Barnard College AI Policy for College Applications
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at Barnard College?
Barnard College has no explicit AI policy for admissions essays. While not explicitly prohibited, the lack of clear guidance means students should be cautious.
Disclosure: Barnard College does not require disclosure of AI use in admissions materials.
Enforcement: Barnard College has not indicated how they check for AI use in admissions essays.
Last verified: 2026-02-17 (no change from 2025-09-19) • Confidence: High
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- Grammar and spell-checking tools
- Getting human feedback on drafts
✗Avoid
- Submitting AI-generated paragraphs as your own
💡No explicit policy doesn't mean AI is allowed — err on the side of caution
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“No AI-specific admissions essay policy found on admissions website or application pages”
— The Application Process: First-Year Applicants - Barnard College(Verified: Feb 2026)
Sources Verified
All sources checked (10)
Policy Sources:
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://barnard.edu/admissions
- https://barnard.edu/admissions/the-application-process
- https://barnard.edu/barnard-short-answer-question
- https://barnard.edu/admissions/application-rounds
- https://barnard.edu/admissions/transfer-applicants
- https://boldbeautifulbarnard.com
- https://cep.barnard.edu/generative-ai-college-classroom
- https://cep.barnard.edu/student-guide-generative-ai
- https://barnard.edu/news/barnards-ai-policy-paper-garners-national-attention
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L0 | D0 | E0 | High |
| 2025-09-19 | L0 | D0 | E0 | High |
Additional Context
Barnard College has no published AI policy specific to admissions applications. The college has extensive generative AI guidelines for coursework through the Center for Engaged Pedagogy (CEP), including policies on academic integrity and AI use in classrooms, but these apply only to enrolled students and coursework, not to applicants or admissions essays. The admissions pages (application process, short answer question, application rounds, transfer applicants) and the admissions blog (boldbeautifulbarnard.com) contain no mention of AI, ChatGPT, or tool restrictions for application writing. Barnard uses the Common App, which includes a general attestation that work is the applicant's own, but Barnard adds no school-specific AI guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Barnard College allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to Barnard College?
How does Barnard College check for AI?
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