How to Demonstrate Interest in a College or University

College admission officers have a tough job: They have a limited number of slots and a ton of applications from hopeful students.

That means they only want to offer spots to the students they think are most likely to enroll, but they have no sure-fire way of telling whether their school is a student’s first choice, second choice or much further down the list.

Why Does It Matter So Much?

Admission officers have specific goals, known as enrollment targets, that they want to meet. To meet those enrollment goals, they need a high yield rate – which is the percentage of students who actually enroll once they’re offered admission.

A high yield rate is a statistical indicator of a school’s academic reputation and overall prestige, and it influences how a school ends up ranked on lists like the one produced by the U.S. News and World Report.

That’s where demonstrated interest can come into play. All other things being equal, effectively demonstrating your genuine desire to attend a specific school can give you an edge over other, equally qualified applicants.

What Is Demonstrated Interest?

Your demonstrated interest is whatever a school uses to make a calculated guess about your true level of interest in attending. In other words, it’s all the little things that can help them determine if they’re number one on your list – or just a backup plan in case your dream school doesn’t come through.

So how do you show a school that you really, really care and want to be there? Here are some practical steps you can take (and some may surprise you):

1. Attend admission fairs: College admission reps make the rounds of high schools every spring and fall. Take the time to attend and don’t be shy about introducing yourself.
2. Complete inquiry cards: Those little cards that admission reps pass out at college fairs are a great way to demonstrate interest. Everything you put on that card will get entered into the school’s system, and they help strengthen the connection between you and the school.
3. Fill out an online information request: Grab your computer and head straight to your preferred school’s website. Join their mailing list, subscribe to the college newsletter and request any free information the admission office is willing to send.
4. Open your emails: Schools email prospective students a lot. It probably doesn’t surprise you to hear that they do it in order to generate interest or “buzz” about their programs and start building connections. It may surprise you, however, to learn that schools track how many of those emails you open.
5. Click those links: Here’s another thing that schools track: The links you click, the pages you visit on their website and how long you stay there. They use the data to see how deeply you’ve looked into the school’s programs, campus life and other details.
6. Make campus visits: Whether you can go in person or you can only manage an e-visit, a campus visit helps you put a face to your name in the admission counselor’s mind – and that personal connection can make you a stand-out star applicant.

Planning your future alone can feel overwhelming, but navigating the complexities of the college admissions process can be much easier when you work with a boutique college counseling firm that can help you take a tailored approach to your goals.