With acceptance rates lower than 10%, it's more important than ever to show interest in the colleges you are targeting. This shows them you’re likely to attend if extended an offer. No ‘demonstrated interest’ = no acceptance letter. To answer the question: be exceptional. And do the best with the resources and opportunities you have.
You’re more likely to ask someone to a dance if you know the person’s vibe and think they might be interested in spending time with you - it just feels more comfortable. Similarly, colleges want to know if you’re interested. When students apply to Harvard, Harvard always wonders if they have done any research or put thought into the decision to apply. Is the student genuinely interested in the college or are they just hung up on the name? If you haven’t shown interest in the months before proposing a relationship, a college has no way of judging if you’re likely to accept an invitation to join their community. Colleges want to be comfortable with their decision to admit you - is this student going to come to our school or go to Dartmouth? The % who actually join the freshman class after getting offers from multiple colleges is called ‘yield’, and colleges try to keep this number as high as possible. It shows how desirable a school is.
Yield impacts rankings, reputation, and other factors, so colleges seek to make their yield as high as possible. When prospective students show that they’re invested in the institution by visiting it or speaking to admissions representatives at college fairs, they are indicating that they are likely to attend if they are extended an offer of admission. Interest quotient (IQ) (demonstrated interest) is one important way of differentiating students. In a highly competitive college admissions process where many students almost certainly have similar GPAs, test scores or other numerical ‘qualifiers’, factors like extracurricular activities, recommendations and IQ become ‘tipping factors’.
Website Research.
Colleges spend thousands of dollars maintaining websites and social media to educate and engage applicants and their families. One of the best uses of my time was watching college adverts/info videos and student vlogs on YouTube to get a good perspective of the college.
Essays.
Colleges really care about the supplemental essay questions because it's the most personal to them. Use your research to show off knowledge of the college by tailoring your responses based on details of programs and campus life you’ve gleaned from visits, written materials, or interacting on the social network. The more specific, the better.
Colleges really care about the supplemental essay questions because it's the most personal to them. Use your research to show off knowledge of the college by tailoring your responses based on details of programs and campus life you’ve gleaned from visits, written materials, or interacting on the social network. The more specific, the better.
Fairs and Local events.
Go to college presentations in your city. Do a google search, something like 'Georgetown London fair/visit'. Great opportunity to meet college representatives. Can build rapport with them which will help you in the process. A lot of US schools group together to hold information sessions at Private schools in London.
Go to college presentations in your city. Do a google search, something like 'Georgetown London fair/visit'. Great opportunity to meet college representatives. Can build rapport with them which will help you in the process. A lot of US schools group together to hold information sessions at Private schools in London.
College fairs: There is an annual US College fair in London every year, around September - register via the Fulbright website. Although often hectic, fairs can provide opportunities to get face time with admissions staff. From here, you want to continue correspondence via email - if you had a great convo with them, ask for an email or a business card. Follow up with people you genuinely connected with and engage in genuine convo with them. Please don’t waste their time.
Information requests: Register interest by requesting information and getting on mailing lists. You'll get emails & invitations to campus or local events.
Summer Schools & Visits
Take a tour, go to the information session, participate in a recruitment event, meet 1-on-1 with an admissions representative. Colleges understand if distances make visits impossible. Take virtual tours or look at pictures.
Go to US Summer Schools: Shows you’re interested in US education. Shows you’re a competitive applicant to other places as well. Depending on the places, it’s impressive. Shows you’re dedicated to higher education. Shows an expression of interest in your field, if it does.
Early applications.
This is how to stand out. If you’re the First to do something, the Best at it, or the Only one who has done it, put it in the application! Examples:
<aside> 🗣 Lean on what makes you special. That’s the formula.
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