Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanBarReview

New York, NY (March 20, 2018) — Pre-law students, listen up. Your future selves have a public service announcement for you: Be careful about how much importance you place on the law school rankings. According to the Kaplan Bar Review survey of over 200 JDs, 51 percent say applicants put too much value on a law school’s ranking when deciding where to ultimately enroll; 12 percent say they place too little value on it; while the remaining  37 percent say they place just right level of value on it*.

Kaplan is releasing the results as U.S. News & World Report publishes on March 20 its 2019 law school rankings, widely (and often anxiously) anticipated by many players in the legal education committee, from deans and admissions officers to current students and alumni, and aspiring lawyers too.

“A school’s ranking doesn’t necessarily get you happiness or a good experience as a law school student or graduate. Our experience is that it’s a statistic much more important to law school administrators, as it’s understandably an important recruitment and fundraising tool. Our advice to aspiring lawyers has always been that while rankings can play a useful role in helping them decide where to apply, they should look closely at other statistics, including how many of a law school’s graduates have found a job in the legal field and what the law school’s bar passage rate is. You cannot be a practicing attorney without passing the bar,” said Tammi Rice, vice president, Kaplan Bar Review.

To schedule an interview about Kaplan Bar Review’s survey results, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

*Kaplan Bar Review conducted the survey via email in February 2018. It includes responses from 201 law school graduates from the class of 2017.

About Kaplan Bar Review

Kaplan Bar Review (www.kaplanbarreview.com) provides full-service bar review programs in 51 jurisdictions (all 50 states and Washington, DC). Additionally, Kaplan Bar Review offers supplemental preparation for the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE).

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanSATACT

New York, NY (March 13, 2018) — A majority (55 percent) of high school students say they intend on walking out of class as part of National School Walkout and nearly half (46 percent) of those who plan on walking out say they’d do so even if this results in penalties from the colleges they plan to apply to, according to a Kaplan Test Prep survey of over 400 teens*. The walkout, planned for 10:00 AM local time, on Wednesday, March 14, at high schools across the country, is being organized to memorialize the victims of the Parkland, FL high school massacre and call for stronger gun control/safety laws. Among those students who don’t plan on walking out, many say that the primary reason is fear of disciplinary action — whether by their high school (22 percent), college admissions offices (14 percent), or their parents (9 percent). The balance (56 percent) say they will not walk out primarily because they do not support the walkout.

For those students who walk out, but are concerned their actions may be held against them by colleges to which they apply, many colleges and universities have a message: Feel free to exercise your First Amendment rights, but do it peacefully. Several high profile colleges are telling teens that they won’t be penalized for their activism, including: American University, Boston University, Brigham Young University, Brown University, Bucknell University, Harvard University, Northeastern University, Suffolk University, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Connecticut, and Yale University.

“We are witnessing a time of student activism not seen in decades, amplified by the power of grassroots social media. The percentage of high school students who plan to walk out would potentially be higher if students were not concerned that their actions would result in penalization from their parents, high schools or the colleges to which they plan on applying. It is also notable that many students are simply not participating because they don’t support the walkout,” said Yariv Alpher, executive director of market research, Kaplan Test Prep.“ As a general rule, colleges are supportive of prospective students taking an active role in their communities and standing up for what they believe is right, so long as it is done peacefully. No matter what a student’s beliefs, we commend the critical thinking, initiative and passion that goes into taking an active stance in a very public debate. It’s inspiring to see today’s teens developing as thoughtful, engaged citizens.”

To schedule an interview about Kaplan’s survey results, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

*416 high school students from across the United States who took a Kaplan SAT® course were polled by email between March 12-13, 2018.

