DePaul’s Experiential-Learning Focus, New Facilities, Diversity and Community Service Are Noted

DePaul University has been selected as one of the nation’s “most interesting colleges” by a new college guidebook issued by Kaplan Publishing in July. DePaul was selected for profile in the “Unofficial, Unbiased Insider’s Guide to the 320 Most Interesting Colleges” from a pool of approximately 2,000 colleges across the United States. The 320 colleges were chosen based on an independent survey of guidance counselors, student opinions, and the observations of guidebook authors Trent Anderson and Seppi Basili, who are leading experts on college admissions.

“DePaul offers fascinating opportunities to explore a great city and great programs in music, law, business and theater,” Anderson said in his review of the university. The guidebook’s two-page profile of DePaul noted several interesting features of the university, including:

· “DePaul’s Liberal Studies curriculum provides a strong foundation for graduates, and there are 130 majors. DePaul is known for its business and prelaw programs, but the schools of theater, music and computer sciences are also exceptionally strong.”

· “Freshmen enroll in a variety of experiential learning courses designed to explore diversity and urban identity.”

· “Teaching is highly valued at the school….Students have high praise for their professors, who ‘communicate with the students on an individual basis.’”

· “Diversity is celebrated at DePaul…one-third of the students are members of minority groups.”

· “Community service and volunteer work are as popular as bar hopping for many students.”

· “The school has added half a dozen buildings in the last four years, including a $25-million student center…”

· “The campus is ‘liberal and stimulating,’ says a graduate, and students are generally ‘urban-minded and laid-back,’ with an unusual sense of community.”

“The guidebook highlights many of the distinctive qualities that have enhanced DePaul’s prominence among its peer universities,” said David Kalsbeek, vice president for Enrollment Management at DePaul. “A diverse student body, programs that incorporate experiential learning and community service, and a faculty that values teaching are the hallmarks of a DePaul education.”

DePaul is the largest Catholic university in the United States and the largest private university in Chicago. The university enrolls a richly diverse population of 21,363 students in nine colleges and schools. DePaul offers a wide range of academic and professional programs on campuses in Lincoln Park, the Loop, Lake Forest , Des Plaines, Rolling Meadows, Naperville and Oak Forest.

Kaplan, Inc., (www.kaplan.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses, offering test preparation and admissions services worldwide, including K-12 services for schools through Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions; after-school learning programs for kids through SCORE!; licensing and continuing education training and compliance tracking through Kaplan Professional, and campus-based and online post-secondary educational programs through Kaplan Higher Education. Kaplan is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Washington Post Company.

Editor’s Note: To arrange a DePaul interview, call Robin Florzak, DePaul Media Relations, at 312/362-8592. To arrange a Kaplan interview, call Lori Duggan Gold, public relations manager, Kaplan Publishing, at 212/492-5903.