Code and Current

November brings a lot to the table: the end of the spooky season, the start to the holidays, and the deadline for a majority of college applications. This has been a tradition for decades: students rushing to perfect their applications in order to meet the high expectations of their dream schools. However, the tradition in the way these institutions assess their students has differed in recent years. This difference is the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI). With the widespread use of AI, it is not surprising that colleges have also begun to utilize it as well, especially with the steady increase of applicants every year. What is driving the increase in AI usage, and how specifically are higher institutions using it to assess prospective students?

The increased reliance on AI in college admissions is a result of an increase in students applying to college. According to data from the Common Application, there has been a 7% increase in applications from 2023 to 2024. The number of applications rose from 7,041,256 to 7,541,148. With these numbers, it makes sense to utilize a tool that can sort through thousands applications efficiently. As anticipated, a 2023 article by Inside Higher Ed notes that 50% of admissions offices are doing just that, with 80% planning to in 2024. But it also makes sense that when prospective students hearing that their applications are not getting assessed by humans instills fear. College applications have very personal elements that can only be fully understood by a human being. Luckily, the reality of the situation is much less unsettling. U.S News interviewed admissions officers who emphasized that most colleges currently implement AI in processes that were already algorithmic, such as analyzing test scores and GPAs. The final decision on whether to admit a student is made by humans, and admissions officers have assured that this will not change, even with the rise of AI usage. With artificial intelligence becoming a buzz word in news headlines, it makes sense that its appliance in college admissions is worrisome to anyone involved. However, in this situation, AI is simply
being used in a practical sense. It saves time in already algorithmic parts of a student’s application and allows admission officers to focus on the personal parts of one. An increase in college applicants is a positive trend , and if AI can help streamline the process for admissions without any major consequences, it will be a positive tool for the future of college admissions.

Sources

Barnard, Brennan. “College Admission: An AI Revolution.” Forbes, 17 Sept. 2024,
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brennanbarnard/2024/09/17/college-admission-an-ai-revolution/. Accessed 6 Nov. 2024.
Claybourn, Cole. “Is AI Affecting College Admissions?” U.S News & World Report, 29 Dec. 2023, https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/is-ai-affecting-college-admissions. Accessed 6 Nov. 2024.
Knox, Liam. “Admissions Offices Deploy AI.” Inside Higher Ed, 9 Oct. 2023,
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/10/09/admissions-offices-turn-ai-application-reviews. Accessed 6 Nov. 2024.