At 16, Khloe Watson-Barrett is already set on becoming a lawyer, but she faces the daunting college admissions process as she navigates the halfway point of her junior year at the Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice. “It’s nerve-wracking,” she says, echoing the anxiety felt by many high school students who struggle with a lack of personalized guidance from overworked college counselors.
To address this gap, schools are turning to innovative technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, aimed at enhancing the college counseling experience. AI tools designed specifically for college admissions are being piloted at Watson-Barrett’s school and others, offering students crucial information and support outside of regular school hours. This new generation of AI is intended to assist rather than replace human counselors, allowing them to focus on more personalized interactions.
The AI programs are informed by a wealth of expert-provided answers based on historical data from past applicants, contrasting with general-purpose AI that risks disseminating misinformation. “You can’t replace the trust,” said Diana Moldovan, director of college and career placement at Watson-Barrett’s school. Counselors are vital for understanding students’ unique ambitions, but they often find themselves bogged down by routine queries about application procedures and deadlines. “If AI could do some of these things, that leaves more time” for meaningful discussions on students’ academic and personal aspirations, she added.
According to a survey from the higher education consulting firm EAB, nearly half of students are already using AI tools on their own to manage their college applications. These tools help students with tasks such as researching schools, completing applications, and preparing for standardized tests. However, this trend has raised concerns among counseling professionals. Most generative AI tools lack the ability to discern between reliable and unreliable information, posing potential risks for students seeking guidance.
“I would not want a young person to be using these tools by themselves, because it’s about asking the right questions,” cautioned Angel Pérez, CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). He emphasized the necessity of human interaction in the advising process, stating, “There still has to be the human component.”
The challenge of inadequate counseling resources is significant. Nationally, many high schools operate without dedicated college counselors, while those that do often face overwhelming caseloads, with a ratio of 372 students to one counselor, according to the American School Counseling Association. This situation leaves counselors with limited time to engage directly with students about college admissions, typically spending only one-fifth of their time on such matters. AI could alleviate some of this pressure by providing students with objective information on admissions processes and financial aid applications, thus allowing counselors to focus on deeper conversations regarding student fit and aspirations.
Among the AI solutions being tested is CounselorGPT, a platform developed by Urban Assembly that utilizes labor market data to inform students about in-demand jobs, required credentials, and associated costs. “Students are left guessing about what kind of degree leads to social and economic mobility,” said David Adams, CEO of Urban Assembly. The goal is to equip students with information that can guide them toward degrees that are more likely to result in career success.
Another emerging tool, the Expert Virtual Assistant (EVA), is being developed by the College Guidance Network. It aims to address the significant disparities in counseling availability by offering basic information and polling student inquiries, which can later be reviewed by counselors. “What you’re trying to leverage here is that one hour that the counselor does have,” CEO Jon Carson explained, underscoring the need for efficiency in the counseling process.
Despite these innovations, some counselors express skepticism about AI’s role in directly serving students. A survey indicated that fewer than 40% of counselors view AI as an effective tool for student engagement. Concerns linger about the potential for AI to replace human counselors or to exacerbate existing challenges, including heightened student-to-counselor ratios. Furthermore, there are fears that students might become overly reliant on AI for support. Changes have even been made to EVA’s presentation to avoid anthropomorphizing the tool, with a shift from a female icon to a neutral owl to mitigate emotional attachment.
As students like Jaheem Shaw, a senior at Watson-Barrett’s school, continue to navigate the college admissions landscape, they value the personal interactions they have with their counselors. Shaw notes the encouragement and tailored advice he received, emphasizing that “there’s a lot of value in asking someone who has experience in the process, on a more personal level.” The integration of AI tools may enhance the counseling experience, but as educators point out, the empathetic guidance provided by human counselors remains irreplaceable.
See also
Andrew Ng Advocates for Coding Skills Amid AI Evolution in Tech
AI’s Growing Influence in Higher Education: Balancing Innovation and Critical Thinking
AI in English Language Education: 6 Principles for Ethical Use and Human-Centered Solutions
Ghana’s Ministry of Education Launches AI Curriculum, Training 68,000 Teachers by 2025
57% of Special Educators Use AI for IEPs, Raising Legal and Ethical Concerns
