Unfortunately, I didn't read all of these reviews about CIIS before I applied. Otherwise I may have…read morebeen more prepared for the experience that unfolded for me.
I applied for the undergraduate program in Psychedelics combined with a masters in East to West Psychology. I submitted all of my transcripts and writing samples, and then had a very fruitful first interview for the Psychedelics program. The woman I interviewed with was highly impressed with my knowledge of the Socratic method of teaching/learning, as well as my background and experience in cultural diversity. She seemed impressed with my writing samples and the personal stories within. She left me with the impression that I was a great fit for the school.
After that, many weeks went by without any further updates from CIIS about the two other interviews required for the Masters program.
I wrote them an email to ask if they needed anything further to help the process move along. I received a voicemail a couple hours later stating that a faculty member believes that AI wrote my writing sample and that they would not be admitting me to the masters program, but that they would be happy to admit me to the psychedelics undergrad program.
To clarify, they accused me of fraud over a voicemail, declined my application, but then sent me an automated email with my name cued in the top (to make it seem like it was bespoke and personal to me), with AI confetti animation, accepting me into the undergrad program.
First of all, I wrote my sample essay in 2020 during the COVID lockdown; pre AI chat bots. I did put my required goal statement through an AI editor to check for grammatical error and to help clean it up (as several of my friends do in their doctoral programs). However, I wrote the goal statement from deeply personal experience. I was also not aware of any restriction of using AI as a scholastic tutor or editor; nor does it say anywhere amongst the application requirements that you cannot put your paper through an editor to check for errors.
All of that aside, I wasn't even accused of just using an AI editor, I was accused of having my entire writing sample fully written by AI.
To be accused of full fraud, denied without even an interview or a conversation, and told so over a voicemail was a serious punch to the gut.
I was truly passionate about this program and had begun the process of dedicating myself to this through the time, effort, and financial commitment it would all inevitably take.
I put this offering out to them, and was told that the work was not my own, I have no say in their judgement, and no voice of my own, but "congratulations because you got in the psychedelics program".
All of this after having a stellar first interview with a faculty member that had read all my sample writing and had discussed how AI would help with source notations and research as we got deeper into the program. It's clear to me that the school is scattered and not communicating well amongst themselves.
So odd to have such an experience from a school that prides themselves on ethics, consideration, and deep spiritual thought. The layers of irony and unprofessional nature of the entire response has been baffling.
This has also led me to question the caliber of students they are letting into the psychedelics program as they apparently shoe in those that they see as fraudulent writers so easily.
As I have now read through the many reviews here, I'm less shocked. Almost beginning to feel like I've dodged a bullet by having this experience and deciding to not waste my time at CIIS at all.
Feels like a lot of the world (particularly educationally) is trying to wrap their head around AI and what writing is becoming, generally what influence AI will have on critical thinking and where the line is on what it edits or helps us with. The fine balance on whether it is hurting us or helping us. I get it. However, we must not forget that a human still remains on one side of the screen. To be judged and dismissed as unfairly as I was is unacceptable; particularly from a school that puts so much weight on authenticity and giving every human the voice they deserve. There is so much focus on the fear of humans using AI to do their work, that those who genuinely put the effort in are getting brushed aside. Real creativity and human intelligence is missed amongst the cold defense of a changing world.
It's sad really; this lack of trust or knowing, or even the opportunity for a word of defense. Is McCarthyism peeking its way back into our society?
Though I will not continue my journey with CIIS, I will persist elsewhere. I commend anyone here seeking to dive further into the human experience and wanting to help others along the way. I hope that any discouragement you encounter on your journey from CIIS or elsewhere does not damper your calling for long. We need more people seeking to do good work now more than ever.
And, no, this review was not written by AI.