The true meaning of demonstrated interest
October 3rd, 2016In late September, I took part in the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s annual conference. There, I brushed shoulders with about 6500 close friends and colleagues from around the U.S. and around the world. Hot topics in the world of college admission counseling? Equity and access top the list, as well they should. Some are still trying to digest changes to the SAT; others are trying to wrap their arms around a new application format called the Coalition application (which I’m not yet recommending for use, as there are too many first-year hiccups possible).
Here’s something else that’s on college advisors’ minds: the concept of demonstrated interest. Shrop Ed advisees hear about this a lot, as we urge students to visit campuses, find genuine ways to connect with admission counselors, respond to email sent by colleges of interest, and write their applications with serious intent. There’s a new dimension being added to some colleges’ applications – a sort of visual resume online, called ZeeMee. More and more colleges are asking students for a link to their ZeeMee page, and construing lack of a ZeeMee link as tepid interest.
Sometimes it’s hard to understand what colleges mean by demonstrated interest. Today, we link to an article addressing this beautifully, written by W. Kent Barnds, Executive Vice President, Augustana College, and published on the Huffington Post site. (Barnds’s article doesn’t cover the ZeeMee phenomenon, however – perhaps we’ll focus a future blog post on that.)
Article below published on Huffington Post, August 4, 2016
Written by: W. Kent Barnds
While reviewing publications from a colleague’s son’s college search, I noticed a handful of colleges referred to “demonstrated interest” in the visit section. I realized it’s likely that most students and families have no clue what that entails. If I didn’t work in college admissions, I know I’d be asking, What is demonstrated interest and how do I demonstrate it? And, does demonstrated interest make any difference at all? These questions deserve some explanation.
School counselors and policymakers tend to think demonstrated interest provides some students (those in the know or those who are affluent) with an advantage in the college search and selection process. There may be some truth to that, but I believe demonstrated interest has evolved well beyond activities like visiting campus or participating in an admissions interview. In fact, technology and engagement have probably made some of the traditional measures less relevant than they once were, which I think levels the playing field.
Read more at Huffington Post >>Tagged: Campus visits, Demonstrated interest
Alumni Interviews
December 1st, 2015College interviews sometimes cause students to quake with nervousness, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Interviews rarely tip the scales for an admission decision; they more often confirm other information in an applicant’s file. Only now and then is an interview so strong or weak that it truly makes a difference. As with so many other things in life, preparation and understanding purpose and intent can be key to feeling prepared and confident.
Colleges with the most stringent competition for admission typically deploy alumni as interviewers, keeping them involved with the institution productively. Yale has very helpfully posted guidelines for alumni interview report-writing, giving us insight into what’s valued. We note two factors as especially important: intellectual depth and a clear understanding of the resources that the University presents. Please click through to the Yale link below and let us know what additional factors you note.
Let us know, too, if you find this link helpful. Good luck with interviews ahead!
Published by: Yale University
Sample Interview Reports
We offer these samples of actual interview reports or excerpts to highlight the kinds of commentaries that help the admissions committee make careful, informed decisions. For contrast, we’ve included examples of write-ups that could have been more influential with the addition of supporting detail. This selection is not fully representative of the many effective reporting styles used by ASC volunteers, but we hope it serves illustrative purposes. We’ve changed names and other identifying characteristics.
Read more at Yale Univeristy >>Tagged: Applications, College, Demonstrated interest, Interviews
How Do I Love Thee? Demonstrated Interest and How Colleges Count the Ways
May 14th, 2015Showing interest in the college of your choice may be more important than you think. In fact it may be a way to set yourself apart from other applicants. In this article author Lisa Rubin-Johnson discusses the advantages of showing a “demonstrated interest” and outlines appropriate ways to do so.
Read more at IECA Online >>Tagged: Admission decision, Applications, College, Demonstrated interest
