What Families Need to Know About AI and College Applications

Learn what admissions officers are really looking for in the age of AI-generated writing.

May 10, 2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there — myself included.

As we celebrate today, I’ve been reflecting on the many ways parents support their children through the college admissions process, especially in an age where technology is changing how students search for information and make decisions.

Recently, I read an article in the The Chronicle of Higher Education about how students are increasingly using AI tools to help navigate the college admissions process. Some students are using AI to search for colleges, compare schools, or gather information about programs and opportunities.

And while AI can absolutely be useful, it also comes with important limitations.

AI is not always accurate. Depending on the tool being used, it often pulls information from across the internet without properly verifying it or attributing the source. In some cases, AI tools can “hallucinate” — confidently presenting incorrect information as fact.

For example, a student could ask an AI tool whether a college has a particular sports team and receive the wrong answer, even though the correct information is clearly listed on the college’s official website.

This is why AI, like any technological tool, must be used judiciously.

Whether it is the AI-generated summary that now appears at the top of a Google search or a dedicated AI chatbot, students and parents should always verify important information with the original source — in this case, the college’s official website.

As an academic, I also regularly confront questions about how students are using AI in their coursework and writing.

My rule of thumb is simple:

AI should function as a personal assistant — helping with tasks that save time and improve efficiency.

It should not think for you.
It should not generate original ideas for you.
And it absolutely should not produce responses for assignments or college applications.

Using AI to write college application essays or short responses is a major mistake.

Admissions committees are looking for authentic, thoughtful, and human responses from students. After all, the admissions process is about building a class of interesting human beings who are prepared for the rigors of college and who will enrich the educational experience of their classmates.

AI-generated essays often come across as generic or inauthentic, and they frequently do not align with the rest of a student’s academic and extracurricular record.

The students who are most successful in gaining admission to selective colleges and universities — especially with significant funding — are students who are able to build a coherent and authentic narrative around their experiences, achievements, leadership, and goals. This is what we teach our students to do and help them do in CFF College Fully Funded®.

That authenticity matters. AI cannot and should not replace a student's authentic voice.

I would genuinely love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

Have you had conversations in your household about how AI should or should not be used during the admissions process? How are your students currently using AI tools, or how do they plan to use them?

Please reply to this email and let me know. I truly look forward to hearing from you.

Regular Registration Deadline Is Fast Approaching

The registration deadline for the CFF College Fully Funded® Summer Session is approaching quickly: May 29.

If you have been sitting on the fence, now is the time to make a decision.

Inside the program, students receive personalized guidance to help them successfully apply and secure admission into colleges that will fully fund their education so they can avoid unnecessary debt.

Students receive support with:

• Building a balanced and strategic college list
• Identifying schools that are likely to provide strong financial aid and merit funding
• Properly packaging their academic, extracurricular, and leadership records
• Securing strong recommendation letters
• Completing financial aid applications correctly and strategically

Students also participate in a three-month intensive that includes:

• 10 weekly classes
• A live coaching session following each class
• Weekly office hours for individualized support as needed

• Weekly assignments (with feedback) that cover each aspect of the college and financial aid application

This is highly personalized guidance designed to help students succeed.

After the 3 months, students are in a 7-month application support membership where they receive regular guidance throughout the application process until they receive offers and make their decisions in April.

Our students have received admission offers with funding worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from selective and non-selective colleges and universities across the United States.

Reserve your spot today by starting with a free conversation.

And if we have already spoken, please complete your registration using the link included in your follow-up email.

Have a great week ahead.

To college fully funded,

Dr. Faith Okpotor Founder and CFF Head Coach National Center for Higher Education Access Award-winning academic and tenured professor

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