The College AI Policy Index · 2026-27 cycle
What 150 colleges actually say about AI in your application essays
Every quote verbatim. Every source official. Every row dated. Every change we make logged in public. Free, no login.
- effectively prohibit AI, feedback included
- 7
- publish guidance — some uses allowed, others not
- 36
- publish commentary that restricts nothing
- 5
- publish no AI policy at all
- 102
Only 7 of 150 effectively prohibit AI. 102 publish nothing on the subject at all — 68% of the index. The rest is fine print. We read all of it so you don’t have to.
Policies first read August 27, 2026, re-read September 8, 2026 · each row shows its own date · changelog
One square per school
The red squares are every school that effectively prohibits AI. The grey field is every school that has said nothing. Each square links to that school’s row.
Download this chart · PNG, 1200×630, free to reuse with attribution
Where the product turns itself off
The 7 colleges where we won’t review your essay
Second Read sells essay feedback. At these 7 schools, the published language limits AI to basic proofreading or less, which on our reading reaches feedback on a draft. So the product refuses the school-specific review, paid plan or not, and points you to the school’s own words.
- Bates College
“It’s okay to bounce essay ideas off an AI tool or ask something like “Is writing about my dog too cliché?” What’s not okay is asking it to give you the exact id…”
- Brigham Young University
“You may not pay anyone to help you with your application ... you may not use generative AI tools (like ChatGPT) as you compose your responses. ... We use softwa…”
- Brown University
“Brown affirms this definition and reiterates our own independent policy that the use of artificial intelligence by an applicant is not permitted under any circu…”
- Claremont McKenna College
“For example, it is acceptable to discuss possible topics or ideas with others and to receive help with basic proofreading. However, it is not acceptable for any…”
- Georgetown University
“If the applicant received assistance from a third party in completing the application, the applicant takes full responsibility for the accuracy of the informati…”
- Villanova University
“The Admission Committee expects that each writing supplement be the original work of the applicant, unaided by artificial intelligence. Those found to be submit…”
- Washington University in St. Louis
“Can I use generative AI (like ChatGPT) to help with my application to WashU? [...] Relying on tools such as ChatGPT or Claude to compose for you will result in…”
This costs us sales. We think that beats helping you break a rule you never saw. If you’re applying to one of these schools: don’t use AI tools on those essays. Including ours.
If you work in admissions at one of these 7 and we’ve read your language wrong, email support@getsecondread.com from your .edu address. We correct or annotate within 48 hours, publicly.
All 150 schools
Alphabetical. Each row links to the school’s page on Second Read and to the official source we read. Copy a row’s link to cite it; the anchor is stable.
150 schools
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
We understand that applicants may choose to use generative AI to support their application process. However, it’s essential that your materials remain authentic and reflect your own experiences and perspectives. The fina…
official sourceChecked Aug 27, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Effectively prohibitsreviews refused
It’s okay to bounce essay ideas off an AI tool or ask something like “Is writing about my dog too cliché?” What’s not okay is asking it to give you the exact idea for your essay or build you an outline or structure for y…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
Personal statements, supplemental essays, and free responses provide students with a valuable opportunity to have an authentic voice in the college admission process. While students may turn to a variety of resources suc…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
You may use AI to: • learn more about colleges or the application process (be aware that AI can generate untrue, biased, inaccurate, and fictional content) • brainstorm ideas or reflect on possible essay topics • review…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Effectively prohibitsreviews refused
You may not pay anyone to help you with your application ... you may not use generative AI tools (like ChatGPT) as you compose your responses. ... We use software tools to analyze the admission essays and activity respon…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Effectively prohibitsreviews refused
Brown affirms this definition and reiterates our own independent policy that the use of artificial intelligence by an applicant is not permitted under any circumstances in conjunction with application content. While an a…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
The Bryn Mawr community abides by an Honor Code that centers integrity and values the authentic ideas and opinions of its members. We invite our applicants to embody that same spirit in compiling their application materi…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
Tools like ChatGPT and other AI-based programs are making a significant impact on society and various industries. We believe that these tools can help you generate ideas for your application, but ultimately everything yo…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026California Institute of Technology
Published guidance
What are some examples of unethical uses of AI for Caltech admissions essays? Copying and pasting directly from an AI generator; Relying on AI generated content to outline or draft an essay; Replacing your unique voice a…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
Am I allowed to use ChatGPT or other AI tools to structure my supplemental essay and improve language? ... While AI may be a helpful tool in the college admission process, it's crucial to approach it cautiously. Carnegie…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Case Western Reserve University
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Effectively prohibitsreviews refused
For example, it is acceptable to discuss possible topics or ideas with others and to receive help with basic proofreading. However, it is not acceptable for anyone else to write, rewrite, or heavily edit your essay, or f…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
If you choose to use generative AI in your application process, we expect you to do so ethically. Ethical uses of generative AI include researching colleges, brainstorming essay topics, and reviewing the grammar and spel…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
Your submission should always reflect your own ideas, creativity, and experiences. [...] AI as a Writing Coach, Not a Creator. For years, students have sought feedback from family, teachers, school counselors, and mentor…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
The rise in artificial intelligence tools (e.g. ChatGPT) creates the ability to use shortcuts that may seem attractive, but won’t yield the same result as reflection, revision, and original thought. [...] AI can’t captur…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Effectively prohibitsreviews refused