SAT® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) 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 as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212-453-7538

Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanMedical, @KaplanNCLEX, @iHumanPatients

New York, NY/Sunnyvale, CA (February 28, 2018) — Kaplan, the test prep industry leader and leading provider of preparation for the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam^Ⓡ (USMLE) and National Council Licensure Exam^Ⓡ (NCLEX), has acquired the assets of i-Human Patients, Inc. (IHP), a leader in cloud-based, interactive patient encounter simulations for medical and nursing professionals and educators. The purchase price was not disclosed.

i-Human Patients^Ⓡ is a high performance, healthcare case authoring and playback system which can simulate a complete medical patient encounter from taking a history, performing physical exams, building and ranking a differential, to ordering and evaluating diagnostic tests. Used by healthcare professionals ranging from master clinicians to first-year medical students, as well as advanced practice nursing and physician assistant students, the i-Human platform includes 500+ cases that can be configured to match the level of the learner. About a third of i-Human’s cases are based on the methodology in Symptom to Diagnosis, a book written and edited^, by faculty from the University of Chicago. Symptom to Diagnosis (S2D) is an innovative way of teaching medical students how to use a case-based approach of looking at symptoms and arriving at disease diagnosis — similar to real patient encounters.

“Simulation in healthcare is emerging as a key tool for education, assessment and medical error reduction, and we see it playing a critical and exponentially growing role in the future of high-quality, cost-effective care,” said Bharat Krishna, Vice President and General Manager of Emerging Markets for Kaplan Test Prep’s Licensure division. “IHP has developed an award-winning, best-in-class simulation system that complements Kaplan’s portfolio of industry-leading resources for students and partners. We believe there’s significant untapped potential in i-Human Patients as a leader in next-generation, cloud-based, virtual patient simulation for medical professionals, and we look forward to leveraging this capability across Kaplan’s portfolio to unleash that potential within the health education landscape.”

“Our team is excited about becoming part of Kaplan, a well-respected player with extensive experience with outcomes-based learning, online delivery, and online assessment and distribution assets in healthcare professional education markets” said Norm Wu, i-Human Patients, Inc. CEO. “We share a common mission of helping future healthcare professionals develop the critical competencies that will deliver clinical excellence. Kaplan’s global footprint will enable the i-Human platform and team to bring our world class system to a broader population of healthcare professionals and have a far greater impact than we could on our own.”

IHP will become a key capability for Kaplan’s Licensure operation, expanding current offerings in preparation for professional licensure exams, specifically for its healthcare portfolio, which serves doctors, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics.

Reliance Foundation (www.reliancefoundation.org) supported the development of i-Human platform and the S2D cases and will continue to be the exclusive partner for bringing this virtual patient simulation technology to India and help revolutionize medical education and equip healthcare professionals in achieving greater standards of excellence. Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries Ltd., aims to play a catalytic role in addressing India’s development challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions in areas of health, education, and other social welfare.

Krishna noted that Kaplan is looking forward to continuing IHP’s current work with the American Medical Association (AMA) to assess the efficacy of teaching and evaluating diagnostic reasoning using the i-Human Patients simulated patient encounter system. The AMA is the principal investigator overseeing the scientific study.

Test names are the property of the respective trademark holders, none of whom endorse or are affiliated with Kaplan.

About Kaplan

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a division of Kaplan, Inc., which serves over one million students globally each year through its array of higher education, test preparation, professional education, English-language training, and university preparation, and offerings to individuals, institutions, and businesses. Across its nearly 80 year history, first as small test-prep pioneer and then an early online education leader and now a global education provider, Kaplan has been recognized for expanding educational access and using technology and learning science innovations to continually improve outcomes for its students and partners. Kaplan has operations in over 30 countries, employs more than 15,000 full- and part-time professionals, and maintains relationships and partnerships with more than 1,000 school districts, colleges, and universities, and over 2,600 corporations and businesses. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) and its largest division. For more information, please visit www.kaplan.com.        

About i-Human Patients, Inc.

i-Human Patients, Inc. (IHP, www.i-human.com) is a privately-funded company dedicated to enabling active e-learning in healthcare to promote the delivery of high quality, cost-effective care, and to ensure an adequate supply of healthcare providers fully trained in patient assessment and diagnostic reasoning.

