Yes, demonstrate interest is considered, but don’t underestimate the importance of the essay. Be specific when you write the “why this school” essay. If you can change the school name and use for another school, it is not going to work.
@billcsho Case Western does not have any supplements, so that isn’t possible.
I think he means for Michigan.
@iamjack It would hard to follow other’s conversation when you are not part of it. 
@billcsho Please learn English.
@billcsho I’m going to write about how the summer program made a big impact on me and how I saw the school, so hopefully that’ll help get my point across! 
@iamjack I am too old to learn anything. I got my PhD 19 years ago.
Case - High match, they’re really weird lately with deferring overqualified people, and while you’re not exactly OVERqualified their admissions process has been strange the last couple years. Friend of mine got in with a 30, but a friend of mine with a 33,4.0 got cut.
Michigan - In state match-high match, OOS low reach.
UChicago - High reach. I saw you write that you don’t want to apply to save your money, but unless you’re in financial holes I’d still apply to your reach schools; you never know.
Could you chance me back? Thanks.
@james1998iq What Case Western is up to is called “yield protection,” a.k.a. Tufts Syndrome.
Many schools will reject overqualified students because, if you’re a kid with a 4.0, 2400, multiple 800s from SAT II tests, and ECs that are out of this world (to take an extreme example), you’re 99% certain to be accepted at (and attend) a top 10/top 20 school. That means there’s little incentive for a school like Case Western to accept you, because you’ll likely end up choosing another school and lowering their yield.
@billcsho heh PhD? Try getting an FSA.
FSA? LOL.