<p>I also agree that even if you don’t need talent money, as an applicant, one should take advantage of every opportunity to demonstrate who they are to admissions. If an interview is offered or encouraged, one should do it. If an audition is optional, one should do it. These are all opportunities to showcase oneself beyond your stats and beyond your written submissions. Admissions is holistic. Why not take advantage of showing every side of yourself, plus demonstrating interest in the school? Small liberal arts schools care about your level of interest in attending. They also look beyond “stats” and in fact, Muhlenberg is test optional! I would encourage any kid to take advantage of every interview and audition or any other similar things a school offers. This year, Tufts allowed applicants to submit a video (of anything about themselves…wide open) and give the adcoms a link to the video online. It was yet another way for a student to demonstrate who they are. Many of those vids are on YouTube and some are quite interesting and show the student in another light beyond the paper application. I am an alum interviewer and can say that one main purpose of the interview is to get to know the student on a personal level beyond their “credentials.” I also seek out the level of the student’s interest in the college. So, Muhlenberg’s interview with admissions and its audition day with the theater director are such opportunities. I would never pass those up.</p>