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanLSATPrep

New York, NY (February 22, 2018) — The results of a new Kaplan Test Prep nationwide survey of over 500 pre-law students reveal a potential reason why the number of law school applications and LSATs® administered are up by double digits compared to last year: politics*. Nearly one third of pre-law students surveyed (32 percent) say the results of the 2016 election impacted their decision to become lawyers.

Aspiring lawyers who said the historic election did have an effect on their decision to apply to law school shared the following anecdotes:

• “The election gave me a litmus test for how divided our country will be for the next few years and how I want to remedy that. The country needs level headed leaders and through law school, I believe that I can become one of them.”
• “I work with refugees and new government policies have directly impacted and impeded my ability to do my job. I am interested in a law degree in order to have a new way to fight for human rights and defend those in need.”
• “I decided to go to law school BECAUSE of the 2016 election. Somebody has to hold these politicians accountable, and it’s clearly not anyone in office right now. Also, if Hillary isn’t gonna be the first female president, then it’s going to be me.”
  

Others were already planning to apply to law school pre-2016, but said the election was a solidifying reason and that politics is still on their minds:

• “I had already planned to attend law school previous to the 2016 election. President Trump’s support of the separation of powers, and his administration’s commitment to the rule of law have only further inspired me to pursue a career in the field of law.”
• “I wanted to be a lawyer and attend law school before the 2016 election, but the results solidified to me why it was so important to gain a legal education. Prior to that election, I had never considered being a politician; however, I am now considering pursuing a career in politics after my legal education.”
• “Although I’ve always had an interest in pursuing a legal education, I felt motivated to actually start the process. This was due to the strong desire to be part of the change, instead of waiting for changes to occur.”

“We’ve seen significant jumps in both LSAT takers and law school applications over the past admissions cycle, which has fueled speculation about how much impact, if any, the 2016 election and subsequent political climate has had on this year’s law school admissions landscape. We now have an answer: It’s significant. The bump is real,” said Jeff Thomas, executive director of pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “It’s important to note that law school has long been at the epicenter of politics, with 38 percent of House members and 55 percent of senators holding law degrees. While there are many good reasons for attending law school, our advice remains constant: Be introspective about your reasons for applying, and understand exactly how a law degree is necessary to achieve your career goals.”

But while these aspiring attorneys were open to sharing their political opinions freely in a survey, most don’t feel comfortable sharing them with their name attached to it on law school application. Just 28 percent say they are likely to discuss their political views in their law school admissions personal statements.

“Whether you’re a resister, persister, or somewhere in between, spouting your political opinions with no larger goal may alienate admissions officers who don’t agree with you or who think you didn’t use your personal statement wisely. It can show poor judgement,” added Thomas. “Only focus on politics if you can do a good job of weaving together your personal narrative and career ambitions. For instance, if you want to go into immigration law, talk about your canvassing job for an advocacy group. Otherwise, be compelling in your statements, but in a less risky way.”

For a one-minute video on Kaplan’s survey results, visit here.

To schedule an interview about Kaplan’s survey results, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

*Based on the results of a Kaplan Test Prep e-survey conducted in December 2017 and February 2018 of 537 pre-law students who took a Kaplan LSAT course.

