College Visits
Oct 18, 2026
What Your Teen Needs From You Each Year of High School
Helping your child navigate the path to college is a balancing act. You want to give your child every opportunity for success, from encouraging strong academic habits and exploring extracurricular activities to tracking important deadlines and making informed decisions. But knowing when to offer guidance and when to step back isn't always easy. When it comes to college admissions, there's an important difference between supporting your child and managing the process for them.
Aug 29, 2026
Demonstrated Interest: The College Admissions Factor Families May Be Overlooking
Many families understand the major pieces of college admissions: grades, course rigor, test scores, activities, essays, and recommendations. But another factor is playing an increasingly visible role at some colleges—one that many students and parents still don't fully understand. It's called demonstrated interest, and overlooking it can potentially put a student at a disadvantage at colleges that consider it.
Mar 29, 2026
College Visits 101: How Parents Can Help Students Make the Most of Campus Tours
A college campus visit is one of the most powerful steps in the college search process. What looks perfect in a brochure or on a website can feel very different in person. Visiting a campus helps students imagine themselves living and learning there — and helps families determine whether a school truly feels like the right “best-fit” college.
Jul 2, 2025
Why Demonstrated Interest Matters in College Admissions
As your student navigates the college admissions process, you've likely heard about grades, test scores, and extracurriculars. But there's another powerful—and often overlooked—factor that can influence admission decisions: demonstrated interest.
May 11, 2025
Help Your Junior Build a Smart College List This Spring
As your child wraps up 11th grade, now is the ideal time to start crafting a thoughtful and strategic college list. A well-balanced list can reduce stress, open more opportunities, and increase your student’s chances of finding the right academic, social, and financial fit.
Jan 6, 2023
4 Easy Steps to a College List that Fits Your Student and Family
It's important to have personal insights to be able to build a college list to know where to visit with your student ...
Dec 20, 2022
4 Ways to Grab a College’s Attention
Demonstrated Interest is a term that doesn’t always make it into the college selection dialogue, but it should. With...
Oct 3, 2022
Why College Visits Should be Complete by May 1st
Think of the last place you were that felt deserted. Nearly empty stadium? An island accessible by boat? A college ca...
Feb 15, 2022
5 Steps for 10th Graders to Launch the College Search
While the junior year is known as the most challenging academically and the crucial year for the college-bound journey, it is wise to jump-start the process in the spring of 10th grade. Families are often surprised to learn or be reminded, that by the completion of the first semester sophomore year the GPA for college application has reached the halfway point.
Jul 26, 2021
Demonstrated Interest: Getting on the College’s Radar
It’s simple. Students who DEMONSTRATE INTEREST at colleges who track interest get admitted at higher rates.
Colleges want to increase their “yield”. Yield is the number of applicants who actually choose to attend a school where they are accepted. In recent years, while the number of applicants to colleges are up, yield is down.
Mar 5, 2021
What College Essays Teach About the College Search
For decades, the LEAP team has guided thousands through the college application process which includes writing essays...
Mar 11, 2020
What to do when colleges cancel your visit due to Coronavirus
Is Coronavirus sabotaging your plans for spring break college visits? Don’t despair! Here are action tips on how to navigate the college selection and be application ready with this extra free time you’ve suddenly found.