HOW to improve my chances and stand out as a competitive applicant?

Chance Me / Match Me
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    Standing with most people on this forum, I'm incredibly stressed about college applications. Because I plan on being an exchange student junior year, I'm worried I won't have the academic experience my dream school, University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, is looking for. My school didn't provide me the opportunity to take APs freshman and sophomore year, and I only took 2 honors classes freshman year and 2 sophomore year. Currently, I'm on track to take 4 APs junior year and 4 senior year, but considering I most likely won't be here junior I'll only have the 4 APs under my belt for college aps, and they won't even be completed because I'll be taking them during the time I'm applying Does anyone have any tips to stay on top academically while still spending a year in another country? I'm willing to do anything, including taking online courses, etc! I'm ready, willing, and eager to do anything to succeed! 
    I recognize colleges look at more than academics, but is a good SAT score, medium ECs, and tons of passion/commitment to your choice major enough? I'm pretty much blind going into this, so any insight is appreciated.
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UCSC:
Mean GPA: 3.88
SAT Score: ~1849
UCSC will realize that you only had the chance to take APs your junior/senior year, so don’t stress. As far as keeping up with work, Khan Academy is a great resource for science/math.
I don’t know what any of your scores are so I can’t tell you what your chances are, not really. And what do you mean by “medium ECs?”

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@aether OP is asking about the University of Southern California, not the University of California Santa Clara.

OP: Schools want to see that you took the most rigorous courseload available to you. If your school didn’t allow you to take more than 4 APs while you were there, and your new school doesn’t offer AP courses, that won’t be held against you. Do the best you can with the most rigorous courses available at your HS, and you’ll be fine.

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Where will you be an exchange student? Many programs abroad as considered on-par with AP classes (ie., French Lycée, German Gymnasium, British A-Levels…)