ChatGPT and Independent School Applications: What Parents Need to Know About AI This Admissions Season

As soon as the independent school admissions season begins, families start feeling the weight of application deadlines, school events, and the dreaded parent essays. 

At School First, we try to lighten that load by sharing essay prompts early. It gives families time to reflect, prepare, and ease into what can feel like one of the more intimidating parts of the process.

But this year, something new is happening… something we expected, but not quite at this scale. More than ever before, we’re reading parent statements that feel polished, formal, teacher-like (not in a good way), and identical to each other (which is the worst part of this problem). 

Why? Simple: AI tools like ChatGPT.

When Parent Essays Stop Sounding Like Parents

This season, we’ve reviewed applications where the parent essays sound almost exactly like teacher reports minus the personal insights or warm details that make a child feel real on the page.

Admissions teams are noticing it, too.

AI language models learn patterns from educational writing, so when parents plug in a prompt like “Describe my child,” the results often sound like something straight out of a progress report. They are likely polished pieces of writing and may even be somewhat accurate, but they lack the personal aspect schools are craving.

And that’s the problem.

What Schools Actually Want in Parent Essays

Independent schools read parent essays to understand the person behind the application file. They want to learn more about your child’s personality, how they relate to others, their strengths and challenges, moments that have shaped them, what kind of learning environment helps them thrive, and even your family’s values.

This requires emotion, insight, and stories… none of which AI can authentically supply. 

ChatGPT wasn’t on your beach vacation when your child spent two hours building an elaborate sand castle with pride and joy in their eyes. It didn’t watch them come out of their shell during soccer. It wasn’t there for the meltdown, the triumph, or the quiet moment of courage.

But you were. And that’s what schools want to hear.

Why AI-Generated Content Falls Flat in Admissions

Admissions readers are trained to notice tone, style, and voice. There are a few key giveaways that your essay is AI-generated, like that it has no emotional nuance, it lacks real-life examples, it uses generic and overly-polished phrasing, and it never includes the little details that make your child feel like an actual person. 

Schools don’t want perfection. They aren’t grading you on the professionalism of your essay. 

They want authenticity. They want to get to know your child. 

How to Use AI Without Hurting Your Application

We’re not saying you should ditch ChatGPT altogether, it can be a helpful tool. But it should be used to supplement what you’re creating, not replace you in the creation of it. 

If you want to use AI well, you can use it to:

• Cleaning up grammar
• Clarifying sentences
• Tightening structure
• Rephrasing awkward wording
• Making sure you’re answering the question clearly

But the heart of the essay? The stories, the pride, the quirks, the humanity… that has to come from you. 

The Parent Essay Is a Rare Gift (Truly!)

As parents, we don’t often get the chance to write about our children in a way that truly captures who they are. Outside of birthday cards or conversations with close friends, this kind of reflection rarely happens.

So take the opportunity to slow down and think about the small moments, the everyday, the qualities that make your child who they are.

Write the way you would talk about your child if someone asked, “Tell me what makes them special.”

It’s not just good for admissions, it’s a surprisingly meaningful time for reflection as a parent.

Parent Essays for Independent School Admissions

If families want their independent school applications to stand out, the most important thing they can do is keep the writing authentic. Admissions counselors feel sincerity, respond to lived stories, and appreciate honesty over perfection every time.

And if you’re unsure what to write, or you’d like help shaping your family’s narrative, School First is here to support you every step of the way.

Want guidance on parent essays, application strategy, or any other part of the admissions process? Reach out to School First!