@socaldad2002 - according to their CDS, USC doesn’t take demonstrated interest into account. With 64,000 applicants, they don’t have to count if you came to visit campus or contacted an admissions officer. That said, I do think they care about how much you want to be at USC and how that is shown in the USC supplement. They seem to be able to sniff out the kids who are applying there just as a backup option or not near the top of their list. My daughter is an example - she didn’t interview because we are not local and just couldn’t fit it in with her academic schedule in the fall, but she showed her love in her essays. That and her academics and she was accepted. It has probably changed in the past 15+ years. Similar to CMU - I believe I read that they will be removing demonstrated interesting from their list because they are getting so many applicants that they will focus on fit.