If the applicant received assistance from a third party in completing the application, the applicant takes full responsibility for the accuracy of the information that was submitted. Further, the applicant understands th…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Georgia Institute of Technology
Published guidance
AI tools can be powerful and valuable in the application process when used thoughtfully. We believe there is a place for them in helping you generate ideas, but your ultimate submission should be your own. As with all ot…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
A student's essay should reflect their own content, writing style, and English proficiency. [...] We are aware that it is possible to use tools or other services to fraudulently create essays or pass off another's work a…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
Good writing is a process, and there are many resources you might use as you craft your responses, including asking someone you trust to review your work and offer feedback or using generative artificial intelligence to…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Illinois Institute of Technology
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Indiana University Bloomington
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
It is Hopkins' policy that you may use AI tools for brainstorming or refining ideas before the writing process begins and for basic proofreading of your own writing, such as spelling and grammar review, but all material…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Aug 27, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
We believe AI can be a helpful tool in the writing process. Like any form of application assistance, we encourage students to use it responsibly. If you decide to utilize programs like ChatGPT, treat them like a teacher—…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026North Carolina State University
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
The expectation on Northwestern's campus is to produce original work, and, as such, we expect your portion of the application will reflect your own work. [...] Just as you wouldn't ask another person to write your essays…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Oberlin College and Conservatory
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
If you choose to use AI when writing your essays, consider it an editing tool - you might use resources to proofread grammar or solidify your thoughts in an essay, similar to how you might seek guidance from a current te…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
AI is not inherently "bad", but I caution against it in your college application. First and foremost, I guarantee that any essay one writes with the help of AI is not going to be nearly as good or authentic as one that a…
The source is a dean's blog post, not a formal policy page.
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Aug 27, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Rutgers University–New Brunswick
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Aug 27, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Stevens Institute of Technology
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
An appropriate use of an AI tool is to help you explore admission essay ideas or to refine your admission essay based on the topic selected; however, it is important that the final work be yours. AI tools should be used…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
Whether you are getting help from AI or another person, we recommend that any assistance with writing comes at the beginning or end of the process — such as brainstorming ideas for essay topics or asking for feedback on…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
If you choose to incorporate AI-based assistance while preparing your writing submissions for the John V. Roach Honors College at Texas Christian University, we expect you to approach it as you would when collaborating w…
This policy is from TCU's John V. Roach Honors College — TCU publishes no general first-year AI policy.
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026The George Washington University
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026The Pennsylvania State University
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Aug 27, 2026The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Commentary only
Does Undergraduate Admissions use AI and why? UNC uses AI programs to provide data points about students’ common application essay and their school transcripts. Data points include writing style and grammar and the rigor…
This FAQ describes UNC's own use of AI to read applications. UNC publishes no rule about applicants' use of AI.
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026The University of Texas at Austin
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
Tufts Admissions strongly discourages the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) for writing college admissions essays and short answer responses. Our observations are that generative AI often produces formulaic…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Aug 27, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026University of California San Diego
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026University of California, Berkeley
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026University of California, Davis
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026University of California, Irvine
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026University of California, Merced
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026University of California, Riverside
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026University of California, Santa Cruz
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026University of Colorado Boulder
Commentary only
AI tools have become a common part of how students brainstorm, organize and draft written work. [...] Before using any AI tool in your essay process, check the application and academic integrity policies of each universi…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
However, your ultimate submission should be your own. As with all other sources, do not copy and paste content you did not create directly into your application. If you choose to utilize AI-based assistance while working…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
May I use artificial intelligence (AI) to help write my admissions essay? AI tools may be used like any other general writing aid, but the essay submitted must be your own work. The goal is for UGA to learn about you in…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026University of Maryland, College Park
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026University of Massachusetts Amherst
Commentary only
Do you use artificial intelligence in the review process? While we consistently strive to make our admissions process more efficient, we do not use AI to evaluate or make decisions about undergraduate student application…
This FAQ describes the admissions office's own use of AI. UMass Amherst publishes no rule about applicants' use of AI.
