University of Maryland-College Park AI Policy for College Applications
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at University of Maryland-College Park?
University of Maryland-College Park 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 Maryland-College Park does not require disclosure of AI use in admissions materials.
Enforcement: University of Maryland-College Park 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
- 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
💡This school actively checks for AI — make sure your essay sounds like you
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“No AI-specific admissions essay policy found on undergraduate admissions website”
— Essay Questions - UMD Office of Undergraduate Admissions(Verified: Feb 2026)
“the University of Maryland authenticates submitted materials through TurnItIn for Admissions”
— Graduate Admissions - Department of English(Verified: Feb 2026)
“To ensure the integrity of the application process, the University of Maryland authenticates submitted materials”
— Graduate Admissions - Department of Communication(Verified: Feb 2026)
Sources Verified
All sources checked (12)
Policy Sources:
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://admissions.umd.edu/apply
- https://admissions.umd.edu/apply/application-faqs
- https://admissions.umd.edu/apply/freshman-application-faqs
- https://gradschool.umd.edu/admissions
- https://gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/admissions-requirements/graduate-admissions-statement-purpose
- https://ai.umd.edu/resources-guidelines/guidelines-for-use
- https://ai-resources.umd.edu/resources/guidelines
- https://chbe.umd.edu/graduate/prospective-students/admissions
- https://history.umd.edu/academics/graduate/admissions
Additional Context
UMD has no admissions-specific AI policy for either undergraduate or graduate applicants. The undergraduate admissions essay page and FAQs are silent on AI. UMD's campus-wide GenAI guidelines (ai.umd.edu) apply to current faculty, staff, students, and affiliates but do not explicitly cover prospective applicants. However, multiple graduate department admissions pages state that UMD uses TurnItIn for Admissions to authenticate submitted materials and ensure application integrity. TurnItIn includes AI writing detection capabilities, which constitutes a screening tool (E2). This TurnItIn usage is consistent across many graduate departments but is not mentioned on undergraduate admissions pages. Enforcement upgraded from E0 to E2 based on TurnItIn for Admissions discovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does University of Maryland-College Park allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to University of Maryland-College Park?
How does University of Maryland-College Park check for AI?
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