LOS ANGELES — Dr. Genevieve Morgan is an education consultant, and with college admission season underway, she is helping students on what can be their only shot at being admitted into the college of their dreams.

At the onset of the pandemic, many SAT and ACT tests were rescheduled or canceled last minute. That has now changed.

“I have to say business is up for one thing,” said Dr. Morgan.

Each online counseling session involves helping students figure out what is worth writing about in their admissions’ essay.

Schools like the University of Southern California made the decision to switch to test optional admission, meaning students can opt out of having their SAT and ACT scores considered with their application. Some colleges and universities completely took test scores off the table in an effort to level the playing field during the pandemic, but students are still feeling under pressure because there is more of an emphasis on secondary components like student essays.

“Students are really worried and families are very worried,” Dr. Morgan said.

One of her students, Gustavo Garcia, is an undocumented student from Mexico.

“Being able to have a degree would somehow make it easier for me as an undocumented individual to have access to opportunities other undocumented people don’t have,” said Garcia.

The high school senior is deciding between majoring in music composition or environmental science. Garcia will be the first in his family to go to college, and since he was in a freshman in high school, Garcia knew exactly what university he wanted to attend.

“I really want to go to USC, but then I also want to go to Pitzer College. I was also looking into UC Davis,” he said.

Outside of school, Garcia works two jobs to help support his family. He also plays in a mariachi band.

Dr. Morgan urged him to include all of it in his college admissions essay. She is confident admissions representatives will be interested.

In over 20 years of admitting students into the Land of Troy (USC), Timothy Brunold said the standards of admissions at USC has progressively changed.

“We’re looking for engagement, motivation, passion, their interests in the world,” Brunold said. 

While this is the first time the private university is going test optional, the dean of admission said he always looks forward to the essay portion to find out how each student is different.

“It's really the student’s opportunity to speak directly to me,” Brunold said.

That is why Dr. Morgan is instructing Garcia to take full advantage of every word to tell his story.

“Sometimes getting kids to broaden their idea of extracurricular activity is tough but very important," she said.

Garcia said brainstorming through his essay with a college counselor helps relieve some of the stress, at least until he submits his application.

“The waiting is the hardest part,” Dr. Morgan said.

She encourages her students to apply as early as possible, because waiting on a decision letter is a test of patience no student looks forward to.

It is too early to tell how many students will omit test scores, but USC anticipates more than half of new applicants will chose not to use tests scores.