According to a study by Intelligent, a widely respected source for higher education rankings and research, in 2023, half of educational admissions departments used artificial intelligence to evaluate applications. In 2024, it is estimated that a whopping 82% of colleges and universities utilized artificial intelligence in their admissions process.
With an increase in the use of AI in college admissions, it’s important to consider what will change, and if these changes will have negative or positive impacts on our society as a whole.
So why is AI being used in the admissions process? The answer given by most schools is efficiency. Colleges and universities around the world have seen an increase in applications. In 2025, James Madison University received over 31,000 early action and early decision applicants alone. With minimal time to evaluate applications, schools have turned to AI to make decisions quickly.
Many students now are concerned that their applications will not be fairly or ethically considered, and admissions professionals seem to agree. According to the U.S. News & World Report, approximately two-thirds of admissions professionals are concerned about the ethicality of artificial intelligence in the admissions process.
Admissions also claim that adding AI in their application process is an attempt to limit bias in the admissions process, and make decisions solely on the facts presented. The facts are the grades and test scores of applicants and “bias” being found in their recommendation letters and personal essays. I would argue that bias is not a hindrance to the admissions process but necessary to create a diverse campus.
Currently, AI is being used to evaluate the whole student application process. According to Intelligent, In 2023, 73% of schools used some form of AI to “grade” letters of recommendation, and 71% of schools used AI to evaluate students’ transcripts. Students are also surprised to hear that 60% of colleges and universities are using AI to “grade” their personal essays as well.
Personal essays, in particular, are regarded as one of the most personal and insightful parts of a student’s application; a place where admissions can get to know the student they might welcome to campus, not only their grades and test scores.
Unfortunately, AI does not have the same capabilities as a human to analyze an applicant’s personal background, life experiences, and overall character, the initial purpose of personal essays. AI instead grades the essays based on grammar, structure, organization, and vocabulary, struggling to understand emotion, context, and the overall message presented by the student.
AI is also being used to grade applicants letters of recommendation. These letters can reveal traits regarding a students work ethic and personality that cannot be fully “understood” through the use of AI.
Without the human evaluation of college applications, AI will continue to use its algorithm to choose the “same” student with the same scores again and again, resulting in a university or college that lacks diversity and difference of thought. Until AI has the ability to analyze a student’s true character and background, it should not be making admissions decisions.