How College Students Are Turning ChatGPT into Their Personal Life Coach
More and more college students are finding that ChatGPT offers more than just help with homework — it’s becoming a go-to resource for navigating life’s big decisions, routines, and challenges. In fact, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, recently shared that Gen Z is using the AI tool as a personal life coach to sort through everything from relationships to career plans.
Unlike search engines like Google, ChatGPT provides full-sentence advice, remembers the context of your conversations, and can suggest solutions without judgment, making it a reliable 24/7 sounding board. While it’s not a substitute for human guidance or professional counseling, many students are turning to ChatGPT to help them think things through during stressful or uncertain moments.
If you’re curious about how it works, here are five prompts to try that can turn ChatGPT into your own personal life coach — whether you’re navigating difficult decisions, feeling overwhelmed, or just need a second opinion.
1. Making Decisions
Prompt: “Help me make a decision between two things. Ask me questions first.”
Why it works: ChatGPT excels at thinking with you, rather than just providing a simple answer. It asks clarifying questions, helps you consider the pros and cons, and even points out any potential emotional biases. Because it doesn’t have feelings, it can offer logical advice without any judgment, making it great for big decisions.
2. Finding Order in Chaos
Prompt: “I’m overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. Can you help me prioritize my day?”
Why it works: When you feel like there’s too much going on and don’t know where to begin, ChatGPT can break things down into manageable steps. It’s like having an assistant who helps you organize your day, taking the stress out of your to-do list and making the most important tasks stand out.
3. Weighing Options
Prompt: “I’m thinking about switching majors/jobs/cities. Talk me through the decision.”
Why it works: The more you interact with ChatGPT, the better it can help you. It can recall past conversations and guide you to consider both the long-term and short-term consequences of your decisions. It can help you clarify what matters most, without pushing you one way or the other, making it easier to see all your options more clearly.
4. Choosing the Right Words
Prompt: “I need to have a hard conversation with someone. Can you help me script it?”
Why it works: From asking for an extension on an assignment to addressing a roommate about their habits, ChatGPT helps you find the right tone. It can guide you on phrasing that’s firm yet friendly, so you get your point across without sounding confrontational. College life often requires difficult conversations, and ChatGPT can help you approach them with ease and confidence.
5. Self-Reflection
Prompt: “Give me 3 questions to reflect on when I feel burned out.”
Why it works: This prompt allows ChatGPT to check in with you on an emotional level. It’s designed to help you assess where you might be feeling stressed, whether it’s from school, relationships, or personal pressures. This quick reflection can help you pinpoint red flags and give you a moment to pause and recharge.
While ChatGPT isn’t a licensed therapist or professional life coach, it can provide helpful, calming, and sometimes insightful advice. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or in need of a fresh perspective, ChatGPT can serve as an accessible and low-pressure life coach. It’s the easiest coaching session you’ll never need to book — all it takes is a prompt and a willingness to open up.