LSAT® is a registered trademark of Law School Admission Council, Inc. which was not affiliated with this survey.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) 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 as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanMCATPrep

New York, NY (November 27, 2017) — Getting into medical school is about as difficult as it’s been in recent memory. Just 39.7 percent of MD applicants earned a seat in the 2016 cycle, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, marking it the second consecutive cycle where the admit rate fell below 40 percent. Kaplan Test Prep recently conducted its 12th annual survey of medical school admissions officers across North America to find out what most helps and hurts aspiring medical students*. Among the findings:

• MCAT Score Remains Top Factor: More than half of medical school admissions officers (54 percent) say a low MCAT score is “the biggest application dealbreaker,” up from 46 percent in Kaplan’s 2016 survey. A low undergraduate GPA trailed at 36 percent. Many admissions officers surveyed stressed their admissions approach was “holistic,” meaning they look at everything a candidate submits.
• Apply Early: Seventy percent of admissions officers say that students who apply early in the admissions cycle (June or July) have an admissions advantage over those who don’t, with 41 percent characterizing that advantage as “significant.” As one admissions officer shared, “People who apply earlier are usually stronger candidates because they have their stuff together.” Tip: To make sure you’re ready to apply early, take the MCAT by May, as it takes approximately 30 days after each test date before scores are released.
• Politics-Free Zone: A majority (53 percent) of medical school admissions officers say it’s better overall for applicants to avoid discussing politics in their personal statements and interviews. “It’s good to be outspoken, but you have to realize that you’re dealing with subjective views of the interviewer too. It’s risky,” noted one admissions officer.
• Social Media Matters: Nearly one in three (29 percent) admissions officers say they’ve visited applicants’ social media profiles to learn more about them. Of that 29 percent, a majority found something that negatively impacted an applicant’s admissions chances, citing “lewd images” and “unprofessional behavior” as examples.

“Kaplan Test Prep has been surveying medical schools across North America every year for over 10 years. The information we gather directly from admissions officers has helped hundreds of thousands of prospective doctors navigate the application process,” said Eric Chiu, executive director of pre-health programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “In what remains a hypercompetitive admissions landscape, pre-meds should work diligently on putting together the strongest application possible, starting with a strong MCAT score, high GPA, a compelling personal statement, and persuasive letters of recommendation. And by all means, if you can apply early, do so, as admissions officers say it can provide you a boost.”

For a one-minute video on the study, please click here.

To schedule an interview about Kaplan’s survey results, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

*The survey was conducted by phone between September and October 2017 of 66 accredited medical schools across the United States and Canada.

MCAT® is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges. The trademark holders are neither endorsed by nor affiliated with Kaplan or this study. 

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) 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 as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanSATACT

New York, NY (November 7, 2017) – According to a recent Kaplan Test Prep survey of nearly 400 admissions officers from a diverse range of colleges and universities across the United States, 63 percent are concerned about a decline in international applicants becoming a nationwide trend*. But while admissions officers are concerned about what the decline would mean for higher education in general, only 32 percent anticipate a decline in the number of international applicants to their own schools.

College admissions officers who expressed concern about the larger possible trend of fewer international students shared the following anecdotes, citing both cultural and financial reasons:

• “I think it’s more of a loss for all prospective students, not just international students. Students who would have had the opportunity to learn from different students with different upbringings and cultural backgrounds won’t have this.”
• “International students provide a different kind of atmosphere on campus. Many of our U.S.-born students can’t travel overseas, so this is a way for them to meet others from diverse backgrounds.”
• “We survive on this program. We rely on these students coming into the country.”
• “It’s something we worry about. We want students to come without barriers.”

Admissions officers unconcerned about fewer international students cited shared the following:

• “The safety of our country is more important than international students coming to get an education.”
• “Not concerned. I think there are a lot of colleges who utilize international students just for full paying tuition and not for the right reasons.”
• “A lot of the major universities have campuses around the world. Even if there were a decline of international students coming directly to campuses in America, any school that has campuses outside of America will not notice a difference because students will just go to that campus.”
• “There’s a separation between political climate and the education system in the U.S. We don’t think think one will influence the other.”

Additionally, more than one quarter of admissions officers (28 percent) say they are concerned about their school losing American and international students to colleges in Canada and elsewhere.

