I haven’t been able to get an interview at many of my target schools due to time conflicts, distance, and lack of availability.
How else can I demonstrate interest in the schools without an interview? They aren’t required at my schools, just “strongly recommended,” but since I don’t have them, I’m worried that I won’t get in. Would it help to email admissions to tell them how interested I am, and maybe contact the professors/supervisors within my major for each college?
I find this issue perennially frustrating. There is a lot of contradictory advice. We have been advised to express interest to reps, only to have reps not bother to respond. I do think though, at this late late stage, reps are all going to be VERY busy reading apps and emailing to say that now will surely annoy them. If you have legitimate questions, it is fine to email, but don’t ask easy stuuf that is right on the website. At this point, maybe get in touch with a professor, but you need to ask something relevant and pointed.
You do realize thigh that many colleges will be conducting interviews until the end of Feb? Can’t you try to arrange some Skype interviews? That is worth contacting the rep about, but you can probably find the info on the website. My D arranged all her interviews and has done 7. Her last one was in early Dec. I don’t think its too late for all yiur colleges, but you need to get going. I certainly think you should interview for your top choices.
Contacting professors won’t have any bearing on admissions - it’s unlikely a professor would contact admissions about a prospect unless they were totally wowed by the student’s potential. Contacting admissions for anything other than a question that cannot be answered via the website could be seen as annoying. Also, note that “demonstrated interest” and “interview” are two separate categories. If an interview is “strongly recommended”, then try to set up a remote interview if that’s the only possibility. How do the schools rank level of interest (google the common data set to see)? You can demonstrate interest in other ways - via social media, opening and reacting to emails from the school, attending online events if the school has them. Did you apply early?
Schools might see your not scheduling an interview as a lack of interest regardless of other ways you demonstrate interest. Depending on your circumstances and the effort you made to schedule interviews that may make up for not actually having the interviews - hard to say.
There are other ways to show interest besides the interview. Did you tour or attend an info session? Did you attend the session if the college visited your high school? Did you participate in an online chat event? Did you sign up for mailings? All good ways to show interest. After you submit the application, make sure to log into your portal. Some schools check that.
@InigoMontoya Thanks for the input (I love your username by the way). I did apply early (late October), but I did not apply early decision anywhere. I will try to see what I can still do. I really regret not setting up interviews. 
I did attend the info sessions and college fairs when admissions reps came to my high school. I have received emails and mail from them, and I follow all of my schools on social media.
Then you’ve done all you can at this point. Time to get those last essays out the door and then…wait.
@N’s Mom: I guess you’re right. I finished my applications in October, so I guess all I can do now is wait and hope that my grades/scores/extracurriculars/etc were enough. I guess I’m just panicking at the last minute, which I tend to do regardless of how much/how little I have actually done. Thanks, everybody.
@ucbalumnus Thanks. I didn’t think to place certain colleges higher on the FAFSA to show higher interest. I think I’ll do that once I fill it out.
Apply ED?
@okon2122 I didn’t do ED anywhere. I’m not sure of my first choice school. And besides, the whole “showing interest” thing is more (for me) of a means to prevent against Tufts syndrome. None of the schools I’m talking about in this thread are my reach schools. I just want to get into my target schools because I really don’t want to have to settle for a safety school.
My D2 didn’t interview anywhere, which was intentional. Strong stats, but on the spectrum and not a good interviewer. She got in everyplace she applied. She had signed up for mailings, visited campus and taken tours, and wrote very specific “Why College X” essays, though. And checked her portals regularly once she applied, a few schools watch that.
@intparent Thanks for the input. Do you mind if I ask where your daughter applied?
Best way to show interest is in your app/supp, by properly matching yourself and letting it come through in what you present.
Tufts syndrome is overblown. Colleges don’t guess, “Oh, he’s a great candidate, I’ll bet he wants Harvard, let’s reject him.” It’s more complicated.
In your case, OP, if you feel it’s important to interview, I agree you can still try for one via skype or telephone.
Yeah, I’m working on getting last-minute interviews. I missed the deadline for one school, but I think I’ve got enough time to schedule in a few between now and the interview deadlines.
Also, one of my target schools offered me a chance to audition for a drama scholarship. Would auditioning be another way to demonstrate my interest in the school?
She applied to UChicago, Swarthmore, Harvey Mudd, Carleton, Kenyon, Lawrence, Mount Holyoke, and Macalester.
@intparent Wow! That’s a really impressive list. I’m applying to some smaller liberal arts colleges myself, so this makes me feel a lot better.
Applying early action or early decision is one way to show interest.potentially meeting with local alumni…but for instance at many schools an interview can only hurt you…adds very little to your application but can tank it if you blow the interview. Out tour leader at Swarthmore advised us it could only hurt us…We did it any way! My son applied early decision and was accepted.
Definitely audition for the scholarship. It shows interest and you might get money. What’s the downfall?
Put another way, the college will definitely read you not auditioning as a lack of interest.