Let’s be honest, applying to universities is exciting, but it can also be stressful and competitive. You have to reflect on who you are and what you want to do – even if you’re still figuring that out – all while trying to sound confident and original to stand out from the crowd.
The good news? We now have AI tools like ChatGPT to support the process. From brainstorming to structuring your personal statement, refining your CV and even practicing interviews, AI can help at every step.
The problem is that many students are not leveraging AI to its full potential. They paste vague prompts or copy full responses, ending up with robotic and impersonal results. But when managed thoughtfully, AI can boost your creativity, sharpen your message and help you express yourself more clearly.
Prompt Like a Pro – Getting the Results You Need
This guide will help you understand AI a bit more and explore how to use it not as a shortcut, but as your creative and strategic partner, while staying in full control of your story, your voice and your message.
Before integrating AI in your application, there’s one key rule: the quality of the output depends on the input. A vague prompt gives you a generic answer, but a clear and detailed prompt can deliver mind-blowing results!
To get the best out of ChatGPT, be clear about your goal, the context, and how you want the answer. Start by giving it a role, make it incarnate who you would like to be talking to (such as an admissions officer), be specific about your request and share relevant background. For complex tasks, break it into steps and say how you want the response (bullet points, short paragraph or brainstorm session). Finally, refine your prompt by testing and adding details until it feels just right.
For example, if you just ask ChatGPT: “What are ESCP’s values?” you might get a short, generic list. But if you refine your prompt to: “You are an admissions officer at ESCP Business School. I am applying to the Specialised Master in Marketing and Communication program. Please: (1) list and explain ESCP’s core values, (2) give me brainstorming questions so that after I can think about how I can connect personal experiences to each value – you’ll get a way better result!
Craft a CV and Statement That Reflects You
Your CV and personal statement aren’t just lists of achievements of your life, they’re how universities get to know you and see if you’re a good fit. Instead of sending the same CV everywhere, adapt it to each program by highlighting the experiences that matter most. AI can help reorganise your CV to emphasise skills like leadership or problem-solving that certain schools value.
When it comes to your personal statement, use AI to brainstorm or shape your structure. You can start with bullet points about your background and motivations and even upload your CV and let AI turn them into a clear structure. A common trap is sounding too generic or overly enthusiastic in the text. The key is to show genuine and personal motivation, explain why this specific program matters to you, you’re the only one who knows it. After writing your draft, ask AI to review the tone, clarity, and structure. Approach it like a super writing assistant, not a ghostwriter.
Ace Your Interview with AI as Your Coach
Once you reach the interview stage, ChatGPT can act as your personal coach to prepare you effectively. By uploading your personal statement and CV, it can generate realistic questions based on your background, the program and the school you’re applying to.
You can answer in bullet points to organize your thoughts or practice out loud using the microphone for greater confidence and clarity. You can even enable speech so ChatGPT speaks back, making the experience feel more like a real conversation.
Beyond practicing answers, AI can give detailed feedback, pointing out where your responses could be more specific or persuasive, helping you improve in real time.
Use AI to match with the School’s Culture
Each university has its own culture, core values and way of doing things. Figuring out how you match and align with its DNA isn’t just about impressing them or to get ready for an interview, it also enables you to assess whether the school is the perfect fit for you and your career project.
AI can accurately analyze a school’s website, mission and values, then summarize key themes and suggest how to reflect them authentically in your application. To get the best feedback, direct your prompts to the specific school. For example, share the school’s values that resonate more with you and ask the AI to act as an admissions member, evaluating how well your materials align with it.
Be Critical to Stay in Control
AI can be a great support, but it’s important not to rely only on its suggestions. It’s designed to agree with everything you say, avoids challenging your opinions and works purely on probabilities and hypotheses. It doesn’t think, reason or challenge you like a person would. That means it’s your job to think critically, question its suggestions and make sure what you submit feels authentic to you!
Trying out different tools like Google Gemini for alternatives of brainstorms or phrasing, Grammarly for grammar, or Vmock for CV improvement can bring fresh perspectives. Mixing these tools lets you compare ideas, spot new angles and stay in control of your voice and message so your application stays original and genuinely you!
In a world where AI is accessible to everyone, the real advantage comes from how you use it critically, creatively, and ethically.The students and professionals who truly stand out are those who align AI with their thinking, not just to get quick answers.
ESCP Business School is leading this change, with a bold and pioneering partnership with OpenAI that gives students and faculty access to ChatGPT Edu across campuses. But this isn’t just about giving access to a new tool, it reflects a new approach on learning. At ESCP, AI is now seen as a collaborator to support, not replace, original thinking. Learning how to work with AI in thoughtful and creative ways is now considered a key part of becoming a strong future leader.
So yes, learning how to prompt is useful. But more importantly, learn how to question, adapt and create. That’s how you make your application not just better, but also truly yours.
One last note: AI isn’t free in terms of energy. A single ChatGPT query consumes around 10x more energy than a Google search. While there are not yet perfect solutions, the growing awareness is already pushing efforts towards more sustainable AI.