The AI Detection Era: What Admissions Officers Are Really Looking For Now

We are officially in the AI detection era of college essays.


As more students experiment with tools like ChatGPT to write their college essays, admissions officers are asking a new question: Did a real student write this?


And here is the truth—many of them can tell when the answer is no.


This year, more than ever, your personal statement has to sound like a human. Not a bot. Not a template. Not a perfectly polished version of who you think you are supposed to be. But an honest, specific, and emotionally grounded reflection of you.



Here is what raises red flags in this new era—and how you can write an essay that feels real, human, and unforgettable.


Red Flag #1: Vague or Generic Language

AI tools tend to use broad, recycled phrases. Things like:

  • I learned the value of hard work
  • This experience shaped my character
  • Overcoming this obstacle taught me resilience


Those sentences are not wrong. They are just empty. They could belong to anyone.


Admissions officers are looking for details that feel personal and grounded in real experience. Specificity builds trust. It shows that you are not just trying to sound impressive. You are telling the truth.


What to do instead:

  • Name real people in your story.
  • Describe the exact setting of a meaningful moment.
  • Share the emotion you felt in the moment, even if it was messy or complicated.


Red Flag #2: Perfectly Polished but Emotionally Flat

One thing AI can do well is produce clean, organized writing. But what it cannot do is reflect lived experience with emotional depth. If your essay reads like a well-edited blog post but lacks heart, it might not land.


Colleges are not just assessing your grammar. They are trying to understand how you think, how you feel, and how you’ve grown. Emotional resonance matters.


What to do instead:

  • Write about moments when your perspective shifted.
  • Reflect honestly on how something affected you.
  • Use your natural tone—even if it means being a little vulnerable or unpolished.


Red Flag #3: No Distinct Voice or Personality

Essays that feel overly formal or too neutral often fall flat. They sound like they were written for an audience, not by a person.


Admissions officers are reading thousands of essays. If yours sounds like it came from a script or a chatbot, they will move on.


What to do instead:

  • Let your personality show.
  • If you’re funny, be funny.
  • If you’re reflective, let the essay slow down and dig deep.
  • Use the words and phrasing you would actually say.


You are not applying to college as a chatbot. You are applying as yourself.


So What Are Admissions Officers Looking For?

More than anything, they are looking for students who know who they are and can express that in writing.

That does not mean you need a dramatic life story. It means you can reflect. You can notice the small moments that shaped you. You can say what matters to you and why.


They are looking for students who can think critically about their experiences and share something honest, even if it is imperfect.


They want to understand what drives you, what you value, and how you see the world.


The Bottom Line: Be Brave Enough to Be Real

AI detection tools are evolving fast, but so are the instincts of admissions readers. If your essay feels like it was written to check boxes, it will not connect.


But if it feels like a window into who you are—messy, honest, thoughtful—it will stand out.



Do not try to outwrite the bots. Write like a person. Be specific. Be real. And trust that your voice is the one thing AI will never be able to fake.