506: What Colleges Want (Part 6): Demonstrated Interest: What Is it, Why Is it Important, and How Do You Show it? with Dean of Enrollment Christine Bowman

In this episode of The College Essay Guy Podcast, Ethan interviews Christine Bowman, Assistant VP for Admission at Southwestern University, about demonstrated interest (DI) in the college application process. Christine reframes DI as "demonstrated learning," emphasizing its mutual benefit for students and colleges to find the right fit. She explains how colleges track interest through campus visits, website engagement, and communication with admission officers, while also addressing equity concerns for students who cannot visit campuses. The discussion covers the importance of yield for colleges, the nuances of early decision versus early action, the role of interviews, and how parents can support their children without overstepping. Christine advises students to view admission officers as resources and encourages them to be authentic throughout the process, and she also reminds listeners that many colleges do not consider demonstrated interest as part of their admission process.