<p>I was looking at some of the Common Data Sets and several schools I was lookig at said that an applicant's level of interest is not considered. How does a college benefit from not even considering an applicant's level of interest? Does this mean that any interest expressed (through campus visits, interviews, etc.) holds no weight?</p>
<p>The larger colleges and universities may not want to be bothered tracking who takes a campus tour or requests additional material. If interviews are required or suggested, then do them.</p>
<p>Yeah they hold no weight basically, if interviews/visits are suggested and recommended, go for them, however. But since too many really qualified people are applying, and spots are very limited, they believe that once accepted, a student is most likely to attend.</p>
<p>kind of smug but I suppose they have reason behind it</p>
<p>It makes sense to me. If you apply, then it seems that you are interested. Telling a school that you are applying elsewhere, but really want to attend does not give them much information. It may not be the way things work out in the end after financial offers and other factors are reviewed.</p>
<p>"How does a college benefit from not even considering an applicant's level of interest?"</p>
<p>Usually it is lower tier schools that do this so more kids will apply. Telling a kid you don't have to visit or spend time on the college means he/she is more likely to apply as a safety or whatever. This allows some lower tier colleges to draw more applicants and therefore raise their selectivity. Also, some STATE schools are bound to accept more in state students so they don't fear yield.</p>
<p>"The larger colleges and universities may not want to be bothered tracking who takes a campus tour or requests additional material. "</p>
<p>Yeah I would think this. I was just surprised that Macalester said this.</p>
<p>Yea, I was surprised that Williams didn't consider interest, and what was even more surprising was they also don't consider interview.</p>
<p>im interested in brown, but since they didn't consider interest.. well i think it's good in my case since i can't visit the school (live in the west coast) but im part of their mailing list.</p>
<p>Just remember that you should visit and interview if you get the chance, even if that college doesn't take it into consideration. Visits are the best way to learn about a college, and interviews are almost always intended for the applicant to learn more about the college. The more research you do now, the less you have to do next April. ;)</p>