How important is demonstrated interest at William and Mary?

Hi there! I'm just curious about how heavily the College of William and Mary weighs demonstrated interest during the admissions process. What can I do to show them I'm genuinely interested in attending? Any tips are appreciated!

Demonstrated interest can play a role in the admissions process at some colleges, but it varies from school to school. For the College of William and Mary specifically, demonstrated interest is a factor, but it's not one of the top criteria in the evaluation process.

Here are some ways you can show demonstrated interest at William and Mary:

1. Campus visit: If possible, take a campus tour or attend an open house event. If travel isn't feasible for you, consider attending a virtual event of some kind.

2. Engage with their online resources: Don't just attend virtual events, but actively engage during them to gain more insight into the school, its programs, and community. Be sure to ask relevant questions during these sessions to show your keen interest.

3. Connect with current students or alumni: Reach out to individuals who have experience with the school to get a better understanding of campus life and academics. Their insights can help you present your candidacy in a more compelling way in your essays and during your interview (if you receive one).

4. Write a strong supplemental essay: Use examples and describe experiences that show how your values align with William and Mary's. You can read more about how to do this on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-college-of-william-and-mary-essays.

5. Interact with the admissions office: Reach out to the admissions office with any pertinent questions you may have, but be mindful not to inundate them with trivial queries.

Keep in mind that while demonstrated interest can be helpful, the most significant factors in the admissions process will be your academics, test scores (if submitted), extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation. So, focus most of your energy on strengthening these aspects of your application, but it's also never a bad idea to make an effort to showcase your interest in William and Mary as well.

Good luck with your application!