Photos: College admission game

Zoe Blumberg Corwin talks with students at Foshay Learning Center about “Mission Admission,” a video game developed by USC experts that helps students learn about the college application process. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Nov. 15, 2014 10:14 PM PT

USC experts have developed a video game that helps students learn how to apply to college and the various steps along the way. USC just won a large federal grant to expand the game to a national audience.

Emanuel Marquez, 16, helps Katerin Ortega, 16, play “Mission Admission,” a video game designed to teach students about the college admission process. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Zoe Blumberg Corwin (in green) helps students at Foshay Learning Center use “Mission Admission,” a game that teaches them about the college admission process. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Annika Gomez, 15, left, gets help from Zoe Blumberg Corwin, whose USC center has developed college application-related games for about five years. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Preliminary research found that students who played USC’s “Mission Admission” game at least twice showed increased knowledge about the application and aid process. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

“Mission Admission” players select a character with educational goals and a family income and try to get that character to college with enough financial aid. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)