University of California, RiversideAI Policy for Admissions
- PermissionCan you use AI?Line-level editing allowed
- DisclosureMust you disclose AI use?No disclosure required
- ComplianceHow is it verified?Uses screening tools
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at University of California, Riverside?
University of California, Riverside permits limited AI assistance in the application process — specifically for improving, editing, and refining content you have already written — but AI may not be used to generate or compose your responses from scratch. The final submitted text must be authentically your own work.
Disclosure: University of California, Riverside does not require applicants to disclose or attest to their use of AI tools when submitting application materials. No formal declaration is mandated under the current UC system-wide policy.
Compliance: University of California, Riverside and the broader UC system run Personal Insight Question responses through plagiarism detection software and conduct regular integrity screenings; UC may also request authentication of submitted content if concerns arise.
Generally safe
- Use AI tools to get feedback on how clearly your Personal Insight Questions communicate your story — then revise the text yourself based on that feedback.
- Leverage AI to help you think through potential topics or angles for your responses before you start writing.
Things to Avoid
- Do not use AI to write a complete draft of any Personal Insight Question or application essay — UC Riverside expects the text to originate with you.
- Avoid submitting any response where the core language was produced by an AI tool, even if you lightly edited it afterward.
- Do not treat AI-generated paragraphs or sentences as a starting point that you simply tweak — responses that do not reflect your authentic experiences may be flagged during screening.
- Verified 2025-10-23
“an AI tool can help you with structure and readability, but use it with caution”
Shaping your personal narrative: PIQ tips and more from UC admissions experts - Verified 2025-10-23
“whatever you ultimately submit better be your own creation”
Shaping your personal narrative: PIQ tips and more from UC admissions experts - Verified 2025-10-23
“We do run the PIQ responses through plagiarism detection software”
Shaping your personal narrative: PIQ tips and more from UC admissions experts - Verified 2023-10-13
“The value of a 350-word response on topics like leadership, resiliency, or creativity may be diminished if it doesn't directly reflect a student's own experiences”
College application season is here. So is the struggle to find out if AI wrote students' essays - Verified 2023-10-13
“UC conducts regular screenings to verify the integrity of the responses, may request authentication of the content or writing”
College application season is here. So is the struggle to find out if AI wrote students' essays
Allowed Uses
- advice on content and editing
- structure and readability assistance
- brainstorming
- grammar and spell check
Not Allowed
- generating complete responses
- creating final written text
- submitting AI-generated content as own work
- https://admissions.ucr.edu/
- https://admissions.ucr.edu/faqs
- https://admissions.ucr.edu/firstyear
- https://graduate.ucr.edu/admissions
- https://graduate.ucr.edu/admission-requirements
- https://its.ucr.edu/ai
- https://insideucr.ucr.edu/announcements/2023/11/03/update-artificial-intelligence-use-students
- https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-first-year/filling-out-the-application.html
- https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/how-the-university-of-california-evaluates-student-applications
University of California, Riverside hub classification: (P2/D0/C2) — use program-specific pages when policies differ within the institution.
UC Riverside follows UC system-wide admissions AI guidance; no UCR-specific policy page exists, so all rules derive from UC-level directives.
AI is explicitly permitted for editing, structural feedback, and readability improvements, but the UC system is clear that the final submitted text must be the student's own original creation.
UC runs Personal Insight Question responses through plagiarism detection software and conducts regular integrity screenings — applicants should expect their writing to be verified.
UC Riverside follows the UC system-wide AI policy for undergraduate admissions. The UC system permits limited AI use such as advice on content, editing, structure, and readability, but requires that content and final written text be the student's own. UC runs PIQs through plagiarism detection software and conducts regular integrity screenings. UCR Director of Undergraduate Admissions Veronica Zendejas emphasized that responses should directly reflect student experiences. Compliance downgraded from (C3) to (C2): UC uses plagiarism detection software and screening processes, but there is no evidence of proctored on-site writing or offers contingent on in-person writing samples. No UCR-specific admissions AI policy page exists; policy derives from UC system-wide guidance. Graduate admissions at UCR have no explicit AI policy for application materials.
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