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Washington and Lee publishes a dedicated Using AI in Your Application page welcoming AI to brainstorm, organize thoughts, and explore ways to say something, and for feedback on the personal essay. It draws the line at AI writing the essay: if AI chooses your words, builds your argument, or changes your message, it becomes a substitute and should not be submitted.
Allowed
Brainstorming, organizing thoughts, exploring phrasing, and feedback
Not allowed
Letting AI write the essay, choose your words, build your argument, or change your message
Source: Washington and Lee University, Using AI in Your Application, official AI policy. Last checked August 2026. Policies change, so confirm on the school's site before you rely on it.
The rule underneath every school
Whatever a specific school says, one standard applies almost everywhere: the Common App counts submitting the substantive content or output of an AI platform as your own work as fraud, added to its policy in 2023, while still permitting grammar checks and early topic brainstorming. So the safe line is always the same, use AI to think, never to write the words you submit. (More in Is It OK to Use AI? and How to Use AI the Right Way.)
Use AI on your Washington and Lee University application the right way.
Start with AdmissionsOSFrequently asked questions
Does Washington and Lee University allow you to use AI on your application?
Washington and Lee publishes a dedicated Using AI in Your Application page welcoming AI to brainstorm, organize thoughts, and explore ways to say something, and for feedback on the personal essay. It draws the line at AI writing the essay: if AI chooses your words, builds your argument, or changes your message, it becomes a substitute and should not be submitted.
Can Washington and Lee University detect AI in essays?
AI detectors are unreliable and no school treats a flag as proof, so detection is not the real risk. The real risk is that AI-written essays read generic to admissions officers. Write the essay yourself and use AI only to brainstorm and get feedback.
See AI policies for other schools or check your chances at Washington and Lee University.