@WWWard : Apparently, OP is not a high school applicant and is going to apply as a cc transfer. Though the concepts may be relevant, the above links are more focused on high school seniors applying to USC.
@arand17 : You should focus on fulfilling USC’s GE courses and strive for at least a 3.7+GPA, which is the average college GPA for USC transfers. The higher the GPA, the better. Also review the USC GE requirements and the transfer site which has articulation agreements with colleges. GPA is weighted much more than EC for transfers. Keep your GPA high.