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Demonstrating Interest, Virtually

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You’ve already heard that “demonstrating interest” can be a significant factor in college admissions. But, you’re 5000 miles away, and don’t have plans to take a trip back to the US to tour schools any time in the next year. So how do you demonstrate interest?

I talked about this in a previous post, and my basic advice is to write directed questions to your admissions officer. Ask them something that isn’t immediately available on their website. Maybe something particular to life as a TCK on campus, or about the details of how frequently particular courses might be available in your intended major. Whatever you’d ask on a tour. You should also attend any visits by the university to your high school, and attend their virtual informational webinars.

There are a couple of other less expected ways that colleges track “demonstrated interest” that are even easier from far away though.

Open that email!

E-mail delivery systems will track your engagement with the emails sent to you by the school. Every time you open the email, it registers that on the university’s engagement trackers. If you click through their links to something on their webpage, it will record that as well. So, even if your dream university’s news about an art installation by their basket-weaving major isn’t fascinating to you, if it’s your dream university click through anyway and get your clicks recorded.

Social Media

You should definitely follow the university on Facebook, Instagram, and whatever other social media networks you belong to. Make sure the account you’re following them from is one you’d want them to see though, because they’ll click back to your profile if you’re an applicant and check out how you portray yourself online.

Why volunteer?

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Community service has long been one of those elusive factors on college admissions. What kids of community service should teens be pursuing, how often and how long?

A recent study of college admissions counselors (admittedly done by a company that helps high school counselors track community service hours on a web platform) concluded that community service IS very important, but it’s not necessarily because they are looking for altruistic students, or students more likely to graduate. Instead, the top three factors in why colleges look at community service included:

1. “Indicator that the student is likely to be active in student social life outside the classroom.”

2. “Indicator that the student is likely to contribute to the school’s mission”

3. “Indicator that the student shares the school’s values.”

The survey also found that colleges are most likely to use community service as a decision-making factor between two otherwise similar candidates (i.e. same test scores, class rank, extracurricular involvement).

The take away from this? Highlight those three factors when talking about your community service. Also, get involved in community service that is interesting and relevant to you, which allows you to get involved deeply, rather than superficially.

Read more about the results of the survey on Forbes.