When starting the college search, several components go into the process.  One of the first steps is building a list, followed by all the pieces a student needs to submit to the colleges on that list.  From essays, activities, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and more, these are all the tangible things a college will need for a complete review.

What students should also be thinking about is the importance of this idea of “demonstrating interest.” But what does that mean exactly? Demonstrating interest is when a student takes an active role in researching a college. This can come in my forms:

• official college visits
• meeting with the regional representative
• high school visits
• college fairs
• virtual or in-person info sessions
• emails to the admissions office
• interviews

This steps becomes vital to students standing out as many colleges track the interest a student is showing. This not only helps colleges better connect with the student, but understand how seriously the student is considering the college.  For some colleges, it’s an admissions deal breaker as they make their final decision if a student will be admitted. This also works to the student’s advantage because you learn so much about a college when you engage in numerous ways. It allows you to be an informed consumer about the colleges you taking the time to apply to, and the hours of effort to submit a strong application.

We strongly encourage students to take the time to connect with the colleges they are seriously considering.  From an admissions component to helping students navigate their preferences, there is no reason students should fall short of taking advantage of one of the many opportunity colleges offer to connect.