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All University AI Policies

University of Southern CaliforniaAI Policy for Admissions

General Policy:No explicit policyNo disclosure requiredManual review possible
  • PermissionCan you use AI?
    No explicit policy
  • DisclosureMust you disclose AI use?
    No disclosure required
  • ComplianceHow is it verified?
    Manual review possible
01 What this means for your application

Generally safe

  • Keep notes or outlines you used during your writing process — being able to speak to your essays in an interview or follow-up demonstrates genuine authorship.
  • If applying through AMCAS (USC Keck School of Medicine), you may use AI to help organize your thinking and refine language, provided the submitted work authentically represents you and you can stand behind the certification statement.
  • Use AI tools privately to brainstorm initial ideas or themes before you begin drafting — then write your essays entirely in your own voice from scratch.

Things to Avoid

  • If applying to USC Gould School of Law (JD) via LSAC CAS, avoid any AI involvement in your written materials — Gould explicitly prohibits AI use in applications.
  • Do not submit essays or personal statements that were substantially written or structured by a generative AI tool — USC admissions staff apply skepticism and triangulation during holistic review that can surface inauthentic writing.
  • Avoid AI-drafted writing in Annenberg graduate program applications — program guidance specifically discourages the use of ChatGPT and similar generative AI tools.
02 Policy evidence

  • “No explicit undergraduate admissions AI policy found on admissions website or FAQ pages”

    Apply to USC

  • “We're not panicked about it. We'll see this year in particular what comes from [AI].”

    Balancing the potentials and pitfalls of AI in college admissions

  • “we always have a sense of healthy, positive skepticism, and we seek more information to know more about the student”

    Balancing the potentials and pitfalls of AI in college admissions
03 Program-specific policies & specific guidelines

  • USC Gould School of Law (JD)

    P4 • AI use prohibitedD0 • No disclosure requiredC2 • Uses screening tools

    “the use of Artificial Intelligence, including ChatGPT and other similar platforms, is not permitted in the completion of your application”

    View Source

    Applies to: application materials, personal statement

  • USC Annenberg School (MA, MCG, MS programs)

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

    “Avoid using ChatGPT or other generative AI tools or another person to write on your behalf”

    View Source

    Applies to: personal statement, writing sample

  • USC Chan Division of Occupational Science (MA, OTD, PhD)

    P4 • AI use prohibitedD0 • No disclosure requiredC2 • Uses screening tools

    “The use of generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) in crafting these materials is not permitted”

    View Source

    Applies to: application materials, personal statement

04 Sources verified

Confidence: HighLast verified: 2026-01-14
05 Policy summary

  • University of Southern California hub classification: (P0/D0/C1) — use program-specific pages when policies differ within the institution.

  • USC undergraduate admissions has no explicit AI policy — the central admissions website, FAQ, and blog contain zero AI-specific guidance, placing USC at (P0)/(D0) by default.

  • Despite no written policy, VP for Enrollment Management Kedra Ishop has publicly described using 'healthy skepticism' and seeking additional information to verify student authenticity during holistic review — signaling informal but real scrutiny.

  • Program-specific rules diverge significantly: USC Gould School of Law (JD) outright prohibits AI; Annenberg graduate programs advise applicants to avoid generative AI; and USC Chan OT Division enforces a prohibition strict enough to disqualify an application if AI is detected.

06 Additional context

USC has no explicit AI policy for undergraduate admissions. The undergraduate admissions site, FAQ, and admissions blog contain no AI-related guidance. VP for Enrollment Management Kedra Ishop stated they are 'not panicked' about AI and use healthy skepticism in review, but this is from a Rossier School editorial, not an official policy. However, multiple graduate/professional programs at USC have explicit AI prohibitions: Gould Law (JD) prohibits AI outright; Annenberg graduate programs say to 'avoid' ChatGPT/generative AI; and Chan OT Division prohibits generative AI with compliance (application not considered if detected). The top-level classification is (P0) because the central undergraduate admissions office has no AI-specific policy. (C1) reflects the VP's comments about using skepticism and triangulation in holistic review.

07 Schools with similar policies

Princeton University

No explicit policyNo disclosure requiredManual review possible

Gonzaga University

No explicit policyNo disclosure requiredManual review possible

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