How To Get into University of Southern California (as an in-state student by Johanna Lee)
Related Reading: Is the SAT still important in California? (Blog Post)
A bit more about me:
My name is Johanna Lee and I am currently an undergraduate studying Human Biology at the University of Southern California. As someone who grew up and lived in California practically all my life, I wanted to share my personal experience throughout my high school journey and the college application process. As many of you may know, the college application process and the time spent leading up to it is a tedious and nerve-wrecking process. In my mind as a high schooler, I had to reach for high achievements in every aspect of my high school career: my GPA, my SAT score, AP scores, volunteer hours, research (as a STEM major), college essays, school clubs, non-profit organizations, hobbies, you name it. I was overwhelmed, and wanted to step my foot into everything, thinking I could reach my fullest potential in each category. What I soon came to realize was that this was very unrealistic, as I began to uncover where my true skill sets and passions lay.
My High School Journey
Throughout my life, I’ve known that I’ve always had a passion for maths and sciences. In elementary school, I noticed that this was what came naturally to me, leading to my ambition and excitement to learn more each day. In middle school, I was intrigued by my first biology class, where I first discovered the complexity and beauty of living organisms. This fascination sparked my curiosity about how life works at a molecular level and inspired me to explore science beyond the classroom. So, in high school, I naturally found myself interested in lab research opportunities, where I got to expand this yearning desire for discovery, problem-solving, and contribution to innovative solutions that could make a real difference in people’s lives. The winter break of my sophomore year in high school was when I had my first hands-on research experience in a molecular cell biology lab at Keck Medicine of USC. There, I had the opportunity to culture a line of human hepatocyte cells, marking the beginning of my journey into laboratory science. This experience quickly transformed my interest into a drive, motivating me to seek out additional research opportunities and further develop my laboratory skills. The following summer, right before my junior year of high school, I was blessed with another opportunity to volunteer as a lab research assistant once again at the same molecular cell biology lab, this time, gaining more skill sets and learning new processes such as Western blotting protein samples and imaging chemiluminescent blots to analyze protein expression.
Following this summer into my junior year of high school, I started to worry about preparing for the SAT, as many students at this time were. In California, many UC schools and private institutions had adopted test-optional policies, which made the SAT feel less critical to some. However, I understood that excelling on the SAT could help me stand out in the competitive college admissions process, so I committed myself to preparing diligently for the exam. Truthfully, it was rough. But eventually, after three rounds of test-taking, I managed to achieve a score that reflected the hard work I had put into the preparation for this big test. This experience taught me the value of perseverance and discipline, qualities that I carried with me into my research pursuits.
Being Able to Do Research was a breakthrough for me
Shortly after, I was fortunate to secure a research internship at Keck Medicine of USC, this time at a laboratory that focuses on Gastrointestinal and Human Liver Diseases. This internship was part of a program called Bridge Undergraduate Science Jr. Program (BUGS Jr.) at USC, a program I really recommend to high school students pursuing STEM majors or interested in research in general. Through this program, I was able to meet my amazing P.I., who I collaborated with to take on a research project that focused on the pathology of Hepatitis Delta Virus. Through this research, I conducted confirmatory analysis by detecting the upregulation and downregulation of proteins, gaining over 700 hours of laboratory experience. I then presented my findings in a final poster at the BUGS Symposium, where I got to interact with other students with similar research experiences.
Post summer break, I knew that my high school career was coming to an end and I had to start focusing on writing my college applications. Naturally, my experiences centered around research, more than school clubs or non-profit organizations, although I did participate in helping underserved communities in Africa through non-profits, community service, and a lot of tutoring throughout my high school career. My main extracurriculars stemmed from my true passions, and the experiences I was able to gain from them. My essays were mainly focused on these experiences, and how these skills were applied to my life in aspects outside of research, such as my social life, how I perceive the world, how I interact with adults in the healthcare field, and how I view the adult world as a network of connections and opportunities.
College applications may be viewed as a meticulous process that is an obligation to fulfill in order to go to college and set yourself up for success, but I viewed it as more of an opportunity where you get to showcase your achievements, who you are as a person outside of school work and extracurriculars, your true passionate self, and what you offer to your future college campus. While I was writing these college essays and reflecting on the past 4 years of my life, I soon realized how much I’ve grown by pursuing what I truly had a desire to pursue. My ideal college application had changed from a student that had pursued everything and involved in every possible opportunity to a student that had a niche and a dream, a student who focused in one particular area (their strong suit) and fearlessly strived to reach that dream.
Why I decided to niche down
By creating a niche to focus on in your college applications, college admission officers can see that you’ve excelled in this category, showing your uniqueness as well as your drive to achieve, which is an important quality these officers look for in future prospective students. All of this is to say that high school isn’t about excelling in every aspect possible (which realistically isn’t achievable for many students, if not, any student), but rather about discovering your passions and pursuing opportunities in that particular area. It’s about demonstrating your dedication, growth, and genuine interest in what truly inspires you.
My experience at USC so far
Coming to USC, I’ve quickly realized that I’m surrounded by like-minded students who share a common drive and passion for their respective fields. Whether it’s through their dedication to academics, research, or extracurricular activities, everyone here is constantly pushing themselves to explore new ideas, take on innovative projects, and make a meaningful impact. This shared motivation and commitment to growth create an incredibly dynamic and supportive environment. What stands out is that USC attracts students who not only excel in their academic pursuits but also bring a unique perspective and a hunger for continuous learning. Admission officers at USC are not just looking for high GPAs or high SAT and AP test scores; they are seeking individuals who demonstrate curiosity, resilience, and the ability to contribute to and thrive within a collaborative community. Through my experiences in high school and my first semester here at USC, I’ve come to appreciate that it’s this drive, an intrinsic motivation to make a difference and a willingness to take on challenges, that truly sets USC students apart. It’s about embracing opportunities to learn, innovate, and connect with others, all while maintaining a strong sense of personal growth and passion.
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