University of California, Merced AI Policy for College Applications
Policy Changed Since September 2025
Permission: L2 (unchanged)
Disclosure: D0 (unchanged)
Enforcement: E3 → E2 (Unknown policy)
This school updated their AI admissions policy between our September 2025 and February 2026 reviews.
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at University of California, Merced?
University of California, Merced 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: University of California, Merced does not require disclosure of AI use in admissions materials.
Enforcement: University of California, Merced uses AI detection tools and screening software to identify potential AI-generated content in applications.
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
💡This school actively checks for AI — make sure your essay sounds like you
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“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)
“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)
“We do run the PIQ responses through plagiarism detection software”
— Shaping your personal narrative: PIQ tips and more from UC admissions experts(Updated: 2025-10-23)
“Your writing needs to reflect your own experiences, in your own words”
— Shaping your personal narrative: PIQ tips and more from UC admissions experts(Updated: 2025-10-23)
“your answers should reflect your own ideas and be written by you alone”
— Personal insight questions | UC Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
Specific Guidelines
✓ Allowed Uses
- •structure and readability assistance
- •brainstorming and topic exploration
- •grammar and spelling checks
- •editing with caution
✗ Not Allowed
- •generating complete PIQ responses
- •submitting AI-generated text as your own
- •copying and pasting AI output without rewriting
Sources Verified
All sources checked (12)
Policy Sources:
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://admissions.ucmerced.edu/apply
- https://admissions.ucmerced.edu/learn/tips-applying-to-uc
- https://admissions.ucmerced.edu/learn/uc-personal-insight-questions
- https://admissions.ucmerced.edu/App-Chat
- https://ai.ucmerced.edu/
- 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
- https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/how-the-university-of-california-evaluates-student-applications
- https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/shaping-your-personal-narrative-piq-tips-and-more-uc-admissions-experts
- https://osrr.ucmerced.edu/academic-integrity
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L2 | D0 | E2 | High |
| 2025-09-19 | L2 | D0 | E3 | High |
Additional Context
UC Merced has no campus-specific AI admissions policy. Policy is governed at the UC system level. UC admissions experts explicitly state AI can help with structure and readability but the final submission must be the student's own creation. UC runs PIQ responses through plagiarism detection software. Enforcement downgraded from E3 to E2: UC uses plagiarism screening tools but does not require proctored/on-site writing samples or contingent offers. The Oct 2025 UC guidance is the most recent and authoritative source. Graduate admissions at UC Merced also have no specific AI policy found.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does University of California, Merced allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to University of California, Merced?
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