Universities are most impressed by the applicants who show depth of character. They want people who have really thought about life and genuinely want to bring something to the world. That is what colleges exist for, to make the world a better place. Impress them with maturity.

If you want to study chemistry, show them in your essays that you have a good understanding of the field of chemistry and give examples of positive things you might do with a chemistry degree, such as searching for a cure for cancer (or is that medicine?). Anyway, be sincere. High school kids don’t know how to lie well enough to impress intellectual professors who read hundreds of insincere applications every year. If you don’t have it in you, don’t make it up. If you do have it in you, don’t hold back. Let yourself shine and you’ll have no worries.

Oh yeah, one more thing, colleges like people who can pay for their educations. Get the money thing lined up and you’ll help yourself a great deal. Especially with an expensive school like USC.