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