How Colleges Quietly Track Demonstrated Interest – Beyond Campus Tours

When it comes to college admissions, you may have heard the phrase demonstrated interest. It’s a way colleges gauge how excited a student is about attending their school. And here’s the catch: many colleges track interest in more ways than you might realize. For juniors, seniors, and their parents, understanding these “quiet” signals can help a student stand out in a very crowded applicant pool.

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Why Demonstrated Interest Matters

Not every college tracks it, but many do. For schools that use it, demonstrated interest can be a factor in admissions decisions—especially at small to mid-sized private colleges. Why? Because colleges want to admit students who are more likely to enroll. Higher yield (the percentage of admitted students who accept offers) helps them with rankings and financial planning.

Beyond the Campus Tour: How Colleges Quietly Track Demonstrated Interest

Visiting campus is an obvious way to show interest, but here are some of the subtle ways colleges may keep track:

1. Opening Emails – Yes, colleges can see if you open their emails and how quickly you do so. They may also track whether you click links inside them.

2. Attending Webinars or Virtual Info Sessions – Logging into a virtual event can count as a touchpoint. Bonus: some platforms even record how long you stayed.

3. Registering for College Fairs or Rep Visits – Signing in at a table during a local college fair or when a rep visits your high school is often tracked.

4. Early Portal Activity – Once you apply, some schools notice how quickly you log into your applicant portal. Early engagement can be seen as enthusiasm.

5. Interview Participation – Even if optional, showing up for an interview demonstrates commitment.

6. Social Media Interaction – Some colleges notice if you follow or engage with their official accounts.

High School student in a college admissions interview.

Colleges Known for Tracking Demonstrated Interest

Not every school tracks interest, but many do—especially smaller private colleges. Here are some well-known examples:

• American University

• Bentley University

• Boston University

• Case Western Reserve University

• Dickinson College

• Elon University

• Franklin & Marshall College

• Lehigh University

• Rhodes College

• Skidmore College

• Syracuse University

• Trinity College (CT)

• Tulane University

• Union College

• University of Richmond

• Villanova University

• Wake Forest University

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)

*** These are just a sample—many other schools track interest in some way.

Colleges That Typically Don't Track Demonstrated Interest

On the other hand, some highly selective universities and large public schools generally don’t track it. Their applicant pools are already overflowing, so they don’t need to measure enthusiasm. Examples include:

• All Ivy League universities (e.g., Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc.)

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

• Stanford University

• California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

• University of California system (e.g., UCLA, UC Berkeley)

• University of Michigan

• University of Virginia

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Quick Tips for Parents

• Help Track Engagement – Keep a shared spreadsheet of webinars, visits, and emails opened so nothing slips through the cracks.

• Encourage Balance – Remind your teen that interest matters most at certain schools, but it’s not everything.

• Support, Don’t Take Over – Let your teen take the lead in communications with colleges, but be there to organize and encourage.

• Ask Admissions Directly – If unsure, reach out and ask whether a college considers demonstrated interest. Many will tell you.

Quick Tips for Students

• Check Your Email Regularly – Open and click through emails from schools you’re genuinely interested in.

• Show Up for Events – Whether it’s a webinar, info session, or high school rep visit, attend when you can.

• Stay Organized – Use a simple calendar or reminders to keep track of events and deadlines.

• Be Yourself – In interviews, emails, or online interactions, authenticity always comes across better than trying too hard.

• Focus on Fit – Demonstrated interest should be about finding the right school for you, not just trying to impress.

What This Means for Students and Parents

• Be Genuine – Don’t open emails just to open them. Engage with schools you truly care about. Colleges can tell when interest is authentic.

• Stay Organized – Keep track of which schools consider demonstrated interest (not all do). A simple spreadsheet can help.

• Mix Virtual and In-Person – If travel isn’t possible, virtual events count! Colleges understand not everyone can visit.

• Don’t Stress Over Every Click – Interest is one of many factors in admissions, not the deciding one.

Bottom Line

Colleges want to build a community of students who are excited to be there. By understanding how they track interest, you can be more intentional about where you put your energy. Think of it less as “checking boxes” and more as genuinely exploring whether a school is a good fit for you.