Demystifying Demonstrated Interest: What It Is and Why It Matters

When you think about college admissions, you might picture test scores, GPAs, and essays. But there's another factor playing a bigger role than ever before: demonstrated interest.

Colleges don't just want to know if a student is a good fit—they want to know if that student is actually likely to attend. Because, at the end of the day, colleges are also businesses. They have budgets, enrollment goals, and a limited number of beds in the dorms.

What Is Demonstrated Interest?

Demonstrated interest is the term colleges use to describe how much effort a student puts into showing they're genuinely interested in attending. And for schools that track this, it's a meaningful indicator of a student's likelihood to enroll (also known as yield).

And yield matters. A lot.

Students today are applying to more colleges than ever before. When utilizing the Common App, students can select up to 20 schools, and for the 2023-2024 application cycle, the average number of Common App applications submitted by students was 6.65. But of course, they can only attend one.

So, just like students are hedging their bets with more applications, colleges are hedging their bets by admitting students they believe are most likely to say yes.

Do All Colleges Track Demonstrated Interest?

Not all colleges consider demonstrated interest in the admissions process—but for the ones that do, it can carry real weight.

Some schools are very transparent about how much they value it. According to their most recent Common Data Sets, the following colleges consider demonstrated interest as a "very important" factor in admissions decisions:

• American University

• Dickinson College

• Ithaca College

• Mercer University

• Morehouse College

• Olin College of Engineering

• Pratt Institute

• Wabash College

Other colleges may consider it to a lesser degree, and some don't track it at all. Generally speaking:

• Highly selective schools often don't need to track interest (they know they'll fill their class).

• Mid-tier private colleges and small liberal arts colleges tend to care the most.

• Some public universities also track interest—especially if they're trying to grow enrollment in certain regions or programs.

How Students Can Demonstrate Interest

There are many ways students can show interest—and it's not just about setting foot on campus (though that helps).

1. Visit Campus or Attend Virtual Events

Campus visits are the most obvious form of demonstrated interest. That could include:

• Campus tours

• Admitted student days

• Major-specific info sessions

• Preview weekends

Can't travel? Virtual events also count:

• Virtual info sessions

• Departmental Q&As

• Student panels

• Online tours (especially those requiring registration)

💡 Tip: Always register using your email address to ensure the school can track your attendance.

Planning a campus visit?

Be sure to grab my free GRAND Guide to Campus Visits—it walks you through exactly what to look for, what questions to ask, and how to make the most of every visit.

 Download your guide here

2. Connect with Your Admissions Counselor

Most colleges assign regional representatives who:

• Read your application first

• Are familiar with your high school

• Often visit your area during "travel season."

You can:

• Attend a visit at your school

• Meet them at a local college fair

• Set up a phone or Zoom meeting

• Email them with specific, thoughtful questions

In Colorado? Look into ROAR (Regional Officers of Admission for the Rockies)—they represent out-of-state colleges that actively recruit in the Mountain West and host local college fairs.

3. Interact Online (Yes, They're Tracking You)

If you've taken the SAT, ACT, or AP exams and opted in to be contacted, you're probably already on many college email lists.

But it goes further:

• Colleges track whether you open emails

• What links you click

• How often you visit their website

• Which departments you spend the most time exploring

A counselor from a California college told us they sometimes deny students who apply for one major (say, biology), but whose extracurricular activities and web history show they were deeply interested in another program (like film).

4. Set Up Your Applicant Portal Promptly

Here's a new term I picked up recently: Demonstrated Disinterest.

On a recent college tour, an admissions counselor at a Virginia university explained that one red flag they watch for is students who don't set up their admissions portal promptly after applying.

Portals are how colleges:

• Share decisions

• Track missing materials

• Communicate next steps

If a student doesn't even take the time to log in? That sends a message.

💡 Check your email frequently—especially in the 48 hours after applying to each school.

5. Do the Interview (If Offered)

Many colleges offer optional interviews, which are another great opportunity to stand out and show interest.

• Some happen before you apply, others after.

• They may be conducted by:

  • Admissions officers

  • Current students

  • Alumni

Pro tip: Join email lists and check the admissions website to see if your colleges offer interviews. Some schools post their interview sign-ups as early as May before senior year.

We'll be hosting a webinar on interviews soon—and you can always check our blog for updated lists of schools that offer summer interviews.

What About Early Decision?

Early Decision (ED) is the ultimate form of demonstrated interest. When you apply ED, you're telling a college: If you accept me, I'm 100% coming.

Colleges love this. It helps them lock in students early and reduces uncertainty during the Regular Decision round.

In fact:

• Some colleges, like Champlain, Middlebury, Emory, and Davidson fill more than 60% of their class through ED.

• ED admit rates are often significantly higher than those of Regular Decision.

  • Example: For the Class of 2027, Tulane's ED acceptance rate was 68%, compared to 2.5% for RD. University of Miami admitted 60% of students compared to 17% of RD students, and Northeastern admitted 39% of ED students compared to 4.3% of RD students.

But ED isn't for everyone:

• It's binding—you can't compare financial aid packages

• If merit aid is important to your family, ED may not be the right fit 

Check out our blog post on the different admission plans to determine which one(s) makes the most sense for you and your family.

Why Demonstrated Interest Helps You Too

Yes, demonstrated interest helps colleges—but it helps you just as much.

When you take the time to:

• Attend a virtual session

• Talk to a real student

• Learn about a major-specific opportunity

• Explore campus (virtually or IRL)

… you're doing the work to figure out if this is a school you'd actually want to attend.

That kind of research pays off:

• You're more confident in your application.

• You're less likely to waste time and money applying to schools you're not excited to attend.

• You'll have richer material and specific examples to use in your "Why This College" essay—making it easier to write and more likely to stand out.

• And you'll be more prepared to make a thoughtful, informed decision come spring of your senior year.

  
  

Final Thought

Demonstrated interest is about more than checking a box—it's about taking ownership of your future.

And as colleges look more closely at who's paying attention, it's worth showing up, engaging, and expressing genuine curiosity. Whether it's through a Zoom call, a campus tour, or a thoughtful email—every little bit helps.

Feeling unsure about how to approach demonstrated interest—or just overwhelmed by the college admissions process in general?

If you're wondering how to prioritize college visits, navigate communication with admissions reps, or help your teen write a standout "Why This College" essay, you're not alone.

Contact Allison or visit Grand Fit Educational Consulting to get expert guidance, clear next steps, and personalized support every step of the way.