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Available for Interview: Kaplan College Admissions Expert

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571

New York, NY (January 11, 2010) – Although the weak economy is nearly certain to keep the competition for financial aid intense, there’s good news for the 2010 freshman class and current college students: applying for federal aid is less daunting than in years past, scholarships still abound and colleges continue to step up.
 
Sure, the outlook is far from rosy.  Last year saw a big jump in the number of students applying for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – used to secure need-based money from the government in the form of loans, grants and work-study programs.  And according to a recent Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions survey of 401 college admissions officers, 43% reported an increase in the number of accepted students who declined admissions due to financial reasons.
 
But the promising news for applicants is that colleges are increasing levels of financial aid: according to a recent National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators survey, 55% of colleges said they increased aid for the 2009-2010 academic year.  Also good news: the online version of FAFSA is now significantly shorter, simpler and more user-friendly than last year. 
For students and their families going through the financial aid process now, following are a few tips to help secure the strongest packages possible:
 
1. Apply early and accurately with FAFSA:  Submitting FAFSA should be your first step, as it provides the lion’s share of all aid.  Resources are limited and awarded on a first come, first serve basis, so securing aid may be harder for late applicants.  Remember – submitting a FAFSA doesn’t guarantee aid, but not submitting one ensures you won’t get anything.  Applications for the 2010-2011 year are already available at www.fafsa.gov.
 
2. Scholarships – apply early and often:  Scholarships can be awarded for just about anything, including personal accomplishments, membership in certain organizations, parent’s community involvement, grades, anticipated field of study, etc.  For sophomores and juniors – bank scholarship money early and expand your future college options.  
 
3. You can negotiate direct aid with colleges:  You don’t necessarily have to take the first financial aid package that a college offers you.  By the time a school accepts you, it sees you as a worthwhile investment, so it will usually want to help you figure out financing.
 
4. Test scores count. Many merit-based scholarships do factor in SAT and ACT scores, so make sure you prep and get the best possible score you can. 
 
For more information or to arrange an interview on how to navigate this year’s complex financial aid puzzle, please contact Russell Schaffer at: 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.    
 
About Kaplan Test Prep
 
Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services. 

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