Application Advice
January 30
Demonstrated Interest In College Admissions
What it is, which colleges track it, and how to show meaningful interest
Aidan C.
Former Harvard Interviewer
Summary
Demonstrated interest refers to the actions a student takes to show a college that they are genuinely interested in attending, such as visiting campus, attending events, or engaging with admissions communications. For colleges that track it, demonstrated interest is used to assess how likely an admitted student is to enroll, and it can influence admission decisions, waitlists, and merit aid offers. For academically strong applicants, a deliberate demonstrated interest strategy can meaningfully improve outcomes, particularly at private universities and liberal arts colleges where enrollment management matters.
If you’re a student (or a parent) navigating the college admissions process, you’ve probably been told to focus on GPA, test scores, and essays, and that’s great advice. But here’s something even the strongest applicants often overlook: demonstrated interest.
It’s one of the most underrated tools in your admissions toolkit, and one of the few things you can control right now. For students applying to colleges that track interest, a thoughtful demonstrated interest strategy can make all the difference.
What Is Demonstrated Interest in College Admissions?
Demonstrated interest is any action you take to show a college that you’re genuinely excited about the idea of attending.
It’s like saying, “You’re not just one of many schools I’m applying to. You’re a school I could see myself at.”
This kind of enthusiasm matters. Many top universities and liberal arts colleges want to admit students who are likely to enroll, and they pay close attention to those signals.
Why Does Demonstrated Interest Matter?
For schools that track it, demonstrated interest can:
— Show admissions teams that you’ve researched their programs and campus culture
— Help you stand out among equally qualified applicants
— Influence merit aid, scholarships, or honors program invitations
Unlike GPA or standardized tests, demonstrated interest is something you can take charge of
starting today.
Why Colleges Actually Care About Demonstrated Interest
Admissions offices are not just deciding who is qualified. They are deciding who is likely to enroll.
Demonstrated interest helps colleges manage yield, class size, and scholarship allocation. When two applicants look similar on paper, engagement signals can become the deciding factor.
Which Colleges Track Demonstrated Interest?
Some colleges explicitly track demonstrated interest, while others do not. Knowing which category a school falls into is essential for building the right strategy.
Top Private Research Universities That Track Demonstrated Interest
College | Tracks Demonstrated Interest? |
Dartmouth College | Yes |
Northwestern University | Yes |
University of Chicago | Yes |
Northeastern University | Yes |
Wake Forest University | Yes |
Boston University | Yes |
University of Miami | Yes |
Villanova University | Yes |
Emory College | Yes |
Case Western Reserve University | Yes |
University of Rochester | Yes |
American University | Yes |
Tulane University | Yes |
Drexel University | Yes |
Top Liberal Arts Colleges That Track Demonstrated Interest
College | Tracks Demonstrated Interest? |
Barnard College | Yes |
Bates College | Yes |
Skidmore College | Yes |
Wesleyan University | Yes |
Lafayette College | Yes |
Dickinson College | Yes |
Occidental College | Yes |
Connecticut College | Yes |
Colleges That Do NOT Track Demonstrated Interest
College | Tracks Demonstrated Interest? |
Duke University | No |
Yale University | No |
Princeton University | No |
Stanford University | No |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | No |
Brown University | No |
University of Pennsylvania | No |
Columbia University | No |
How Much Demonstrated Interest Is Enough?
Demonstrated interest is not measured the same way at every college. Some schools expect only light engagement, while others place real weight on consistent participation in events and outreach.
The table below shows how much engagement we typically recommend for different colleges, based on how strongly demonstrated interest tends to matter in their admissions process.
Interest Intensity Guide
— Low: Attend 1 event
— Considered: Attend 2 events
— Important: Attend 3 events
— Very Important: Attend 4 or more events
Demonstrated Interest Intensity by College
College | Demonstrated Interest Policy |
United States Naval Academy | Very Important |
US Air Force Academy | Very Important |
American University | Very Important |
High Point University | Very Important |
Northeastern University | Important |
The Cooper Union | Important |
Kenyon College | Important |
Bates College | Important |
Lehigh University | Important |
Syracuse University | Important |
Gonzaga University | Important |
Quinnipiac University | Important |
Elon University | Important |
Rochester Institute of Technology | Important |
University of Arizona | Important |
University of Chicago | Considered |
Dartmouth College | Considered |
Duke University | Considered |
Northwestern University | Considered |
Rice University | Considered |
Tufts University | Considered |
Barnard College | Considered |
Middlebury College | Considered |
Haverford College | Considered |
Colorado College | Considered |
Davidson College | Considered |
Boston University | Considered |
Villanova University | Considered |
Skidmore College | Considered |
Oberlin College | Considered |
University of Michigan | Considered |
Babson College | Considered |
Case Western Reserve University | Considered |
Brandeis University | Considered |
Stevens Institute of Technology | Considered |
Reed College | Considered |
Sarah Lawrence College | Considered |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Considered |
Occidental College | Considered |
George Washington University | Considered |
University of Miami | Considered |
Gettysburg College | Considered |
Santa Clara University | Considered |
Southern Methodist University | Considered |
Fordham University | Considered |
Chapman University | Considered |
University of Massachusetts Amherst | Considered |
Butler University | Considered |
Ithaca College | Considered |
Drexel University | Considered |
Washington University at St. Louis | Low |
University of Notre Dame | Low |
Georgia Tech | Low |
Virginia Tech | Low |
Auburn University | Low |
Important: Demonstrated Interest Is Not Universal
Some highly selective schools explicitly state that they do not consider demonstrated interest.
