Many students dream of being admitted to a prestigious college or university, but how can a student set their application apart from thousands of applicants with similar grades, test scores, and extracurriculars? One fundamental aspect of the admissions process is the student’s demonstrated interest in the institution.
Keep reading to learn Zenith Prep Academy’s tips on how students can effectively show interest in a university. By following these recommendations, students can enhance their applications and increase their chances of admission to their dream schools.
What Is Demonstrated Interest?
Demonstrated interest refers to student actions that show genuine interest in attending a college or university. This is important for colleges because, at the end of the day, they are trying to protect their yield–an internal metric they use to measure the number of acceptances they send out and the number of students that actually accept those offers and matriculate. If a student is well-qualified for a particular college in terms of academics and extracurriculars, but that student never bothered to tour, attend an information session, open up an email, or ask a question, then the college has good reason to think that sending the student an acceptance letter would be a waste.
Colleges and universities monitor student interest by tracking campus visits, attendance at virtual and in-person functions, and interactions on social media and email. Students can also show interest by deciding to apply early to the university of their choice. All this information may impact admissions decisions.
Which Colleges Track Demonstrated Interest?
In 2023, as many as 15.7% of colleges and universities rated demonstrated interest as ‘highly important’ in admission decisions. Students can visit the admission website to determine whether an institution monitors demonstrated interest. Additionally, resources like the Common Data Set provide detailed information on what factors institutions consider in their admissions decisions.
Do Ivy Leagues Track Demonstrated Interest?
Ivy Leagues and many other prestigious colleges and universities do not explicitly track demonstrated interest. They, for the most part, assume that if you are accepted you will come and their yield rates tend to be very high. This means that sending Harvard a bunch of emails to show how committed you are to attending isn’t going to move the needle (and might just be annoying). However, these institutions often recommend that prospective students explore the colleges and universities they are interested in to determine whether the school would be a good fit. Leveraging demonstrated interest strategies are still important at the Ivy League so that students can get enough information to be thoughtful and specific in essays and interviews for that college. After all, when Harvard asks you why you want to come, just saying “because it’s prestigious” is too vague to help your application stand out.
How to Show Demonstrated Interest
Students seeking to show genuine interest in a school can actively engage with the institution through various methods:
1. Campus Visits
Official campus visits help students learn more about an institution and experience the campus environment. During the visit, students should take guided tours, attend information sessions, and engage with current students and faculty. Asking targeted questions also shows curiosity and enthusiasm about the university. Students should document the visit with notes and photos, which can be referenced in an application essay or interviews.
Note that just going to a campus and walking around on your own–without an official tour or some other event that you register for–does not count towards demonstrated interest. If you are going to visit a campus, plan ahead and register for an official admissions event.
2. College Fairs
Engaging with representatives at college fairs is a valuable opportunity to make a positive impression. Students should introduce themselves and ask thoughtful questions about programs, campus life, and admissions criteria.
Eye contact and active listening are keys to a good impression in these meetings, and students should avoid distractions, such as checking their watches or phones. After the conversation, students can collect the admissions representative’s contact information and follow up with a thank-you email referencing specific details from the discussion.
3. Virtual Tours
Virtual tours offer an excellent way to explore colleges where visiting in person would be difficult. Almost all institutions offer some kind of virtual tour or information session, which can include interactive maps and videos of the campus. Students who watch live streams or sign up for live information sessions can ask questions to gain greater insight into the institution. These virtual tours can be found on a college or university’s admissions website. Even though these events are virtual, they will be part of official demonstrated interest as long as they collect a student’s email address and information.
4. High School Visits
College representatives will sometimes come to high schools to visit. If you are thinking about applying to a college and the representative comes to your high school, you should make attending that visit a high priority. Of course, depending on when those visits are scheduled, you might have a chemistry test or other binding obligation. If you can’t make the visit, be sure to get the rep’s email contact information from your counselor (or whoever coordinates those visits at your high school) and reach out to the rep to let them know that you would love to come but have another binding commitment. If college reps don’t happen to visit your high school, that is okay! Just make sure that you use the other demonstrated interest strategies listed above.
5. Summer Programs
Exploring summer opportunities at a college or university, such as pre-college programs or boot camps, allows students to experience that college’s campus life and academic offerings. These pre-college programs often do not, in and of themselves, increase one’s chances of getting into a given college. However, students who have been on campus and interacted with faculty through these programs usually can write a more compelling and specific “Why school” essay for a particular college.
Keep in mind that there are lots of different ways to demonstrate interest. Zenith counselors help students find the best way to make use of limited time and resources.
Connecting with Admissions Representatives
Networking skills are crucial in making meaningful connections with admissions officers. It’s also important to know that many college admissions officers actively like it when people reach out to them. Students shouldn’t think that they are imposing as long as they are reaching out in a thoughtful and respectful manner.
Speaking with an admissions representative is a great way to build rapport with the admissions team and demonstrate interest in a college or university. Many admissions offices allow students to schedule a Zoom call with an admissions representative, and prospective students can also email admissions offices.
Writing well-crafted emails and asking the right questions is crucial for making a positive impression on college admission officers. Communication should be clear, concise, and personalized, reflecting a student’s interest in the college. Students should be prepared to say what they think they might study, talk about at least one extracurricular activity, and have at least three specific questions to ask the admissions officer. Students should also highlight particular aspects of the institution that appeal to them and explain why they are suitable candidates.
After any in-person interactions, students should follow up with a thank-you email to reinforce their interest. To show attentiveness and sincerity in the email, mention specific details from the conversation.
Prepare for Life After High School With Zenith Prep Academy
Demonstrated interest strategies can help students find schools that meet their needs. Students should start preparing early to bolster their chances of acceptance into a dream institution, and Zenith Prep Academy can help.
Zenith Prep Academy aims to help students reach their dreams and is recognized as the top college counseling company in the United States. For over a decade, Zenith has assisted students seeking acceptance into Ivy Leagues and the top 25 schools. To get ahead of the competition, start preparing today! Schedule a free consultation or call to discover why thousands of students and parents choose Zenith.
