Today, I wanted to dive into a simple yet effective technique that can significantly improve your interactions with ChatGPT. I read a lot about ChatGPT and its many uses. I read about a dozen daily or weekly newsletters on the subject, and, as such, I have become quite familiar with a lot of the many voices in the field. I continue to be amazed by the potential of this tool, particularly for the college counselor, and this recent piece of learning is no exception.

I encountered this Tweet by Rob Lennon, one of those leading voices in the domain of AI, though not explicitly education- or college counseling-related:

So for this post, imagine this: You have asked ChatGPT to write a thank you. You receive a decent response, but it lacks a personal touch. You find yourself wondering, "How can I make ChatGPT understand what I'm looking for in a thank you note?" This small addition, as noted by Rob Lennon, makes a huge difference. That said, I’ve tweaked it even further to serve my needs more effectively:

Write a thank you note. To improve the result, ask me 5 clarifying questions before you perform the task. Ask the questions one at a time and wait for my response before asking the next question.

By adding those two sentences to your prompt, you can guide ChatGPT to deliver even better results.

For point of reference, here’s what ChatGPT produced without the addition: "Please write a thank you note."

Dear [Recipient's Name],

I hope this note finds you in good health and high spirits. I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude and extend my sincerest thanks to you.

Words alone cannot convey how grateful I am for your kindness, generosity, and support. Your actions have made a significant impact on my life, and I feel truly blessed to have you in it.

Thank you for [specific reason or gesture]. Your thoughtfulness and consideration have touched me deeply, and I am filled with immense appreciation for your selflessness. Your [kindness/generosity/help] has not only made a difference in my life but also serves as a source of inspiration to strive for greatness and to pay it forward.

I am truly fortunate to have crossed paths with someone as incredible as you. Your unwavering support, encouragement, and belief in me have been a constant source of strength during challenging times. Your guidance and wisdom have shaped my perspective and propelled me towards personal and professional growth.

Thank you for being there for me during both the highs and lows. Your presence, whether it be through a listening ear, a comforting word, or a helping hand, has been invaluable. Your unwavering support has given me the courage to overcome obstacles and face life's trials with resilience and determination.

I also want to express my gratitude for your friendship. The laughter, shared experiences, and memories we have created together hold a special place in my heart. Your companionship has brought joy and light into my life, and I cherish every moment spent in your company.

Please accept this note as a token of my appreciation. I am eternally grateful for your kindness and generosity. Your actions have made a lasting impact on me, and I will carry the lessons you have taught me throughout my life's journey.

Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support and friendship mean the world to me, and I am truly blessed to have you in my life. Please let me know if there is ever anything I can do to reciprocate the kindness you have shown me.

With deepest gratitude,

[Your Name]

Now, here is what happened when I used the improved prompt, along with my replies to the follow-up questions: "Please write a thank you note. To improve the result, ask me 5 clarifying questions before you perform the task. Ask the questions one at a time and wait for my response before asking the next question."

Certainly! Here's my first question:
Who is the recipient of the thank you note?

JRN: My good friend, Tom Smith

Great! Here's my second question:
What is the reason you want to thank Tom Smith?

JRN: Tom is a college representative for University of Southwest Massachusetts. He recently came to São Paulo, Brazil and visited my school. He took time to meet with our students and parents, and he also hosted a workshop for our students on writing the college essay. He was generous with his time.

That's wonderful! Tom Smith sounds like an amazing person. Here's my third question:
Could you provide a specific example or detail that stood out to you during Tom's visit or workshop?

JRN: I was particularly impressed with his patience in answering the questions from the many parents who attended, some of whom were quite direct. I also appreciated his care and encouragement of our students during his workshop.

Thank you for sharing those details. Tom Smith's patience and support for both parents and students are truly commendable. Here's my fourth question:
Could you mention any specific impact or positive outcome resulting from Tom's visit or workshop?

JRN: I received a lot of feedback from the parents about how great it was to meet with Tom, and the students felt empowered as a result of the workshop. I look forward to reading their essays now!

That's fantastic! It's wonderful to hear that both parents and students had such positive experiences and felt empowered by Tom's visit and workshop. Now, here's my final question:
Is there anything else you would like to include or any specific message you would like to convey in the thank you note?

JRN: We went out for dinner after the day at my school, and I appreciated his candor in discussing test optional admissions practices.

Thank you for sharing that additional detail. It's great that you had the opportunity to connect with Tom on a personal level and engage in meaningful conversations. With all the information you've provided, I will now proceed to write the thank you note:

Dear Tom,

I hope this note finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your recent visit to our school here in São Paulo. Your presence as a college representative from the University of Southwest Massachusetts made a tremendous impact on both our students and parents.

I was truly impressed by your generosity with your time and your unwavering dedication to our community. The workshop you hosted on writing the college essay was a remarkable experience for our students. Your care, encouragement, and support truly empowered them, and I have no doubt that their essays will be greatly enriched as a result.

Moreover, I wanted to personally commend you for your remarkable patience and grace in handling the many questions posed by parents during your visit. Your ability to address their inquiries, even the direct ones, was truly admirable. I received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from parents who were grateful for the opportunity to meet with you.

Furthermore, our dinner together provided an additional dimension to our interaction. I greatly appreciated the candid discussions we had regarding test optional admissions practices. Your insights were both enlightening and thought-provoking, and it was a pleasure to engage in such meaningful conversations.

Once again, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation for your visit and the lasting impact you have made on our school community. Your dedication to helping students navigate the college application process is truly inspiring. I look forward to staying in touch and sharing the progress of our students' college essays.

With warmest regards,

[Your Name]

Notice the palpable difference between the two results. By explicitly instructing ChatGPT to seek clarification through a series of questions, you unlock a new level of collaboration with the AI model. Here's why this approach is so effective:

Improved Understanding: Rather than leaving ChatGPT to guess your expectations, you proactively engage in a conversation. By asking clarifying questions, you ensure ChatGPT fully comprehends your requirements before diving into the task.
Tailored Responses: The iterative nature of questioning allows ChatGPT to gather specific details, enabling it to generate more personalized and contextually relevant content. This way, you can obtain a thank you note that truly captures the student's unique qualities and expresses genuine gratitude.
Error Avoidance: By addressing potential misunderstandings upfront, you reduce the chances of receiving incorrect or irrelevant output. The incremental approach ensures that each subsequent question builds upon the previous answers, helping ChatGPT stay on track and produce more accurate results.
Engaging Learning Experience: Embracing this technique also provides a valuable educational opportunity for students. Encourage them to be part of the process by brainstorming questions that could help refine the output. This collaborative endeavor fosters critical thinking and showcases the power of human-AI collaboration.

Incorporating this simple line into your prompts opens up a world of possibilities. Whether you're crafting recommendation letters, proofreading essays, or seeking career advice for your students, effective prompting helps bridge the gap between vagueness and a more personal approach. Experiment, iterate, and refine your prompts to maximize the potential of ChatGPT. As technology continues to evolve, it's crucial that we explore innovative ways to leverage its capabilities in education. Give it a try!