My First Job
One of my first jobs out of college was working in the Human Resource department of a large, wholesale nursery grower on the West Coast. I had no HR experience, but I spoke fluent Spanish, so I was hired.
This company brought in thousands of temporary workers for the growing season. One of my responsibilities was to review the identification that new hires submitted. Initially, I did not know how to authenticate the credentials, but slowly, as I reviewed hundreds of drivers’ licenses, social security cards, state IDs and passports on a daily basis, I learned what made for a valid piece of identification. I started to see and feel the difference between a fake and a legal document and I could quickly discern if something was counterfeit. Someone on the street might have a hard time deciding if one credential was authentic or not but when you look at hundreds of them a day, you know.
Why You Should Not Use AI
And THAT is why you should NOT use AI to write your personal statement. Maybe the people around you that do not read hundreds of essays can’t tell which piece is AI generated and which is your authentic writing, but much like my job in HR, I knew with a quick look that something wasn’t right. And admissions readers that read essays all day know when they are reading a true piece of writing versus something generated by AI.
If you submit an AI generated piece, it will most likely lack the authentic tone that will let the reader know who is coming to their campus. Think about the artwork of young children. Rarely does a child ever produce anything that is slated to go in a museum, but it does not make it any less delightful or charming. Think about a Mother’s Day card or craft that you made as a preschool student. The art was far from perfect, but it told your story and delighted the recipient.
Your Essay Is Your Artwork
Your college essay is not likely to be the basis of a meaningful piece of literature, but just like the artwork of a young child, it should have a deep ring of your authentic self that comes across, much like the art you did as a young child. The reader should feel like they know something meaningful about you and they would like to learn more.
So, skip AI and go tell your story! I included a vintage piece of Mother’s Day art for good measure. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there.