Can AI Help with Student Scholarships?

You may have heard of it or even used it by now. To put it simply, Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is technology that performs tasks that humans can do. AI is everywhere. If you have ever used a voice assistant or online chatbot, you have encountered artificial intelligence technology. The creation and use of AI is highly controversial as its abilities are expanding. No matter your perspective on AI, it’s essential to be updated on how AI will affect your child in the scholarship application process.

Application Materials

Scholarship providers may use AI to detect plagiarism or evaluate your application. Your child shouldn't use AI to generate an essay unless the scholarship rules explicitly say you are allowed to do so. Some scholarship applications may encourage using AI to create ideas, whereas others may prohibit any use.

Parent Tip: Offer to proofread your child’s essay before they submit it. A second pair of eyes can be helpful during the application process and boost their confidence.

Verifying Sources

Many students are starting to use AI as a search tool. Your child may ask AI for a list of scholarship opportunities. AI, however, may or may not verify scholarship legitimacy. Be cautious and look for scholarship scams that may slip into a generated list. If a scholarship provider uses AI, don’t skip the fine print. Check to see what information and data are collected.

Parent Tip: If you want to help by finding scholarships, provide trustworthy scholarship platforms for your child to search, like rischolarships.org or College Board.

Deadlines

Time management is a common reason that many students turn to AI. Generating an application is quicker through AI and is an easy fix if the deadline is approaching. To avoid this, start your search early. Keep on top of the application process by keeping a calendar of all application open and close dates.

Parent Tip: Some scholarships are more suitable and realistic for your child than others. Talk to your child about how to prioritize the right applications.

Final Thoughts

AI is not going away. Rather, AI is reshaping the world around us. Understanding how to use AI appropriately is crucial, especially for young students. Relying on automation and academic assistance will not help prepare them for college. Knowing how to use AI thoughtfully and responsibly will.

For more scholarship search tips for parents, check out our guide here: RISLA Scholarship Hub Search Tips for Parents