What is Demonstrated Interest and Why It Matters

Demonstrated interest refers to the ways students show colleges that they are genuinely interested in attending. While not all schools track it, many colleges use demonstrated interest as a factor in their admissions decisions to help predict which students are likely to enroll if accepted. This makes it an important part of the college search process for high school juniors and seniors. Demonstrated interest can include actions like visiting campus, attending virtual tours and info sessions, exploring the college's website, signing up for newsletters, engaging with emails, writing thoughtful supplemental essays, and reaching out to admissions officers. These small steps can make a meaningful difference—especially when applying to schools that track student engagement. Taking the time to show interest not only helps students learn more about each school but can also strengthen their application in the eyes of the admissions office.