I know the OP already visited Cornell, and good luck, OP! I just wanted to add for anyone else reading the thread that I’ve noticed “demonstrated interest” on the Common Data Set can be different from year to year with the same school. That makes me less likely to trust it! If they tracked it last year, did they really stop this year? Did everyone get the memo, or did a receptionist just check a different box this year? Makes me lean towards visiting!
Yeah 
I feel like California cold is going to be like summer in Ithaca! The school in Cornell that I’m applying to has a program that really fits me, so I feel like suffering through the cold would be worth it :/// Thanks for the advice! 
@rphcfb
Just adding that I do believe interest is tracked in some ways. When my D and I attended a Human Ec info. session last summer, she completed a short questionaire upon checking in at the specific college waiting area. It asked general questions about her, why she’s interested in Human Ecology, etc. Then, while sitting around a big oval table, the students were told about the college. When the admissions rep was done, she spread the questionnaires out in front of her and went around the whole table allowing each student to speak and answer her probing questions from the info that the students had written while in the waiting room. The admissions rep jotted down notes on the questionnaires as the students spoke!!! I was very impressed and was amazed at the thoroughness of Human Ecology.
If you are applying to Human Ecology, make it a priority to attend their school specific info session that they highly recommend you attend already!!
My daughter only went to check out Cornell after she was admitted. It can be very expensive for some students to make a trip to all the schools they are applying to. If a school says they don’t care I would assume they are telling the truth.
We had two contacts with Cornell admissions. One via phone & the other in person. Both contacts were lengthy, informative & encouraging. Impression was that Cornell admissions went well beyond normal courtesies & information sharing. Did not apply as son applied ED to another university & had a full ride scholarship in hand to a state school honors college by early October (had to withdraw the ED app) & was offered admission to a few other institutions based on prior contacts.
Based on our experience, the contacts with Cornell admissions were very fruitful.
My son with less than spectacular numbers got in.
He did meet with an ad officer and had a personal discussion, not just the mass tour (though we did that too).
Would definitely visit so that you have a clear idea what the college mine is. Will also help you as you put together your essay on why Cornell
Visiting helps write the "why " essay, but some of us can’t afford to be flying all over the country. Colleges understand that. Using “demonstrated interest” creates a potential bias against lower income students, which is probably the biggest reason why schools are saying they don’t use it as a criteria to admissions.
My daughter was admitted RD ‘22. Never visited until after accepted. Same for the other student from her school admitted during ED.
It doesn’t matter.
Much better to focus on a high quality ED application to increase your odds from about 8% in RD to 20%+ in ED.
I think applicants need to assume that it all matters and they need to do everything in the application process within their control. Again, within their control. If cost or logistics prevents you from a visit, don’t think twice about it. Top schools have more and more applicants each year, so the competition is intense. I am not saying visiting helps, but why wonder if it could have.
If you can’t visit, go to the Cornell info session at your HS. Admissions staff visit high schools all around the country.