College senior struggling with AI dependence, job opportunities, and career trajectory
I have screwed myself over and I don't know how I can fix my career trajectory. I'm a rising senior Political Science student wanting to go to law school and I don't even know how to write.
For the past 3 years, I have been dependent on using ChatGPT for every single assignment. What worries me is that for my senior year, we have a capstone project where we must research something related to our field of study under the guidance of a faculty member. However, I don't even know what to research about. I feel as if I know nothing nor do I feel confident in writing anything. I can't even confidently think of a topic that is worth researching about. My GPA makes me a weak applicant for law school and I was caught using AI last semester on a final exam. I have felt severely guilty in my actions even prior to being caught.
Every assignment has felt like trying to survive rather than the opportunity to learn. I attend a top 30 school in the world and honestly don't deserve to be here. I feel that I let an amazing opportunity slip between my fingers. Everyone in this school is thriving and has plans after college. I've seen my peers' educational growth with my own eyes and I feel like I'm right where I started.
I've been rejected from every internship related to legal work and rejected from every school position. I feel my last chance this year is to try and join a research group at school, but again, my writing skills are underdeveloped and I would feel guilty if they asked for a writing sample and I give them AI slop work. I understand that I have done this to myself, but what do I do to stop and fix the damage done?
I wish I could just tell a professor or someone that I genuinely need personal guidance and help with building skills I have been lacking in due to my dependence on AI, but I'm sure that would get me expelled. I have vented to ChatGPT about this extensively, but it honestly feels like an echo chamber. I'm asking for a real guidance on my situation and would appreciate any advice.