Summer Work for College Applicants

Let's not rely on AI in July!

It's July, and my students' Personal Essays are beginning to sparkle! Yes, these newly crowned applicants are hard at work on drafts while juggling summer work and fun. They understand that the best essays are uniquely their own. As for the underclassmen and women, hopefully their time away from school is filled with joy (and maybe some income from a summer job).

Every day (not everyday), we're bombarded with issues relating to college, some of which are not at all under our control. In this post, I'll address the continued debate on the role of AI in higher ed and the value of college programs in a career-focused era. To find out more about what's crackling this Fourth and beyond, read on!

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What Will Pop in the Supplemental Essays?

While supplemental essay questions typically launch with the Common App on August 1, colleges love leaking their questions early. Take this new winner of a prompt from Boston College:

"Boston College’s Jesuit mission highlights “the three Be’s”: be attentive, be reflective, be loving – core to Jesuit education (see A Pocket Guide to Jesuit Education). If you could add a fourth “Be,” what would it be and why? How would this new value support your personal development and enrich the BC community?"

Other tremendously popular colleges have revealed their questions, including Duke, Villanova and the University of Miami.

"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 Those found to be submitting writing that is not their own may be denied or have their admission rescinded.”   -Villanova Admissions

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Artificial Intelligence: Does It Nurture Independent Thinkers?

Recently, I read about some colleges' partnerships with Open AI. Take the very popular Duke, whose students began their unlimited access to GPT-40 at no charge in June: "DukeGPT uses an intuitive generative AI interface and provides a secure, university-managed platform to explore and compare advanced AI models. Built specifically for the university community.”

Open AI is also partnering with the Cal State system, which has 23 campuses. and the University of Maryland, whose students can use TerpAI.

With all this AI, what's a university to do? The Wall Street Journal reported on a study involving Wharton students who used large language models (LLMs) in research. It resulted in "demonstrated weaker understanding of those topics afterward and produced less original insights than people who looked up the same topics using Google."

Ben would think for himself!

Meanwhile, a Carnegie Mellon professor reported that students may do better when AI is enabled for homework, but they don't do as well on tests: “They’re getting the right answers, but they’re not learning.” Now that's among our greatest fears regarding AI and education.

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Interdisciplinary Learning: the Founders Would Appreciate It!

This college counselor remains a huge proponent of interdisciplinary curriculum that will enable students to think critically. analyze data and solve problems.

In its alumni publication, Brown focused on how the ironies of Gen Z's laser focus on career prep given today's rapidly changing environment. The article cited an alum and biotech founder who credited her liberal artsy experience with innovation, contrasting that with feedback from the director of Brown's program in DC. Indeed, she recalls newly accepted students emailing about internships: “I think students feel pressured to chart a course and stay on it and never look back."  Notably, a grad who had double-majored in economics and environmental science and credited the environmental program as the differentiator as she successfully competed against other econ majors for a NYC-based finance job. 

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Where Tech and Creativity Meet

In his whitepaper The AI Ready Graduate: Harnessing Human Creativity for the Next Era of Work, education author Jeff Selingo argues that not tech fluencyalong with creativity are the most in-demand skills. Selingo refers to research by career site LinkedIn that equates creative skills to greater salary and job growth. 

Interestingly, Georgia Tech is building an innovation center near its campus known as the Creative Quarter. It will consist of "academic and office space to residential and commercial areas, creative makerspaces, performance halls, soundstages, and production studios." According to Jason Freeman, an associate vice provost, GT students "want to pursue their passion for the arts while they're students here, whether that's in their academic studies or the activities they pursue outside of class.”

Georgia Tech accepted just under 9% of out-of-state students in 2024-25.

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Creatures of Comfort on Campuses

While attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison's 2020 graduation (held in 2021), I remember seeing a delivery robot scurry across campus. Referred to as "automated snack fetchers" by the Wall Street Journal, these creations have grown more common, infiltrating larger campuses such as Ohio State and the University of Arizona. At Notre Dame, we learn, "students trip over them, especially when they’re drunk, and mischief makers sometimes sit on them."

Incidentally, U Wisconsin-Madison advocates for delivery on its site: "Too busy to stop in one of our Dining Markets to grab a bite to eat? No problem. Get food delivered right to you with our Starship Delivery robots." 

(Source: The Spoon)

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Colgate: Showing Spirit in its Third Century

Lovely Colgate, which unlike Hamilton College is actually in Hamilton, NY, is steeped in history. To continue growth and discovery, the university received its largest single gift ever: $50 million from Peter Kelelner, an alumnus who wants to help implement Colgate's Third-Century Plan. Kellner's gift and other funds raised will allow university to enhance its lower campus, adding a new social center and housing for juniors and seniors. 

Colgate: Innovating for its Third Century

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Let's hope that July - and not AI - sparks ideas for your student's essay - or for their activities. When everything settles, be sure to reach out with questions about your applicant's journey to college.