Once you have submitted your college applications, many schools will send applicants instructions to create a student portal account. Usually, colleges will send each applicant their temporary login information for the applicant portal within a week of receiving their application. It is important to be on the lookout for these emails and follow the instructions to create your account in a timely manner so that you don’t miss any important updates or alerts regarding your application.
Why Should I Set Up My Application Portal?
College applicant portals can have the following functionality:
- Track all your application materials for that school, including test scores
- Update contact information, if necessary
- Upload additional documents, such as abstracts of scientific research, digital portfolios, etc.
- Set up a college interview, if offered
- Submit a short video introduction
- Ask your admissions counselor a question or upload an update letter
- Apply for additional scholarship opportunities and/or special academic programs
- Receive financial aid information, if applicable
- Register for upcoming events and track important dates and deadlines
- Access college news and admissions decisions
- Pay your deposit confirming your acceptance of the admissions offer
Taking the time to set up your applicant portal not only demonstrates your strong interest in the school but shows the admissions team that you are responsible, proactive, and diligent. Continue to open every email from the schools you are applying to and check your spam and promotion folders to ensure you don’t miss any important communications.
What is Demonstrated Interest?
In recent years, “demonstrated interest” has become an increasingly important part of the college admissions process, particularly for colleges that are private, smaller, and more selective. Exhibiting “informed” interest allows you to show the school that you have done your research and thoughtfully considered your decision to apply there, and it will help you make a stronger case as to why the school is a good fit for you.
In addition to utilizing the school’s applicant portal, you can also contact their regional admissions officer with an occasional email if you have substantive updates to report (e.g. honors, awards, completion of a major school project, a special accomplishment in an activity) or a genuine question that is not answered on the college’s website.
As more and more schools rely on demonstrated interest to help them achieve their enrollment goals, it is increasingly important to show your preference for schools in an authentic way. Here at Collegiate Gateway, we are happy to help guide you through this process and answer your questions about all aspects of college admissions, including the Common App, essays, resumes, recommendations, interviews, video submissions, and more. Visit our website to set up a complimentary consultation to learn about our services.
