Marketplace Tech Colleges turn to video essays to counter AI-written submissions
Sep 30, 2025
In this discussion, Anne Kim, a Senior Editor at Washington Monthly, dives into the innovative shift of colleges adopting video essays for admissions to combat AI-generated submissions. She explains the different formats, from short monologues to produced videos, and highlights the growing trend among institutions since 2023. Anne raises concerns about equity, noting that polished videos may favor wealthier students, while also discussing emerging services like script coaching. This conversation sheds light on the future of college admissions in a tech-driven world.
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Video Essays As An AI Countermeasure
- Colleges are shifting from written essays to short video introductions to counter AI-written submissions.
- Video essays aim to showcase authenticity in a format less easy to automate with text-generation tools.
Rapid Growth Of Video Platforms
- Adoption of video platforms like Glimpse has expanded rapidly since 2023 with dozens of schools signing up.
- Growth is driven by AI concerns and platforms expect tens of thousands of video submissions.
AI Use Among Applicants Is Widespread
- Surveys indicate up to one in three seniors used AI in their college essays in 2023-24, though usage varies from grammar help to full writing.
- That prevalence motivates colleges to seek new ways to assess student authenticity.