As the world turns to AI for answers, the students of our generation lose their writing ability, choosing a robot over their own thoughts. Ever since Chat GPT came out, it seems at the end of every essay and final paper is the clause “Don’t use AI.” Ultimately, we have become too dependent on a program’s thoughts rather than finding our own.
As I apply to colleges a new prompt jumped out to me (see below). I have never seen such a prompt, nor been tasked to ever use AI for something important. I was interested in analyzing if a robot could properly convey to someone who I have never met my merit and ultimately my character
The Prompt
“Using an AI/LLM platform of your choice (e.g ChatGPT, Bard, Sudowrite), provide any important details describing who you are and what your aspirations are, and then prompt the platform to write a college application essay explaining why you want to pursue your chosen field (or how you should figure out what to pursue if you’re not sure yet) and how the University Honors Program will help you pursue that. Keeping in mind your own unique voice and distinct vision, and that we will be looking for evidence of your vision, self-awareness, and willingness to take intellectual risk, evaluate how well the platform does at presenting its argument. What assumptions does it get right or wrong? What important details does it leave out? Creative responses are appreciated!”
I found this one of the most interesting prompts given by a college. I was happy to see a different essay. From the seemingly 1000 asking me to write about myself and random stuff on my resume. As many of you underclassmen do not know yet, applying to college is testing your mental well-being in the pursuit of writing random essays. Upon reading the produced text, I found it to be extremely over the top, or in the words of Mr. Dr. Degen, “This is really good BS writing”. I prompted AI with my resume and other important details needed for a college essay, below is the generate response.
A Journey Toward Healing: My Path to Orthopedic Surgery
By: The AI
As I stand at the crossroads of my past, present, and future, the tapestry of my experiences unravels a narrative of passion, perseverance, and purpose. In the quaint town of Parker, nestled fifty minutes away from my high school, Jesuit Dallas, I discovered a love for science that, combined with my dedication to football and rugby, paved the way for my dream of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. The road to this aspiration took an unexpected turn during my tenure as an Eagle Scout and a teacher’s assistant at the Notre Dame School of Dallas, a school catering to children with developmental disabilities.
My journey in sports transcended mere athleticism, becoming a gateway to the profound interplay between science and physical resilience. The football field and rugby pitch served as laboratories where I marveled at the intricacies of the human body. This intersection sparked a fascination with science, inspiring me to delve deeper into the subject throughout my high school years. Beyond the thrill of competition, I found a calling—the opportunity to understand, mend, and ultimately enhance the intricate machinery of the human form.
The values instilled in me as an Eagle Scout reinforced the importance of leadership and service. These principles became guiding stars as I sought opportunities to extend my reach beyond the familiar. It was during my time as a teacher’s assistant at the Notre Dame School of Dallas that my perspective shifted. The corridors echoed with the resilience and laughter of children facing physical and mental challenges. Their dreams, aspirations, and daily triumphs resonated with me on a profound level, sparking a desire to contribute to their well-being in a meaningful way.
The Notre Dame School became a crucible of compassion and education. In the company of these extraordinary children, I witnessed the transformative power of empathy and support. This experience forged a deep connection between my love for science and the profound impact it could have on the lives of those facing adversity. It was within these walls that the seeds of my aspiration to become an orthopedic surgeon, specializing in pediatric care, were planted.
Choosing a path in medicine is a decision that transcends the individual; it is a commitment to the well-being of others. The prospect of becoming an orthopedic surgeon holds a particular resonance for me due to my love for sports and a deep-seated desire to make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities. It is this amalgamation of passion, empathy, and a thirst for knowledge that propels me toward the halls of academia, and more specifically, the esteemed Texas A&M University.
The Honors Program at Texas A&M stands as a beacon, beckoning me toward an academic community that aligns seamlessly with my goals and values. The program’s commitment to excellence, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration mirrors my own aspirations. I am drawn to the prospect of engaging with a community that values not only academic achievement but also the development of well-rounded, socially conscious individuals.
The Aggie community’s core values—integrity, leadership, loyalty, and respect—mirror the principles instilled in me through my journey as an Eagle Scout and a caregiver at the Notre Dame School. These values are not just words on paper but guiding tenets that create an environment conducive to personal and academic growth. The Honors Program, with its emphasis on intellectual curiosity and a collaborative spirit, provides the ideal platform for me to flourish academically and develop the leadership skills necessary for a career in medicine.
Beyond the confines of the classroom, I am captivated by the cultural diversity that Texas A&M celebrates. My dream of traveling aligns seamlessly with the university’s global perspective, offering an enriched worldview that is crucial in the field of medicine. I am eager to participate in international programs, not only broadening my horizons but also bringing a more nuanced and holistic approach to my future practice.
In conclusion, my journey from the fields of Parker to the classrooms of Jesuit Dallas and the Notre Dame School of Dallas has been a voyage of self-discovery, compassion, and purpose. Texas A&M University’s Honors Program beckons as the next chapter in this narrative—a chapter where I envision contributing to the Aggie community and embarking on a journey toward making a lasting impact on the lives of others. With unwavering determination, a passion for healing, and a commitment to service, I am eager to embrace the opportunities that Texas A&M University’s Honors Program offers, as I chart my course toward becoming an orthopedic surgeon dedicated to the well-being of children with disabilities.
Analysis
I think Texas A and M is making a comparison between two distinct applicants. Within this prompt is an analysis of the applicant’s character in a world with growing use of AI.
The first applicant is the one who does not read between the lines. For lack of a better word, he is the weak kid that becomes exposed by the superficiality. AI creates arguments with out any narrative that leaves the audience looking for more. However, the weak kids views this a the perfect essay and fail to see the flaws within the essay.
The second applicant is the clever kid. The clever kid sees the faults of AI. Students that challenge themselves in classes like AP lang, that help students become the clever kid and become aware of good writing. A clever writer becomes engaged with what AI attempts to do within its writing. It tries to sound like a human, but within this pursuit, it writes terrible over the top gibberish that ultimately says nothing except what it was prompted. Furthermore, the clever writer uses the narrative mode which is an important part of setting up your arguments in an essay, giving your audience important details and nuances that without it leave your argument stale. There is innate irony within this prompt as with out properly analyzing the AI’s writing, the weak kid conveys to the counselors that they are not fit for the program, and if they were admitted would succumb to chat GPT and other AI within their work.
I believe this assignment is a metaphor for the present use of Chat GPT. Like the two applicants, there are two users of AI in the current landscape. Especially as seniors begin to finish their time, some can become tempted to use the cop out of AI. Ultimately, in order to be good students, we must see the right path, even though it might be harder than simply prompting a computer program.
