<p>Hey I am looking to apply to Vanderbilt next year and I live in the northeast. I can't afford to visit the school so how can I demonstrate interest aside from requesting the video and other information? Also does Vanderbilt place a lot of emphasis on demonstrated interest? Thanks</p>
<p>My son is in the class of 2012. We also live in the northeast and he never visited Vandy until after he was accepted. He did attend a Vandy Road Show (a presentation by adimissions given at select locations around the country) that was held in White Plains, NY either at the end of his junior year or start of his senior year (I don’t remember). We also asked for additional information to be sent from the admissions web page. Additionally Vandy does attend various college open houses at high schools and convention centers in the northeast. If you e-mail admissions I am certain that they could give you a list of schools/convention centers in your area that they will be attending. Good luck with your application. My son absolutly loves everything about Vandy.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt says they don’t look at demonstrated interest at all when considering applications. BUT if you wanted to say show your interest by applying ED, yes that helps. And doing the optional interiew could also be considered a form of demonstrated interest that can help (or possibly hurt) you.</p>
<p>I think that for normal applicants, their official stance is they don’t care about interest, but I think for waitlisted applicants, demonstrated interest does matter… Consider this excerpt from the blog:</p>
<p>"We know that students’ reactions to being offered a spot on the waitlist will differ - some will say no thanks to the entire thing, some will accept a spot on the waitlist just to see what happens, and some will accept a spot on our list because we remain their top choice. It is identifying that third group of students that is of primary interest to us. </p>
<p>So how do you demonstrate your interest to us? You do not have to visit, or write another essay, or tattoo Mr. C’s mug on your forearm. You just need to do the following: 1) return the yellow waitlist reply form indicating you wish to be active on our waitlist, 2) contact your admissions officer and let him/her know you remain interested, 3) respond to our waitlist check-in emails when they come (see below for more on this), and 4) consider submitting any substantially relevant new information (e.g., new grades that might be available)."</p>
<p>[Waitlist</a> | The Vandy Admissions Blog - Part 2](<a href=“http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Admissions/vandybloggers/tag/waitlist/page/2/]Waitlist”>http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Admissions/vandybloggers/tag/waitlist/page/2/)</p>
<p>Don’t worry about demonstrating interests. Most of us usually don’t go to the colleges we’re most interested in and we can always fake interest and colleges know that. So just focus on your high school courses, SATs, extra-curriculars, and college essays.</p>
<p>I would highly recommend visiting a school before you decide to attend, even though you may feel it looks perfect on paper. The roadshows and the other information vandy may send you will never really show you what life is like on campus. You should definitely attend when school is in session, and preferably during the week. </p>
<p>Applying ED will obviously help your chances, and I would definitely do the optional interview.</p>