Applying to a good-fit college is an exercise in relationship building.
First, you’re introduced to the college. Maybe you’d heard of it beforehand, but because you read this blog, you know better than to make a college decision solely on reputation! You get to know the college pretty well over time through your own research. You make up your mind that this is definitely a good fit for you, and you submit your application. “I’ve decided I like you. Please pick me.”
But wait—that’s not really how relationships work, is it? Relationship building goes both ways, and the scenario I described above is pretty one-sided. You’re getting to know the college, but how and when are they getting to know you? How are they supposed to know you’re interested in taking this relationship to the next level?
You might argue that the college admissions office gets to know you and your interest through your application. But admissions counselors assume that students are applying to more than one college—how are they to know that they are the one? And colleges receive thousands of applications each cycle—admissions counselors can’t always see the difference between one application that’s a token of undying love and another that was submitted because the college has no extra essays and a great football team.
This is where demonstrated interest comes in.
WHAT IS DEMONSTRATED INTEREST?
Demonstrated interest is what it sounds like: a student demonstrating an interest in the college of their choice. Consistently, meaningfully, and throughout the admissions process. Essentially, demonstrated interest is any time a student has connected with a college in some meaningful way to show that they want to attend.
A few years ago, I wrote about demonstrating interest during the Covid-19 pandemic when campus visits halted. Today, we’ll look at some other forms of demonstrated interest and how they can be used in the admissions process.
DO ALL COLLEGES TRACK DEMONSTRATED INTEREST?
No, not all colleges will use demonstrated interest as a consideration factor in the admissions process. And even if they do, it will not be the most important factor in a student’s application. No amount of demonstrated interest will outweigh a weak transcript.
You can see if a college considers demonstrated interest—and see how much of a role it plays in their admissions process—by looking at a college’s Common Data Set (Google the college name + Common Data Set). Section C7 is a chart that shows the college’s admissions factors. Pretty useful, huh?
Pro Tip: If a college does not use demonstrated interest for admissions purposes, that is not an excuse to forgo this part of the process! Many ways that students demonstrate interest are also the most valuable ways that students can meaningfully earn about a college. By being intentional about demonstrating interest, you’re also helping yourself determine if a college is a good fit for you!
HOW IS DEMONSTRATED INTEREST USED IN THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS?
A college that uses demonstrated interest in their admissions process might look at the meaningful interactions they’ve had with a student when determining how likely that student is to attend their school. Admissions counselors know that students can only enroll at one college, and they want it to be theirs!
To have a high yield rate (or the percentage of students who enroll at a university after being offered admission), they may look for indicators, like demonstrated interest, that an offer of admission would result in a new student at their university.
HOW CAN I SHOW DEMONSTRATED INTEREST?
Let’s look at different ways students can demonstrate their interest during the college admissions process.
Campus Visits & Information Sessions
An official campus visit is a great way to show demonstrated interest. Physically going to where a college is located and spending time on campus not only indicates a certain level of interest but is also an excellent way for students to know whether a college is a good fit for them. Everybody benefits!
But we recognize that official tours may not be accessible to everyone. Travel may not be possible if you are looking at colleges far from home. And many of these tour times are during the school day. Tour schedules around popular school breaks, like Fall Break and Spring Break, fill up quickly, and you may not be willing or able to miss school for a college visit. So here are several ways to think about demonstrating interest through a campus visit or information session:
Official Campus Tours or Information Sessions - Check out our blog post on advice for successful tours here.
Virtual Information Sessions - Many colleges have these listed on the same webpage where you sign up for official on-campus visits. Often, the timing is more convenient for students. These can sometimes include a virtual tour component or may be offered by academic area.
Open Houses or Preview Days - Keep an eye out for these dates in the spring and fall. They are day-long events, usually occurring on the weekend. They’re a great way to dive deeper into a school you’re interested in and get a glimpse of life on that campus!
Self-Guided Tours - Sometimes, a self-guided tour is the best you can do. But it’s not demonstrating interest unless the college knows you’re there. See if there’s a way to register your attendance on the admissions webpage. If not, reach out to your admissions counselor before you come to campus. They might be able to meet with you, arrange for you to speak with a professor in your academic area, or give you some recommendations on what to see based on your interest.
College Fairs & High School Visits
While students can go to a college and meet with admissions counselors there, admissions counselors also travel! College representatives take the show on the road for college fairs (where students can get to know lots of colleges in one event—like college speed dating) or high school visits (where an admissions counselor visits a high school during the school day to meet students and provide information about their college).
Both are great opportunities for students to learn more about a college, have their specific questions answered, and maybe even introduce themselves to the person who could be reading their application. I recommend students attend these events and introduce themselves to the college representatives present. And afterward, follow up with a thank you email. Not only is it polite to thank someone for their time, but that also gives that student a contact moving forward for any questions they may have about the college or the application process. It’s easier to ask your questions if you know where to turn!
