UC San Diego AI Policy for College Applications
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at UC San Diego?
UC San Diego only allows AI for brainstorming and basic mechanics. You can use AI to generate ideas or check spelling/grammar, but cannot use it to write or rewrite any sentences.
Disclosure: UC San Diego does not require disclosure of AI use in admissions materials.
Enforcement: UC San Diego uses AI detection tools and screening software to identify potential AI-generated content in applications.
Last verified: 2026-02-18 (no change from 2025-09-19) • Confidence: High
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- Brainstorming essay topics with AI
- Spell-check and basic grammar tools
✗Avoid
- Any AI rewriting or paraphrasing of your sentences
- Using AI-suggested phrasing in your final draft
💡This school actively checks for AI — make sure your essay sounds like you
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“A personal insight question written by AI is not going to be very good, because it's not going to teach us anything about the student”
— How the University of California evaluates student applications(Updated: 2024-10-31)
“While using AI as a tool is one thing, using a completely AI-generated answer is another — and one that is equivalent to academic dishonesty”
— How the University of California evaluates student applications(Updated: 2024-10-31)
“Whatever you ultimately submit better be your own creation”
— Shaping your personal narrative: PIQ tips and more from UC admissions experts(Updated: 2025-10-23)
“An AI tool can help you with structure and readability, but use it with caution”
— Shaping your personal narrative: PIQ tips and more from UC admissions experts(Updated: 2025-10-23)
“UC runs plagiarism checks on applications, and if your PIQs are found to have been generated by AI, you could be disqualified”
— How the University of California evaluates student applications(Updated: 2024-10-31)
Specific Guidelines
✓ Allowed Uses
- •brainstorming
- •structure and readability assistance
- •grammar and spell check
✗ Not Allowed
- •completely AI-generated PIQ responses
- •submitting AI-written text as own work
- •using AI-generated text with unattributed sources
Sources Verified
All sources checked (8)
Policy Sources:
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://admissions.ucsd.edu/faq/
- https://admissions.ucsd.edu/apply/index.html
- https://admissions.ucsd.edu/first-year/planning-ahead.html
- https://academicintegrity.ucsd.edu/choose-integrity/gen-ai/index.html
- https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-first-year/personal-insight-questions.html
- https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-first-year/filling-out-the-application.html
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-18 (current) | L3 | D0 | E2 | High |
| 2025-09-19 | L3 | D0 | E2 | High |
Additional Context
UCSD follows the UC system-wide policy on AI in admissions essays. The UC system permits AI as a brainstorming and structural tool but treats completely AI-generated PIQ responses as academic dishonesty. A newer Oct 2025 UC article explicitly states AI can help with 'structure and readability' but warns to 'use it with caution' and that submissions must be the applicant's 'own creation.' UC actively runs plagiarism detection on applications and can disqualify applicants for AI-generated content. No UCSD-specific admissions AI policy exists beyond the UC system-wide guidance. The previous AMCAS medical school certification page (students.ucsd.edu) returned 404 and could not be verified, so the medical school program-specific policy has been removed pending re-verification. The scope has been narrowed to undergraduate since the UC PIQ policy applies to undergraduate admissions; graduate programs at UCSD have no published AI admissions policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UC San Diego allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to UC San Diego?
How does UC San Diego check for AI?
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