<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>How much does demonstrated interest matter for admission to top schools? After re-reading my "Why X University" essays I realize they seem very lukewarm, even for my very favorite schools..</p>
<p>Will this disqualify an applicant who isn't an absolute standout (33 ACT, 3.9-3.95 UW, no real hooks)? </p>
<p>Is there any way to show interest after applying regular decision? </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>You can always convey interest by updating schools with new data. I don’t mean that you need to send huge new things to sound interested; the news would be more like an “excuse” to contact the college. Through your e-mail, explicit that a new award/distinction has been given to you and, with the great interest you have on that college, you’re contacting them to enable a more thorough evaluation of your academic performance. Bottom line is: demonstrate your enthusiasm while waiting for a final decision.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Many of the very top schools don’t take demonstrated interest into account. The reason? Their prestige is enough to pull you away from lower-ranked schools. Check the Common Data Set for the schools you’re applying to–they may not even care.</p>
<p>Okay, good to know. When you say “demonstrated interest” I assume you are talking about the essays, and not campus visits and such (as most schools did not ask if I have visited, stayed overnight, ect.)</p>
<p>I’m really worried that my “Why University X” essays are going to keep me out of the schools I applied to. My essays took very idealistic tones, and I failed to do what most people recommend in “Why University X” essays, such as alluding to certain programs, departments, traditions, ect.</p>
<p>I am very frustrated with myself because when I wrote those essays, although I could have made them in the generally recommended way, I wrote them more about personal expansion and discovery because it just seemed so much more true for me (although there are, obviously, departments/programs that drew me in). </p>
<p>Also, I went ahead and sent update letters (by mail) to all the schools I applied to. I received various football awards (all conference, all area, and an all state award) as well as some academic awards through football (football-academic all state) that I listed and mailed in. Hopefully the update letters, and my interviews, will demonstrate interest better than my “Why X” essays did! </p>
<p>I suppose it’s too late to do anything about it now, anyway.</p>
<p>Most schools don’t ask whether you’ve visited or stayed overnight because they already keep track of that information and don’t need you to try to remember.</p>
<p>Demonstrated interest refers to include visits, overnights, and anything you’ve done that suggests you’re interested in their school, rather than “oh, school X sounds good <em>sends commonapp</em>”</p>
<p>Demonstrated interest generally refers to visit tracking, but not what you write in your essays. That falls under the essay category. Most schools don’t care a whole lot about demonstrated interest (although some care quite a bit), but if they’re asking a Why University X essay question, they’ll definitely consider that as they would any other essay.</p>
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<p>I agree. A school might not consider demonstrated interest, but if one of their essays is a “Why X?” question, then they will definitely consider it. I don’t think a lukewarm one will disqualify you, but a really good one can really help you stand out.</p>
<p>Okay, I apologize for misusing “demonstrated interest.” Thank you for clearing that one up for me. </p>
<p>I just don’t want to be completely put out by the admissions committees because I don’t appear interested enough- it is my own fault, though. I definitely showed concrete interest (professors, departments, ect.) much better in my interviews, so hopefully my interview reports display that interest.</p>