<p>There seems to be a fair amount of emphasis put on the fact that colleges prefer admitting students who have shown interest in them via asking questions through email, etc. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on good questions to ask (obviously questions that the college websites haven't already given the answer to)?</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Maybe questions you genuinely need the answers to in order to make your college decision?</p>
<p>I was thinking more along the lines of, after you’ve made your decision questions that might be enlightening. I realise I’d be better off thinking of a few myself, I just thought it might be a good idea to throw ideas around with others.</p>
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<p>Are you aware that this isn’t universally true? There are, indeed, institutions that care a lot about applicants’ demonstrated interest; Emory and American are good examples. But there are also institutions that don’t give a rodent’s behind about demonstrated interest. These do tend to be elite, highly selective colleges and universities; Harvard, for example, feels pretty confident that applicants are interested, whether they’ve emailed the admissions officers or not.</p>
<p>To find out whether a college or university cares about demonstrated interest, consult section C of its common data set. For most schools, you can just Google the name of the institution, together with the phrase “common data set.”</p>
<p>Because the quality of the dance program was very important to my daughter, she emailed the heads of the dance departments of several colleges, after reading everything she could on their websites. Don’t ask anything you could have found out easily. Here’s a sample:</p>
<p>"Dear Ms. XXX, I am a high school senior exploring my options for college. I am looking for a college with a strong modern dance program. Would you describe X College’s program that way? What can I expect for dance instruction as a freshman? What modern dance influences are emphasized at X College? Are the professors listed on the web site the only instructors or are there visiting professors each semester? Are there videos on the web of performances of College X’s students?</p>
<p>Dance appears to be a minor under a performance arts major. I actually am interested in majoring in psychology and minoring in dance. I am interested in helping people through dance or movement therapy. Is this possible at X?</p>
<p>Thank you for your help. I hope to visit X in the fall, but please let me know if you will be in My City in the near future."</p>
<p>As danceclass suggested, it might help you to think about some of the programs you are interested, do your research as best you can, and then asking for more information. Specialties of the program, opportunities for students in that major, internships, switching majors, study abroad options that fit with X major, what students do with such and such degree after graduation, etc.</p>
<p>I totally understand where you are coming from. Everyone has questions, but it can be difficult to think about a college in a broad sense and then narrow down your thinking into questions one person can feasibly answer. However, as Sikorsky said, not all schools care. Make sure that the college actually tracks such inquiries if you genuinely don’t have questions you are dying to ask.</p>
<p>I’m applying to several smaller schools. I emailed the Dean his/herself and told him/her how grateful I was that their school hosted a Junior Preview Day this past Spring and how it really impacted my choice of application round (ED,EA,RD) and s/he said they’ll pass it on to the admissions’ committee to let them know that I have a “keen interest” in XXX College.</p>
<p>Now, this wouldn’t necessarily work for other schools. This school is a very small and close-knit school where that sort of thing might be received better than say, a larger school (ie a state school). </p>
<p>Whether or not the Dean actually passes that on is a different story, but I hope s/he does.</p>
<p>In addition to looking at the common data set, it’s important to ask the school directly as well. “Demonstrated interest” has a widely different meaning for different schools. For instance, Brown shows on their common data set that “demonstrated interest” is one of the areas they consider strongly. I visited last summer and asked one of their admissions directors if they track demonstrated interest. They don’t, in fact, track contact with the school at all - emails, visits, etc. To Brown, demonstrated interest is shown in the student’s ability to articulate “why Brown” in their application essays.</p>
<p>Ask about specifics not just stuff that can be found easily on their website.</p>
<p>I guess what I was trying to say is ask questions you really need the answers to. Not just for the sake of asking questions.</p>
<p>I’ve been corresponding with colleges a lot lately.
What I do is, If I can’t find what I need on the website, online, or from a student, then I email them.</p>
<p>If what you’re asking for can be found without help then you’ll just look lazy, and that’s never good. I had a really long correspondence with a rep from one of my top choice colleges, if that does not show how interested I was then nothing will…</p>
<p>and I agree with what everyone above me has said :)</p>
<p>Don’t waste their time with questions you don’t actually have. If you have a legitimate, quality question, ask it. If you don’t, don’t ask it just in hopes of getting a few points in “demonstrated interest.”</p>
<p>Demonstrated interest is more often things like the aforementioned “Why Brown?” essay and whether you visited, interviewed, etc.</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who has responded! You’ve all been really helpful 
I didn’t even know the common data set existed!</p>