This includes many large public flagships and several Ivy League institutions. Applying DI tactics to these schools will not hurt you, but it will not meaningfully change admissions outcomes either.
Strategy matters most when it is targeted to the right institutions.
How Can You Show Demonstrated Interest?
The good news is that it’s simple to get started. Here are some of the most effective ways:
— Join the college’s mailing list to receive updates directly from the school
— Open and read their emails, even this small step can matter
— Attend webinars or virtual events, and take notes for use in future essays
— Visit campus or attend a preview day. In-person visits show real commitment
— Connect with admissions reps via email, or meet them at your high school or a college fair
Add DI-Friendly Schools to Your College List
Even if your dream schools don’t track interest, it’s smart to include a few that do to your college list. Many of these schools are highly competitive, nationally ranked, and known for outstanding graduate outcomes, including:
— Strong job placement rates and access to top-tier internships
— High acceptance rates to graduate and professional schools
— Merit aid and scholarship opportunities for engaged applicants
Adding DI-friendly schools gives you more control over your admissions results. This is especially helpful if you are applying from a competitive high school or want a balance of reach, target, and safety options.
These schools are not just backups. For many students, they become dream schools. They offer academic rigor, vibrant communities, and long-term value, and they reward students who take the time to engage meaningfully.
Rankings Don’t Measure Opportunity
A lower numerical ranking does not mean weaker outcomes.
Many DI-friendly schools invest heavily in honors programs, merit aid, faculty access, and career placement. For engaged students, these environments often produce stronger academic and professional results than more selective peer
A Real Example: From Dreaming of Georgetown to Choosing Tulane
Last cycle, I worked with a student who was laser-focused on Georgetown. Drawn to its prestige and ranking, they built their entire application strategy around getting in.
As we worked together, I encouraged them to also consider adding Tulane to their list as an option. It’s a nationally respected university, a true peer to Georgetown in many ways, and one that places real value on demonstrated interest. Tulane also offers generous merit scholarships
to students who engage meaningfully.
At first, they were hesitant. Tulane was ranked lower, and no one in their network had attended. But after joining the mailing list, attending a few webinars, and visiting campus, they started to see what I saw: a place where they could genuinely thrive.
By spring, they were admitted to both Georgetown and Tulane. But when comparing offers and looking at fit, the decision became clear.
They will be attending Tulane this fall as an honors student on a generous merit scholarship, and they could not be more excited.
This is the power of an open-minded college list and a smart demonstrated interest strategy. Had this student never engaged with Tulane, they almost certainly would have been overlooked by admissions and rejected despite their strong academics and activities. But when you combine strategy with exploration, you open more doors and give yourself the confidence to walk through the right one.
Why We Recommend Demonstrated Interest to Every Student
We’ve seen demonstrated interest make a huge difference when:
— A student is applying to a competitive or oversubscribed major
— Their academic profile is strong, but not a perfect fit
— They’re applying from a large or competitive high school
— They want to stand out among a large pool of applicants
As a former admissions officer, I can’t tell you how many times I saw two similar applicants with the same GPA and similar test scores. One had attended a webinar, visited campus, or connected with a rep. The other hadn’t. Guess which one got the offer?
It’s not about gaming the process. It’s about showing schools that you see yourself on their campus and are ready to be part of their community.
Rejected from a Safety School? It Might Be a Lack of Demonstrated Interest
One of the most frustrating moments in the admissions process is getting rejected or waitlisted from a school you thought was a "sure thing." In many of those cases, the issue isn’t GPA or test scores. It’s a lack of demonstrated interest.
If a college tracks interest and doesn’t see any signs that you were seriously considering them, they may assume you’re using them as a backup. Even with a strong academic profile, they may choose to admit another student who showed genuine enthusiasm.
This happens most often with:
— Private universities that carefully manage enrollment
— Schools that offer merit scholarships or honors program invitations
— Out-of-state applicants applying to less selective schools that are popular primarily within their own state or region (not highly ranked public flagships like the UCs or Michigan)
— Students applying to less competitive majors but showing no engagement
If this happens to you, know that you are not alone. It’s not always a reflection of your academic ability. But it is a reminder: no school that tracks interest is truly a safety if you haven’t shown up on their radar. A little effort, like attending a webinar or visiting campus, can help you avoid unnecessary rejections.
No Demonstrated Interest Means No True Safety
If a school tracks demonstrated interest and sees no engagement, it may assume you will not enroll.
In those cases, even strong applicants can be rejected or waitlisted in favor of students who showed clear intent. A safety school only functions as a safety if you appear genuinely interested.
Tips for Building a Strong Demonstrated Interest Plan
1. Create a dedicated college email
Use something clean and professional, like firstname.lastname@gmail.com, to keep all admissions info in one place.
2. Track your engagement
3. Don’t just sign up, show up
Colleges notice who attends and participates. Engagement matters more than most students
realize.
4. Apply for Fly-In Programs
5. Stay organized with family support
Share your college email login with a parent or sibling so they can help monitor updates or
register for events if your schedule is packed.
Final Thoughts
Demonstrated interest won’t guarantee admission, but it can absolutely be a difference-maker when colleges are deciding between strong applicants. It’s one of the simplest ways to take control of your admissions strategy and show schools that you are more than a name on a list; you are a student who is ready to thrive on their campus.
Want to Feel Confident in Your College Strategy? Let’s talk. Our team at Crimson specializes in helping students build balanced college lists and personalized demonstrated interest plans that actually work. Book a free consultation to get started.
