<p>I was recently postponed by the University of Wisconsin:Madison, which is my current first choice institution. I feel that calling the admissions office frequently will help my chances somewhat, but the two times I have called, they have not asked for identification of any kind!</p>
<p>I stated my name in both phone calls, but I got a different admissions counselor the second call and I don't think they are tracking MY interest at all...</p>
<p>Please help...is there anything I can do to stand out and be identified in my phone calls, or should I stick to snail-mail as a means of demonstrating my interest?</p>
<p>$??$?nstitutions don't care about demonstrated interest. What they do care about are the stats.</p>
<p>Wisconsin is likely to simply be irritated by your calls.</p>
<p>What would impress them are stellar midyear grades, updated high SAT scores, or possibly major honors and awards. They could learn about the first 2 things by your having your GC or the testing companies forward that info to Wisconsin. If you've won some major honors or awards since applying, let Wisconsin know through a mailed letter, making sure you include your SS# or student ID # on it.</p>
<p>Don't waste their time, however, with letters simply stating you want to be admitted. More than likely, you were deferred because of concerns about your gpa or test scores, so providing proof that those are stronger would probably boost your chances.</p>
<p>I agree with Northstarmom. Large public universities like UWisconsin are more numbers driven. They are also very unlikely to track demonstrated interest.</p>
<p>Is demonstrated interest only important at small LACs? I thought that when we signed in at visits to larger places, they actually used that information???</p>
<p>Demonstrated interest is important at colleges that are worried about their yields. HYP could care less. Colleges like Emory, WashU and Tufts that are just out of the most elite of the elite category care because they worry about being used as safeties for people applying to the more elite colleges. As you move down the USNWR list, they stop caring again. If you call them on the phone and they ask for your name and/or SSN, then they are tracking it.</p>
<p>They may use the information to figure out how many tour guides to hire, how many information sessions to do, or who to send brochures to. I don't think, however, they calculate that information when figuring out whether to admit students. </p>
<p>Because public institutions are largely supported by state taxpayers, they need an obviously nonbiased way of admitting students, and therefore are very stats driven. </p>
<p>Demonstrated interest tends to be important at private colleges, particularly those that are not in the HPYS ranks, but don't want to be viewed as safeties for smart students. They also factor demonstrated interest so as to attain high a high yield.</p>
<p>Is there a "best" way, so to speak, to improve my chances at Wisconsin? Will the decision ultimately come down to senior year grades and test scores? Is there ANYTHING else I can do to help bolster my academic profile at such a large state institution?</p>
<p>I wish top students would stop using Wisconsin as their safety!! Argh!</p>