Students can receive an instant admission decision from DePaul University at an Accelerated Transfer Admission session from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 1 at the Joan H. Wish Center, Suite 101, at DePaul’s Loop Campus at 1 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago. To be accepted, applicants still must meet DePaul’s admission criteria, but the normally four- to six-week processing period is eliminated or greatly reduced.

The event is designed to eliminate the stress and frustration of waiting for an admission decision. Students simply go online to www.depaul.edu and submit an online application in advance of the event they will attend and then bring sealed transcripts from all post-secondary institutions they have attended to the admission event. If a student has completed fewer than 30 semester credit hours, he or she will need to bring an official final high school transcript and ACT or SAT scores. DePaul staff will review these materials and make a decision on the spot.

“We have seen a marked increase in the number of students transferring to DePaul in recent years and have responded by providing services and programs that meet their unique needs,” said Pamela Denise Lee, associate director of the Office of Transfer Admissions at DePaul. “The accelerated admission process is designed to smooth the transition for these students and eliminate the wait.”

Approximately 78 percent of the 300 students who attended such sessions earlier this year were admitted, Lee said. “It’s a delight to see the sense of relief on their faces when they leave our office with a decision and are able to start working on the next steps in their college career. It gives them an opportunity to plan.”

DePaul is the No. 1 private institution that students transfer to in the state of Illinois. Transfers to DePaul from community colleges have increased nearly 17 percent in the last year. In fall 2008, more than 66 percent of DePaul’s transfer students came from community colleges. Accelerated transfer admission is especially helpful to community college students because it brings a simpler admission process to their doorstep.

Once admitted, the student can meet with an admission counselor to get a preliminary review of how prior credits will transfer. Students also will have an opportunity to ask questions about financial aid, orientation and any other issues they need to address in order to make their enrollment decision. As a bonus, DePaul will waive the $40 application fee.

“This is a great opportunity for students to sit down one-on-one with a transfer counselor, find out immediately if they’re accepted and learn about our resources available to develop a plan for enrolling at DePaul,” Lee said. “Why wait if you don’t have to?”

Students with international educational credentials are not eligible to attend this event but have other admission options. For more details, they should contact the International Admission Office at (312) 362-5620.

For more information, please contact DePaul’s Admission Office at (312) 362-5551 or visit http://depaul.edu/transferinfo.