According to the Institute of International Education, a nonprofit that promotes international education and education access around the globe, just over 1 million international students were studying in the United States in the 2015-2016 academic year, a record high and seven percent increase over the previous year. The largest sources of international students are China, India, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Canada. While international students represent just 5 percent of all students in the United States, some top colleges and universities boast of international populations of 15 percent or higher.

“A majority of colleges are concerned that the current environment is causing a decline in applications from international students across the country, though interestingly, only a third anticipate the decline happening at their own schools. Colleges recognize that today’s political climate presents unique challenges and are likely adjusting their recruitment strategies accordingly,” says Yariv Alpher, Executive Director, Market Research, Kaplan Test Prep. “But notably, there is a broad range of opinions across schools nationwide, which represent the diversity of views that most colleges seek to cultivate on their own campuses.”

For a short video illustrating the survey results, visit here.

To schedule an interview about Kaplan’s survey results, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

*For the 2017 survey, 392 admissions officers from of the nation’s top national, regional and liberal arts colleges and universities – as compiled by U.S. News & World Report — were polled by telephone between July and August 2017.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) 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 as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanGMATPrep

New York, NY (October 25, 2017) — Kaplan Test Prep’s 2017 survey of over 150 business schools across the United States finds a growing number of them tapping into social media to help them decide who gets in and who does not*. Of the admissions officers surveyed, over a third (35 percent) say they have visited applicants’ social media profiles to learn more about them, a jump from less than a quarter (22 percent) in 2011. Additionally, many who check profiles do it frequently — of those business school admissions officers who’ve said they’ve visited applicants’ social media profiles, 33 percent say they do it “often.”

Notably, social media both hurt and helped applicants in nearly equal proportion. Among admissions officers who visit applicants’ social media footprints, half say have they found something that negatively impacted an applicant’s admissions chances — more than triple the 14 percent who reported this in 2011. Among the online discoveries that have hurt students:

• “I found one student who made it clear that he wanted to flip houses. I thought, ‘Why should we offer a slot to him when you don’t need an MBA to do that.’”
• “I learned about a student’s racial attitudes and didn’t want to bring that into the school.”
• “We have had applicants who had disturbing pictures on their Facebook account.”

On the flip side, almost as many (48 percent) reported finding something that positively impacted an applicant’s admissions chances. (This question was not asked in 2011.) Here’s what helped applicants:

• “We saw lots of information regarding volunteer work that was not included in the application.”
• “We got a better understanding of the student. We got to learn more about their hobbies, and ambitions.”
• “We were able to see their writing samples and creative thinking.”

Among all admissions officers, 61 percent agree with the statement “What students post on their social media pages is in the public sphere, so it’s ‘fair game’ for us to use to help make admissions decisions,” which may signal there is room for more taking this route.

“Successful business school applicants are the ones who are prepared. They submit strong GMAT® or GRE® scores, high GPAs, compelling letters of recommendation, impressive essays, and wow at the interviews. In a sense, that makes it scripted and choreographed, though rigorous. Business school admissions may take to social media to look for the less polished version of the applicant, not necessarily to find their weak spots, but just to see how they are in everyday life,” said Brian Carlidge, executive director of pre-business and pre-graduates programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “What you post on social media is a wildcard in the MBA admissions process and not nearly as important as the traditional factors, but always be mindful of what you share. Your social media footprint can potentially give you an admissions boost, but in some cases it can and will be used against you.”

For a one-minute video on Kaplan’s survey results, visit here.

To schedule an interview about Kaplan’s survey results, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

*Based on the results of a Kaplan Test Prep survey conducted by phone between August and October 2017. The survey included responses from 160 business schools, including 18 of the top 50, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Test names and other trademarks are the property of the respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are endorsed by nor affiliated with Kaplan or this survey.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) 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 as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Students Preparing for the October PSAT Can go to www.kaptest.com/psatlive for Livestreaming Interactive Teaching Sessions with Kaplan Experts

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanSATACT

New York, NY (September 19, 2017) – For millions of teens, the PSAT/NMSQT® is more than just great practice for the SAT® or ACT® — it’s the first meaningful milestone in the college admissions process. Scoring well on this nearly 3-hour exam can attract notice from colleges and open the door to scholarship opportunities. To help students succeed, for a second consecutive year, Kaplan Test Prep is holding its free, online PSAT Prep Live program, beginning Saturday, September 23. With lessons that cover every section of the exam, Kaplan’s PSAT Prep Live will give the nearly 4 million students who take the PSAT annually access to live interactive instruction online, taught by master teachers who can answer their questions in real time.

