Harnessing AI Humor: The New Algorithm in Assisting the Next Generation to Navigate The College Maze
“How AI Is Helping Kids Find the Right College”
“Can machines help our kids find the right college? A growing number of edtech companies believe so, and they’re busy fine-tuning algorithms to predict college acceptance and success, and to guide students in their college applications,” as is pointed out in a recent Wired article. Slyly, technology is creeping into every corner of our lives, and the high-stakes world of college applications apparently isn’t immune either.
Artificial Intelligence being hailed as the new guidance counselor, that’s an interesting thought. For years, students have been relying on human interaction and intuition to navigate the complex world of post-secondary education. Now there’s a growing trend of flipping to our robotic overlords for academic advice, thanks to several edtech companies that are laser-focused on ‘fine-tuning’ algorithms to predict college acceptance and success.
AI’s guidance in college applications, however, is not quite as sci-fi as it sounds. While the idea of machine-learning models predicting school compatibility without paperwork and heartache sounds like a breeze, it’s actually based on analytics. These predictive models draw on historical admission data to project the likelihood of a student’s admission. Sounds intriguing yet uncanny, right? The data is factual, fair enough, but will it capture all nuances – cultural fit, study environment, faculty relationships, the size of the pizza slices in the campus cafe? Doubtful.
The humanness involved in college decisions cannot be ignored – at least for now. Machines might crunch the numbers faster than any human could, but will they truly understand the importance of the campus culture that shapes the student’s growth? Can the ‘fit’ be measured in 0s and 1s? And while it’s not too farfetched thinking that robots can fine-tune things, there’s a limit to what an AI can add to the college-hunting journey, so don’t go firing the human guidance counselor just yet!
Many young adults are wouldn’t mind robotic interference in their academic trajectory. The potential promises to level the playing field, especially for those who lack access to proper guidance or potential outside hook-ups like familial connections to a particular college. But the question remains: Can a machine really replicate – or dare we say, improve upon – the work of human guidance?
Sure, artificial intelligence can shuffle through years of admission data faster than a sleep-deprived student poring over forms. But can it understand the thrill of walking through a campus for the first time, the culture shock, the connections formed, and those countless little details that cannot be quantified? Will relying on such a system undermine the importance of personal growth, failing to force students to confront and understand their aspirations, strengths, and weaknesses?
The infusion of AI in the educational sector certainly raises provocative questions – and only time will tell if it’s a wise move. So parents, don’t trade your human guidance counselors for a robot just yet. Until then, enjoy the quirkiness of your child’s college hunt – the late nights researching colleges, the anxious wait for acceptance letters, and all the unavoidable drama. After all, education is not just about the destination, but also the journey.