What is GradGPT?
GradGPT is a web-based tool that reviews college application essays against Ivy League rubrics and provides line-by-line feedback. It is designed for students applying to universities who need structured critique without having their text rewritten. The platform states it never writes the essay, functioning as a mentor rather than a ghostwriter.
What are the features of GradGPT?
- Essay scoringEvaluates pasted drafts on categories including narrative, authenticity, detail, writing style, structure, and opener using internal college rubrics.
- Line-level feedbackIdentifies specific sentences to cut or improve, flags cliché topics, and highlights red flags that may lead to rejections.
- Topic generationAsks the user questions to produce personalized topic ideas and an outline for new essays.
- Hook finderAnalyzes an existing draft to identify the strongest opening line already written.
- Supplemental essay guidesProvides school-specific prompts and guidance for answering them.
- Admit profile comparisonAllows users to compare their essay against examples from admitted students at schools like Yale, Harvard, and Stanford.
What are the use cases of GradGPT?
- Drafting a Common App personal statementA student pastes a 642-word draft and receives a numeric score plus specific lines to fix before submission.
- Finding a starting pointAn applicant unsure what to write answers questions to receive unique topic ideas and an outline.
- Refining supplemental essaysA student accesses school-specific prompts and guidance to tailor responses for individual universities.
How to use GradGPT?
- Paste your essayEnter the full text of a draft into the web review tool.
- Receive assessmentView a numeric score out of 100 alongside category ratings such as authenticity and structure.
- Review line feedbackRead specific comments attached to exact lines in the text, including suggestions to cut clichés or reframe setbacks.
- IterateRevise the draft based on the feedback and resubmit to track score changes across versions.
GradGPT Pricing Information:
- Free accessStart free with no credit card required; some tools have trials while others are free.
- Eligible student accessFree access to the GradGPT platform for students eligible for free and reduced school meals, Common App/SAT/ACT fee waivers, wards of the state, or students at Title I schools by emailing the founders.









