Collegeology is a collaboration between the Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis and the Game Innovation Lab at the University of Southern California. For the past three years, the Collegeology team has been developing concepts and activities that capitalize on the power of games to improve college knowledge and college going strategies for underserved youth. The overarching goal of the project is to increase the number of low income and/or historically underrepresented students who enroll in and complete college.
Our first project addressed the complexities of the college application process by creating a game in which players take on the role of a college applicant, make choices, and guide their character through a fun, abstracted version of the application process. Pathfinder players have demonstrated an increase in college literacy, awareness of college processes and collaborative problem solving around college issues. The Pathfinder game, which began as card game prototype, has now being developed as a Facebook application. Both versions of the game provide important learning opportunities for high school students in the realm of college knowledge, including vocabulary and basic concepts as well as key college preparation strategies.
Mission: Admission is a Facebook game designed to help high school students understand the strategies and skills needed to apply to college. The game was launched in 2012. Application Crunch is a card game for 3-4 players. Each player takes on the role of a high school student and college applicant. Players juggle their time between academics, extracurricular activities, work, and service while competing for college applications and scholarships.
