Learn

Ways to Show a College Demonstrated Interest

demonstrated interest college

Ways to Show a College Demonstrated Interest

Published March 19, 2021 | Last Updated August 27th, 2024 at 11:56 am

demonstrated interest college

To some colleges and universities, applicants’ demonstrated interest is not considered.

To others, however, networking with college admissions representatives can help your child stand out and provide a leg up in the college admissions process.

You and your child may be wondering how to show demonstrated interest during the college application process.

Here are some of the ways to demonstrate interest during your child’s high school years. 

What Is Demonstrated Interest?

According to CollegeVine, demonstrated interest is the quality shown during the admissions process in which students demonstrate that they are curious and enthusiastic about the prospective school.

This is a tool for admissions representatives to attempt to estimate yield, or which students they accept will actually enroll.

A high yield makes universities look more desirable, so it is important for admissions representatives to do what they can to ensure a high enrollment rate from applicants they accept. 

Do Colleges Look at Demonstrated Interest?

The National Association of College Admission Counseling’s 2019 survey indicated that 16.1 percent of colleges consider demonstrated interest important, 23.9 percent of colleges consider it moderately important, 28 percent indicated that importance was limited, and 32.1 percent said it was not important. 

Demonstrated interest is different at each institution.

Many schools are upfront about whether they consider demonstrated interest on their websites, but you can also look to other resources like a college’s common data set to better understand whether demonstrating interest should be a main objective at the schools your child is interested in applying to or attending. 

How Do You Show a College Demonstrated Interest?

There are multiple ways that your child can demonstrate interest in a college.

According to Kristen Moon at Forbes, some of these ways include:

  • Applying early
  • Visiting the school
  • Attending college fairs or other local information sessions
  • Attending webinars
  • Emailing the college admissions officer
  • Taking advantage of supplemental essays (especially those with “Why us?” prompts)
  • Signing up for and participating in interviews
  • Interacting with the school on social media
  • Spending time on the school’s website
  • Opening emails from the college

Which Colleges Track Demonstrated Interest?

Below is a list of some colleges that consider demonstrated interest to be very important during the application process, according to data by College Transitions. 

  • Quinnipiac University
  • SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry
  • Syracuse University
  • Thomas Aquinas College
  • United States Air Force Academy
  • United States Naval Academy
  • Wabash College
  • Westmont College

These colleges consider demonstrated interest to be important during the application process, according to data by College Transitions. 

  • Allegheny College
  • Auburn University
  • Augustana College (IL)
  • Austin College
  • Bates College
  • Bentley University
  • Boston University
  • Brandeis University
  • Butler University
  • Champlain College
  • Christopher Newport University
  • College of the Ozarks
  • Denison University
  • DePaul University
  • Eckerd College
  • Evergreen State College
  • Fairfield University
  • Florida Institute of Technology
  • Florida Southern College
  • High Point University
  • Kenyon College
  • Lehigh University
  • Loyola University Chicago
  • Marlboro College
  • Michigan State University
  • New College of Florida
  • Oglethorpe University
  • Reed College Important
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Roanoke College
  • Samford University
  • Seattle University
  • Seton Hall University
  • Skidmore College
  • St. John’s College, Annapolis
  • St. John’s College, Santa Fe
  • Susquehanna University
  • The College of Wooster
  • Trinity College
  • United States Merchant Marine Academy
  • United States Military Academy
  • University of Arizona
  • University of Dayton
  • University of Evansville
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • University of North Carolina at Asheville
  • University of Tulsa Important
  • Washington University
  • Wheaton College (MA)

Below is a list of some colleges that take demonstrated interest into consideration during the application process, according to data by College Transitions. 

