<p>I know you visit schools, and apply, but how else can you show interest? Especially when you are applying to 8 or 9 schools....</p>
<p>If you have questions, you could email the adcom, or the department.</p>
<p>Some universities keep track of visits to the university.</p>
<p>Here's a few ways: visit the school, email admissions with questions, ask them to put you in contact with current students home on break, if called by a current student after you apply have some questions to ask, do the alumni interview if available, personalize essays so that it shows you know about the school, submit "optional" essays if they offer them since spending extra time on these one-shot items shows interest, have your counselor call and tell them you're interested, attend college fairs in your area where they are in attendance, request their viewbook</p>
<p>And before you jump thru hoops to show interest, be aware that SOME schools could give a darn. Stanford and other elites know that anyone they accept is going to think long and hard about it, so you're wasting your time with schools like that. Look on the school website for clues like "we don't track interest". Other schools most definitely DO care, such as WUSTL or Tufts, and your chances of admissions plunge unless you show interest.</p>