Guidance on the Use of AI in the Bowdoin Application
At Bowdoin, we read applications carefully and thoughtfully, and entirely by humans. We are trying to understand who you are—what matters to you, how you think, and what you might bring to our community. A Bowdoin education brings context, history, integrity, and empathy to the world around us. The way you approach your application is one of the first ways we see how you engage with those values.
We understand that AI tools are becoming an important part of how students learn and create. In fact, Bowdoin is a community that values innovation and technology (we provide everyone with a laptop and more). When used responsibly, AI tools can support you in some remarkable ways.
However, your writing should reflect your own ideas, experiences, and perspective. The strongest applications are personal and genuine.
Remember, the best author of your story is you, not a machine or another person.
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 grammar or provide feedback after you have written a draft
In these ways, AI can play a role similar to a teacher, counselor, or mentor. It can guide you, but it should not do the writing for you.
Where We Draw the Line
Your essays and written responses should be your own work. This means:
- you should not use AI to draft, write, or generate your responses
- you should not use AI to rewrite portions of your work or modify your tone
- you should not use AI or another tool to translate your written work from a different language into English
- your submission should reflect your own thinking and style of communicating
Submitting AI-generated writing (such as copy-and-pasting generated material) or embellishing or falsifying any part of your application is antithetical to Bowdoin’s values of honesty and integrity.
We recognize that there are other forms of application support can also dilute your voice in your essays and application materials. This can include having a friend, family member, or paid consultant outline, write, or rewrite your essays. As with the use of generative AI tools, we expect you to use all application support resources ethically and in line with this philosophy.