<p>I was wondering what type of emphasis Stanford puts on "demonstrated interest"? I love Stanford as a place to spend my next 4 years, but I am getting kind of nervous since I haven't been offered an interview for the school, and I haven't had any means of showing interest except for signing up to their mailing list. I live in Los Angeles but I haven't had the time (or money) to take a plane ride up to San Francisco and visit. I've heard about these applicants who look up the names of their local adcoms and inundate them with supplements and letters explaining how much they love Stanford, but to me that type of behaviour is kind of bizarre (it kinda sickens me ...). It just gives me the impression of being fake and trying to kiss someone's behind, which is not the type of person I want to be. </p>
<p>Should I e-mail Stanford directly and explain my worries and that I am actually very passionate about the school? Is it too late? Does Stanford even care about demonstrated interest?</p>
<p>According to the Common Data Set, Stanford does not employ Demonstrated Interest as an important factor for admissions. In fact, the Set states that Stanford disregards it. However, what may be more important are your supplemental essays. You have the chance to answer “Why Stanford?”, so it would be in your best interest to be thoughtful and honest in your reply. Best regards.</p>
<p>Thank You :).</p>
<p>Any other opinions?</p>
<p>overachiever, I concur with topramenn. The crucial distinction lies between “demonstrated interest”–by which Stanford means things like visiting campus, calling or emailing admissions, and otherwise basically conveying the simple fact that you’d really like to be admitted–and genuine fit, which entails explaining why, and how, you would benefit particularly from attending Stanford (and reciprocally, how Stanford would benefit from having you attend). Your essays are the best way to convey the fit, and that is very important. You’ll want to do some research to identify specific ways in which Stanford may be your optimum fit, and this doesn’t require travel or expenditure. Learn all you can about Stanford online–which departments especially appeal to you? What are the research interests of faculty in those departments? How do you perceive Stanford to be different from its peer institutions, and how do those aspects mesh with your academic and personal goals? Do you know any Stanford students or grads you can speak with to gain additional insights? You get the idea. Oh, and don’t stress about not having an interview–it really won’t matter. Since Stanford is just in the pilot stage with the interview program and hasn’t made them widely available, they don’t factor into decisions much at all. Right now they’re mainly trying to figure out if interviews yield enough extra information about applicants to make them worth the investment of time.</p>
<p>I realized after I wrote the above that the OP has probably already submitted his or her essays, so my suggestions weren’t timely for his/her purposes, but maybe they will help those who will apply in the future. OP, really nothing to do now but keep your fingers crossed. If you have won any major awards or accomplished something significant since submitting your application, you can also let your regional representative know about it. Good luck.</p>
<p>Yeah but you nailed it^, so it’s good info for future applicants. Demonstrated interest does not mean sending every detail of everything your involved in. Amazing how people think that going to Stanford summer programs or e-mailing professors indicates interest. Tell the adcom how you’ll fit in, read the catalog (amazing how many don’t even do that) and explain how S will prepare you for a career or contribution you want to make in society. Like Zen says, your golden opportunity lies in the Stanford supplement where you explain why your interested.</p>
<p>'13 checking in.</p>
<p>I haven’t really read the other responses, but I’m pretty sure Stanford doesn’t consider ‘demonstrated interest.’ When I applied I didn’t demonstrate any interest (no visits, no contacting adcoms or whatever), I just wrote a detailed, personal “why stanford” essay. I talked about STANFORD SPECIFIC programs/groups that I felt like I would like to join / how I would contribute to them. I even mentioned talking with Stanford students through CC and how their convos made me want to go to Stanford.</p>
<p>So yup, focus on the ‘why stanford’ essay to demonstrate interest.</p>