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Stanford Student Refused to Use ChatGPT, Wanted 'Real Education'
Rosana Maris Arias chose to earn her English degree the old-fashioned way, without relying on the AI writing tool.
Published on Feb. 9, 2026
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When Rosana Maris Arias was a student at Stanford University, many of her classmates raved about using ChatGPT to complete assignments. However, Arias deliberately chose not to use the AI tool, wanting to earn her English degree through her own hard work and learning from her professors.
Why it matters
Arias' decision to forgo using ChatGPT highlights the ongoing debate around the use of AI in academia, as some students and professors argue that it undermines the purpose of higher education by allowing students to bypass the learning process.
The details
As an English major with a creative writing emphasis, Arias wanted to become a better writer and communicator. She felt that using ChatGPT would have been a disservice to her professors and the past students who had worked hard to earn their degrees. Arias was inspired by the writing pedigree of Stanford and wanted to put in the work to earn her degree herself.
- Arias was a student at Stanford University in the mid-2020s.
- She first heard about ChatGPT from her classmates during her junior year.
The players
Rosana Maris Arias
A former Stanford University student who majored in English with a creative writing emphasis and refused to use ChatGPT.
Stanford University
The prestigious California university where Arias was a student and where many of her classmates used ChatGPT.
What they’re saying
“Why are you even at Stanford? Why be at any university at all? Isn't the point of pursuing higher education to expand our minds and become better communicators?”
— Rosana Maris Arias (businessinsider.com)
“Not a day goes by without me putting my English degree to good use. Not a day goes by without me being grateful to my past self for putting in the work to earn the degree herself — without ChatGPT.”
— Rosana Maris Arias (businessinsider.com)
The takeaway
Arias' decision to forgo using ChatGPT and earn her English degree through her own hard work and learning serves as a reminder of the importance of the educational process and the value of a 'real' education, even in an age of rapidly advancing AI technology.
