AI is being piloted in college admissions to read essays and review transcripts, with Virginia Tech launching an AI-powered essay reader to speed decisions and ease the human workload.

Ethical guidance from NACAC emphasizes transparency, integrity, fairness, and student dignity, urging schools to clearly communicate AI use and apply it ethically.

Experts advocate a collaborative approach, using AI for data processing and initial reviews while humans interpret nuanced student narratives and make final judgments.

Applications have surged for many schools, exemplified by Virginia Tech receiving 57,622 applications for a roughly 7,000-seat class, which worsens workload and delays notification timelines.

This trend reflects a broader shift of AI taking on tasks once done by humans, signaling wider implications for higher education and other industries.

The topic is sensitive and not all colleges publicly disclose their AI use in admissions.