More students use AI for college essays in Japan, and universities disagree
More Japanese applicants are using generative AI to write statements of purpose for early admissions, and universities are far from agreed on how to respond.
More and more students applying to Japanese universities are turning to generative AI to write their application essays. The trend is showing up in so-called "nennai nyushi" (admissions decided within the calendar year), which includes the "comprehensive selection" system, a route that looks at more than exam scores.
In these routes, applicants typically submit a statement of purpose explaining why they want to study at a particular school. That is exactly where AI use is growing.
Universities don't agree on how to handle it. Some have chosen to restrict the use of generative AI, saying they worry it could embellish applications more than necessary and make a candidate look better on paper than they really are.
Other universities are taking a different line, so there is no single rule that applies to every applicant.
For students, that means one practical step before they open a chatbot: check the policy of each university they are applying to.
