<p>I went to a college reception for one of my target colleges during my sophomore year, and again during the fall this year, as a junior. However today I got yet another e-invite to another reception for the same college. Is it worth going? Not to learn about the school, but to show the college I'm super-interested?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Depends. Lesser “name” colleges value “demonstrated interest”. Many schools don’t care.</p>
<p>The ultra selectives really don’t care.</p>
<p>^A top school that cares a lot about demonstrated interest is Emory so the above statement is only partly true. Wash U, from what I hear, cares a lot too.</p>
<p>It has been interesting to see which schools have a ‘visitors’ log, or postcards to fill out, while others have no record of us ever being there. </p>
<p>We came, we visited, we toured, we ‘info’ed’. We actually stuck around to ask if the school of engineering chose their majors during their second semester on a competitive basis. They didn’t know and we were referred to the engineering department. We trekked across the grounds where we spoke to the most lovely woman who had worked in the dean’s office for 17 years. From the looks of it, she ran the place 
. We received an answer, trekked back to admissions where we met friends who were finishing up with another adcom. Everyone was lovely, however, not a soul knew we had been there by the next day.</p>
<p>It didn’t diminish my son’s love for the school. It was his forth visit. I’m just wondering about these reserved parking spots, tshirts, follow up emails. Are they urban myth? Wow, that kind of love… I seriously can’t imagine where you get that! lol!!</p>
<p>jacmoo - If, by going to these receptions you are able to chat with your local admissions rep then I think it would be of benefit since they will be able to put a “face” to your application. But in the world of college admissions…who really has a clue!</p>
<p>“The ultra selectives really don’t care”. - thats wrong, (or at least sometimes wrong)…</p>
<p>It’s a very individual choice by each school, as mentioned above some (many) very good schools track “demonstrated interest”. As far as the ultra selective schools that track interest add Davidson College in NC - who tracks visits, events, and even phone calls. </p>
<p>But does that mean that you need to attend every reception to express demonstrated interest, I don’t think so… Just stay in contact…</p>
<p>PS: Tracking demonstrated interest is a tool to help schools know that a student understands it’s unique culture. </p>
<p>Please Never Confuse - the reserved parking spots with students names on LED nameplates as anything other than marketing and that in no way demonstrates anything other than that the school believes that marketing directly to 17 year olds based on glitz instead of scholastics is what sets them apart…</p>
<p>ncmentor- You make an excellent point regarding the marketing glitz. In the end, I would be telling my son to strip all that from his memory and think only of what his college experience will be ahead of him… there will be no reserved parking his for years there, from what I understand he will have trouble finding parking at any of his target schools! :)</p>
<p>There are certainly schools that care more than others about ‘demonstrated interest’. This is listed in their Common Data Set. However I am finding more and more that parents here at CC can offer a wealth of information to help you read between those lines!!</p>