The subjects covered by the program included deadlines for Federal Student Aid, College Scholarship Service, and the California Dream Act Application. (Photo/Courtesy of the USC College Advising Corps)
University
Ambitious Trojans impacted by L.A.-area wildfires receive guidance on admissions process
USC Rossier webinar helps applicants concentrate on their forthcoming actions amid chaos in their lives.
After the wildfires in the Los Angeles region inflicted considerable damage on Palisades Charter High School in January, senior Sophia Hopf and her fellow students had to swiftly adjust and continue their education online. They soon realized a return to campus this academic year would not occur.
Nevertheless, Hopf, who aims to enroll at USC in the fall, has remained intensely focused on the college admissions procedure while managing her demanding schedule of senior classes. This motivated her to partake in a recent virtual seminar organized by the USC Rossier School of Education for high school seniors affected by the wildfires. The seminar, conducted in collaboration with the USC College Advising Corps and the USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative, concentrated on the college application and financial assistance procedures.
“My mother and I registered because we believed it would be beneficial to acquire more financial aid information,” Hopf expressed in an interview following the seminar. “Having a workshop to guide you through [the process], step-by-step, was extremely advantageous. I think every university should offer something like this.”
The Feb. 13 seminar comprised three segments and offered a timeline along with best practices for the college admissions period. This encompassed subjects such as deadlines for Federal Student Aid, College Scholarship Service, and the California Dream Act Application. Additionally, there was a discussion on college portal management, the Statement of Intent to Register, and requirements including obligatory deposits, orientations, and handling housing deposits and applications.
USC President Carol Folt conceived the idea for the complimentary financial aid workshop to support the affected students.
“These students are remarkable,” Folt stated. “They demonstrate resilience, motivation, and flourish in challenging conditions. We’re delighted that USC Rossier took the initiative to assist them during this trying period.”
This initiative exemplifies Folt’s USC Competes “moonshot,” which aspires to establish USC as a national leader in accessibility and affordability for outstanding students.
USC Rossier professor Julie Posselt, executive director of the USC Center for Enrollment Research Policy and Practice, shared with participants the outlook of a close friend whose home was lost in the wildfires. “Everyone is navigating through this winter one day and one week at a time,” she noted. “It’s truly brick by brick and gift by gift, receipt by receipt, and friend by friend that we’re coping and rebuilding. We hope you’ll come to regard us as new
“friends encountered along the journey.”
The majority of participants comprised students and relatives impacted by the two most significant recent blazes: the Eaton Fire in Altadena and the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades. Subsequent to the primary session of the seminar, there were online breakout discussions.
“We needed to customize this event to accommodate students and families at any phase of the process,” stated Ara Arzum, a veteran program director of USC College Advising Corps. “This approach ensured that everyone received the specific type of assistance they required. We had an abundance of volunteers eager to support this webinar, enabling personalized guidance for all.”
Pathways for their futures
USC Rossier Dean Pedro Noguera commended the “tenacity and resolve” of the students and their families navigating various levels of fire-induced disruption.
“Participating in an admissions seminar can frequently be a life-changing occasion for high school seniors, unlocking avenues to fresh opportunities and directions for their futures,” Noguera expressed. “In the aftermath of the L.A. wildfires, this moment holds even greater importance as these students have endured unfathomable hardships. They continue to persevere, prepared to embark on the next phase.”
Noguera extended heartfelt appreciation to Folt “for her leadership and encouragement in making this event viable, equipping our students with the tools they require to not just rebuild, but to emerge even stronger than before.”
Thankful for any semblance of normalcy
For Palisades Charter student Hopf, maintaining an optimistic outlook assists her in navigating these challenging times. Last year, she served as the school’s mascot, and this year she took on the role of stage manager for her high school’s theatrical shows. Currently, her extracurricular focus has shifted toward community service, like assembling care packages for individuals displaced by the fires.
“I am deeply thankful that I didn’t lose my home and was not displaced,” she shared. “Even though classes are currently online, they offer the only semblance of normalcy we have at this moment.”