AI in College Admissions: How UNC’s New Screening Protocol is Shaping the Future of Enrollment

AI is embedding itself in all aspects of our lives, and the college admissions process hasn’t been spared! The University of North Carolina (UNC) now uses AI to evaluate the grammar and writing style of essays, which are then used to judge admission to the university, and this move by UNC is a clear indication of why everyone involved in post-secondary education needs to understand AI in college admissions. We discuss UNC’s AI screening protocol, what it looks like from a student’s perspective, how AI compares to tutors, parents, and school guidance counselors, and how to use AI responsibly. Then, explore why AI writing lacks human finesse, what holistic admission looks like in the age of AI, how high school processes may be affected, and how AI could forever alter the college admissions landscape. We end with the enrolment management consequences of AI, how we use AI for this podcast, and what we think the future may hold for colleges that embrace AI. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:00:00] Why AI in college admissions is a topic everyone should be discussing right now.
• [0:02:00] How UNC uses AI to review college essays and screen applications. 
• [0:03:58] Understanding AI from a student’s perspective. 
• [0:05:56] Whether it’s better to use humans (parents, tutors, etc.) instead of AI for guidance.
• [0:07:37] How to use AI responsibly and why this matters. 
• [0:08:35] Why AI writing will always lack human touch. 
• [0:09:32] How AI could change the entire college applications landscape.
• [0:12:50] Unpacking holistic admission in the age of AI.

• [0:13:45] What AI in college admissions means for the high school sector. 

• [0:16:19] The enrolment management consequences of AI. 

• [0:18:30] How we use AI to help produce this podcast. 
• [0:20:05] Our final thoughts and what we think the future may hold. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | AI Acceleration 

Timothy Brunold on LinkedIn

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