Demonstrated interest is a metric used by universities to measure the likelihood that a student will accept a place if offered. Universities do this to protect their yield. You can read more about yield protection here on our blog. As acceptance rates get more competitive, prospective students need to show their dedication, enthusiasm, and curiosity about the school in their application. In this blog, we have outlined the best actions students can take to boost their demonstrated interest.
Visit in Person
Go and see it for yourself! College tours can be a great way to understand the feel of a campus. Registering for college tours shows the university that you are committed to understanding the community to which you are applying. Vela Education has created a timeline for college admissions. This includes the best times to visit campuses and register for official college tours. You can also sign up for our webinar about application strategy on the 31st of August.
Virtual Tours and Webinars
Visiting in person is not always feasible and can be expensive. During the COVID-19 pandemic, universities worked to expand their reach to students online. This means there are more ways than ever that students can show their enthusiasm for a specific college. Most colleges offer virtual tours and webinars across arrange of subjects. For example, Northeastern University has an array of virtual events throughout the year.
For these events, make sure that you register officially! Colleges track who has attended their virtual events and if you apply, this information is sent to your file.
Connect
Register your interests with schools and keep up to date with all their news and events. This is another way colleges can track prospective student interest. You can read more about it in this Washington Post article. When you receive emails from each university, make sure you open the emails and click on any relevant links. All this activity adds to your demonstrated interest.
Email Your Admissions Officer
Most colleges will assign admissions officers to specific geographical locations. These officers may potentially be assessing your application. There are often opportunities to meet them at school events close to you or at college fairs, such as the Fulbright USA College Day. Meeting in person or reaching out with an intelligent question via email are great ways of making a connection with your admissions officer.
Alumni Interviews
Once you’ve applied, some universities offer interviews with alumni. These happen in person or online and provide you with a chance to showcase your passion and curiosity for that specific school. Other universities, such Brown University, offer the opportunity to send in a two minute video introduction. Capitalising on these opportunities continues to demonstrate a student’s dedication to their application. When appropriate, remember to send thank you emails to everyone you have talked to!
The National Association for College Admissions Counselling stated in their 2017 report that 13.7 percent of colleges surveyed rated demonstrated interest as considerably important in admissions decisions; another 25.5 percent rated it as moderately important. This can be one of the murkier areas of colleges admissions and Vela Education is here to help! You can schedule a strategic consultation with us.