After going through USC admissions four times, I strongly believe that demonstrated interest is huge, whether they acknowledge it or not. Especially for kids outside the super high stat range or even in the sea of super high stats that all seem the same. Essays are great, but when a person is truly passionate about what they do or if they an interesting slant to their story, time spent talking to people at USC gives them a chance to show them this in person. Personality can certainly trump stats which can’t always be seen in an app. DI is not anonymous tours, it is connections made anytime there and interviewing.