Marketplace All-in-One Colleges turn to video essays to counter AI-written submissions
Sep 30, 2025
In this discussion, Anne Kim, a senior editor at Washington Monthly, addresses the rising trend of colleges requiring video essays to combat AI-generated admissions submissions. She reveals that nearly a third of high school seniors used AI for essays, prompting institutions to consider video alternatives. Kim highlights the potential equity issues, noting how polished video submissions could disadvantage lower-income students. She also mentions the growing market for video production services in admissions, illustrating both innovation and concern in higher education.
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Video Essays As An Anti-AI Strategy
- Colleges are replacing written essays with short video introductions to reduce AI-written submissions.
- Videos aim to show applicants' personalities in a format that AI is less likely to convincingly fake.
Rapid Platform Adoption
- Adoption of video platforms exploded after ChatGPT raised authenticity concerns.
- One vendor, Glimpse, onboarded 30+ schools and expects tens of thousands of submissions.
Unclear Scope Of AI Use
- Many applicants report using AI on essays, but depth of usage is unclear.
- Colleges worry whether AI was used for editing or full composition, prompting alternative assessment methods.