Signs of AI Writing in Your Personal Statement
Artificial Intelligence. This is a phrase we have all been hearing a lot about in recent years and a topic that is heavily debated. I am particularly excited to write this blog post because there are so many different opinions on how A.I. should be used in academic settings and for writing purposes.
Full disclosure, I am not an expert in the area of A.I., but I have read many (and I mean many) MSW personal statements both prior to A.I. and after. With this, I have seen the progression of A.I. use in personal statements for MSW programs across North America. This experience means I have come to recognize key signs that the support of A.I. is being overused in the MSW personal statement. This is important because if I am recognizing these A.I. signs, it likely means that the admissions committees (who are also reading many personal statements) will also be able to flag these signs.
The goal with this blog post is to ensure that all of your hard work in completing MSW personal statements does not go to waste. Applying to these programs takes time and money, so the last thing you want is for your personal statement to be read, and then discarded, because the voice of A.I. is more prominent than your own. Therefore, I made this blog post to review the most common giveaways that A.I. is being overused in the personal statement, so you can avoid these mistakes.
A.I. Use in the Personal Statement
Now, I want to first point out that I am not against A.I. use. I believe that A.I. is a tool that is now a part of our lives, for better or for worse. As with any tool, it’s important to have systems in place so that you can get the most benefit possible out of it! Here are a few overarching things I recommend you keep in mind when utilizing A.I. for your MSW personal statements:
Do:
Use for brainstorming: use to brainstorm ideas that can then get you started on your personal statements.
Fact check: there is something called “A.I. hallucinations”, so you must double check any A.I. generated references, you can’t trust the citations and references A.I. generates.
Don’t:
Copy and paste: not only is this an academic integrity issue but it also ensures your personal statement is still in your own voice. In my experience, as the reader I can really tell when writing has been directly copied from A.I. platforms, like ChatGPT.
Related: How to effectively use A.I. in the personal statement
Signs you have used A.I. in the personal statement
In my experience, and some of these are more widely known, there are certain punctuation marks and sentence structures that show up a lot with A.I. use in the personal statement. So, let’s review these common themes so you can avoid making these mistakes:
The Em Dash
Platitudes and Metaphors
Comparisons
Objective tone
Let’s review them one by one and I will provide examples so that you can get an idea of what these look like in an actual sentence.
The Em Dash
The em dash is an incredibly useful punctuation mark. If you’re not familiar, the em dash is an elongated dash that is used to create a strong break in a sentence. Em dashes are great, but A.I. uses them a lot and this overuse can be a giveaway that A.I. is being used.
Example: “I witnessed how unmet basic needs—such as safe housing, access to healthcare, and financial stability—are deeply connected to broader structural inequalities.” Now, don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with this sentence, I just want you to be aware of what an em dash is, so that you can notice the overuse of this punctuation if using A.I.
Platitudes and Metaphors
If you have used A.I. for a personal statement, or any writing, you have likely noticed the use of overly flowery language when relating to the social work profession. This kind of embellished language can be another giveaway of A.I. use in the personal statement.
Example: “In these moments, hospital social workers act as bridges—connecting patients and families to resources, helping them process complex emotions, and advocating within healthcare systems that can feel intimidating or inaccessible.”
Specific Sentence Structure
As with the metaphors and platitudes, A.I. generated personal statements also incorporate a lot of similar sentence structures. One that I have seen a lot of is this: “It’s not just _____, it’s _______.” Often, this structure is even finished with a metaphor or platitude and is something I recommend watching out for!
Example: “I learned that effective support is not just about directing someone’s choices, but about walking alongside them—offering information, encouragement, and advocacy so they can move forward on their own terms.”
More objective tone
Lastly, something that often flags me that A.I. might have been used in the personal statement is a more objective tone in the way points are structured. The personal statement is an opportunity for you to show who you are to the admission’s committee, so I think it’s really important to use first person and share unique experiences to you!
Example: “Having years of experience in various community organizations.” For this example, I will provide an example of how to rephrase:
Fix: “I have years of experience in emergency shelters and supportive housing, specifically in crisis intervention and community outreach roles.”
Writing your personal statement? Get a free copy of our personal statement template to guide you!
In conclusion
There is no doubt that A.I. can be useful for brainstorming, especially when writing an MSW personal statement. That being said, I highly recommend using your critical thinking skills when utilizing this tool. Remember, admissions committees want to hear your voice in the personal statement, and if your paper sounds too computer generated, this could be bad news for application! I hope this blog post was helpful with identifying signs that A.I. has been used in the personal statement, so you can be aware of these flags and put your best foot forward in your application!
To learn how to write a strong personal statement that captures your unique voice, grab a copy of our personal statement template or join us for a free upcoming webinar!