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
Your essays should tell your story, in your words. AI tools can be helpful when used thoughtfully, such as for brainstorming, outlining, proofreading, or organizing information. We recognize these tools may be especially…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026University of Minnesota Twin Cities
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
Responses to application essay questions should reflect your own ideas and experiences, be independently written by you and reflect your personal writing style. You may receive advice on content and editing, including th…
This guidance is from Mizzou's Honors College; its general admissions pages publish no AI policy.
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
While an applicant may use artificial intelligence to assist with spelling and grammar review, or brainstorming support before writing, the content of all essays, short answer questions, activities, and any other materia…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
Talking through an idea with a parent, teacher, or counselor, having someone proofread your writing, or using a tool, including an AI tool, to organize your thoughts or check your grammar, doesn't compromise your applica…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
While artificial intelligence tools may be helpful in generating essay topic ideas, and in editing or refining students' writing, the University of Rochester discourages the use of AI to compose application essays or sho…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026University of Southern California
Published guidance
Generative AI tools are now part of daily life, and we're not naive about that. Plenty of applicants will use them somewhere in their writing process from brainstorming a topic, to getting unstuck, to improving a sentenc…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
All writing in the application, including your essay/personal statement, must be your own original work. If you choose to have a parent, counselor, tutor, friend or AI tool review your writing, it must be done responsibl…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026University of Wisconsin–Madison
Commentary only
We will not disqualify an applicant found to have used or suspected of using AI in their admissions essays, nor are we running essays through any system to detect if AI was used. However, we strongly discourage students…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
We understand that many students will use various forms of assistance as they prepare their application; ChatGPT and other forms of AI may be viewed as one of these sources of assistance. For example, students may rely o…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Effectively prohibitsreviews refused
The Admission Committee expects that each writing supplement be the original work of the applicant, unaided by artificial intelligence. Those found to be submitting writing that is not their own may be denied or have the…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Commentary only
Additionally, a new essay review process will use a combination of human reviewers and an artificial intelligence (AI)-supported model developed by Virginia Tech researchers. [...] How does the new essay review process w…
This is Virginia Tech's news-office FAQ on its own AI-assisted essay scoring. Its admissions pages publish no rule about applicants' use of AI.
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
For your personal essay and the other parts of your W&L application, you're welcome to use AI the way you might work with a friend or teacher: for ideas and feedback, but not for writing the essay itself. It's okay to ge…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Washington University in St. Louis
Effectively prohibitsreviews refused
Can I use generative AI (like ChatGPT) to help with my application to WashU? [...] Relying on tools such as ChatGPT or Claude to compose for you will result in an inauthentic, more generic writing that doesn't showcase y…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
A candidate's personal statement must be their own work. The personal statement's purpose is to provide more insight into the candidate's own ideas, background, and writing abilities in English. Wesleyan recognizes there…
This statement appears in Wesleyan's international-applicant section, not a universal policy.
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
While AI tools can be helpful for brainstorming, organizing ideas or refining grammar, essays and personal statements that depend too much on AI often miss what matters most: your unique perspective, experiences and pers…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Worcester Polytechnic Institute
No policy
Nothing about AI on the official admissions pages we checked. The certification you sign is the rule.
page checkedChecked Sep 8, 2026Published guidance
Submitting personal statements or other written application responses composed by text-generating software may result in admission revocation or expulsion. ... Using an AI platform to review one's grammar or spelling, or…
official sourceChecked Sep 8, 2026
How we classify (read this before quoting us)
We read only official school sources: admissions-office pages, instructions inside the application itself, honor-code pages the school ties to admissions, and posts by the admissions office. Never news stories, never other websites’ summaries.
- Effectively prohibits
- Official language limits AI to basic proofreading or less, says AI may not be used in preparing application materials, or requires you to certify that no AI was used. “Effectively” is our word, and it is an inference: several of these schools permit a spell-check or bouncing an idea off a tool, and what they rule out is what Second Read does, which is feedback on a draft. We show the exact words next to every label so you can disagree with us.
- Published guidance
- The school has published rules for AI in the application: some uses allowed (often brainstorming, grammar, or feedback on a draft you wrote), others not (writing, rewriting, translating). The specifics differ school to school and are in the quote. Read it as written.
- Commentary, no restriction
- The school has published thoughts about AI without restricting how you use it. The quote is the whole of it. The certification you sign when you submit still applies.
- No published policy
- We found nothing about AI on the school’s official admissions pages on the day we checked. That is not permission. It means the general rule applies: the certification you sign when you submit, which says the work is your own.
- Not yet verified
- We have not located and read this school’s AI policy page. We don’t guess, and we don’t sell school-specific reviews there until we have. None at the moment: every school in the index has been read.
Every classification sits beside the verbatim quote, the official URL, and the date we last read it. Where a quote comes from one part of a school (an honors college, a page for international applicants), or describes the school’s own use of AI rather than a rule for applicants, the row says so. Every change we make is logged publicly at /changes. The longer version, including which schools these are and how we handle a page that says two things, is on the methodology page.
