“Using AI Is Cheating” and Other Myths That Need to Die Before College Season

Let’s cut through the noise.

There’s a growing panic in the college admissions world: “Kids are using AI to write their essays! It’s cheating! Ban it! Burn it! Unplug the internet!”

Deep breath. This kind of fear is loud, but it’s also misinformed. And it’s hurting the very students we’re supposed to help.

Here’s the truth: AI is not the villain. 

It’s just a tool. And like any tool—calculator, spellcheck, search engine—it can be misused. But it can also be transformative when used wisely.

Let’s bust a few of the most common (and frankly ridiculous) myths.

Myth #1: “If your kid uses ChatGPT, they’re cheating.”

No. That’s like saying kids who use Grammarly are cheating. Or that brainstorming with a tutor is cheating.

Bad writing is still bad writing—even if AI wrote it. And smart, thoughtful writing takes human judgment.

Here’s what we teach:

• Use AI to brainstorm, not to bypass.

• Use it to clarify your voice, not erase it.

• Use it like a writing partner, not a ghostwriter.

Myth #2: “AI makes kids lazy.”

Actually, AI can help kids work smarter. Students can use it to:

• Generate scholarship lists

• Get feedback on rough drafts

• Build a college list that fits their actual goals

• Organize timelines, to-dos, and application materials...all without paying thousands to a private counselor.

And that’s what really scares the billion-dollar admissions industry.

Because when families learn to use AI well? They have the power of a thousand college coaches at their fingertips. And they don’t need anyone’s permission to use it.

Myth #3: “AI is dangerous and should be banned.”

We’ve heard this before. When calculators came out. When spellcheck showed up. When Google hit classrooms.

Every time a new tool arrives, someone screams, “But what will kids learn if they don’t do it the hard way?!”

What they’ll learn is how to use the tools of their generation—ethically, creatively, and with confidence.

AI isn’t dangerous. Ignorance about AI is.

Myth #4: “AI is just a trend.”

Tell that to the colleges already using AI to screen applications. Tell that to employers using it to write job descriptions, draft emails, and analyze data.

AI is not going away. So our job isn’t to avoid it—it’s to teach kids how to use it responsibly. Because if we don’t? They’ll still use it. Just not well. And not wisely.

Here’s the bottom line:

If your family learns how to use AI the right way, you’ll be lightyears ahead of the families still stuck in fear and confusion.

And that’s where we come in.

Want to Learn How AI Can Help—Not Hurt—Your Child’s College Process?

We’ll show you exactly how to use AI to support your student without crossing the line.

Contact us now for a free consultation. Let’s take the fear out of the future—together.