How to Use AI to Personalize the Admissions Process in 2025

The role of AI in college admissions is growing, and its ability to personalize the entire admissions process is gaining attention. 

• AI adoption in higher education is growing rapidly, with 89% of institutions developing AI strategies and 59% concerned about falling behind in implementation.
• Nearly 48% of colleges plan to use AI for admissions essay evaluations starting in 2024, with universities like the University of Miami testing AI reviews to speed up the process.
• AI chatbots, such as the one introduced by Northern Essex Community College (NECC), operate 24/7, assisting students in multiple languages guiding them through the admissions process.
• Universities like U.Penn and Colorado use AI to assess teamwork, leadership, and motivation for holistic application review.

So, can you use AI for college applications? Yes! In fact, according to a survey, 50% of admissions offices are already using AI to review students’ applications.

Growing Role of AI in College Admissions

The role of AI in college admissions is transforming the process by making it more efficient and personalized for students. From automated document review to chatbots, institutions are using AI to improve student interactions. Here’s how AI can personalize the admission process:

AI for Application Document Review

A growing number of colleges are using AI to evaluate recommendation letters, transcripts, and personal essays, making the admission process more easy. According to a survey, 70% of admissions staff use AI for document review, while 60% said AI assists in evaluating personal essays. This allows universities to process applications faster and focus on key applicant strengths, ensuring a more personalized selection process.  With EDMO’s Document Intelligence, universities can automate document processing, reducing manual effort and improving accuracy. Its AI-powered analysis speeds up application reviews, allowing faster and more efficient admissions decisions.

AI Chatbots for Personalized Guidance

AI chatbots are changing the admissions process by providing personalized support to potential students. AI chatbots can answer FAQs, guide students through each step of the application, and send reminders about deadlines. Universities like Georgia State University have used chatbots like Pounce to reduce summer melt by 22%, ensuring students stay engaged and complete their enrollment. 

Using AI to Predict Student Success

AI can help colleges understand which students might need extra support even before they start classes, improving the admission process. For example, Ivy Tech Community College uses an AI system called NewT, which evaluates student data and predicts their academic performance with 80% accuracy within the first two weeks. By using AI in this way, colleges can ensure that every student gets support from the start, making the admission process more personalized. With EDMO’s Conversation intelligence universities can identify at-risk students early using smart sentiment and intent analysis. Its AI chatbots provide real-time support, ensuring students stay engaged and receive support throughout their academic journey.

AI for Fair Admissions

AI can help make university admissions more fair and inclusive by reducing biases in the screening process. A recent survey found that 50% of admissions offices are using AI to perform evaluations, and this number is expected to grow. By evaluating applications based on objective criteria, AI can ensure that students from diverse backgrounds are assessed more fairly, minimizing human biases.

AI Recruiters for Personalized Engagement

AI recruiters help colleges to provide personalized admissions experiences to thousands of students. According to a report, the average high school student receives over 1,500 college marketing emails per year, most of which go ignored. AI solves this by analyzing student interactions and sending personalized emails, texts, and phone calls. Universities using AI recruiters have seen higher engagement rates and improved application completion rates, providing a scalable solution to reducing student responses.

AI for Analyzing Essays 

A study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania explored how AI can be used to analyze personal essays for college admissions at scale. In the research, an AI model called RoBERTa was trained to evaluate key personal qualities in applicants, such as empathy and integrity. This allows universities to process a large volume of applications quickly and accurately.

The role of AI in college admissions continues to grow, providing solutions that improve the admission process while providing a more fair and efficient experience for both students and colleges.

Conclusion

AI is transforming the way universities approach the admission process, making it more personalized and efficient. The role of AI in college admissions is becoming significant as universities use these tools to improve both the experience for potential students and their operational efficiency. By integrating AI and college admissions strategies, universities can offer a fairer experience to students while also improving their workflow.  Trusted by 200+ global institutions, EDMO’s AI solutions help universities automate application processing and improve student engagement. Our tools simplify admissions, allowing universities to focus on selecting the best students with confidence.

WRITTEN BY

Emily Hutchinson

Sr. Content Writer

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