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Confident about their Prospects of Getting into Top College Choices

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 (June 20, 2011) – Under the backdrop of the most competitive college admissions environment in years, with many of country’s top schools reporting record low acceptance rates, members of the class of 2012 are taking time this summer to become stronger and better informed applicants, according to a new Kaplan Test Prep survey*.  Among the survey’s key findings:

• Researching Colleges Online: 73% reported they will research colleges online during summer vacation, a convenient way to find and process much of the important information they will need about a school, from everything including how high they need to score on the SAT® or ACT®, to how strong the athletics program is.  Different students have different abilities, needs and interests.
• Campus Tours: To get the most realistic feel as possible, 71% plan to visit a college campus in person.  If an applicant is unable to personally visit, they should check if a virtual tour is available on the college’s official website or Facebook page.  According to Kaplan’s most recent survey of college admissions officers, 82% say they recruit students on Facebook, demonstrating that they view this median as a good way to communicate with prospective students.
• Experience: While not nearly as important as standardized test scores, an applicant’s extracurricular activities, work experience and personal biography play key roles in the admissions process.  With that in mind, 67% of students reported that they will volunteer over the summer and 63% said they planned to work.
• Summer Learning: To keep building their GPA and overall knowledge, 21% said they planned to take an enrichment course. This may also help them do well on AP exams senior year, which may in turn translate into college credit and shave off a semester’s worth of tuition.

“Because the upcoming college admissions cycle promises to be just about as competitive as this past one, it’s important that students do the right things this summer to be as prepared and savvy as possible, from understanding what their ‘must-haves’ are, to putting together a compelling application that will improve their overall chances of getting in,” said Kate Froseth, executive director of K12 and college prep programs, Kaplan Test Prep.

Other findings from the survey:

• Feeling Confident: 86% of students expressed confidence that they’d get into their top college choices.  Students also feel positively about the admissions chances of their friends, with 88% saying they are confident they will get into their top college choices.
• A Successful Junior Year: 86% of students said they were satisfied with their academic performance this past school year; a nearly identical 84% said their parents were also satisfied.
• Catching Up on Some Good Books: 45% of students plan to read at least five books for pleasure over summer vacation, including 18% who plan to read more than 10.

To learn more about Kaplan’s survey, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.   For a host of other resources for journalists, please visit Kaplan’s online pressroom at http://press.kaptest.com and follow on Twitter: @KapTestNews

*The survey of 912 high school juniors who prepared with Kaplan for the SAT or ACT was conducted by e-mail in May and June 2011.

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 professional licensing exams.  Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Contestant Who Comes Up With Most Inspiring Phrase in 15 Words or Less
Will Win $500 and a Kaplan Test Prep Course

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 (May 24, 2011) – Kaplan Test Prep just launched its “Most Inspiring Words Ever Contest,” asking college students and aspiring professionals to submit a phrase to excite and motivate their peers – and in recognition of this mobile and Twitter generation, all in 15 words or less.  The phrase can be about the college experience, a test, a job interview, career issues – almost anything that these groups can relate to.  Contestants will be judged on originality, wit, and inspirational power.  The contest’s grand prize winner will receive $500 and a Kaplan Test Prep course of his or her choosing, including GRE, GMAT, LSAT or MCAT.  The phrase will be printed on Kaplan Test Prep t-shirts that will be worn on college campuses across North America beginning this Back to School season and the winner will even get to collaborate with Kaplan on the design of it.

“While today’s students and aspiring professionals are loathe to let anything get in the way of accomplishing their education and career goals, we know that in this struggling economy and competitive job market, even the hardest chargers may need some extra encouragement.  We also recognize that students and aspiring professionals often draw the greatest inspiration from each other, which is why we are appealing directly to them,” said Jason Moss, vice president, Kaplan Test Prep.  “We encourage as many people as possible to participate and seek to inspire.  We can’t wait to hear what everyone has to say.”

To submit a “Most Inspiring Words Ever Contest” entry and learn more about the contest, please visit: http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/124525.  The contest runs now through June 12, 2011.

For a host of resources for journalists, please visit Kaplan’s online pressroom at http://press.kaptest.com and follow on Twitter: @KapTestNews

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 professional licensing exams.  Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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