Four Reasons You Shouldn’t Use ChatGPT to Write a Scholarship Essay

 Posted on November 11,2024 in Uncategorized

Artificial intelligence and machine learning have become so integrated into our daily lives that we sometimes forget how ubiquitous they are. Whether you’re driving to work using your phone’s navigation system, ordering groceries online, or scrolling through social media, virtually everyone uses artificial intelligence in one way or another every day.

One of the most common ways that artificial intelligence is used by young adults in particular is in an academic setting. Researching, writing, and brainstorming can all be easier with the help of tools like ChatGPT. But what about applying for scholarships? 

With so many scholarships to apply for, and so much else to do in preparation for an upcoming semester, it can be very tempting to use AI programs to write scholarship essays for you. At the OVC Scholarship Network, we have access to dozens of scholarships through many different law firms, and we strongly recommend against using ChatGPT for scholarship essays. Here’s why. 

Scholarship Grantors Often Check for AI 

One of the things that people sponsoring scholarships want to see is potential and enthusiasm. Think about it – if you were a successful professional who had the chance to help someone follow in your footsteps, you would likely be looking for someone who is serious about their future. 

To that end, many scholarship grantors will check essays for signs that essays have been written by ChatGPT and automatically disqualify those who appear to not be authentic. They may look for: 

• A high rate of return on AI-checker software

• Strange or unusual words or phrases

• A mechanical, impersonal tone

• Obvious spelling or grammar errors 

• Information that doesn’t make sense

After all, a scholarship essay is a chance to get to know an applicant. If the applicant can’t or won’t write her own scholarship, the grantor has no idea who the applicant is or what her values and life story really are.

Using ChatGPT Could Harm Your Reputation

Many professional industries are highly competitive and a student’s reputation is often the best asset he has. If you make a habit of using ChatGPT in your writing and you get caught submitting AI-generated essays, that could harm your reputation in the very locale that you are hoping to work in in the future. 

A good rule of thumb is that if your name is attached to anything, do authentic, impressive work and don’t risk giving yourself a reputation as someone who takes shortcuts. Professional work can often be tedious and demanding, and it doesn’t tolerate incompetence. Prove yourself to be a great candidate for work after graduation even in your application essays. 

ChatGPT Can’t Tell Your Story Like You Can

Even though ChatGPT and similar AI programs can be valuable tools, they cannot replace a human voice. When it comes to scholarship applications especially, your unique talents and personality are what potential sponsors are the most interested in. These include: 

• Experiences that have shaped who you are

• Lessons you have learned from difficult situations

• Your family background

• Your hobbies and interests 

• What you spend your free time doing 

Even if you end up using the same essay for multiple applications, write that essay yourself and blow sponsors away with your unique story. 

You Lose a Chance to Articulate Your Values if You Use ChatGPT

The greatest writers in the world often discuss a similar theme: Writing, in many ways, is an integral part of the thinking process. In a scholarship essay, you will often be challenged to articulate parts of yourself that you may not yet fully understand. What are your values? Where do you see yourself in 20 years? What are some of the experiences that have shaped the person you are today? 

Without a chance to think through these questions carefully enough to write down the answers yourself – and, of course, thoroughly edit them! – you deprive yourself of a chance to carefully reflect on what you want from the future. 

At OVC Scholarship Network, we recommend that you use scholarship essays as a chance to not only fund your education but to honestly reflect on the questions you are answering. You don’t have to be a word whiz for your authenticity to come through.

Contact OVC Scholarship Network to Learn More About Scholarship Opportunities

Here at OVC Scholarship Network, we have an extensive network of attorneys who are interested in helping students of all kinds. To find out more about the scholarships that may be available in your area, call OVC Scholarship Network at 630-517-2702. You never have to pay to learn about or apply for scholarships with OVC Scholarship Network. Contact our team today.