Macalester College AI Policy for College Applications
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at Macalester College?
Macalester College allows limited AI use for editing and improving your own writing. AI can help with grammar, clarity, and sentence-level edits, but you must write the core content yourself.
Disclosure: Macalester College does not require disclosure of AI use in admissions materials.
Enforcement: Macalester College may conduct manual reviews to check for AI use, looking for inconsistencies in voice or style.
Last verified: 2025-09-19 • Confidence: High
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“If you decide to utilize programs like ChatGPT, treat them like a teacher—AI can help edit or organize pre-existing ideas, but ultimately, your writing should be your own”
— First-Year FAQs - Admissions & Aid(Updated: 2024)
“AI usage becomes problematic when it creates rather than refines text”
— First-Year FAQs - Admissions & Aid(Updated: 2024)
“Your perspective matters more than anything else in this process–and as long as you're being your authentic self, we know you can write an essay we'll love to read”
— First-Year FAQs - Admissions & Aid(Updated: 2024)
Specific Guidelines
✓ Allowed Uses
- •editing pre-existing ideas
- •organizing pre-existing ideas
✗ Not Allowed
- •creating text rather than refining
- •copy-and-paste approach
Sources Verified
All sources checked (4)
Additional Context
Macalester has explicit AI policy for admissions essays allowing limited use for editing and organizing pre-existing ideas but prohibiting AI from creating text. Emphasizes authentic student voice and perspective. Academic integrity policies include prohibition on having AI do work for courses. Views AI as sanitizing student voice when used for content creation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Macalester College allow ChatGPT for essays?
Macalester College allows limited AI use for editing and improving your own writing. AI can help with grammar, clarity, and sentence-level edits, but you must write the core content yourself.
Do I need to disclose AI use to Macalester College?
Macalester College does not require disclosure of AI use in admissions materials.
How does Macalester College check for AI?
Macalester College may conduct manual reviews to check for AI use, looking for inconsistencies in voice or style.
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