“A successful outcome in the college admissions process all starts with a high PSAT score. Doing well on the exam can get students on colleges’ radars for recruitment and scholarship money, and we are excited to once again help students achieve these important goals,” said Lee Weiss, vice president of college admissions programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “With $180 million in National Merit scholarships awarded to top-scoring PSAT takers, we remain committed to helping students achieve their highest possible PSAT scores, which is why we decided to make our best teachers available for free. Our engaging, motivating content delivered live from dynamic, expert teachers will provide students with the opportunity to ask and have their questions answered in real time — within a community of other motivated learners.”  

The eight, one-hour live lessons will begin livestreaming on Saturday, September 23, 4:00-5:00 pm ET and run through Sunday, October 8. The sessions include four lessons dedicated to the Math Test and two lessons each dedicated to the Reading Test and Writing and Language Test.  Among the eight lessons are two Advanced lessons (one Math, one Verbal) geared towards students who are competing for National Merit® scholarships. Each lesson will run live twice, with recordings available for students who were unable to attend or for students needing a refresher.

For more information, go to www.kaptest.com/psatlive.

The SAT® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse this product.  The PSAT/NMSQT® is a registered trademark of the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation which were not involved in the production of, and do not endorse this product. The ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse this product.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) 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 as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses.  Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanLSATPrep

New York, NY (September 18, 2017) — Kaplan Test Prep’s 2017 law school admissions officers survey shows more law schools warming up to the idea of allowing applicants to submit GRE scores instead of LSAT® scores*. According to the responses of 128 law schools across the United States, 25 percent say it’s an admissions policy they plan to implement, up from just 14 percent in Kaplan’s 2016 survey; 45 percent say they have no plans to do so, a drop from 56 percent who ruled it out in last year’s survey; and 30 percent are not sure, the same as in 2016.

The survey release comes on the heels of announced plans by Harvard Law School ,Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, and Georgetown Law to join University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in giving prospective students more options for how to get in. Opening up the application pool to GRE takers also gives law schools more prospective students to choose from during what continues to be a time of historically low application volume. But this change also come at a time when the American Bar Association, which governs the nation’s 200+ law schools, is deliberating on what to do about the issue: allow law schools to continue accepting the GRE or at least temporarily put a halt to it.

Law schools who plan to begin accepting the GRE offered a range of reasons, often expressing concerns that if they don’t they will be at a student recruitment disadvantage:

• “I’m thinking that it’s going to become the norm. It’s one of those situations where you’re going to be left behind.”
• “We plan to do it in part because Harvard is doing it. When they do things, people tend to fall in line, thinking it’s right.”
• “Accessibility. The GRE is offered every day of year and prospective students don’t have to register so far in advance. And there are more test centers.”
• “We have a range of applicants, many of whom are interested in non-traditional careers that would be better served by having them take the GRE.”

Among the shrinking plurality of law schools who say they plan to remain LSAT-only, admissions officers largely said they were not sold on the idea that the GRE is as predictive as the LSAT is in determining first year success in law school. They also said that until the ABA rules on the issue, that their policy will remain unchanged:

• “We’d have to do some significant research that the GRE is an effective test for
  measuring law school performance. Given our size, we probably wouldn’t have the number of students who have taken the GRE to do that sort of study here.”
• “Many people here don’t hold the same opinion about the validity of the GRE. We would also like to know the ABA’s disposition. Validity studies cost money and with law schools strapped for cash, that’s not easy.”
• “The ABA hasn’t fully weighed in on it yet and we don’t want to have a new enrollment method only to not have it available down the road.”
• “We’re waiting to see the outcomes of Harvard and Arizona—not only how the students have done while in school, but also bar passage rate.”

