If you haven’t tried AI tools like ChatGPT yet, now might be the time. But should you use them to help with your UCAS personal statement? Is that allowed? Or could they actually be useful?
What Is AI and ChatGPT?
AI (Artificial Intelligence) means computers doing tasks that usually need human thinking. ChatGPT is one of those tools. It can answer questions and write text on many topics by using a huge amount of information.
Why Are People Talking About ChatGPT?
ChatGPT became popular fast after it launched in November 2022. As of October 2024, over 180 million people use it. It’s often in the news because it changes how we do tasks, solve problems, and write.
Many schools and universities are also talking about it because students use it to help with homework and essays.
Is Using AI for a Personal Statement Cheating?
This is a common question. If you copy and paste a whole personal statement from ChatGPT and submit it as your own, that is considered cheating.
UCAS now asks you to confirm that your statement is your own and not written by someone else - including AI.
UCAS checks personal statements for copied content. If it finds yours is too similar to others, the universities you applied to might be told. This could hurt your chances of getting an offer.
Your personal statement should reflect your own ideas, goals, and experiences. It’s a chance to show who you are and why you want to study your chosen course.
Even though AI can be helpful, it can’t copy your unique voice or personal story. An AI-generated statement often sounds dull or too formal. That’s not what universities want.
What Do Universities Think?
We spoke to schools, universities, and careers advisors. Most agree: you can use tools like ChatGPT to help - not to do the work for you.
AI is becoming a big part of education and work, especially in creative fields. So learning how to use it the right way is a good skill.
Smart Ways to Use ChatGPT for Your Personal Statement
You can use ChatGPT to help you get started, organize your ideas, or improve your writing. But you should always write the statement yourself.
Here’s how AI tools can help without doing the job for you:
1. Brainstorm Ideas
You can ask ChatGPT for ideas related to your course or what skills are important. Use these to reflect on your own experiences and think about how to write about them.
2. Get Help with Structure
If you’re not sure how to start or organize your statement, ChatGPT can suggest a structure. UCAS also offers a personal statement builder that helps with this.
3. Check Readability
ChatGPT can suggest better ways to phrase your sentences or help make your writing clearer and easier to read.
Other Useful AI Tools
Besides ChatGPT, there are more tools you can try:
Grammarly – Checks spelling, grammar, tone, and helps with editing.
Microsoft Word Editor - Helps with grammar, clarity, and writing style if you use Word with a Microsoft 365 account.
Microsoft Copilot - Helps you shape your ideas into paragraphs or shorten drafts that are too long.
Google Docs NotebookLM - Good for reviewing your drafts or suggesting ideas based on what you’ve already written.
Gemini (Google’s AI) – Great for research starters, like “skills needed to be a nurse” or “good podcasts for chemistry students.”
How AI Tools Use Your Data
AI tools are powered by models like OpenAI (ChatGPT), Google, or Microsoft. Always check the privacy policies to know how your data is used.
OpenAI says it may use your input to improve its models - unless you opt out. So, if many people use ChatGPT to write their personal statements, future AI-generated ones may look similar. This could make yours easier to flag as copied.
AI Can't Replace Your Personal Touch
AI might give you ideas, but it can’t add your personal experiences or emotions. A strong personal statement is honest, real, and shows your passion.
Let’s say you want
What Is AI and ChatGPT?
AI (Artificial Intelligence) means computers doing tasks that usually need human thinking. ChatGPT is one of those tools. It can answer questions and write text on many topics by using a huge amount of information.
Why Are People Talking About ChatGPT?
ChatGPT became popular fast after it launched in November 2022. As of October 2024, over 180 million people use it. It’s often in the news because it changes how we do tasks, solve problems, and write.
Many schools and universities are also talking about it because students use it to help with homework and essays.
Is Using AI for a Personal Statement Cheating?
This is a common question. If you copy and paste a whole personal statement from ChatGPT and submit it as your own, that is considered cheating.
UCAS now asks you to confirm that your statement is your own and not written by someone else - including AI.
UCAS checks personal statements for copied content. If it finds yours is too similar to others, the universities you applied to might be told. This could hurt your chances of getting an offer.
Your personal statement should reflect your own ideas, goals, and experiences. It’s a chance to show who you are and why you want to study your chosen course.
Even though AI can be helpful, it can’t copy your unique voice or personal story. An AI-generated statement often sounds dull or too formal. That’s not what universities want.
What Do Universities Think?
We spoke to schools, universities, and careers advisors. Most agree: you can use tools like ChatGPT to help - not to do the work for you.
AI is becoming a big part of education and work, especially in creative fields. So learning how to use it the right way is a good skill.
Smart Ways to Use ChatGPT for Your Personal Statement
You can use ChatGPT to help you get started, organize your ideas, or improve your writing. But you should always write the statement yourself.
Here’s how AI tools can help without doing the job for you:
1. Brainstorm Ideas
You can ask ChatGPT for ideas related to your course or what skills are important. Use these to reflect on your own experiences and think about how to write about them.
2. Get Help with Structure
If you’re not sure how to start or organize your statement, ChatGPT can suggest a structure. UCAS also offers a personal statement builder that helps with this.
3. Check Readability
ChatGPT can suggest better ways to phrase your sentences or help make your writing clearer and easier to read.
Other Useful AI Tools
Besides ChatGPT, there are more tools you can try:
Grammarly – Checks spelling, grammar, tone, and helps with editing.
Microsoft Word Editor - Helps with grammar, clarity, and writing style if you use Word with a Microsoft 365 account.
Microsoft Copilot - Helps you shape your ideas into paragraphs or shorten drafts that are too long.
Google Docs NotebookLM - Good for reviewing your drafts or suggesting ideas based on what you’ve already written.
Gemini (Google’s AI) – Great for research starters, like “skills needed to be a nurse” or “good podcasts for chemistry students.”
How AI Tools Use Your Data
AI tools are powered by models like OpenAI (ChatGPT), Google, or Microsoft. Always check the privacy policies to know how your data is used.
OpenAI says it may use your input to improve its models - unless you opt out. So, if many people use ChatGPT to write their personal statements, future AI-generated ones may look similar. This could make yours easier to flag as copied.
AI Can't Replace Your Personal Touch
AI might give you ideas, but it can’t add your personal experiences or emotions. A strong personal statement is honest, real, and shows your passion.
Let’s say you want
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