What Is Demonstrated Interest in College Admissions?
College admissions have become increasingly competitive, and with the rise of Common Application, students tend to add schools to their list without giving it much thought. This has made Colleges hesitant towards students over whether they want to attend their school or not.
Therefore, demonstrated interest (DI) provides colleges with the necessary insights into students’ eagerness. Demonstrated interest is how colleges assess whether the student is truly interested in their institution.
Why is Demonstrated Interest Important?
Demonstrated interest has become an essential factor in the college admission process. Moreover, some students may be academically excellent but fail to get admission because of a lack of demonstrated interest.
The National Association for College Admission Counseling reported that almost 14% of colleges in 2017 stated that DI was important for freshman admission, while almost 26% said it had moderate importance.
Since college admission is highly competitive, colleges would use DI to differentiate between two similar candidates. If two students had similar SAT scores and GPAs, and only one showed relevant interest in the college in their demonstrated interest file, the college would pick them over the other.
This is because colleges prefer a quality over quantity approach. Since students can easily apply for colleges without much thought into the program and institution they are applying for, colleges want to find candidates that understand the institution’s goals and aims.
How to Demonstrate Interest in College Admissions
Demonstrated interest can be tricky, mainly because it is not a well-known part of college applications. However, there are several ways to show interest in colleges.
Apply for Early Admissions
While colleges offer rolling admission, applying early can show relevant interest in the college you want to apply for. This shows the admission board you have researched and are sure about where and why you want to apply.
Visit the College
Visiting the college is an essential part of demonstrated interest. This shows the admission board that you want to look around the campus to understand where you will spend the next four years.
However, sometimes the college is too far to visit. In such cases, you can attend virtual seminars or informational sessions to demonstrate interest.
Contact the College
It is a bad idea to email the college for every detail, especially for information available on the website, as it gives a poor impression. However, you should reach out to the college to ask intelligent questions regarding the institution, college, or program to show that you are interested in the college.
Personal Essay or Statement of Interest
A small part of your essay is devoted to the institution and why you would be interested in studying at the college. While some colleges ask for a statement of interest that circumvents this procedure, you should still mention the institution and the program in your statement.
Get Help with Your College Admission
Demonstrated interest is one part of the college admission process. Most students often worry about their finances more than how to demonstrate interest. However, you can get professional help with college funding.
College Funding of Tampa Bay can help you plan for your college education and fund your studies to ensure you experience promising college life. Call 813-755-6834 to get a free consultation and move several steps closer to your dream college.
