Southern Methodist UniversityAI Policy for Admissions
- PermissionCan you use AI?AI use restricted or prohibited
- DisclosureMust you disclose AI use?Applicant attestation required
- ComplianceHow is it verified?Human review mentioned
Generally safe
- Use AI tools for general research about SMU programs, deadlines, or campus life — none of that touches your actual application materials.
- Draft outlines or brainstorm ideas on paper or through your own thinking process before writing any essays or statements entirely in your own words.
Things to Avoid
- Do not use any AI writing, editing, paraphrasing, or generation tools — even lightly — when crafting application essays, personal statements, or short-answer responses.
- Do not rely on AI chatbots or tools to help you prepare, rehearse, or structure answers for admission interviews or evaluations.
- Verified Feb 2026
“I confirm that I have completed my admission application to this SMU graduate program without any artificial intelligence (AI) assistance.”
Policy: AI Usage on SMU Graduate Application - Verified Feb 2026
“All elements of my application, including essays, statements, and responses, are the product of my own effort and creativity.”
Policy: AI Usage on SMU Graduate Application - Verified Feb 2026
“Any violation of this commitment may result in the disqualification of my application.”
Policy: AI Usage on SMU Graduate Application
Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies (all graduate programs)
P4 • AI use restricted or prohibitedD3 • Applicant attestation requiredC1 • Human review mentioned“I confirm that I have completed my admission application to this SMU graduate program without any artificial intelligence (AI) assistance.”
View SourceApplies to: application essays, personal statements, short answers, interview responses
Undergraduate Admissions
P0 • No published guidance foundD0 • No disclosure language foundC0 • No review process stated“No AI-specific policy found on undergraduate admissions pages.”
View SourceApplies to: supplemental essays
Not Allowed
- any AI assistance in application essays, statements, or responses
- AI-assisted preparation for admission interviews or evaluations
- https://www.smu.edu/admission/apply/undergraduate-admission/requirements-guidelines
- https://www.smu.edu/admission/apply/undergraduate-admission
- https://www.smu.edu/oit/ai
- https://www.smu.edu/provost/cte/resources/generative-ai-and-chat-gpt
- https://grad.smu.edu/a-guide-to-graduate-admissions-at-smu
- https://catalog.smu.edu/content.php?catoid=71&navoid=6942
Violation of the attestation is not treated lightly — SMU explicitly warns that non-compliance may result in full application disqualification.
The pledge explicitly extends beyond written materials to cover admission interviews and evaluations, making it one of the broader AI-use restrictions among graduate programs.
Compliance is classified as manual (C1): no AI detection software or proctored writing is mentioned; the policy relies on the signed pledge and admissions staff evaluating authenticity of voice.
SMU Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies requires all graduate applicants to sign an attestation on the final page of their application confirming zero AI assistance in essays, statements, and responses. The pledge extends to admission interviews. Violation may result in disqualification. No undergraduate admissions AI policy was found; undergraduate essay tips emphasize authenticity and personal voice but do not mention AI. The overall (P4) classification reflects the graduate-level policy; undergraduate admissions is effectively (P0). Compliance downgraded from (C3) to (C1) because no proctored writing or AI detection tools are mentioned; the policy relies on the signed attestation and readers evaluating authenticity.
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