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
College Counseling Event and College Rep Visit Calendar
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.
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
Enrichment Activities & Supporting Special Populations
College Counseling PEWS Events
Watch the 2024-2025 College Counseling PEWS recordings on the DePaul Prep Counseling YouTube page!
Slides from August 27 Class of 2024 College Kick Off Meeting
