A lot of buzzwords surround the college application process, and one that comes up frequently is “demonstrated interest.” Colleges use this term as a way to measure the excitement a given student shows in regard to a particular school, with the idea that a higher level of demonstrated interest means a greater chance a student will ultimately enroll if offered admission. The exact impact the criterion of demonstrated interest has on admissions is difficult to measure, but in a 2023 report, 15.7% of colleges who reported data to the National Association for College Admission Counseling for rated demonstrated interest as having considerable importance in freshman admissions decisions, and another 27.6% labeled it as moderately important.
Although one of the strongest ways to indicate interest in a school is with a campus visit and an interview with an admissions officer, this isn’t always economically or logistically feasible. Don’t fret! There are many other ways to show serious interest in a college, and we’ve compiled some examples below:
Create a track record of consistent contact. If an admissions officer presents at your high school, show up and introduce yourself! The same goes for regional college fairs, webinars, and posting questions to admissions officers on social media. All these contacts can help you learn more about a university and show genuine interest.
Speaking of consistent contact: Open emails from colleges. It may seem creepy that colleges can track who opens emails, but they can! Some admissions offices track email engagement, so if you are curious about a school, it’s worth the time to click and read the college outreach.
Do research and write strong, specific “why” essays and supplements, if applicable. We’ve seen compelling, well-crafted “why us essays make a difference. Take time to research what the school offers students academically, socially, and community-wise, and how that fits in with your interests. Mentioning specific details in their supplement—whether that’s working with a professor who is doing advanced research on gene therapy or joining the school’s Green Team Recycling Club— shows that you’ve done your homework.
Apply Early Action or Early Decision. Applying Early Action or Early Decision can be one way to show demonstrated interest, but in our work with students, we advise them on early applications on an individual basis. For instance, Early Action may be appropriate for a student who wants to have admissions results by mid-December, and has a GPA and test scores that are within a school’s matrix, and also wants to leave their options open. Early Decision is a larger overall admissions decision, since it is binding, meaning that if you are accepted to the college, you are required to attend. We recommend that students apply Early Decision only if the school is a top choice and they are competitive for a school’s admissions standards.
For more information about Green Ivy’s academic advising and college counseling services, click here.