Lots of people have been discussing demonstrated interest in college admissions but I still find that many of you don’t really know what they are talking about.
What is demonstrated interest?
Demonstrated interest is simply showing a college that you are interested in attending their college.
Why is demonstrated interest important?
Colleges are like people. They are more likely to admit a student who really likes them. Colleges spend thousands of dollars each year trying to figure out which students are likely to attend the college if they are admitted. At most colleges, if they believe you will attend if you are admitted, your chance of being admitted increases. The more you can demonstrate your interest in the college, the greater your chance of actually being admitted.
How do I demonstrate interest in a college?
There are many ways to show that you like a college. Every time you go see the college that is visiting your high school or is at a local college fair, you are showing interest. You can show interest by visiting the college and doing a tour. You show interest when you schedule an interview with the college. You show interest when you email the admissions office with your good questions about the college. You even show interest if you request information from the college before they send you any information. When you apply early decision to a college, you are really demonstrating interest.
Do all colleges use demonstrated interest?
No, but many do. According to a recent survey from the National Association for College Admission Counseling, 20% of colleges say that demonstrated interest is of considerable importance and another 30% say it is of moderate importance. Only 25% say it is of no importance. Smaller colleges and private colleges are much more likely to use demonstrated interest in the admissions process.
If I show interest in a college does that mean I will get admitted?
Demonstrated interest, while important, doesn’t replace good grades and test scores. If you don’t have the grades and test scores that a college normally expects, all the demonstrated interest in the world isn’t going to help. But, if they are considering you and another student for admissions, and you have demonstrated interest while the other student has had no contact with the college other than applying, you are more likely to get the thick envelope.
[…] The vast majority of BS/MD programs do not care if a student visits or not. In other words, demonstrated interest isn’t an issue for most BS/MD programs. There are a few BS/MD programs, like Case Western and […]