: College’s AI review of Common App
Anonymous wrote:If this is the case, then why should the kids bother writing the essays themselves? Why shouldn't they just use AI? This is ridiculous.


Seems like AI will be able to detect when students are using AI to write their essays. At least, I hope so. My kids sweated bullets over their essays and the fact that some just plug the whole thing into ChatGPT makes me sick.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 20:13     Subject: College’s AI review of Common App
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If this is the case, then why should the kids bother writing the essays themselves? Why shouldn't they just use AI? This is ridiculous.

"My math teacher made me do the math long-hand on the test, but he used a calculator to check it! Why did I even bother?!?!"


This is entirely different. Your example relates to the kid learning the material and being able to apply it. Kids are not learning to write through the process of writing an app essay. In fact, it’s a fake process in many ways- they TELL you what they are looking for in many ways (a hook, growth, a pivotal moment, don’t regurgitate your cv, etc.) so even that makes it inauthentic. So the kids have to play the game and they have an AI judge at the first hurdle judging. It’s crap. Get rid of the essays.

So don’t apply to VA Tech. If you’re scared of AI being used along with a human, a tech school probably isn’t a good fit anyway.


Then I'd argue that they should allow AI to help write the essays. It's a bit hypocritical not to allow it now if they are going to use it to screen the applicants.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 19:49     Subject: College’s AI review of Common App
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If this is the case, then why should the kids bother writing the essays themselves? Why shouldn't they just use AI? This is ridiculous.

"My math teacher made me do the math long-hand on the test, but he used a calculator to check it! Why did I even bother?!?!"


This is entirely different. Your example relates to the kid learning the material and being able to apply it. Kids are not learning to write through the process of writing an app essay. In fact, it’s a fake process in many ways- they TELL you what they are looking for in many ways (a hook, growth, a pivotal moment, don’t regurgitate your cv, etc.) so even that makes it inauthentic. So the kids have to play the game and they have an AI judge at the first hurdle judging. It’s crap. Get rid of the essays.

So don’t apply to VA Tech. If you’re scared of AI being used along with a human, a tech school probably isn’t a good fit anyway.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 19:47     Subject: College’s AI review of Common App
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If this is the case, then why should the kids bother writing the essays themselves? Why shouldn't they just use AI? This is ridiculous.

"My math teacher made me do the math long-hand on the test, but he used a calculator to check it! Why did I even bother?!?!"


This is entirely different. Your example relates to the kid learning the material and being able to apply it. Kids are not learning to write through the process of writing an app essay. In fact, it’s a fake process in many ways- they TELL you what they are looking for in many ways (a hook, growth, a pivotal moment, don’t regurgitate your cv, etc.) so even that makes it inauthentic. So the kids have to play the game and they have an AI judge at the first hurdle judging. It’s crap. Get rid of the essays.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 19:41     Subject: College’s AI review of Common App
Anonymous wrote:If this is the case, then why should the kids bother writing the essays themselves? Why shouldn't they just use AI? This is ridiculous.

Did you read the info? There will still be human readers for every app.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 19:32     Subject: College’s AI review of Common App
Anonymous wrote:If this is the case, then why should the kids bother writing the essays themselves? Why shouldn't they just use AI? This is ridiculous.

"My math teacher made me do the math long-hand on the test, but he used a calculator to check it! Why did I even bother?!?!"
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 19:23     Subject: College’s AI review of Common App
Anonymous wrote:If this is the case, then why should the kids bother writing the essays themselves? Why shouldn't they just use AI? This is ridiculous.


I agree. This sucks.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 19:19     Subject: College’s AI review of Common App
If this is the case, then why should the kids bother writing the essays themselves? Why shouldn't they just use AI? This is ridiculous.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 19:17     Subject: College’s AI review of Common App
Anonymous wrote:This is about saving $$$

Sure. They said as much. Still a valid reason.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 19:13     Subject: College’s AI review of Common App
Anonymous wrote:Not surprising. Reading essays has to be the most painful part of the process for admissions officers. They should just do away with them.


And expensive.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 19:13     Subject: College’s AI review of Common App
This is about saving $$$
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 19:12     Subject: College’s AI review of Common App
It seems reasonable. They used to have initial review by two reviewers, and if the scores from them varied by more than 4 points on a 12-point scale, a third reviewer looked over the app. Now the initial reviewer will be the AI and one human reader, and if the scores vary by only 2 points and second human reader will review.

That seems a good way to manage the massive number of applications they are getting.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 19:09     Subject: College’s AI review of Common App
Not surprising. Reading essays has to be the most painful part of the process for admissions officers. They should just do away with them.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 19:08     Subject: College’s AI review of Common App
Anonymous wrote:Virginia Tech announced that it will be using a home-grown AI model to help review applicant essays going forward. Not the first and won't be the last admissions office to bring AI into the fold. 'Utilizing AI enables us to review essays more quickly and consistently, which benefits students by allowing for earlier admissions decisions while also maintaining the quality of the review process — and not raising application fees. This approach also supports Virginia Tech’s role in contributing to the national conversation about the responsible use of AI in higher education. We’re proud to contribute to the innovation of new tools and we’re committed to using them thoughtfully and transparently.'

https://news.vt.edu/articles/2025/07/admissions-updatesFAQ-2025.html


Well if they opensource the AI then we can perfect the essay with infinite tries. If the AI is not consistent it's not fair.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 19:06     Subject: College’s AI review of Common App
Virginia Tech announced that it will be using a home-grown AI model to help review applicant essays going forward. Not the first and won't be the last admissions office to bring AI into the fold. 'Utilizing AI enables us to review essays more quickly and consistently, which benefits students by allowing for earlier admissions decisions while also maintaining the quality of the review process — and not raising application fees. This approach also supports Virginia Tech’s role in contributing to the national conversation about the responsible use of AI in higher education. We’re proud to contribute to the innovation of new tools and we’re committed to using them thoughtfully and transparently.'

https://news.vt.edu/articles/2025/07/admissions-updatesFAQ-2025.html