Demonstrated Interest: Less of a Hoop to Jump Through, More of a Process to Ensure Mutual Fit
Demonstrated interest is crucial in the college admissions process, extending beyond attending information sessions or visiting campuses. While these activities are important, more impactful ways to show interest include Early Decision applications and carefully crafted supplemental essays. Here’s how to effectively demonstrate your commitment.
Understanding Demonstrated Interest
Demonstrated interest refers to the actions you take to show a college that you are genuinely interested in attending. Colleges track these actions to gauge how likely you are to enroll if admitted. This is particularly important because colleges aim to meet their enrollment goals (yield) and retain students through to graduation (retention).
Why Early Decision Matters
Early Decision (ED) is a powerful way to demonstrate your commitment to a college. By applying ED, you are making a binding commitment to attend if accepted. This signals to the college that they are your top choice, which can significantly enhance your chances of admission. However, this option should only be used if you are certain about your choice, as it restricts you from comparing financial aid offers from other schools.
Addressing Cost Concerns: ED can be intimidating for families worried about the cost of attendance. To better assess affordability, families can use the college's net price calculator. This tool provides an estimate of what they can expect to pay, helping to make a more informed decision.
The Power of a Thoughtful Supplemental Essay
A well-crafted supplemental essay shows admissions officers that you have done your homework, understand the institution's values, and have a genuine interest in becoming part of their community. Here’s how to make your supplemental essay stand out:
Research Deeply: Look into specific programs, professors, campus culture, and recent news about the school.
Be Specific: Mention particular aspects of the college that resonate with you and explain why.
Show Alignment: Illustrate how your goals, values, and experiences align with what the college offers.
Beyond the Essay: Engaging Meaningfully
Application Updates: Inform the admissions office of any significant achievements or changes after submitting your application. Some colleges prefer updates through emails to your admission representative, while others have a designated applicant portal. Be mindful of their process to signify your attention to detail rather than emailing it when they’ve clearly asked you to upload to the portal.
Thoughtful Communication: When emailing admissions representatives, ensure your messages are purposeful and professional. Share updates, express continued interest, and ask informed questions.
Managing Communication: Many schools use the Slate platform to manage applications, which also tracks whether students open emails and communications. Ignoring emails may not result in an outright rejection, but consistently choosing not to open them sends a subtle message to colleges that observe this behavior. Over 450 colleges and universities use Slate!
Recognize the Intended Purpose of Demonstrated Interest
Demonstrated interest isn't a task to complete, it is an expectation that students engage meaningfully with the school, get to know it, learn to love it, and showcase that love through their words and actions. Colleges are acutely aware that students' college lists are getting longer and longer, which means its harder to predict whether or not you’ll attend if they offer admission. Colleges don't like to be left wondering or waiting, so think of demonstrated interest as your chance to let them know you'll join them and know enough about the institution to persist and thrive.
