Counselors use AI tools to aid in writing recommendation letters

School counselors Stephanie Nelson and Richard Tench are utilizing generative AI tools to assist in writing letters of recommendation for students. They ask students to fill out a "brag" sheet with their achievements, which is then used as input for the AI tool.

Nelson, a counselor in North Carolina, says she enhances her traditional counseling techniques with AI. "I’m not taking away the personal part," she states. She mentions jokingly telling students that "ChatGPT helped."

Tench, who writes 120 to 150 letters annually at his West Virginia school, finds AI helpful for efficiency. "It’s definitely a useful tool," he notes.

The American School Counselor Association does not track how widespread this practice is among counselors. Nelson manages around 380 students, while Tench has a ratio of 275:1.

Opinions on using AI vary among educators. Riddhi Divanji from foundry10 highlights differing reactions from tech-forward teachers and those less familiar with AI. A study co-authored by Divanji found about one-third of students and teachers reported using generative AI for college essays or recommendations.

Hannah Quay-de la Vallee from the Center for Democracy & Technology advises ethical use of AI in college applications. She suggests specific requests rather than general ones and emphasizes human oversight to check for errors and biases.

Both Tench and Nelson are transparent about their use of AI and encourage students to be upfront as well. They stress checking high school and college policies on AI usage since colleges have varying stances on its application.

Tench underscores the importance of adhering to guidelines: "It’s following our policies as a school but also their policies in college."