Emory University AI Policy for College Applications
Policy Changed Since September 2025
Permission: L1 → L2 (Line-level editing allowed)
Disclosure: D0 (unchanged)
Enforcement: E1 (unchanged)
This school updated their AI admissions policy between our September 2025 and February 2026 reviews.
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at Emory University?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: Line-level editing allowed
- •MA in Bioethics: Brainstorming only
Last verified: 2026-02-17 • Confidence: High
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- AI grammar and clarity suggestions
- Rephrasing individual sentences with AI
✗Avoid
- Having AI write entire paragraphs or essays
- Using AI to generate ideas you present as your own
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“AI tools could polish or refine, but they should not replace or generate your personal input or creativity.”
— Frequently Asked Questions - Emory Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
“No generative AI tool can capture the authenticity of your personal journey.”
— Frequently Asked Questions - Emory Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
“submissions should always reflect the applicant's own ideas, creativity, and experiences.”
— Frequently Asked Questions - Emory Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
Program-Specific Policies
MA in Bioethics
“if you choose to use generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini) for your application, we expect that you (a) use these tools appropriately and (b) disclose how you used these tools.”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement, analytical essay
Specific Guidelines
✓ Allowed Uses
- •polish or refine existing content
- •clarify thoughts in Activities section
- •organize ideas in a personal statement
- •light editing and feedback
✗ Not Allowed
- •generate personal input or creativity
- •replace applicant's authentic voice and experiences
- •produce content for application components
- •write or draft essays or short answers
Policy Summary by Program
| Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Undergraduate | Line-level editing allowed | No disclosure required | E1 • Manual review possible |
| MA in Bioethics | Brainstorming only | Must disclose AI use | E1 • Manual review possible |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (5)
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L2 | D0 | E1 | High |
| 2025-09-18 | L1 | D0 | E1 | High |
Additional Context
Emory's undergraduate admissions FAQ has a dedicated AI section allowing AI as a polishing/refining tool but explicitly prohibiting AI from generating content or replacing the applicant's voice. Reclassified from L1 to L2 because the policy draws a clear line between editing assistance (allowed) and content generation (prohibited). The old FAQ URL (faq.php) now returns 404; content moved to faq.html. The MA in Bioethics program has a stricter policy (L3) with required AI disclosure (D2), prohibiting AI from outlining or writing any part of essays, and prohibiting pasting AI-generated text. Graduate School admissions page has no AI-specific policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Emory University allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to Emory University?
How does Emory University check for AI?
Which Emory University programs have different AI policies?
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