🎯 13 Ways Colleges Detect AI in Application Essays

By Michelle Mai, CPSI Counselor

As AI tools like ChatGPT become more advanced and accessible, students are increasingly tempted to use them to write college admission essays. But admissions officers are getting wise to the signs.

While AI-generated essays may be grammatically correct and well-structured, they often lack the authenticity, specificity, and emotional nuance that human-written essays convey. Here are 13 key clues that can help readers detect AI-generated content—and tips to ensure your writing remains authentically you.

Clue: The essay sounds smooth but lacks voice, personality, or emotional depth.

Why it’s a sign: AI avoids personal vulnerability and uses generic phrasing.

🧠 AI Example:

“Resilience is a key trait I’ve cultivated to overcome challenges and grow.”

🙋‍♀️ Human Version:

“When I tore my ACL during volleyball semifinals, the grueling rehab taught me more than just physical recovery—it was about rebuilding my confidence step by step.”

Clue: Phrases like “teamwork is important” or “leadership helped me grow” appear multiple times.

Why it’s a sign: AI sometimes rephrases the same ideas to meet word count.

Clue: Values like “helping others” or “overcoming adversity” are shared without specifics.

Why it’s a sign: AI struggles with nuance and real-world context.

Clue: Vague anecdotes, no names or distinct memories.

Why it’s a sign: AI doesn’t know your life story.

🙋‍♀️ Human Example:

“Leading my Shark Conservation Club, I organized a beach clean-up that removed 200 pounds of trash from our local shores.”

Clue: A rigid five-paragraph essay that feels like a school assignment.

Why it’s a sign: AI follows templates closely.

Clue: The essay mentions achievements or interests not reflected in activities, transcript, or recs.

Why it’s a sign: AI invents details without aligning with your actual background.

Clue: Sentences feel like a thesaurus explosion.

Why it’s a sign: AI uses complex words to sound smart.

🧠 AI Example:

“My scholastic endeavors have culminated in a prodigious acumen for epistemological pursuits.”

🙋‍♀️ Human Version:

“My love for numbers started when I calculated batting averages for my middle school team.”

Clue: Odd sentence structure, strange transitions, or awkward idioms.

Why it’s a sign: AI still stumbles with nuance in grammar.

Clue: No vulnerability or self-reflection.

Why it’s a sign: AI doesn’t experience emotion.

🙋‍♀️ Human Example:

“My palms were clammy, my voice shook, but when I saw the audience nodding, I knew my passion had made an impact.”

Clue: Overused comparisons like “Life is a journey.”

Why it’s a sign: AI defaults to clichés.

Clue: The Essay is submitted right after the prompts are released.

Why it’s a sign: AI enables instant draft generation—real drafts take time.

Clue: The essay touches on all ideal themes—leadership, academics, service—but feels manufactured.

Why it’s a sign: AI knows the formula but not the heart.

Clue: No references to specific programs, professors, or campus experiences.

Why it’s a sign: AI can’t personalize unless prompted with details.

🧠 AI Example:

“Your university’s excellent academics and vibrant community make it a perfect fit.”

🙋‍♀️ Human Version:

“The Grossman School’s Entrepreneurship theme aligns with my passion for product innovation, and I’m excited to collaborate in the Catamount Innovation Lab.”

Using AI as a brainstorming tool is okay, but your final product must reflect you. Here’s how:

Admissions readers are trained to spot authenticity. When in doubt, write from the heart—because no AI can replicate you.