<p>Northeastmom, showing interest only works well at schools that fall within a very small range. Among highly selective schools, there might ONE Ivy where it works, a handful of LAC, and probably NONE of the public schools. </p>
<p>Playing that card is an expensive and mostly futile exercise. For every one student who had good results with courting a school heavily, you’ll find ten who didn’t do much at all. If you like anecdotes, most of my friends at my current NEVER interviewed and NEVER visited the campus before being admitted.</p>