USC is so hot right now. With admissions rates that have steadily declined over the last decade, USC has become one of the most popular colleges that our clients want to apply to. We think it’s in part to their approachability versus other top colleges, along with admissions policies that make it easier than ever to apply.
Just to go ahead and dispel any rumors, USC does not track demonstrated interest. They’re pretty unique for that – but they’ve stated it publicly multiple times. Depending on who you are, this could be good or bad news, but let’s talk a little bit about what demonstrated interest is and how it can actually help you figure out what you want to do in the future.
What is demonstrated interest?
As much as we would love to wax poetic about how much schools care about us on an individual level, colleges also care about their bottom line. They do want students who fit their vibe and culture, who will add great things to their campuses, but they also want to admit students who will actually enroll at the school and increase their yield rate. And more than not, enrolling means $$$ for them. So how do they get a feel for who will actually enroll? Demonstrated interest.
Demonstrated interest is a collection of all the things you can do to show a college that you’re interested even before you submit your application. Things like in-person and virtual visits, emailing your admissions officer questions, participating in summer programs hosted by the college, and college fairs, all count in your tally. Applying Early Decision is also a huge one – but in addition to not tracking demonstrated interest, USC also doesn’t take ED applications. College interviews can help too. There are even rumors that following them on Twitter or Instagram could be part of it! Basically, anything you can do to learn about the school or follow their moves could be demonstrated interest.
Demonstrated interest can help you in the admissions process, but it can also help you narrow down what you’re looking for in a college. We’ve had tons of students who fell in love with schools during virtual tours and informational sessions and through social media, but once they stepped on campus, they felt something missing. By attempting to show demonstrated interest, they actually found out that they weren’t interested in the school! This is why it’s important to do research and really sus out the vibe of the schools you’re thinking about, because you might realize it isn’t the right fit for you.
Now, demonstrated interest has some downsides. We don’t love that schools track this, because frankly many students don’t have the means or ability to travel cross country to tour a campus, or maybe don’t have access to computers outside of school hours for info sessions, or don’t go to a school that hosts the top colleges at college fairs. That’s one reason we like that USC doesn’t track demonstrated interest, since it removes yet another barrier to create a more free and fair admissions process. However, this removal of barriers is what makes USC even more competitive than it used to be, with more students able to apply.
So what do I do now?
Since USC doesn’t track demonstrated interest, don’t stress too hard. However, don’t just apply blind. Take the time to do thorough research, and if you’re able to swing by to visit, do that too. By doing the same things that show demonstrated interest at other schools, you’ll learn a lot about what life is like at USC and if that’s really where you want to be.
If you are having a rough time with your college list, or don’t even know where to start when it comes to the application process, we have a team of counselors who are experts in this field.
Reach out to us today if you want to get started.