ChatGPT for Teens adds a college application planner
OpenAI is adding a College Planner to ChatGPT for Teens to help students organise college applications. It brings application requirements, deadlines, tasks and financial-aid steps into one plan, which students can update as they make progress.
The feature is due “soon” and will initially target US students in grades 10 to 12 planning to attend a four-year college. OpenAI is also adding multi-photo capture on iOS, which can combine images into a PDF, and flashcards generated from notes. The announcement follows a Common Sense Media report calling ChatGPT for Teens an “unacceptable risk”; OpenAI says teens use ChatGPT for under 15 minutes a day on average.
- ChatGPT for Teens is getting a college application planner.
- It will initially focus on US students in grades 10 to 12.
- New study tools include photo-to-PDF capture and flashcards.
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ChatGPT for Teens is a version of OpenAI's artificial intelligence chatbot designed specifically for teenagers, and the company is now adding tools to help with one of the most significant challenges young people in the United States face: applying to college. OpenAI has created a College Planner that aims to organise the various requirements, deadlines and tasks involved in submitting university applications all in one place.
College applications in the US are a complex process, particularly for students in grades 10 to 12 who are planning to attend a four-year university. Applicants must typically track multiple institutions, each with its own deadlines, requirements and financial-aid application steps, which can be overwhelming to manage without a structured system.
This announcement reflects the growing role of artificial intelligence in education, though it comes at a time when questions are being raised about whether AI tools are appropriate for teenagers. OpenAI says the average teenager using ChatGPT spends less than 15 minutes a day on the platform, and the company is expanding the tool with additional features including image capture and flashcard generation for study purposes.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that the College Planner addresses a genuine practical challenge – college applications involve complex, overlapping deadlines and institutional requirements that students struggle to track manually. An AI organiser consolidates this information reliably and reduces anxiety by ensuring deadlines aren't missed. The reported light usage (under 15 minutes daily) suggests this is a targeted educational tool rather than an addictive distraction. Moreover, learning to work with AI is increasingly essential, and thoughtfully designed features teach valuable skills for students' futures.
The case against
Critics contend that delegating college planning to AI poses real risks in high-stakes contexts. AI systems frequently produce plausible-sounding but inaccurate information about institutional requirements or financial aid, potentially derailing applications that alter life trajectories. Beyond accuracy concerns, outsourcing college planning may compromise important developmental learning as students navigate their own institutional choices. There are also significant privacy implications of collecting detailed college planning data from minors, and given existing concerns about teen platform usage and mental health, expanding teen apps warrants caution.
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Originally published by The Verge as “ChatGPT is getting college planning tools”.