How to Use Demonstrated Interest to Your Advantage

Most families focus on the big pieces of the admissions process—GPA, test scores, essays—but did you know that some colleges track whether a student seems genuinely interested in attending?

This is called demonstrated interest (DI), and at certain schools, it can make a difference in admissions decisions. Colleges want to admit students who are more likely to enroll—and they use demonstrated interest as a way to measure that.

How Can Your Student Show Interest?

✅ Attend a campus tour (in-person or virtual)

✅ Open and engage with emails from the admissions office (yes, they track this!)

✅ Follow and interact with the school’s social media

✅ Join virtual info sessions or attend a college fair where the school is represented

✅ Email an admissions officer with a thoughtful question

✅ Mention specific programs in application essays (this shows research and commitment)

Does Demonstrated Interest Matter at Every College?

Nope! The most selective schools don’t track DI at all—they assume if you’re applying, you’re interested. But many private and smaller colleges DO consider it, and at those schools, it can tip the scales for borderline applicants.

How to Find Out if a School Tracks DI?

• Check the school’s admissions page.

• Look it up on Common Data Set (CDS) reports for each college (search “Common Data Set + [College Name]” and look for the section on “Level of Applicant’s Interest”).

• If unsure, assume it could matter and engage just in case.

Final Thoughts: The Small Things Matter

Demonstrated interest is not the most important part of an application, but it’s one of those small, easy-to-do steps that can make a difference—especially at schools where admissions decisions are tight.

We’re covering everything—big and small—in our 100 Blogs in 100 Days Challenge. Because families don’t know what they don’t know, and we’re here to change that.

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