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All University AI Policies

Boston UniversityAI Policy for Admissions

General Policy:Line-level editing allowedNo disclosure requiredManual review possible
  • PermissionCan you use AI?
    Line-level editing allowed
  • DisclosureMust you disclose AI use?
    No disclosure required
  • ComplianceHow is it verified?
    Manual review possible
01 What this means for your application

Generally safe

  • Use AI tools to brainstorm, organize, or refine ideas that are already your own — think of them as a sounding board, not a ghostwriter.
  • Run your completed draft through grammar and spell-check tools to catch surface-level errors before submitting.
  • Let AI suggest structural improvements or flag unclear passages, as long as the underlying content and voice remain entirely yours.

Things to Avoid

  • Do not assume silence on AI policy means permission; programs like Law, Engineering, and Questrom have no stated stance, so treat those applications as if AI use is restricted.
  • Graduate applicants to the College of Communication should not use generative AI for any application material whatsoever — violations can result in outright rejection.
02 Policy evidence

  • “the most compelling personal statements are representative of the writer's authentic voice — a nuance that generative AI tools have yet to achieve”

    How to Apply to Boston University | Admissions

  • “they should only be used to support your original ideas rather than to write your essays in their entirety”

    How to Apply to Boston University | Admissions

  • “we expect all applicants to adhere to the same standards of academic honesty and integrity as our current students”

    How to Apply to Boston University | Admissions

  • “only be used to support your original ideas rather than to compose your work in its entirety”

    BU GRS MA & MS Application Requirements and Deadlines | Arts & Sciences
03 Program-specific policies & specific guidelines

  • Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (MA/MS)

    P2 • Line-level editing allowedD0 • No disclosure requiredC1 • Manual review possible

    “only be used to support your original ideas rather than to compose your work in its entirety”

    View Source

    Applies to: personal statement, writing samples, application materials

  • College of Communication (Graduate)

    P4 • AI use prohibitedD0 • No disclosure requiredC0 • No compliance stated

    “use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is strictly prohibited for the creation of any application materials”

    View Source

    Applies to: statement of purpose, essays, writing samples, application materials

  • School of Theology

    P3 • Brainstorming onlyD0 • No disclosure requiredC1 • Manual review possible

    “applicants must refrain from generating their application essays using artificial intelligence writing tools”

    View Source

    Applies to: personal statement, application essays

Allowed Uses

  • supporting original ideas
  • limited assistance in essay development
  • grammar/spell check

Not Allowed

  • writing essays in their entirety
  • composing application work in its entirety
04 Sources verified

Confidence: HighLast verified: 2026-01-15
05 Policy summary

  • Medical applicants through AMCAS benefit from a platform-level policy permitting AI for brainstorming, proofreading, and editing — but every applicant signs a certification that the final submission is their own work.

  • BU's central undergraduate and GRS graduate policy (P2) permits AI as a supplementary tool to strengthen original ideas, but prohibits AI from serving as the primary author of any application essay.

  • The College of Communication (graduate) enforces the strictest stance on campus (P4): all generative AI is explicitly banned from application materials, with application rejection as a stated consequence.

  • The School of Theology prohibits AI text generation but carves out an exception for spell and grammar checkers, placing it at a middle-ground (P3) restriction.

  • Law (LSAC CAS), Engineering, Questrom, and PhD/MFA programs have no explicit AI admissions policy on file; applicants should default to conservative use and prioritize authentic, self-authored content.

06 Additional context

BU's central admissions policy (undergraduate and GRS graduate) is (P2): AI tools like ChatGPT may be used to support original ideas but not to write essays in their entirety. Policy emphasizes authentic voice. The College of Communication (graduate) is stricter at (P4), explicitly prohibiting all generative AI for application materials with consequences of application rejection. The School of Theology is (P3), prohibiting AI text generation but encouraging spell/grammar checkers. Law, Medicine, Engineering, PhD/MFA, and Questrom have no explicit AI admissions policy. No formal disclosure requirement across any program. The advisory guidance page for graduate applicants also warns that AI-generated text is easily recognizable by faculty.

07 Schools with similar policies

Fordham University

Line-level editing allowedNo disclosure requiredManual review possible

Stony Brook University

Line-level editing allowedNo disclosure requiredManual review possible

Emory University

Line-level editing allowedNo disclosure requiredManual review possible

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