Importance of Demonstrated Interest

By Keith Gramling

As families begin their college search and begin to discuss application strategies, often the focus is centered on the most transparent components: grades and testing. Then the focus shifts to the development of the qualitative sections of the applications: activities, personal statements and supplements. An aspect of the application process that is often overlooked and is most misunderstood is demonstrated interest. In recent years this concept has grown in importance as colleges strive to identify those students who are most likely to accept the offer of admission as they review applicants and make admission decisions.

当高三学生家庭开始他们的大学探索并开始讨论申请策略时，通常他们会把重点放在最透明的部分：学校成绩和标化分数。然后他们会将重点转向申请表的定性内容的完善：如活动、个人陈述和辅助文书。申请过程的经常被忽视和误解的另一个方面是表明自己的兴趣。近年来，大学在审查申请表材料，努力确定最有可能接受录取的学生过程中，这一个方面也变得越来越重要。

How important is demonstrated interest?表明兴趣有多重要

In a 2017-2018 survey by the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, 15.5% of surveyed college admissions officials ranked demonstrated interest as having “Considerable Importance.” Another 21.4% ranked it as having “Moderate Importance.” This places it in the same tier as letters of recommendation and essay/writing sample. Demonstrated interest isn’t going to compensate for a low GPA or mediocre test scores, but it can help borderline students strengthen their case, if they do it right.

在美国全国大学招生顾问协会2017-2018年的一项调查中，15.5%的被调查大学招生官表示，表明兴趣“相当重要”。另外21.4%的人列其为“中等重要性”。这使其与推荐信，文书/写作范例具有同一级别的重要性。表明兴趣并不能弥补GPA低或标化成绩平平的问题，但如果表明兴趣方面做的好，它可以帮助边缘学生强化自己的申请。

How/why do colleges use demonstrated interest?

As Tulane Director of Admission Jeff Schiffman told Forbes, “we use demonstrated interest as one tool in the application review to get a better sense of a student’s likelihood of enrolling at Tulane, their ability to graduate from Tulane and to get a sense if they ultimately will be happy here.” He encourages students who are interested in Tulane to reach out to the admissions officers with questions, interact with them at local admissions events, and to do good research while writing their admissions essays.

正如杜兰招生主任Jeff Schiffman在《福布斯》说的那样：“我们将表明兴趣作为申请表审查的一个工具，以更好地了解学生入读杜兰大学的可能性，了解他们从杜兰毕业的能力，并了解他们最终在杜兰是否会快乐”。他鼓励对杜兰感兴趣的学生们向招生官提问题，在当地招生活动中与他们互动，并在写文书阶段进行细致的研究。

Admissions officers are also responsible for ensuring that the right number of students and the right mix of students enroll each year. Enrolling too many or too few students can have significant impact on a college. According to the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, the average yield rate for Fall 2016 was 33.6%, down from 35.1% a year earlier. Put another way: if a college admits 100 students, they can expect (on average) 33 of those students to actually enroll and pay tuition. Given that landscape, it’s not surprising that college admissions counselors want to be sure of their admittees.

招生官还负责确保每年入学的学生数量和学生群体的多元化。招收太多或太少的学生会对大学产生很大的影响。根据全国大学招生顾问协会的数据，2016年秋季的入学率为33.6%，低于上一年的35.1%。换一种说法：如果一所大学录取100名学生，他们会期望（平均）33名学生实际入学并支付学费。考虑到这一情况，招生顾问们想要确定他们的招生人数也就不奇怪了。

What are some good ways to demonstrate interest?表明兴趣的方法有哪些呢？

First demonstrated interest is something that can be built throughout a student’s high school career. It should be a careful strategic consideration that is built over time.

首先表明的兴趣是可以在学生的高中生涯中建立发展起来的。随着时间的推移，这个兴趣应该是经过学生谨慎的策略性考虑一直保持的。

At early stages of college process:申请过程初期

Campus Visits 大学访校

Most colleges keep track of who visits campus, and the campus visit is important for two reasons: not only does it demonstrate your interest; it also helps you get a better feel for the college. Campus visits help you choose a school, craft a focused essay, and perform well in an interview. Here's how to make the most of your campus visit.

大多数大学都会追踪谁参加了大学访校，而访校之所以重要，有两个原因：它不仅能表现出你的兴趣，还能帮助你更好地感受校园。访校可以帮助你选择大学，写有重点的文书，并在面试中表现出色。以下是如何充分利用大学访校的方法。

College Fairs /High School Visits大学博览会/到高中拜访

If a college is attending a college fair is in your area or visiting your high school, stop by the booths. Introduce yourself to the college representative and be sure to leave your name and contact information. You'll get on the college's mailing list, and many schools keep track of the fact that you visited with them. Also be sure to pick up the college rep's business card.

