AI for College Applications
Navigate college applications with AI — school selection, essays, activities, recommendations, financial aid, and decision strategy. 8 practical lessons.
What You'll Learn
- Build a balanced college list with AI-powered research — reach, match, and safety schools based on your profile
- Write authentic, compelling application essays using AI as a brainstorming and editing partner while keeping your voice
- Organize extracurricular activities into a coherent narrative that shows growth, leadership, and impact
- Use AI to prepare recommendation letter requests, interview responses, and follow-up communications
- Apply for financial aid strategically — FAFSA, scholarships, and aid package negotiation with AI assistance
- Evaluate admission offers and financial aid packages to make a confident final decision
Course Syllabus
The Application Challenge
College applications are a full-time job disguised as a high school activity. You’re writing 10-15 essays, researching 8-12 schools, filling out applications with 200+ data points, managing recommendation letters, filing financial aid forms, and making a decision that affects the next 4+ years of your life — all while maintaining grades and a social life.
AI doesn’t write your application for you (and it shouldn’t — colleges check). But it’s an incredibly powerful thinking partner: helping you brainstorm essay topics, research schools, organize activities, prepare for interviews, and compare financial aid packages.
What You’ll Learn
This course covers every component of the college application process:
- College list: Research and build a balanced list of reach, match, and safety schools
- Essays: Brainstorm, draft, and edit compelling personal statements and supplements
- Activities: Organize extracurriculars into a coherent narrative
- Recommendations & interviews: Prepare requests, practice responses, and follow up professionally
- Financial aid: Navigate FAFSA, find scholarships, and negotiate aid packages
- Decisions: Compare offers, evaluate fit, and commit with confidence
Who This Course Is For
- High school juniors and seniors preparing college applications
- Parents helping navigate the application process
- Transfer students reapplying to colleges
- Anyone feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of college admissions
Prerequisites: You’re planning to apply to college. No AI experience needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use AI to write my college essays?
AI should help you brainstorm and edit, not write. Most top colleges explicitly allow AI for grammar, structure, and brainstorming but prohibit AI-generated drafts. This course teaches you to use AI ethically — as a thinking partner that helps you find your best stories and express them clearly, while the writing stays authentically yours.
Will colleges know if I used AI?
Colleges are increasingly using AI detection tools. More importantly, AI-written essays are generic — admissions officers who read thousands of essays can spot the lack of a genuine personal voice. This course teaches you to use AI in ways that strengthen your authentic voice, not replace it.
Is this course only for students applying to US colleges?
The strategies are most relevant for US college applications (Common App, FAFSA, SAT), but essay writing, activity organization, and interview preparation apply globally. Financial aid sections are US-specific.
When should I start this course?
Ideally in the summer before senior year or earlier. But even mid-application season, the essay writing, financial aid, and decision-making lessons provide immediate value. College list building is most useful 6-12 months before applications are due.