Artificial intelligence tools like “ChatGPT” or its French competitor “Mistral” make it possible to write all types of text: well known to all students, they can write entire books, homework assignments and also cover letters for a training or employment. But be careful, because these tools are also well known to teachers! Our advice for ultimately writing your letter well with or without AI.
Since this year, training courses may or may not request a cover letter to accompany your application; previously it was mandatory for all vows, whether admissions officers read them or not. In the end, 70% of training courses ask for it and will therefore read it: a real strategic piece to humanize and personalize your application.
The temptation of AI
But when it is necessary to write a series, the lack of imagination or time and the ease of artificial intelligence tools can encourage some to test automated writing made easier since the rise of generative AI. Via a computer or mobile a letter can be generated in a few seconds!
#Parcoursup2024 do you use AI to help you write your cover letters? (ChatGPT, Mistral...)
— Le Parisien Étudiant (@P_etudiant) March 31, 2024
The “prompt” or instruction given to the AI is as easy as “Write me a cover letter for a law degree as part of a Parcoursup file, all in 1,500 characters maximum”. You can easily add or specify in your instructions the desired length, the exact title of the targeted training... In a few seconds the answer is given and seems astonishing.
Mistral screenshot
But from the first line you can see the limits of the machine: even if you quickly adapt the letter to your specialties and your situation, the letter seems very impersonal, with pompous words or very cold formulations.
The automated cover letter will allow you to complete your file and check the boxes to confirm your wish within the allotted time; but unfortunately it will not bring any additional points to your application, or it could even annoy certain training managers who would notice it and start to rate your file. The perfect, cold style of the robots is quickly recognized, especially for juries who read around a hundred letters each year.
Elements that show that you are really motivated
To convince, you have to personalize and write yourself with your style! The style of AI is cold while those in charge look for humanity, heart and your personal desire: your story and concrete experience with examples that show who you are.
Artificial intelligence can therefore give you the outline of the letter, give you the impetus and allow you to not start from a blank sheet, but to do it well you almost have to rewrite it entirely!
Things to review:
Add concrete highlights from your course
: your favorite courses, a significant encounter, a turning point in your story that allowed you to choose a future profession or sector that interests you. By telling important points from your story you reveal your personality: and the teachers will notice this and will like this sincerity.
Include details about the training in question
: which reveal your knowledge of the training. The name of a professor, a known former student, an option or a subject that particularly interests you.
Break the rhythm of the sentences
: short sentence, long sentence... Surprise, give rhythm to your letter to avoid cold and long sentences that only AI knows how to do!
Do not seek perfection, which even AI cannot obtain: if sincerity is there, the professors responsible for admission to training will excuse stylistic errors or amateurism in the writing.
Parcoursup cover letter: also see
Useful formulas and vocabulary to convince in your cover letters Parcoursup
Writing Tips for Writing Your Cover Letter
5 golden rules for writing your cover letter Parcoursup