Monday, November 27, 2017

Demonstrating Interest to Colleges

Let’s say there’s a girl I like. I might smile at her, flirt with her, ask for her number, or out on a date. These could all be considered components of what we’ll call a demonstrated interest. They are the overtures I might make to the girl to show that I am drawn to her. If I never made eye contact with her, never spoke to her, never showed any desire to communicate with her, would she have any indication that I was seriously interested in her? So it is with colleges and their applicants.
If you have a true desire and are passionate about going to a particular college, you need to demonstrate that. I think many families believe that colleges aren’t aware of their applicants as individuals. The families think that college admissions offices are just big clearinghouses where transcripts are fed into algorithms that spit out computed generated admission decisions. Well, they are not. They are offices staffed by human beings who make decisions about the fate of other humans. Just like the girl I like, if I can appeal to her and show that I’m genuinely interested, I might be able to improve my chances.
Colleges have the resources and do take the time to track demonstrated interest. If you sign up for emails from their admissions blog, but never open the emails or click on the links inside, they can see that. They know if and when you’ve taken an official tour of the school. They can even Facebook-stalk you.
So let’s say in your college essay you write about how the only thing you want out of life is to be a “wildcat” (or whatever their mascot is). That’s your goal and that’s the only school for you. However, you never introduced yourself to an admission rep at a college fair. You don’t subscribe to the Youtube channel for the admissions office or any of their other social media. You didn’t apply by the priority deadline, and the only time you’ve ever been on campus was for athletic events (remember, even if you are an athlete, that is never the primary reason you are going to college). If this is case, what are you truly saying to this college? How do they know your essay isn’t just the same pick up line you give to every college?
You need to flirt--or, interact--with the colleges you are interested in. And, you need to do more of that with the colleges you are most interested in. Colleges are, first and foremost, academic institutions. They need to know you are interested in being a student (and not just a fan) and taking classes on their campus. Their sports teams are their good looks and it’s okay for that to be a part of why you want to go there. However, if you are going to have a meaningful relationship with this school, you need to show them it’s about more than watching their games. That takes some effort, and the humans in the admissions office are watching for it. How are you demonstrating your interest?