5 Ways to Use Demonstrated Interest To Make You Stand Out To Colleges

One of the latest buzz words or hot phrases on the college admissions scene is demonstrated interest. Understanding what this is, and what it is not, can be a make or break in whether you receive an acceptance from your dream school.

So what is demonstrated interest? In the simplest terms, demonstrated interest is a way colleges measure, or track, how interested you are in their particular school and in turn how likely you would be to attend their school if they offered you an acceptance offer. For some schools, this an important factor is their holistic admissions review and in the end who they make offers to.

In today’s post Covid admissions world, many higher education institutions are using demonstrated interest to “protect their yield” and in turn keep their acceptance rate percentage low. This makes a school seem more desirable and prestigious to the general public. Yield also plays into a school's ranking. As the landscape has shifted to a more test-optional world, the numbers of applications to top 50 schools have exploded. As application numbers rise to new heights, schools are wary of the fact that the typical student is now applying to a lot more schools today than they were 5 or 10 years ago. As students cast wider nets when crafting their college list, universities in turn strive to ensure they are extending offers to those who are most likely to say yes in return. This is what is called a school’s “yield.” To bolster these statistics, some universities are tracking students’ engagement and interest in a variety of ways. For example, two equally qualified applicants apply to school. Student A applies to Tulane University through the common app, but has not shown any other engagement with the school, and student B also applies to Tulane, but has also joined their mailing list, has emailed the admission department with specific questions and has also made an on campus visit to the school. If all else is fairly equal, student B has the advantage. The thought process is that students who engage more and invest more of their time and energy in a given school will be more likely to accept an admission offer.

The key word to consider in the above text is SOME schools. Not every school considers demonstrated interest in their process. For example UCLA does not track demonstrated interest at all, while American University lists it as one of only three “very important” factors in their decision rubric. After understanding what demonstrated interest is, a student’s next step should be to know which schools on their list make this a priority. The best way to do this is by working with a professional counselor or by researching colleges common data sets on your own. A common data set is a public report published each year by every higher education institution in the United States. These reports are a wealth of information on what a particular university is looking for in candidates and what factors they consider to be important to building their school community.

What are the best ways to leverage demonstrated interest to tip the scales in your favor?

Follow these 5 steps to make sure your top choice schools know you are a serious contender.

1. Communicate with your college email address - One of the first things I recommend my clients do is to set up a separate email address that will only be used for college purposes. Make it something professional and related to your name like jackcollege1234@gmail. This is the only email address you will use when you apply to colleges. It is the one you will use to sign up for school’s portals after you apply. Everything you do for college should go through this email. Once it is set up, use it to join the school’s mailing list on their website. Also check the box that signs you up to receive snail mail as well. You can also use this address to reach out to the admission’s office and/or your local admissions rep. Do not spam them with weekly emails, instead think of one relevant question to ask in your junior year and one more after you apply senior year. These can be related to a certain major, study abroad opportunities or even about coming to visit for a tour.
   

2. Do a campus tour - the first choice being an in person campus visit if you are able. Follow these steps on the best ways to get the most out of a college tour here. Make sure to register for the tour ahead of time on the school website and sign up with your college email address. Link to the blog post of college touring where underlined.
   

3. Sign up for and complete an online information session - Most schools offer online webinars or information sessions. Some are even specific to certain majors or areas of interest. These can be very informative and offer you different information than you would get on a tour. When you register make sure to use the same college email address you created.
   

4. Fill out a card at a college fair - When a college you are interested in comes to a local fair, make an effort to attend. Have a conversation with the admissions rep and be sure to ask good questions. There are always cards to fill out or a way to register with the school. Even if you have already signed up for their mailing list online, fill out the card if you have the opportunity.
   

5. Apply ED (Early Decision) - This is a strategy that will often increase your acceptance chances at some highly sought after schools. Early Decision is the ultimate form of demonstrated interest. However, it is very important to understand what applying ED entails and the commitment you are making. Not to be mistaken with Early Action, Early Decision applications are binding and you only get to pick one. You are signing a contract that if this school accepts you, then you will absolutely say yes, regardless of the financial package (you can ask for a financial aid pre-read but it will not be set in stone). You are also agreeing that if this school offers you an acceptance that you will immediately rescind any other applications you sent out. Although this strategy can offer significantly higher acceptance rates at some top schools, I only recommend it if you are 100% sure that this is your dream school and you can afford to attend. I highly recommend having done an in-person tour if at all possible before choosing to apply ED.
   

6. Apply EA (Early Action) - This admissions option shows the school you are serious about your interest in that you have committed to completing all of the application requirements by their EA deadline (usually early November). It is a non-binding option and unless it is Restricted Early Action, you can apply EA to as many schools as offer it.
   

7. Follow a school’s social media accounts - This is a super easy way to not only show your interest but to also find out more about a school’s culture and vibe. Follow more specific accounts like their admissions page, any sports or clubs you might be interested in as well. Don’t be afraid to like/comment on their content or even ask questions. Caveat: You may want to create a college social media profile that is connected to your new college email. Keep it professional and only post about things that you think a school may be interested in. That being said, students need to know that all of their social media is fair game for admissions officers to see. Keep your personal accounts private or make sure that there is nothing on there that a school would consider questionable, or that does not align with the type of student they are looking for. To be clear, I am not saying that every school or every AO will be internet stalking each applicant. However, depending on the school and where they are in the process, students should absolutely be aware that the persona they create on social media can, and will be viewed by future gatekeepers of their future goals.

Want to know more about how to leverage demonstrated interest to your advantage? Reach out to College Concierge for a free consultation.