Claremont McKenna College AI Policy for College Applications
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at Claremont McKenna College?
Claremont McKenna College has no explicit AI policy for admissions essays. While not explicitly prohibited, the lack of clear guidance means students should be cautious.
Disclosure: Claremont McKenna College does not require disclosure of AI use in admissions materials.
Enforcement: Claremont McKenna 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 CMC admissions website”
— Application Instructions for First-Year Applicants - Claremont McKenna College(Verified: Feb 2026)
“The most compelling video responses have a genuine voice and highlight your thoughtfulness and authenticity”
— Application Instructions for First-Year Applicants - Claremont McKenna College(Verified: Feb 2026)
Sources Verified
All sources checked (10)
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://www.cmc.edu/admission/apply
- https://www.cmc.edu/admission/first-year-application-instructions
- https://www.cmc.edu/admission/transfer-application-instructions
- https://www.cmc.edu/admission/international
- https://www.cmc.edu/admission/first-year-application-instructions/test-optional-policy-faq
- https://www.cmc.edu/dean-of-students/academic-integrity
- https://www.cmc.edu/sites/default/files/generative_ai_and_the_classroom.pdf
- https://www.cmc.edu/magazine/fall-2024/next-frontier-ai
- https://www.cmc.edu/soll-center/students/graduate-application-basics
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L0 | D0 | E0 | High |
| 2025-09-19 | L0 | D0 | E0 | High |
Additional Context
CMC has no published AI policy for admissions applications. The admissions site emphasizes genuine voice, thoughtfulness, and authenticity in application materials and video responses, but never specifically mentions AI, ChatGPT, or generative AI in the admissions context. CMC does have a generative AI classroom policy document for enrolled students, but it applies only to coursework, not to admissions. The academic integrity page also applies to enrolled students only. General honor language and authenticity emphasis do not constitute an explicit AI admissions policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Claremont McKenna College allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to Claremont McKenna College?
How does Claremont McKenna College check for AI?
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