The sooner, the better.

That’s the message from a DePaul University admission official about when a student’s search for colleges should begin. It’s helpful even for freshmen in high school to start thinking about their college quest, even though they can be nearly three years away from applying as a senior.

“The earlier you get started, the more information you will be able to gather, which will help a student to start thinking about what characteristics they are looking for in a university,” said Carlene Klaas, director of undergraduate admission at DePaul University. “By the end of a student’s freshman year of high school, it is advantageous for them to be doing some research online or start flipping through college guide books.”

Students need not worry about making any hard decisions at this point, said Klaas. However, early research will help to sharpen the focus of a college search down the road, helping to eliminate confusion.

“This shouldn’t be stressful research. It is merely an opportunity for students to start giving some thought to the basics, such as whether they prefer a large campus or a small campus, whether they want to stay close to home or possibly move across the country, and whether they prefer an urban, suburban or rural setting for a campus,” Klaas explained.

To get a better feel for those sort of preferences, Klaas recommended that high school freshmen and sophomores visit some college campuses, whenever convenient for their families.

“Most students will be taking in-depth visits to several schools once they’ve narrowed down their college options as upperclassmen, so they shouldn’t feel obligated to visit every school that comes on to their radar screen,” she said. “However, if, for example, the family is taking a trip, and there are a couple of different types of colleges along the way or near the destination, making a brief stop and walking around campus can be very beneficial in establishing a student’s likes and dislikes about a particular type of campus setting. Also, taking a weekend afternoon to visit a few colleges in the immediate vicinity of the student’s home also can provide input for the decision-making process to come.”

Another important step in the college search process occurs during the first two years of high school, as well: choosing an appropriate curriculum. Students should meet with their high school counselors during their freshman and sophomore years to make sure they are taking the proper college preparation courses. College admission committees look closely at the type of classes taken throughout a student’s high school career, not just the grades earned. “Students need to make sure they are challenging themselves academically throughout all of high school, including their first two years,” Klaas said. “They should take honors track courses, when deemed appropriate, and steer away from taking too many non-academic elective classes.”

Klaas also recommends that students participate in extracurricular activities at their school or perform volunteer service in their community during their early high school years.

“What these students should be doing at this point is laying the foundation for a strong, well-rounded high school career, both academically and outside of the classroom,” she added. “Those are things that exemplify what colleges want from a prospective student down the road.”

DePaul is the largest private educational institution in Chicago and the largest Catholic university in the nation. A richly diverse population of 21,363 students attends classes on two city and six suburban campuses. More information can be received by calling the DePaul admission office at 312/362-8300 or by visiting www.depaul.edu.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: This is the first in a series of news releases on the college admissions process. To interview Klaas, contact Shawn Malayter at 312-362-6978).