Questions we expect
- Didn't Kaplan find that most colleges have no AI policy?
- Yes, and our read agrees. In Kaplan's November 2025 survey of 220 admissions officers, 68% said their school had no official policy on AI in application essays. We went school by school through everything these 150 colleges publish officially (application instructions, admissions FAQs, honor-code pages tied to admissions) and found nothing at 102 of them, which is 68%. Different method, same result. What this index adds is the other third: the exact words of the 48 schools that do say something, and which 7 of those we read as prohibitions. Kaplan is right that the guidance is scattered and hard to find. That is why this page exists.
- You sell essay feedback. Don't you profit when schools are permissive?
- Yes, and you shouldn't have to trust us; that's the design. We never paraphrase: every label sits next to the school's exact words, the official link, and the date we checked, the rubric is public, and the full dataset is a free CSV, so anyone can re-score all 150 schools without believing a word we say. And the incentive cuts the other way inside the product: where our reading says a school's policy reaches feedback on a draft, Second Read refuses the school-specific review and gives up that sale. If we were tuning labels for revenue, we would start by deleting that feature.
- Is this legal advice, or a promise about how a school will treat my application?
- No. It is a reading of public pages on a given date, by people who are not your counselor and not the school. Policies change mid-season, which is why every row carries its check date and every change we make is logged publicly. Read your school's own page, linked in every row, before you touch any tool.
- What is Second Read?
- A small tool built by a student who went through this cycle as an international applicant last year. It gives structured feedback on supplemental essays you wrote; it never writes or rewrites a sentence. The prompt database and this index are free and need no account, whether or not you ever use the paid part.
Recently changed in the prompt database
The weekly verification behind Second Read keeps the supplemental prompts and deadlines current. Policy changes, when they happen, are logged in the same place.
AI Policy Index: every policy page re-read — Our re-read of all 150 schools’ AI-policy pages: 147 rows now carry September 8 as their read date; Babson, Purdue, and the University of Chicago could not be fetched that day and keep August 27. Three schools we had not been able to read are now classified (Fordham, UMass Amherst, Virginia Tech), one school we had recorded as silent now carries its published words (UNC), and three quotes were completed or extended (Bowdoin, Stony Brook, WashU). The counts moved from 7 · 35 · 2 · 103 · 3 to 7 · 36 · 5 · 102 · 0 (effectively prohibit · published guidance · commentary · no published policy · not yet verified).
Fordham University — Read for the first time: Fordham’s “AI Policy for Application Writing” page sends automated fetches to a login gateway, so we read it in a browser. It allows AI “in its proper place, such as brainstorming ideas or polishing a draft” and warns that manufactured content breaks the application’s narrative. Classified as published guidance; school-specific reviews, paused since August 27 because we could not read the policy, are open.
University of Massachusetts Amherst — Read for the first time (the pages blocked us on August 27): nine official admissions pages carry no rule about applicants’ use of AI; an FAQ on the Admission Decision page says the office “do[es] not use AI to evaluate or make decisions about undergraduate student applications.” Classified as commentary, with a note that it describes the office’s own use of AI; school-specific reviews are open.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University — Read for the first time, in a browser (the admissions site blocks automated fetches): the apply, first-year requirements, Ut Prosim short-answer, and application-policies pages carry no rule about applicants’ use of AI. The university’s news office explains that each essay is scored by one human reader and one AI reviewer, with humans making every decision. Classified as commentary, with a note that it describes Virginia Tech’s own use of AI; school-specific reviews are open.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — Our August 27 read recorded UNC as publishing nothing about AI. Its admissions FAQ carries the question “Does Undergraduate Admissions use AI and why?”, describing UNC’s own use of AI to generate data points about applicants’ essays and transcripts; the page dates from August 2025, so our first read missed it. Reclassified from no published policy to commentary, with a note that it says nothing about applicants’ use of AI.
Take the data
The whole index as CSV — 150 rows, one per school, exactly what the table shows: classification, verbatim quote (and its scope note where one applies), official source, the date we read it, and whether Second Read refuses school-specific reviews there.
college-ai-policy-index-2026-27.csv
Free to reuse with attribution (CC BY 4.0): “Second Read, The College AI Policy Index 2026-27” + a link to this page.
Admissions offices
If any quote, date, or classification here is wrong or stale, email support@getsecondread.com from your .edu address. We fix or annotate within 48 hours and log the change publicly at /changes.
Every Friday: what changed in this week’s prompts and policies. Nothing else.
Second Read was built by Pedro Quartiero, 18, who applied to US colleges from São Paulo last cycle and started at Tufts this fall. It gives feedback on essays you wrote and never writes them. The free parts, which are the prompt database, this index, and the school-list checker, stay free whether or not you ever use the paid part. Press and corrections: support@getsecondread.com.