Harvard University AI Policy for College Applications
Policy Changed Since September 2025
Permission: L0 → L4 (AI use prohibited)
Disclosure: D0 → D3 (Unknown policy)
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 Harvard University?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: AI use prohibited
- •Harvard College (Undergraduate): AI use prohibited
- •Harvard Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS): Brainstorming only
Last verified: 2026-02-17 • Confidence: High
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- Writing entirely on your own
- Human feedback from teachers, counselors, family
✗Avoid
- Any AI tool, including grammar checkers in some cases
- Using ChatGPT even for brainstorming
💡This school takes a hard line — even brainstorming with AI could be a problem
💡Be transparent about any AI tools you used — honesty is always the safest approach
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“submitting plagiarized essays or...the substantive content or output of an artificial intelligence platform, technology, or algorithm”
— What help can students receive in writing their essays?(Verified: Feb 2026)
“violates the Common Application and Coalition on Scoir Application standards as well as the Harvard College Honor Code”
— What help can students receive in writing their essays?(Verified: Feb 2026)
“authored solely by the applicant and not by a third party nor created by generative artificial intelligence or machine learning software”
— Applying to Degree Programs - Harvard Griffin GSAS(Verified: Feb 2026)
“use of generative artificial intelligence or machine learning software to develop an applicant's work...is forbidden”
— Applying to Degree Programs - Harvard Griffin GSAS(Verified: Feb 2026)
Program-Specific Policies
Harvard College (Undergraduate)
“submitting...the substantive content or output of an artificial intelligence platform, technology, or algorithm”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement, supplemental essays
Harvard Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS)
“authored solely by the applicant and not...created by generative artificial intelligence or machine learning software”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: statement of purpose, personal statement, short answers, resume/CV
Specific Guidelines
✓ Allowed Uses
- •grammar/spell check (GSAS explicitly permits minor edits and grammatical error identification)
✗ Not Allowed
- •AI-generated essays or paragraphs
- •submitting substantive content or output of an artificial intelligence platform as one's own
- •using generative AI to develop application materials (GSAS)
Policy Summary by Program
| Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Undergraduate | AI use prohibited | Must attest no AI used | E1 • Manual review possible |
| Harvard College (Undergraduate) | AI use prohibited | Must attest no AI used | E1 • Manual review possible |
| Harvard Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) | Brainstorming only | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (11)
Policy Sources:
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply
- https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply/first-year-applicants
- https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply/application-requirements
- https://college.harvard.edu/guides/application-tips
- https://college.harvard.edu/resources/faq
- https://gsas.harvard.edu/apply/applying-degree-programs/statement-purpose-personal-statement-and-writing-sample
- https://hls.harvard.edu/jdadmissions/apply-to-harvard-law-school/jdapplicants/application-toolkit/written-statements/
- https://hbs.edu/mba/handbook/standards-of-conduct/academic/Pages/chatgpt-and-ai.aspx
- https://provost.harvard.edu/guidelines-using-chatgpt-and-other-generative-ai-tools-harvard
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L4 | D3 | E1 | High |
| 2025-09-18 | L0 | D0 | E1 | High |
Additional Context
Significant upgrade from L0 to L4. Harvard College undergrad admissions FAQ now explicitly cites the Common App fraud policy, equating AI-generated essay content with plagiarism and fraud, and states this violates the Harvard College Honor Code. Consequences include denial, offer withdrawal, or degree rescission. Harvard Griffin GSAS has a separate explicit policy forbidding generative AI for developing application materials but permitting minor edits and grammar corrections (L3). Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School admissions pages do not have explicit AI-specific policies for applicants. The admissions office may contact applicants directly about authenticity concerns (E1).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Harvard University allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to Harvard University?
How does Harvard University check for AI?
Which Harvard University programs have different AI policies?
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