When we think about our digital footprints (the trail of data we leave when we visit websites, use social media, send emails, etc.), we might become concerned about who’s using our data and for what purpose. Meta and TikTok, unsurprisingly, are at or near the top of the list of companies collecting information based on users’ online behavior, but did you know that colleges routinely collect data on prospective students? Or that this data sometimes impacts decisions to admit or deny applicants?
If you are unfamiliar with the concept of demonstrated interest, our previous post will school you in the what, why, and how of this important factor in college admissions decisions. To give an analogy, it’s similar to gauging your crush’s interest in you before asking them out. Colleges don’t want to ask you out (admit you) if you are going to say no (enroll at another school) because this will hurt their pride (admissions statistics). Just like you might gather data (did they smile at you, laugh at your joke, ask a friend about you?), colleges rely on data (did they visit our website, take a tour, stop by our table at a college fair?) to assess your interest before they make that final decision on your application.
Over 1,700 colleges and universities use Slate Technolutions, a higher ed, data management system that enables admissions staff to plan travel and events, deliver texts and emails, process and review applications, and, of course, collect data on students. In short, Slate and similar systems enable admissions staff to more efficiently direct their travel and marketing recruitment efforts, predict application numbers, and project annual enrollment. Drilling down, once you have a digital record (maybe your name was purchased from the College Board when you took the SAT or an AP exam), a college can record your online behavior (time spent on websites, opening emails, etc.) and your IRL behavior (visiting campus, signing up for an interview, etc.) Given these capabilities, you might think that colleges hold all the power, but you can leverage this power to your advantage.
Personal Boot Camp
Three days of one-on-one work with a Senior Counselor from the Application Boot Camp® team.
DEMONSTRATED INTEREST: LEVERAGE THE POWER
Most students, of course, are “playing the field,” or considering a range of colleges where they might apply. At TTA, we ensure that students develop a thoughtful application strategy with a number of great options rather than focus on one target school. To keep your options open, you need to make sure you demonstrate interest in all but the most selective schools on your list. While highly selective schools such as the Ivies do not track demonstrated interest (they don’t need to), most schools are paying attention to your engagement—or lack of engagement—to make decisions about where to travel for recruitment, who to mail publications to, and, ultimately, whom to admit. Why not turn this to your advantage with minimal effort? Register (“request information”) on colleges’ websites if you might apply there; open their emails; visit their websites; take those virtual tours. Who knows, maybe this exploration will move a school up on your list? Thoroughly researching each college certainly won’t hurt you in the admissions process (and will give you better insights for any supplementary essays).
DEMONSTRATED INTEREST: PLUS FACTORS
With all the hoops students feel they must jump through in the college application process though, opening emails from 12-15 different colleges might seem like a waste of precious time. To judge whether it’s worthwhile, here’s another way to look at the situation. Picture a set of balance scales. On one side, you have a straight-A transcript, perfect test scores, and a long-term commitment to mentoring under-resourced kids. On the other side, you have a weak essay, little involvement at school, and no engagement with the college. Admit or deny? You want to stack up as many “plus factors” as you can on the positive side of the scale and avoid adding weight to the negative side: demonstrated interest is just one factor, but it’s one you have complete control over. While it’s not nearly as important as your grades and test scores, course rigor, activities, or essays, it can factor into your admissions decisions.
DEMONSTRATED INTEREST: EARLY ACTION
At no time is it more important to leave large digital footprints than when you are applying to an early action school. If admitted through this early, non-binding application process, you can sit back and wait for other offers to come in before making your final enrollment decision. Typically, students apply early action to hedge their bets in the process, not to gain admission to their top school. Consequently, admissions staff are looking closely at how seriously interested early action applicants are, whether by assessing the specificity of their “why attend X college?” essay or checking whether they’ve clicked on links in the emails they’ve been sent (there’s a report for that!). Be sure to cover this base by engaging digitally—or through in-person interactions—with any schools where you plan to submit an early action application.
- UC Admissions Trends - April 9, 2024
- The Case for Humanities Majors - March 5, 2024
- Transfer Acceptance Rates and Top Tips - January 10, 2024
