They actually read the “Why USC” question and a good admissions officer can smell the difference between a boilerplate answer where USC info is cut and pasted into the application and someone who is truly interested. The result may be similar as “Tuft’s Syndrome” but it is NOT the same thing. There are also several othe questions that would seem, throwaway on the USC questions on the common app and I assume that is to see if folks throw them away or actually contemplate them.