University of Chicago AI Policy for College Applications
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at University of Chicago?
University of Chicago has no explicit AI policy for admissions essays. While not explicitly prohibited, the lack of clear guidance means students should be cautious.
Disclosure: University of Chicago does not require disclosure of AI use in admissions materials.
Enforcement: University of Chicago has not indicated how they check for AI use in admissions essays.
Last verified: 2026-02-17 (no change from 2025-09-18) • Confidence: High
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- Grammar and spell-checking tools
- Getting human feedback on drafts
✗Avoid
- Submitting AI-generated paragraphs as your own
💡No explicit policy doesn't mean AI is allowed — err on the side of caution
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“No AI-specific admissions essay policy found on the UChicago undergraduate or graduate admissions websites.”
— Essay Questions | College Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
“The University of Chicago does not have a set policy on AI tools in the classroom.”
— AI in the Classroom - Generative AI - Library Guides at UChicago(Verified: Feb 2026)
Sources Verified
All sources checked (13)
Policy Sources:
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply
- https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/essay/
- https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/application/
- https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/application/required-materials/
- https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/contact/uchicago-admissions-faq/
- https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/uncommon-blog/essay-writing-advice-why-x-university-essays
- https://grad.uchicago.edu/admissions/apply/guidelines-and-deadlines/
- https://www.law.uchicago.edu/jdfaq/personalstatement
- https://genai.uchicago.edu/en/about/generative-ai-guidance
- https://genai.uchicago.edu/en/resources/students/generative-ai-student-guide
- https://guides.lib.uchicago.edu/c.php?g=1371911&p=10145580
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L0 | D0 | E0 | High |
| 2025-09-18 | L0 | D0 | E0 | High |
Additional Context
UChicago has no explicit AI policy for admissions essays at any level (undergraduate, graduate, or professional). The university's generative AI student guide advises against AI use in personal essays and creative assignments for coursework, stating it 'may violate academic integrity guidelines,' but this guidance applies to enrolled students, not applicants. The UChicago Library guide confirms there is no set university-wide AI policy. The Law School has a formal generative AI policy (revised Autumn 2025) but it covers enrolled students' academic work, not admissions materials. No AI disclosure is required in any application materials found. The admissions site (collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu) is client-side rendered, making direct content verification difficult, but multiple web searches confirmed no AI-specific admissions guidance exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does University of Chicago allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to University of Chicago?
How does University of Chicago check for AI?
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