I have seen in threads that I need to show colleges love, how do I do that.
Do I visit them?
What happens If I can visit them?
Are there other ways?
The first thing you need to do is google “ Common Data Set” and
then look in Section C7: Relative importance of each of the following academic and nonacademic factors in first-time, firstyear,degree-seeking (freshman) admission decisions.
Then look at ** “Level of applicant’s interest”**
Is it Very Important, Important, Considered, or Not Considered?
If Not Considered then you don’t have to bother.
Big State schools don’t consider interest because they don’t want to keep track of that and have no problem filling their classes.
Ivy League’s, e.g. Yale, may not consider interest or only “consider” it because they think “of course you want to come here”.
It is often the private schools that give it more weight.
Here is an example on how to show interest at CWRU…look for similar things you can do for other colleges.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/case-western-reserve-university/1929524-how-to-show-interest-in-cwru-2016-edition.html
Agreed, check the CDS then if you feel you need to show the love here are some ideas:
a) join a mailing list (either email or snail mail or both)
b) visit the campus (be sure to sign in) - do an overnight, sit in on a class, attend an open house, do a campus tour
c) interview (if they have them)
d) like their FB page, they likely have one main one and another for admissions specifically (I don’t know if a college would actually track this and be able to connect this back to you, depends on what info is public but it could help you keep up with what is going on at the school so you can continue to show more love.
If you live local enough you might even consider taking part in other on campus events (such as a concert or guest lecturer). These obviously won’t be tracked by the admissions but it might be helpful in a “Why College X” type essay if you can refer back to these events. At the very least it gives you another taste of the school to see if you like it.
Agree that the first course of action is to see if the colleges you are interested in even care about demonstrated interest.
Visiting is the best way to show interest but it is not always possible. In addition to the above ways you can express interest in a college include:
-Email your admissions rep - but only only if you have a question that cannot be answered from reading the website.
-If there is an online admissions chat you could take part in that
-If the college interviews you could interview on campus if you get there or ask if you can arrange for an interview with an alumni that lives near you.
-If a rep of the college comes to your area you can attend the presentation, college fair etc.