Using AI to Level the Playing Field with Wendy Lin-Cook

About the episode

In this episode, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Wendy Lin-Cook gives students and families an encouraging approach to the admissions process: dream big, explore options widely, and don’t limit yourself based on assumptions about cost. She offers some advice on how to look beyond sticker price to get a better picture of the cost of an institution. She also makes the case that applicants should focus on academic and personal fit before worrying about cost.

Wendy also discusses how artificial intelligence is changing the college admissions and financial aid experience in ways that directly benefit students and families. She explains how AI tools can help answer questions 24/7, support families in multiple languages, and guide students through complex processes like the FAFSA. She gives some insider insights on how AI is reshaping admissions essays, and what readers look for in an essay in the AI era. She makes the case that AI can help level the playing field, especially for first-generation and underrepresented students.