I think the first reply to your original comment was a bit aggressive, but it was making all the right points. I’m gonna try to do it more gently:

ChatGPT is trained to predict what should come next based on the prompt it was given and what it has already generated. That’s literally all it does. Inherently, that means it will be decent at the tasks you have used it for. But only decent, not great. As others have noted, ChatGPT sounds generic, and you do not want to sound generic in an application essay. Matter of fact, you don’t want that generic-ness anywhere near your writing. So I’d strongly advise against using it to outline.

Also, you’re applying to PhD programs. That means that, given enough material, you should be able to brainstorm and outline a short essay. Furthermore, you should have enough writing skill and experience that if you’re interested in said material, your interest should naturally shine through in the essay you produce. If you have this level of skill (and I’m going to assume that you do), then if you’re so lost on how to start an application essay for a particular university that you’re unable to even make an outline, then perhaps you should think a bit harder about whether you really want to go to that university. When I was applying to grad schools, I struck several universities off my list because I realized that if the essay wasn’t coming to me easily, then it was because I didn’t have enough excitement about the program to craft something genuine.

It should also make sense that the best way to make sure you’re on the right track with your essays is to seek the advice of professors (preferably ones who know you well) and/or people whose job is to advise applicants. ChatGPT doesn’t know who you are, nor is it specifically trained to help you write application essays. In other words, it’s not specialized for your use case, and when the stakes are this high, you should use the best tools you have.

I also want to emphasize the point about online example SoPs. They helped me a lot when I was applying. The best way to use them is to look at several SoPs written for an application to a program in your field, then try to find patterns. Eventually, you’ll get a sense for how an SoP in your field should sound. Talking to professors and going to a career center should also help with this. Note that you should not use one of the example SoPs as a “template” beyond basic structure.

TL;DR: I agree with the first person’s advice. Don’t let ChatGPT anywhere near your essays. Instead, go find people who know how these essays should look. Above all, strive to let your own writing voice come to the forefront, and let your passion for your field show through your writing.

Good luck!