Right now, at kitchen tables across the country, high school seniors have guidebooks, promotional literature, transcripts and blank applications scattered about, seemingly beginning the process of applying for admission to their colleges of choice.

However, according to Carlene Klaas, director of undergraduate admission at DePaul University, the nation’s largest Catholic university, the process should have begun well before the student first puts pen to the application form.

In addition to research of college types and campuses, students should have had regular contact with their guidance counselors or advisors to make sure they have taken a curriculum of challenging, college prep courses. Ideally, narrowing down to a list of preferred colleges should begin during a student’s junior year, Klaas said. Students visiting a campus should meet with admission officials, department chairs and current students and ask them about the school’s programs and campus life.

“By making campus visits and researching the settings, available majors and academic requirements of various schools firsthand, students can start to hone down to a manageable number of colleges of interest,” she noted. Using all of the knowledge and information gained over the process of researching and visiting schools, Klaas recommends that students reduce their list of potential choices to approximately five schools or less before applying. Sending out dozens of applications is likely not the best use of time and money, especially because application fees to some elite schools can be as expensive as $100.

“By their senior year, a typical student seriously considers more than five schools only on rare occasions,” Klaas said. “Therefore, any applications sent to schools beyond that core group only serve to divert time and energy away from the other applications, and to soak up money that could be better used for tuition or books.”

Before filling out any application, students should review their academic record critically and honestly and compare it to the admission recommendations of each school on the list, Klaas said.

“It’s important for a student to be realistic when assessing his or her chances for admission to a particular school,” Klaas explained. “The student and parents should ask themselves some tough questions. Does the student’s academic profile match the requirements of the school? Can a student afford the school financially, or will they qualify for financial aid or scholarships there? Do the student’s test score and GPA for incoming freshmen compare favorably to the school’s averages? If the answer to these questions is ‘no,’ then the student may want to consult someone in that school’s admission office before applying to evaluate their chances of receiving an acceptance.” By October of senior year, students should start filling out applications and sending them in for consideration. Klaas listed some important things to keep in mind when filling out an application:

· Students certainly can seek assistance beforehand, but ultimately should fill out the applications by themselves. College admission committees usually can spot applications that were completed by other people.

· It helps for a student to be honest and specific. If there is a blip or low grade on the student’s transcript, they should acknowledge it and explain it. They also should detail extracurricular activities and awards.

· Students should make sure short answers and essays are carefully thought out, well written, and represent original thoughts.

· Students should proofread the application thoroughly and correct any errors neatly.

· For the most part, calling an admission office and asking a question about an unclear item on the application will not harm the student’s chances for admission. Most colleges will appreciate the fact that the student is taking initiative to get the job done right.

Once the application is complete, students should make sure that it is mailed into the college’s admission office before any applicable deadlines. Within a few weeks, students should follow up with the admission office to make sure all materials were received for consideration.

“Many colleges receive thousands of applications, thus it is not unheard of for an application to be misplaced or lost in the mail before it even arrives at the university,” Klaas said. “It is certainly worth the student’s effort to call and confirm receipt of the application.”

DePaul is the largest private university 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 second in a series of news releases on the college admissions process. To interview Klaas, contact Shawn Malayter at 312-362-6978).