Start with authorship, not polish.
The student should provide the experiences, observations, choices and initial language. An adviser can help the student discover the decision behind a story, test whether the answer addresses the prompt and identify where evidence is missing. That is different from supplying a story or a finished voice.
Rules vary by school, programme and institution. Check the current official instructions before using any editing or AI tool, and keep the student able to explain every sentence.
| Question | Evidence of an ethical process |
|---|---|
| Who supplies the substance? | The student supplies experiences, observations, ideas and the first attempt in their own voice. |
| What can an adviser do? | Ask questions, test structure, identify missing evidence, suggest alternatives and edit for clarity after the student has written. |
| What must stay outside the service? | Ghostwriting, fabricated experiences, invented achievements and any work that the student cannot explain or defend. |
| Which rules control? | The current school, programme and institution instructions; confirm their authorship and AI rules before sharing or submitting work. |
Brainstorming is a conversation.
Useful questions ask what changed, what the student noticed, what they tried, what they learned and why the proposed course or community matters. The student then chooses which ideas are accurate and worth developing. A list of impressive-sounding claims is not a substitute for reflection.
Editing should leave an audit trail.
Keep the student's draft, adviser comments and final version separate. The student should accept or reject changes and be able to explain the structure, examples and language. Remove private family details that the application does not require.
Ask four questions before engaging support.
- Who writes? The student remains the author.
- What changes? Scope covers questions, structure, clarity and feedback, not ghostwriting.
- Which rules apply? The current school and institution instructions control.
- What happens to drafts? The family understands where information is stored and who can access it.