Southern Methodist University AI Policy for College Applications
Policy Changed Since September 2025
Permission: L4 (unchanged)
Disclosure: D3 (unchanged)
Enforcement: E3 → E1 (Unknown policy)
This school updated their AI admissions policy between our September 2025 and February 2026 reviews.
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at Southern Methodist University?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: AI use prohibited
- •Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies (all graduate programs): AI use prohibited
- •Undergraduate Admissions: No explicit policy
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
“I confirm that I have completed my admission application to this SMU graduate program without any artificial intelligence (AI) assistance.”
— Policy: AI Usage on SMU Graduate Application(Verified: Feb 2026)
“All elements of my application, including essays, statements, and responses, are the product of my own effort and creativity.”
— Policy: AI Usage on SMU Graduate Application(Verified: Feb 2026)
“Any violation of this commitment may result in the disqualification of my application.”
— Policy: AI Usage on SMU Graduate Application(Verified: Feb 2026)
Program-Specific Policies
Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies (all graduate programs)
“I confirm that I have completed my admission application to this SMU graduate program without any artificial intelligence (AI) assistance.”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: application essays, personal statements, short answers, interview responses
Undergraduate Admissions
“No AI-specific policy found on undergraduate admissions pages.”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: supplemental essays
Specific Guidelines
✗ Not Allowed
- •any AI assistance in application essays, statements, or responses
- •AI-assisted preparation for admission interviews or evaluations
Policy Summary by Program
| Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Undergraduate | AI use prohibited | Must attest no AI used | E1 • Manual review possible |
| Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies (all graduate programs) | AI use prohibited | Must attest no AI used | E1 • Manual review possible |
| Undergraduate Admissions | No explicit policy | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (7)
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://www.smu.edu/admission/apply/undergraduate-admission/requirements-guidelines
- https://www.smu.edu/admission/apply/undergraduate-admission
- https://www.smu.edu/oit/ai
- https://www.smu.edu/provost/cte/resources/generative-ai-and-chat-gpt
- https://grad.smu.edu/a-guide-to-graduate-admissions-at-smu
- https://catalog.smu.edu/content.php?catoid=71&navoid=6942
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L4 | D3 | E1 | High |
| 2025-09-19 | L4 | D3 | E3 | High |
Additional Context
SMU Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies requires all graduate applicants to sign an attestation on the final page of their application confirming zero AI assistance in essays, statements, and responses. The pledge extends to admission interviews. Violation may result in disqualification. No undergraduate admissions AI policy was found; undergraduate essay tips emphasize authenticity and personal voice but do not mention AI. The overall L4 classification reflects the graduate-level policy; undergraduate admissions is effectively L0. Enforcement downgraded from E3 to E1 because no proctored writing or AI detection tools are mentioned; the policy relies on the signed attestation and readers evaluating authenticity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Southern Methodist University allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to Southern Methodist University?
How does Southern Methodist University check for AI?
Which Southern Methodist University programs have different AI policies?
See outdated information? Let us know: support@gradpilot.com
Learn More About AI in Admissions
Do Colleges Use AI Detectors? The Truth About Turnitin
What detection tools colleges actually use, and why many are disabling them
AI Detection Costs & Policies: What Universities Actually Spend
Verified spending data on Turnitin, Copyleaks, and alternatives
Do Top 10 Colleges Check for AI? Official Policies
Princeton, Harvard, MIT and other top colleges on AI detection in essays
Should You Tell Colleges You Used AI?
When disclosure helps, when it hurts, and how to decide for your application
How We Classified 170+ University AI Policies
Our L/D/E framework for comparing permission, disclosure, and enforcement