University of VirginiaAI Policy for Admissions
- PermissionCan you use AI?Line-level editing allowed
- DisclosureMust you disclose AI use?Must attest no AI used
- ComplianceHow is it verified?Manual review possible
Generally safe
- Run your completed draft through an AI-powered spelling or grammar checker to catch surface-level errors.
- Treat AI as a sounding board — ask it questions to help clarify your own thinking, then write entirely in your own words.
Things to Avoid
- Avoid producing a final submission where AI is the primary author, even if you lightly edit the AI's output afterward.
- Avoid submitting materials without being prepared to honestly certify they represent your own original work, as UVA requires an attestation for 2025–2026 applications.
- Verified Feb 2026
“We ask that you do not cut and paste any part of your essay or personal statements from an AI tool.”
Is there a policy about Large Language Models or Generative AI? - Verified Feb 2026
“Generative AI may play a minor role in your final product by helping you brainstorm essay topics or check for grammar mistakes.”
Is there a policy about Large Language Models or Generative AI? - Verified Feb 2026
“You are pledging that the application materials you submit are your original work, not primarily a product of AI.”
FAQs - UVA Admission - Verified Feb 2026
“They lack your voice, your ideas, and your very personal reflection on how your experiences have shaped you.”
Is there a policy about Large Language Models or Generative AI?
School of Law (J.D.)
P4 • AI use prohibitedD0 • No disclosure requiredC0 • No compliance stated“The personal statement should be written in your own voice without the help of artificial intelligence tools.”
View SourceApplies to: personal statement
Allowed Uses
- brainstorming essay topics
- grammar and spelling checks
Not Allowed
- cutting and pasting any part of essay or personal statement from an AI tool
- submitting work that is primarily a product of AI
- https://admission.virginia.edu/node/1146
- https://admission.virginia.edu/faqs
- https://admission.virginia.edu/admission/application-review-process
- https://admission.virginia.edu/admission/deadlines-instructions
- https://www.law.virginia.edu/admissions/admissions/jd-admissions/faqs
- https://www.law.virginia.edu/admissions/admissions/jd-application-information
- https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025/10/uva-removes-supplemental-essay-prompt-from-2025-2026-undergraduate-application
UVA undergraduate admissions holds a moderate AI stance (P2/D3): AI may support the process in limited ways — such as idea generation or proofreading — but the written work itself must be authentically yours.
For 2025–2026, UVA added an honor statement addendum requiring applicants to affirmatively certify that their materials are original work and not primarily generated by AI — a meaningful escalation in accountability.
Copying or pasting any AI-generated text into an essay or personal statement is explicitly prohibited; UVA emphasizes that AI output lacks the applicant's voice and genuine personal reflection.
UVA Law operates under a stricter separate policy (P4) prohibiting AI assistance in personal statements; LSAC CAS sets a baseline platform policy, but UVA Law layers additional restrictions on top.
UVA has a clear (P2) policy for undergraduate admissions: AI may help brainstorm topics or check grammar, but applicants must not cut and paste AI-generated content. For 2025-2026, UVA added an honor statement addendum requiring applicants to certify their materials are original work and not primarily a product of AI (D3 attestation). UVA also removed the supplemental identity essay for 2025-2026, leaving only the School of Nursing supplement. The School of Law has a stricter (P4) policy prohibiting any AI assistance in personal statements. No AI detection tools or formal verification processes were found (C1).
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