Demonstrated Interest

Last Friday I attended a meeting where high school counselors meet with Ohio college admissions counselors to get updates on all of the latest news and information that we might want/ need to know to help students as you are applying to college.

One of the sessions that I attended was talking about what is happening behind the closed doors of the admissions offices.  It was fascinating to hear some of the admissions reps share about how detailed they are in tracking the interactions they have with students who are interested in their colleges.  One rep, for example, said that she has a file on every potential student in her territory where she documents each phone call, text, email, in person interaction (like a rep visit at WKHS or a college fair conversation), campus visit, etc.  

This tracking of interactions by the colleges is known as your demonstrated interest.  Their point in talking about this was sharing that they are looking for students who are genuinely interested in their schools and are striving to make sure that it is a good fit vs those who are just applying because it is another school on Common App.  Don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean that you should call a school multiple times a week - that would definitely get on their nerves, but they want students who are truly interested. You can show that by meeting with their admissions representatives when they come to WKHS (visits are happening daily now) or by attending their community gathers sponsored in the Columbus area, stopping by their tables at college fairs, participating in "optional" interviews and essays, and visiting their campus.

Just because you have clearly demonstrated your interest in a college will NOT be what gets you accepted to their school, but since colleges are always trying to predict who it is that will ultimately attend their university out of those they accept, it works to your advantage to be sure that the college will be a good fit - not only because it demonstrates your interest, but also - and more importantly - because it will enable you to be confident that this is a school which fits your needs and goals in what you were hoping for in a college campus community and in your collegiate home.