College Planning

DePaul College Prep features a comprehensive post secondary planning program, designed to educate, support, and serve our diverse student population. The vision of our multi-year program is rooted in our student-focused and values-based approach. Our intention is to guide and to lift our young learners towards their educational goals, in the spirit of our DePaul Prep mission.

DePaul Prep College Planning offers:

Personalized conversations and individual meetings with students, offering expertise and guidance on their post secondary plan
Classroom-based college and career-focused curriculum
In-class co-instructional curriculum for college essay support in partnership with our English faculty
Junior College Conference with each student and their family to assist with setting intentions for their post-secondary plan
Full access to Maia Learning - our dynamic, post-secondary software - offering four-year academic planning, career matching, and college research tools.
Direct, in-person connection to college admissions professionals through both our robust fall rep visit calendar and our in-house Spring College Fair.
On-Site, school-supported standardized testing including: PSAT 8/9, Pre-ACT, PSAT/NMSQT, ACT, SAT, Advanced Placement (AP) exams, and International Baccalaureate (IB) assessments
On-site standardized test prep courses
10+ post-secondary focused evening programs and presentations
Counselor-led resumé and interview skill development coursework
Proprietary, in-house searchable Scholarship database
Counselor-directed college-focused week-long summer course
Financial Aid completion workshops in partnership with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission

For College Planning Information:

Mr. Tony Minestra
Director of College Counseling
Schedule a meeting with Calendly

Ms. Kelley Curtin
College Counselor
Schedule a meeting with Calendly

Ms. Kate Kaushal
College Counselor
Schedule a meeting with Calendly

Ms. Samantha Mondro
College Counselor
Schedule a meeting with Calendly

Ms. Nicole Kucera
Post Secondary Advisor and IB Counselor
Schedule a meeting with Calendly

2024-2025 depaul prep academic profile

Class of 2024 College Acceptances

College Counseling Event and College Rep Visit Calendar

Fall 2024 College Rep Visit Information

Applying to College

Maia

Maia is a comprehensive college and career-readiness platform that enables self-discovery, career exploration, academic planning, and college preparation. Students utilize Maia to organize all materials in preparing for college applications. Parents have access to Maia as well.

Log Into Maia

The Common App

The Common App is a universal online college application used by over 1,000 colleges and universities around the world.

Log Into the Common App

2024-2025 Common App Instructions

The College Counseling team developed this guide to provide you with step-by-step instructions for completing each section of the Common App.

Access the Instructions

Common App Requirements Grid

Need help identifying what materials each of your college requires? Visit the 2024-2025 Requirements Grid from the Common App to find deadlines, testing policy, application fees, and more.

Access the Grid

Paying for College

DePaul College Prep Scholarship Database

We are continually adding new scholarship opportunities as we learn of them. Be sure to note deadlines and requirements. Our database includes scholarship search engines, scholarships for specific grade levels, and college-specific scholarships/scholarship sites.

Search for Scholarships

FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form families fill out to get financial aid from the federal government to help pay for college, including grants, work-study, and low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Education.

Many states and colleges also use the FAFSA to determine which students get financial aid and how much they’ll get. FAFSA is currently undergoing changes and is tentatively slated to open in December.

Learn About the FAFSA

CSS Profile

Some colleges require applicants to complete the CSS Profile, which is an online application they use to help determine institutional aid. The CSS profile opens before FAFSA and may have an earlier deadline than FAFSA.

Learn about the CSS Profile

College Success and Support Programs (2025)