Stony Brook University AI Policy for College Applications
Policy Changed Since September 2025
Permission: L2 (unchanged)
Disclosure: D0 (unchanged)
Enforcement: E2 → 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 Stony Brook University?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: Line-level editing allowed
- •Creative Writing BFA: AI use prohibited
- •Simons Summer Research Program: Brainstorming only
- •PhD in Technology, Policy and Innovation: Line-level editing allowed
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
“An appropriate use of an AI tool is to help you explore admission essay ideas or to refine your admission essay”
— First Year Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
“AI tools should be used as a resource, similar to resources you may use at your school, e.g. a counselor or teacher”
— First Year Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
“As with counselors and teachers who are not writing your essay for you, AI should not either”
— First Year Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
“AI generated or assisted writing samples are not acceptable for consideration”
— First Year Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
Program-Specific Policies
Creative Writing BFA
“AI generated or assisted writing samples are not acceptable for consideration”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: writing samples
Simons Summer Research Program
“The use of an AI tool (including large language models) to generate or rewrite application content is not permitted”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: application content
PhD in Technology, Policy and Innovation
“AI may not be used as a wholesale substitute for the statement of purpose”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: statement of purpose
Specific Guidelines
✓ Allowed Uses
- •exploring admission essay ideas
- •refining admission essays
- •brainstorming
- •grammar and spelling checks
✗ Not Allowed
- •AI writing the essay for you
- •wholesale AI-generated drafts
- •AI-generated or AI-assisted writing samples (Creative Writing program)
Policy Summary by Program
| Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Undergraduate | Line-level editing allowed | No disclosure required | E1 • Manual review possible |
| Creative Writing BFA | AI use prohibited | No disclosure required | E2 • Uses screening tools |
| Simons Summer Research Program | Brainstorming only | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| PhD in Technology, Policy and Innovation | Line-level editing allowed | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (11)
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://www.stonybrook.edu/undergraduate-admissions/apply/first-year.php
- https://www.stonybrook.edu/undergraduate-admissions/apply/index.php
- https://www.stonybrook.edu/undergraduate-admissions/apply/early-action.php
- https://www.stonybrook.edu/undergraduate-admissions/apply/international.php
- https://www.stonybrook.edu/undergraduate-admissions/apply/transfer.php
- https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/grad/admissions/apply/graduate-programs.php
- https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/simons/applying_to/how-to-apply.php
- https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/est/academics/graduate/phd-technology-policy-innovation.php
- https://www.stonybrook.edu/genai/faqs/index.php
- https://www.stonybrook.edu/celt/innovative-technology/AI/index.php
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L2 | D0 | E1 | High |
| 2025-09-19 | L2 | D0 | E2 | High |
Additional Context
Stony Brook maintains an explicit AI policy on its first-year admissions page allowing AI for exploration and refinement of essays but requiring the final work to be the student's own. AI is compared to a counselor or teacher resource. This guidance extends to Honors Programs and Simons STEM Scholars essays. The Creative Writing BFA has a strict L4 prohibition on AI-generated or assisted writing samples with AI detection enforcement. The Simons Summer Research Program separately prohibits AI for generating or rewriting application content but permits grammar/spelling checks. The PhD in Technology, Policy & Innovation program states AI may not be a wholesale substitute for the statement of purpose. No AI disclosure requirement found anywhere. No explicit enforcement mechanism stated for general admissions essays beyond the policy language itself. The general admissions policy is unchanged from the previous September 2025 review. Enforcement downgraded from E2 to E1 because the AI detection mention applies specifically to the Creative Writing program, not general admissions essays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Stony Brook University allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to Stony Brook University?
How does Stony Brook University check for AI?
Which Stony Brook University programs have different AI policies?
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