School AI policies · Swarthmore College
Does Swarthmore College allow AI help with college essays?
Permits brainstorming and feedback on readability, spelling, and mechanics; prohibits AI drafting, rewriting, or tone changes
What Swarthmore College publishes
“We recommend that any assistance with writing comes at the beginning or end of the process — such as brainstorming ideas for essay topics or asking for feedback on readability, spelling, and mechanics. [Not acceptable:] 'Asking AI or another person to outline or draft an application essay' … 'Asking AI or another person to rewrite a significant portion of your essay(s)' … 'Using AI to modify the tone of your writing.' Additionally, the submission of any AI-generated writing, audio, video, or graphic content in your application must include proper acknowledgement or citation.”
Swarthmore publishes dedicated admissions guidance on AI use. The recommended examples cover brainstorming and feedback on readability, spelling, and mechanics; the prohibited list covers outlining, drafting, rewriting significant portions, and tone modification. Substantive critique of a completed draft sits between those lists, so this reads narrower than a general feedback permission, and any AI-generated content submitted requires citation.
Verified August 9, 2026 · published policy
Do your own fact-checking. This page is a starting point, not the authority. The school's own admissions pages are. Policies can change after our check date (August 9, 2026), and you are responsible for verifying Swarthmore College's current policy yourself before you rely on it, here or anywhere else.
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Reviews naming Swarthmore College proceed. Seven AI reviewers score your essay, debate it, and return revision directions, never written or rewritten essay text. You stay the author, and your report carries a reminder to verify the school's current policy yourself.
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