Communicate With Your Admissions Counselor
Even if you haven’t met your admissions counselor face-to-face during a high school visit or a college fair, there are other ways to communicate with them. Admissions offices often make it easy to search their website and find the person assigned to a particular state, region, or high school. If not, students can contact the general admissions email, and their questions will be forwarded to the correct person.
Admissions counselors are there to support students and to recruit students to their college. They have so much great information for students trying to decide if a particular school is right for them, and if they don’t have an answer to your question, they can almost certainly point you to someone who can. So don’t hesitate to reach out with thoughtful, meaningful questions about the college or if you need help along the way.
After applying, students can also reach out with any new updates or changes (like new grades, awards, or leadership positions) as long as they follow the college’s procedures.
Don’t forget that, even though they read and evaluate college applications, admissions counselors are people too… and they really like students!
Write Thoughtful Essays
Many supplemental essay prompts give students a chance to show demonstrated interest. Any time a question refers back to the college, this is an opportunity. Look for questions like:
Why do you want to attend this college?
Why are you interested in this major specifically at this college?
How do you see yourself contributing to our college community?
How will you contribute to building a diverse community at our college?
How will you go beyond your comfort zone at our college?
If a college asks a question like this, or something similar, a little alarm bell should go off in a student’s mind to let them know research is needed. This supplemental essay is another chance for the admissions reader to learn about the student—but part of what the student should want to express is that they’ve done their homework. That they know this college well and can show why it’s such a strong mutual fit. These types of essays should be thoughtful, specific, and definitely not rushed.
Is It Optional? Do It Anyway!
There are some parts of the application process that are optional. Some of these things have nothing to do with demonstrated interest and are truly optional. For example, if a college is test optional, demonstrated interest shouldn’t be a consideration when deciding whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores.
On the other hand, there are some optional application steps to go the extra mile and show your strong interest. These include:
Early Deadlines: Only apply Early Decision if that deadline is right for you and your family, but consider applying Early Action. If a college has a Rolling deadline, apply sooner rather than later to indicate your strong interest!
Optional Essays: Sometimes, supplemental essays are not required. You should probably write it as long as the prompt isn’t directed at something you haven’t experienced (for example, there may be some optional prompts about disciplinary or criminal history, missing school, or academic obstacles). You should definitely write it if it’s a demonstrated interest prompt like I mentioned above!
Interviews: Some colleges offer optional interviews, usually with alumni. They usually can’t offer interviews to everyone who applies, and it’s not a bad sign if you aren’t able to interview. Check on the college’s admissions website to learn about their interview process—some colleges will reach out after applications are submitted, others have a specific interview deadline, while others let students sign up as early as the summer before senior year. Interviews usually don’t make a big difference in the admissions process, but we still recommend them! If you can interview, I encourage you to spend 30 minutes on Zoom chatting with a graduate about your interest in a college and their experience as a student. You’ll learn a lot, and colleges will see that you’ve taken this extra step.
Stay Connected
Current high school students are digital natives. Capitalize on that! Follow colleges on social media. Individual colleges have tons of different social media accounts these days. Everything from admissions and athletics to academic departments and student clubs will have their own accounts. Find what interests you and follow them!
Do the admissions offices cross-reference their list of followers with the applications they get? Well, probably not. But by following the accounts that interest you, you’ll get a glimpse behind the curtain at campus life. You’ll learn things you wouldn’t just by looking at the campus website or in an afternoon visit. You’ll learn if this is the college for you, and just think of the interesting details you’ll be able to include in your supplemental essays and interviews!
The one (kind of weird) thing admissions offices do sometimes see is who is opening their emails, as well the interactions with those emails (Are the emails staying open long enough for someone to read them? Is the recipient clicking on clinks?). Now, students should be opening all emails from the colleges on their list anyway because they don’t want to miss important information or updates. Will opening your email move the needle? Probably not in most cases, but this is something that the college might track.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Like relationship building, demonstrated interest isn’t a box you check. It’s not a one-time occurrence. Consistency is key. Students can begin their initial engagement (like college visits or staying digitally connected) before their senior year and should keep engaging even after submitting applications. If admissions offices see a lot of engagement in early fall of senior year, but then it drops off later on (especially after other admissions decisions come in), they may think that the student has given their heart to another college.
Demonstrated interest is a real part of holistic admissions at many colleges. Please don’t ignore it and miss out on opportunities, but at the same time, don’t overemphasize its importance. Don’t make demonstrating interest a part-time job. If a student is taking the time to thoroughly get to know a college with an emphasis on good college fit, meaningful demonstrated interest usually follows.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Here are two short videos all about demonstrated interest!