如果一所大学正在你所在的地区参加大学博览会或拜访你的高中，请在展台旁稍留一会儿。向代表代表介绍你自己，一定要留下你的姓名和联系方式。你将会进入该校的学生邮寄列表，许多学校会记录你和他们见面交流过的事情。同时一定要拿到大学代表的名片。

Contacting Your Admissions Representative 联系你的招生代表

You don't want to pester the admissions office, but if you have a question or two about the college, call or email your admissions representative. Plan your call and craft your email carefully -- you'll want to make a good impression. An ungrammatical email filled with text-speak isn't going to work in your favor.

虽然你不想有事没事就去找招生官，但是如果你对学校有一两个问题，记得打电话或发邮件给你的招生代表。计划好你的电话内容，并且好好构思你的邮件——你需要留下好印象，而一封不符合文法或用短信语言表述的邮件可没法帮到你。

Sending a Thank You Note 发一封感谢信

If you chatted with a college representative at a fair, send an email message the next day to thank him or her for taking time to talk with you. In the message, note one or two features of the college that appeal to you. Similarly, if you meet with a regional representative or interview on campus, send a follow-up thank you. You'll be demonstrating your interest as well as showing that you are a considerate person.

如果你在博览会上与某位大学代表有聊天，第二天就给他/她发一封邮件，感谢他/她抽出时间与你交谈。在邮件中，记得描述一下这所学校一两个吸引你的特征。同样，如果你在校园里遇到某位地区代表或参加了面试，也请发一封感谢信。如此你不仅表现出了你的兴趣，也表明了你是一个细心周到的人。

If you really want to impress, send an actual snail-mail note of appreciation.

如果你真的想给人留下深刻的印象，那就邮寄一封真正的感谢信。

Requesting College Information 咨询大学信息

You're likely to get a lot of college brochures without asking for them. Colleges work hard to get mailing lists of high school students who show promise. Don't rely on this passive approach to getting print materials, and don't depend entirely on a college's website for information. Completing the contact request form on each college’s website will also ensure that you are invited to recruitment activities in your area and kept updated regarding admission changes and academic programs.

你很可能即使不要求也会得到很多大学宣传册。大学会努力收集那些有潜力的高中生的邮寄地址。不要依赖这种被动的方式来拿到大学纸质材料，也不要完全依赖大学的网站来获取信息。在每个大学的网站上填写联系信息申请表也可以帮助你被邀请参加你所在地区的招生活动，并实时获得招生新进展和最新的学术项目信息。

During the Application Process:申请过程中

Applying Early 早期申请

There is perhaps no better way to demonstrate interest than to apply to a college through an early decision program. This is for the simple reason that you can apply to just one school through early decision, and if accepted your decision is binding. Early decision should be used only if you are 100% sure that the college is your top choice. Realize that not all colleges offer early decision.

也许没有比通过ED申请更好的方式来表现出你对某所大学的兴趣了。原因很简单，你只能选择一所学校进行ED申请，如果被录取了那你的决定是有约束力的。只有当你100%确定某所大学是你的首选时，才应该进行ED申请。请注意并非所有的大学都有ED申请的方式。

Early action also shows your interest, and through this admissions program you are not bound to a single school. Early action does not demonstrate as high of a level of interest as early decision, but it does show that you care enough to get your application submitted early in the admissions cycle.

EA申请也可以表明你的兴趣，但是与ED不同，EA申请是没有约束力的。EA申请虽然没有ED申请所表现出的兴趣这么大，但它确实表明你足够在乎某所大学，所以会尽早申请。

Supplemental Essays 辅助文书

Many colleges have an essay question that asks why you want to attend their school, and a lot of colleges that use The Common Application have a college-specific supplement. This is a great place to show your interest. Make sure your essay isn't generic. It should address the specific and unique features of the college that most appeal to you. Show that you've researched the college well and that you're a good match for the school. Check out this sample supplemental essay, and be careful to avoid these common supplemental essay mistakes.

许多大学都会有一个关于为什么你想入读他们学校的文书问题，使用通用申请表的很多大学也有自己特定的辅助文书要求。这是一个展示你兴趣的好地方。一定要确保你的文书不是一般性的。它应该阐明这所大学最吸引你的具体和独特的地方。文书中要表现出你对大学有做过细致的调查了解，而且你很适合他们学校。请查阅这篇辅助文书范例，并注意避免这些常见的错误。

College Interviews 大学面试

The interview is a great place to demonstrate your interest. Be sure to research the college well before the interview, and then use the interview to demonstrate your interest through both the questions you ask and those you answer. If the interview is optional, you should do it.

面试也是展示你兴趣的一个好方法。在面试之前一定要好好调查研究一下学校，然后通过你问的和你回答的问题来表明你的兴趣。如果面试是可选的，那你应该选择参加面试。

InitialView Interviews初鉴面试

Colleges are increasingly using this service to both verify a student’s English abilities and to hear from the student in his/her own voice. For many colleges the submission of the interview is used as a sign of demonstrated interest. It is recommended that all students submit an interview to those schools that accept the interview.

大学越来越多地使用初鉴面试来验证学生的英语能力，倾听学生的声音。对于许多大学来说，参加这个面试也是展示兴趣的一个表现。建议所有学生向接受面试的大学都提交面试。