  • Agnes Scott College
  • Alfred University
  • Alma College
  • Appalachian State University
  • Babson College
  • Bard College
  • Barnard College
  • Baylor University
  • Beloit College
  • Berea College
  • Bradley University
  • Brigham Young University
  • Bryant University
  • Calvin College
  • Canisius College
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • Catholic University
  • Clark University
  • Coe College
  • Colby College
  • College of Charleston
  • College of the Atlantic
  • College of the Holy Cross
  • College of William and Mary
  • Colorado College
  • Colorado School of Mines
  • Connecticut College
  • Cornell College
  • Creighton University
  • Davidson College
  • DePauw University
  • Drew University
  • Drexel University
  • Duke University
  • Duquesne University
  • East Carolina University
  • Elizabethtown College
  • Elon University
  • Florida Atlantic University
  • Florida Gulf Coast University
  • Florida International University
  • Fordham University
  • Franklin and Marshall College
  • Furman University
  • George Mason University
  • George Washington University
  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Gettysburg College
  • Gonzaga University
  • Goucher College
  • Grinnell College
  • Gustavus Adolphus College
  • Hamilton College
  • Haverford College
  • Hobart and William Smith Colleges
  • Hofstra University
  • Hollins University
  • Hood College
  • Howard University
  • Illinois Institute of Technology
  • Illinois Wesleyan University
  • Juniata College
  • Kalamazoo College
  • Knox College
  • Lafayette College
  • Lake Forest College
  • Lawrence University
  • Lewis and Clark College
  • Louisiana State University
  • Loyola University Maryland
  • Marietta College
  • Marist College
  • Marquette University
  • McDaniel College
  • Messiah College
  • Middlebury College
  • Mount Holyoke College
  • Muhlenberg College
  • New Jersey Institute of Technology
  • New York University
  • Northeastern University
  • Northwestern University
  • Oberlin College
  • Occidental College
  • Oregon State University
  • Pitzer College
  • Providence College
  • Purdue University
  • Ramapo College of New Jersey
  • Rhodes College
  • Rice University
  • Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Rollins College
  • Saint Joseph’s University
  • Saint Louis University
  • Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame
  • Saint Michael’s College
  • Santa Clara University
  • Sarah Lawrence College
  • Sewanee: University of the South
  • Siena College
  • Simmons College
  • Southern Methodist University
  • Southwestern University
  • Spelman College
  • St. Edwards University
  • St. Lawrence University
  • St. Mary’s College of Maryland
  • St. Olaf College
  • Stevens Institute of Technology
  • Stonehill College
  • SUNY, Binghamton University
  • SUNY, Stony Brook University
  • SUNY, Geneseo
  • SUNY, Maritime College
  • SUNY, New Pultz
  • SUNY, Oneonta
  • SUNY, Oswego
  • SUNY, University of Albany
  • Swarthmore College
  • Texas A&M University
  • Texas Christian University
  • Texas Tech University
  • The College of New Jersey
  • Trinity University
  • Truman State University
  • Tufts University
  • Tulane University
  • Union College
  • United States Coast Guard Academy 
  • University of Central Florida
  • University of Chicago
  • University of Colorado Boulder
  • University of Connecticut, Storrs
  • University of Dallas
  • University of Delaware
  • University of Denver
  • University of Florida
  • University of Mary Washington
  • University of Miami
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Missouri, Columbia
  • University of North Carolina at Charlotte
  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington
  • University of North Texas
  • University of Notre Dame
  • University of Oklahoma
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • University of Portland
  • University of Puget Sound
  • University of Rhode Island
  • University of Richmond
  • University of Rochester
  • University of San Diego
  • University of Scranton
  • University of Tennessee
  • University of Texas at Austin
  • University of Texas at Dallas
  • University of Vermont
  • University of Wisconsin
  • Ursinus College
  • Villanova University
  • Virginia Tech
  • Wake Forest University
  • Warren Wilson College
  • Washington and Jefferson College
  • Washington and Lee University
  • Wellesley College
  • Wentworth Institute of Technology
  • Wheaton College (IL)
  • Whitman College
  • Whittier College
  • Wittenberg University
  • Wofford College
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute 
  • Xavier University
  • Yeshiva University

Like networking with professionals and potential colleagues in a desired career, reaching out and showing demonstrated interest can be beneficial in gaining college admission.

Admissions representatives like to hear from students who are just as passionate about their school as they are.

A genuine and professional message may not be included directly in every application, but it can help admissions representatives envision your child enrolling at their school and being an enthusiastic student on their campus.

_______

Use R2C Insights to help find merit aid and schools that fit the criteria most important to your student. You’ll not only save precious time, but your student will avoid the heartache of applying to schools they aren’t likely to get into or can’t afford to attend.  

👉 Looking for expert help on the road to college? See our Preferred Partner List!

Other Articles You Might Like:

Showing Demonstrated Interest in a College Helps Prevent Being Labeled a “Stealth Applicant”

7 Simple Ways to Show a College Demonstrated Interest

Colleges With High Acceptance Rates

JOIN ONE OF OUR FACEBOOK GROUPS & CONNECT WITH OTHER PARENTS: 

PAYING FOR COLLEGE 101

HOW TO FIND MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS

In this article:

Upcoming Events

Similar Articles for You

Dear Roadie: How Will a Tragic Accident That Caused My Daughter’s Grades to Plummet  Impact Her College Applications?

Advice

Dear Roadie: How Will a Tragic Accident That Caused My Daughter’s Grades to Plummet Impact Her College Applications?

Dear Roadie, While in high school, my daughter was involved in a tragic accident that nearly killed her. Her best...

Best Marine Biology Colleges by Academics, Aid, and Value

Fall

Best Marine Biology Colleges by Academics, Aid, and Value

For students interested in marine biology, choosing the right program is the first step toward an exciting career exploring and...

Guide to the Best Honors Colleges and Programs at Public Universities

Advice

Guide to the Best Honors Colleges and Programs at Public Universities

As top students build their college lists, we recommend considering honors colleges and programs. This guide ranks the top honors...

Become a Member

At Road2College you’ll find everything you need to make the admissions and paying for college process less stressful and more transparent.

TOOLS

Explore R2C Insights™ — your source for finding affordable colleges and merit scholarships.

Coaching

Get coaching on admissions and college financing.

Community

Join Road2College where parents and experts work together to inform and inspire college-bound families.