“Our survey finds the clearest sign yet that there is a shift toward greater GRE acceptance among law schools, but there’s still much uncertainty since one ruling from the American Bar Association could put an end to the practice,” said Jeff Thomas, executive director of pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “However and importantly, there are numerous caveats for applicants who plan to seek the GRE route to get into law school. Most applicants will still have to take the LSAT as only three law schools accept the GRE this year.  And even if you rock the GRE, but bomb the LSAT, law schools will see your LSAT score. You can’t only send the score you want to the schools you want. You will not be able to withhold your LSAT score. That means that while a high GRE score could mitigate against a weaker LSAT score, it will not be overlooked entirely. Plan on taking the LSAT.”

For a one-minute video on Kaplan’s survey results, visit here.

To schedule an interview about Kaplan’s survey results, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

*Based on the results of a Kaplan Test Prep survey conducted by phone in May 2017 of 128 law schools, including 18 of the top 30, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Test names and other trademarks are the property of the respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are endorsed by nor affiliated with Kaplan or this survey.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) 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 as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanSATACT

New York, NY (September 13, 2017) — Results from Kaplan’s 13th annual survey of admissions officers from the top colleges and universities across the United States show that more applicants are submitting ACT scores*. Of the nearly 300 schools surveyed, 58 percent report more applicants submitting ACT scores compared to three to five years ago, with 70 percent of this subset reporting the increase as “significant.” A separate Kaplan survey of over 550 students finds that 62 percent of high schoolers who have already taken the SAT® plan to take or have already taken the ACT as well**.

To help prepare the rising number of ACT takers and expand educational access, last year ACT and Kaplan launched a partnership to provide high-quality, engaging live instruction at an accessible cost, and free for low-income students. ACT Kaplan Online Prep Live provides a world-class live teaching experience delivered to computers, tablets, and mobile phones—so students can study anywhere, anytime, on any device. Since ACT Kaplan Online Prep Live’s launch last fall, over 100,000 students have engaged in instructional sessions delivered by Kaplan’s world-class teachers, and approximately 700,000 students have been offered access to the program, free of charge, via the ACT fee-waiver enrollment process. To date, Kaplan’s expert teachers have delivered over 450 hours of highly interactive livestreaming instruction on topics from English, to Math, to Science, to time management, to goal setting.

While there have been more ACT takers than SAT takers for the past few years, there are signs that the SAT is making a comeback. In recent years, the SAT has been making gains among states which mandate students take one of the tests as a graduation requirement, including the recent decision by Illinois to switch over from the ACT.

“What test-taking trends and our survey results show is that we continue to be a highly competitive two-test landscape. With last year’s changes to the SAT making the exams more similar than ever and every college allowing applicants to submit scores from either test, students have the opportunity to do well on both to help them get into their top college choices,” said Lee Weiss, vice president of college admissions programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “As always, we encourage teens to take a practice test to see which exam they feel most comfortable with and which one they think will be most advantageous to their admissions chances. Many teens, we know, actually submit scores from both exams, as doing well on both can be an admissions advantage.”

For a one-minute video on Kaplan’s survey results, visit here.

*For the 2017 survey, admissions officers from 299 of the nation’s top national, regional and liberal arts colleges and universities – as compiled by U.S. News & World Report — were polled by telephone between July and August 2017.

**The e-survey, which was conducted between September 2016 and June 2017, includes responses from 558 high school students who took an SAT course with Kaplan.

The ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. The SAT® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse this product.

To schedule an interview about Kaplan’s survey results, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) 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 as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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