We might be the only ones laughing, but it always makes us chuckle to talk about demonstrated interest at an Ivy League school. Yes, like everyone else, they’ve got to do reputation management (even Taylor Swift can’t stay on top without constantly reinventing herself), but let’s face it… Yale knows you want in. Admit it — if your most recognizable institution on campus is an a cappella group called the “Whiffenpoofs” and nearly 40,000 people still applied last year, you’re basically invincible.
Demonstrated interest has been a buzzy topic since the ‘90s, and it’s persisted because
college applicants are a hysterical, superhumanly ambitious bunch who will turn no stone unturned to improve their chances of acceptance and
schools have very intentionally kept vague about what exactly it is and how much it matters.
Until recently, that is. If you’re applying to Yale, here’s what you need to know about demonstrating interest and pledging your undying loyalty to Handsome Dan.
Good News
Recently, more schools have come out saying they don’t track demonstrated interest, partially because it’s an unreliable metric for schools to go by and partially because it could unfairly advantage privileged students. Think about it — someone who attends a tour or a summer program can do so because their parents could take time off work, or they had the money to travel, or they could be away from home because they didn’t have childcare or financial responsibilities over school breaks. This doesn’t mean that students who couldn’t do the same aren’t interested, though, and fortunately, more schools have changed their policies to address that inequity.
In fact, Yale has a direct statement on their FAQ page:
“Yale does not track ‘demonstrated interest’ in any form for the purpose of evaluating applications. Visiting campus or attending an information session can be an excellent way to learn more about Yale, but it will not affect your chances of admission.”
What This Means for You
Some enthusiastic prospective students may find this disappointing because it means that they can’t distinguish themselves by showing just how much they care. At this point we’re begging you to retire the Meredith Grey “So pick me. Choose me. Love me!” monologue — this is a safe space. No need to beg, children!
Honestly, though, this is better for EVERYONE — even you. It means you don’t have to waste your time making tons of gestures that will go unnoticed or reduce yourself to adding your admissions counselor on Instagram (we’ve seen it all). Demonstrating interest is still wonderful, but the main value add is that it grows your self-knowledge rather than improving the optics of your application.
Basically, the more you learn about Yale, the clearer your vision of college life will be, and that helps you understand if you love the idea of Yale but it’s actually not the best place for you or if WOW THIS IS EXACTLY AS GREAT AS I IMAGINED AND I WANT TO WALK BETWEEN GOTHIC REVIVALIST BUILDINGS BENEATH CONNECTICUT’S GRAY SKIES FOREVER.
The Verdict
So, no, attending a virtual tour won’t get you extra credit when you turn in your finished application, and — frankly? — thank GOD. It means you can’t get edged out by superficial displays of interest that require the bare minimum. Imagine losing your spot to someone who actually wants to go to Yale just because they signed up for further information at a college fair. Anyone can do that!
Demonstrating interest ultimately WILL help you, though. The more intimate your knowledge about Yale and sincere your interest in attending is, the more authentic, comprehensive, and specific your application will be. That’s all the demonstrated interest they need to see.
Our advice remains the same as ever: stop LinkedIn stalking all the employees of the Yale Admissions team, take a deep breath, and put together the best application you can. You’ve got this!
Looking for more application tips? We can help with that. Reach out to us here!