Commmon Data Set - Level of Interest

Applying to College
1

Some schools we are considering indicate in the CDS that Level of Interest is Considered or Important.
How do you make sure that you have checked this box when applying?

2

@DCNatFan from our own experience son did the following:

  1. Contacted local admissions rep via email towards end of jr. year introducing himself and expressing interest in the school. All but one rep emailed him back promptly.
  2. Scheduled visits to the ones that were driveable and let his admissions rep know that he would be coming in case they were around to meet him. We flew to the one college that was highest on his list as the level of interest there was marked 'important'.
  3. Went to the college meeting at schools when a rep came from one he was interested in. While he got some decent info from these, not sure they counted as demonstrated interest as most didn't pass around a roster for sign ups.
  4. Once applications submitted, he sent final email to reps (of schools highest on his list) to confirm his application had been submitted and asked if there was anything else he could do to strengthen his chances of admittance.
  5. For rolling schools, apply as early as possible.
3

Visit campus- sign up for a tour and information session

Interview- if you can’t interview on campus request an alumni or Skype interview

Sit in on a class- if you can visit campus have your son/daughter look at the course catalog. Have him/her contact the professor to arrange to attend the class if possible

Have your student attend the info session If the regional rep comes to your high school; try to make a personal connection with the rep

Sign up for webinars or any online “events” the school might offer; attend the college fair if that school is sending a rep

If you can’t personally visit the campus make sure to sign up for admissions emails. Take the virtual tour if there is one, and make sure your son/daughter checks out other pages on their website. Try to connect with the regional rep, but don’t annoy them with a question that could easily be answered from the website.

Have your son/daughter always open any emails that the admissions office sends; If applying, make sure to sign into the application portal and check to make sure everything is in order once the application is submitted

That’s all I can think of for now. A visit is the best way to show interest but they understand that many students can’t make it to campus. So your son/daughter needs to make a concerted long distance effort to check that box if applying (especially if CDS says level of interest is “important”).

4

Apply ED. That is the ultimate way of showing interest.

5

I forgot to include that you should follow schools on Instagram and/or Twitter and open every email sent by the school. I had heard that the schools can track those things and it was confirmed when an admissions rep came to school to talk with the whole senior class and said that they can see everytime you open an email from them and they like seeing that.

6

^^ I definitely agree

7

Also by submitting scores and applications early. Most important, have that expressed and shown in the essay. A generic essay, particularly for the why this school prompt, would be interpreted as lack of interest.

8

Re #4

In terms of electronic tracking of interest, the student should open emails from the college with an HTML reader or browser that shows images, and check the admission portal every so often.