Demonstrated Interest, Yield Rate and Party Invitations

In the ever-volatile landscape of college admissions, we are all looking for an advantage in securing invitations to the hippest parties in town. When cultivating their guest (admitted student) list, colleges want to invite as many of the cool kids as possible, while also making themselves look trendy when most of the invitees actually show up. We do all the things to get invited - get the best grades, prepare for grueling standardized tests, cultivate shiny activities and provide nuanced self-reflection in our essays, yet despite these efforts, we are still plagued with FOMO at the thought of missing out on the hottest invitation in town. Besides bringing the best snacks, what else can students do to earn an invitation? 

Although the aforementioned tactics are most important, there is one small action that can bring a slight boost to your chances of admission - enter demonstrated interest. Simply put, colleges want to extend party invitations to students who have a good chance of showing up. Demonstrating interest in the colleges on your list is decidedly easier than taking 7 AP classes in the junior year, and it won’t have quite that much impact. It may, however, give your application the tiniest of boost at some schools, and it is very easy to do. Read on for pro tips on how!

How Can I Demonstrate Interest in a College?

Demonstrating interest is quite simple, and can take many forms. It is the equivalent of leaning a few degrees toward your date across the dinner table; it’s the body language of your student profile. Here are a few ways to show your love:

• Signing up for newsletters (and opening them)

• Following schools on social media

• Reaching out to an admission officer (with a thoughtful question)

• Filling out an information card at a college fair

• Signing up for a virtual visit online

• Touring a college in-person

• Dropping an information card in the admission office box (if touring when it is not open)

Simpler than prepping for an AP exam, these things can micro- boost your chances of admission at certain colleges - it really is that easy.

How Do I Know If a College Tracks Demonstrated Interest?

This is simple, but it takes a bit of digging. With a bit of research, students can determine this in just a few minutes. First, search up “Name of School+Common Data Set.” This is an enormous spreadsheet of facts about any given college. Scroll down to field C7, which is the “Basis for Selection” section. It will come as no surprise that things like GPA, academic rigor, and test scores are usually in the ‘most important’ column, but if you scroll down to the bottom of the chart, you will find “Demonstrated Interest” as the last row. Note if it is “considered” or “not considered” and you will have your answer. 

This will vary from school to school. For example, Texas A&M is known to track demonstrated interest, but UT Austin reports that it does not. On the slight chance that a school changes its priorities, and noting how simple it is to do, I recommend that my scholars demonstrate interest in all schools on their balanced list just in case. It can only help.

Why Do Colleges Care?

Just like the party host that carefully cultivates an eclectic guest list, colleges want to extend invitations to those students who are likely to actually show up. This, in admissions terminology, is called the Yield Rate. It is the ratio of acceptances to matriculation, and the higher the ratio, the cooler a college will appear. 

Colleges are businesses, and they are in the business of maintaining an aura of exclusivity. Their goal is to receive as many applications as possible so that they can choose the best students based on their institutional priorities. Protecting their Yield, or the number of acceptances vs. the number of students who enroll is a collegiate boost in self-esteem. Therefore, colleges track things like demonstrated interest to help them determine if a student will accept their offer, and may extend them accordingly. 

But Does Demonstrating Interest Really Matter?

Demonstrating interest will never be more important than the other Common Data Set Factors such as grades, academic rigor, extracurricular activities, test scores, etc., but if two applications are the same (and they track it), the student who demonstrates interest may be admitted over another who did not. 

As a parent and college consultant, I frame Demonstrated Interest this way: it is probably something that students should do anyway. Think about it, if families are going to spend four years and a ridiculous amount of money on college, then students should be interested in all of the schools they apply to! Reading up on a school, taking a tour, checking out their social media presence, speaking with an admission officer, are all worthy ways to learn about a college and determine if it is a good fit. Consider it as a part of the college research process. 

And though it may only give you the tiniest edge in securing the coveted party invitation, it may help a student decide if they want to attend in the first place. 

In this instance, party-hopping is not the goal! Good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions: 

What is Demonstrated Interest? 

Demonstrated interest is when colleges track students likely to enroll, giving those applicants a potential, though slight, boost in chances of admission. 

How can I show interest? 

Open newsletters, follow on social media, contact an admission officer, attend tours, or fill out information cards.

How do I check if a college tracks it? 

Find the college's Common Data Set, then check section C7 ("Basis for Selection") for "Demonstrated Interest."

Why do colleges track Demonstrated Interest? 

To maintain a high Yield Rate (enrollments vs. acceptances), which improves their perceived exclusivity.

Does Demonstrated Interest guarantee admission? 

No. It's never more important than grades and activities, but it can serve as a tie-breaker between similar applicants.

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For more information about the admission process, check out our linked blog posts and FREE EVENTS!

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