William & Mary AI Policy for College Applications
Policy Changed Since September 2025
Permission: L0 → L3 (Brainstorming only)
Disclosure: D0 → D3 (Unknown policy)
Enforcement: E0 → 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 William & Mary?
William & Mary 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: William & Mary requires an attestation that you did not use AI or used it only within specified limits. False attestation may result in application rejection.
Enforcement: William & Mary may conduct manual reviews to check for AI use, looking for inconsistencies in voice or style.
Last verified: 2026-02-17 • 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
💡Be transparent about any AI tools you used — honesty is always the safest approach
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“AI tools can be helpful for brainstorming, organizing ideas or refining grammar, essays that depend too much on AI often miss what matters most”
— AI and the Application Process at William & Mary(Verified: Feb 2026)
“the materials submitted are your own original work - not primarily the product of AI”
— AI and the Application Process at William & Mary(Verified: Feb 2026)
“By submitting your application, you affirm that the materials submitted are your own original work - not primarily the product of AI”
— AI and the Application Process at William & Mary(Verified: Feb 2026)
Specific Guidelines
✓ Allowed Uses
- •brainstorming
- •organizing ideas
- •grammar refinement
✗ Not Allowed
- •AI-generated essays or personal statements
- •over-reliance on AI for writing
- •submitting work that is primarily the product of AI
Sources Verified
All sources checked (6)
Policy Sources:
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/how-to-apply/first-year-applicants/application-checklist/essay/
- https://law.wm.edu/admissions/jdprograms/facts-figures-policies/admissionpolicy/
- https://law.wm.edu/admissions/jdprograms/facts-figures-policies/faqs/
- https://www.wm.edu/offices/academicaffairs/_documents/initiatives-documents/aipi_final_report.pdf
- https://law.wm.edu/policies/ai-policy.pdf
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L3 | D3 | E1 | High |
| 2025-09-19 | L0 | D0 | E0 | High |
Additional Context
Significant upgrade from previous L0 classification. W&M now has a dedicated admissions page on AI use. The policy explicitly permits brainstorming, idea organization, and grammar help (L3 uses) but warns against over-reliance and requires applicants to affirm work is not primarily AI-generated. The attestation is embedded in the submission act itself ('By submitting your application, you affirm...') and explicitly references AI, qualifying as D3. Enforcement is soft (E1) as the page emphasizes readers focus on understanding applicants' individual stories and personal voice, implying voice consistency review. No AI-specific admissions policy found for graduate or law school admissions. The university-wide AIPI report and Law School have academic AI policies but none specific to graduate admissions essays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does William & Mary allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to William & Mary?
How does William & Mary check for AI?
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