Demonstrated Interest What is it? What difference could it make? How should you show it?

How many colleges are you applying to? The average college-bound student applies to six colleges – but enrolls for the first year in only one of those six.

Colleges can’t admit everyone, and of those they do admit, not everyone will come Applicants  Admits  Enrollees

What colleges say… Baylor University: "we seek those who can gain the most from a Baylor experience,...students with a demonstrated interest in becoming a 'Baylor Bear'.“ Trinity University: "Visiting campus, emailing or calling an admissions counselor, attending a Trinity In Focus program, talking with a representative when they visit your high school, and stopping by our table at a college fair are some of the ways to show the Admissions Committee that you are genuinely interested in attending Trinity, and help us get to know you better."

What colleges say… Carnegie Mellon: "Admission Interviews are a great supplement to an information session and tour of campus, and allow a prospective student to get a personalized introduction to campus and the unique world-class education offered at Carnegie Mellon. An admission decision will not be based off of this interview; it is looked upon as demonstrated interest in the application process.“ Rhodes College: "Your overall campus visit indicates demonstrated interest and will play a considerable role in the admissions decision- making process."

To demonstrate Interest: Visit Campus Connect with Colleges at College Fairs Attend the individual visits at school Send a Thank You Note (after a campus visit, college fair, or individual visit)

To demonstrate Interest: Complete an Interview Write Effective Supplemental Essays (the “Why This College” essay) Contact Your Admissions Representative (purposefully and carefully) Apply Early (early decision – cautiously – or early action)

But do not do the Following… Send materials the college didn’t request Call or email to ask questions whose answers are readily available (especially on the website) Bug (over-contact) your admissions representative Have a parent call for you

Demonstrated Interest – It makes Sense! If you’re demonstrating genuine interest, it’s a win-win for you and the college. You are doing the leg work to find out more and show you’re invested, and in doing so, you’re more likely to discover whether in fact the school is a good fit. The colleges want applicants who will be good fits, so both sides benefit from demonstrated interest.