Also: Nearly One in Five Pre-Meds Have Heard
About or Been Personally Bullied By Other Students or Even Professors

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 (April 20, 2017) — Between long hours in the lab, late nights studying, early mornings in class, and volunteer work in a clinic, life as a pre-med can be intense. Results from Kaplan Test Prep’s new survey of MCAT® students backs this up: 86 percent of future doctors think pre-med culture is “too competitive.” So competitive, in fact, that a significant minority—19 percent—say they have been bullied, or know others who have been bullied, within a pre-med academic setting.

When asked to share examples of hypercompetitive behavior from their pre-med experience, students shared the following anecdotes:

• “It seems there is a constant need for pre-med students to make themselves stand out to professors and other authority figures, including speaking in class over others, asking questions simply to ask a question, and accosting medical professionals to the point that they turn and run as soon as they hear you are pre-med.”
• “One student in my class had the top grade. Another student was competing with her for the top grade and somehow emailed her from the professor’s email address telling her that the exam had been moved and that class was canceled. This sounds like something out of a movie, but it really happened.”
• “I remember during my sophomore year, pre-med students would try to sabotage
  other pre-med students by offering them incorrect study guides or learning objectives in hopes of other students getting lower test scores and raising the grading curve.”

In some cases, the behaviors crossed the line from ‘highly competitive’ to ‘abusive;’ examples that students shared include:

• “I know students who have made comments to other students about how smart they are and have basically told them they’re unintelligent and shouldn’t be pre-med.”
• “There was a student in my cohort who had to temporarily take a leave of absence from the program due to a medical illness. While she was gone, and even when she came back, some students began spreading rumors that she was not really sick and that she was just saying that she was in order to hide the fact that she simply wanted to take time off to get a break from school.”
• “Some students were bullied by professors every time we would receive our exam grades back to either drop the course or change majors.”

“Healthy competition among pre-meds is to be expected, as the medical school admissions process remains fierce, with less than half of all applicants gaining admission. But it’s clear from our survey that some of what goes on can be downright abusive. There is never an excuse to bully or put down your fellow students. Additionally, pre-meds should know that in medical school, this kind of behavior is frowned upon, as the academic atmosphere is much more collaborative than competitive according to our own research,” says Eric Chiu, executive director of pre-medical programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “We encourage students who feel they are being unfairly targeted by their peers or even their professors to talk with their pre-med advisor or a trusted member of the administration. And if you see someone else being bullied, do what’s right and stand up for them. We must all be part of the solution.”

For a short video illustrating the results of the survey, click here.

For more information about Kaplan’s survey results, contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

*The survey was conducted by email in January 2017 of 273 pre-med students who prepared to take the MCAT with Kaplan Test Prep. MCAT® is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges, which is not affiliated with Kaplan or this survey.

MCAT® is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges, which is not 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.

                                                                                                                 #  #  #

Also: Kaplan Survey Reveals Reasons Why Students Take AP Courses

Register at www.kaptest.com/APprepathon

New York, NY (April 19, 2017) — To help students get ready for two of the most widely taken Advanced Placement exams, both administered in May, Kaplan Test Prep will hold its first-ever free, live, online Prepathons for AP U.S. History, on Saturday, April 22, between 1 PM and 5 PM ET, and AP Biology, on Sunday, April 23, between 1 PM and 5 PM ET. Accessible at www.kaptest.com/APprepathon, the events will allow high school students the opportunity to learn from some of Kaplan’s most highly rated teachers and ask questions about the tests, get answers in real-time and engage with fellow teens getting ready for ‘Test Day.’ The Prepathons’ open learning structures will allow students to come and go as needed, staying for whatever amount of time they feel is valuable. There will also be an important social aspect to the events: AP U.S. History event participants can share their experiences on Twitter using the hashtags #APUSH and #Prepathon; AP Biology event participants can use #APBio and #Prepathon.

AP tests continue to grow in popularity: 1.1 million high school students from the Class of 2016 took at least one AP exam, compared to 645,000 AP test takers 10 years ago. And this year, 66 percent of colleges and universities awarded credit for students who scored at least a three out of a possible five on an AP test.

New Kaplan research helps explain why more high school students are taking AP courses: 80 percent say because “it will help my GPA and better position me for college applications;” 61 percent say “to earn college credit in the hopes of graduating early and/or saving money on tuition;” 60 percent say “to build the academic skills necessary to succeed in college;” 54 percent say “to avoid taking introductory courses freshman year of college;” 49 percent say “I want to distinguish myself from my peers:” and 26 percent say because “most of my peers are taking it.”

“If you are taking the AP exams in U.S. History and Biology in May, spending some time with Kaplan this weekend during our Prepathons will be both fun and academically rewarding. Not only will you learn the most important content tested on the exams and become better equipped with test taking strategies, but you’ll go into Test Day with more confidence, which can make a big difference in how you perform,” said Cailin Papszycki, director of college admissions and K-12 programs, Kaplan Test Prep.

While this is Kaplan’s first Prepathon for AP exams, its recent Prepathons for the SAT® and ACT® and free PSAT® Prep Live course attracted tens of thousands of enthusiastic, engaged students.

For journalists interested in interviewing one of Kaplan Test Prep’s college admissions experts, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com. To register for the event, go to www.kaptest.com/APprepathon.

*For the survey, 138 high school students who prepared for the SAT and ACT  with Kaplan were polled by email between March and April 2017.

AP® is a registered trademark of the College Board. SAT® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. PSAT/NMSQT® is a registered trademark of the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. None of the aforementioned trademark holders were involved in the production of, and do 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.

                                                                                        # # #

Also: Most Law School Grads Feel Underwaterin Debt; Split on Online Learning

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 (April 12, 2017) — Law schools might want to reconsider who they let in…according to their own alumni. A new Kaplan Bar Review survey of nearly 350 recent law school graduates shows that almost two-thirds (64 percent) think law schools should raise their academic standards—which would include higher LSAT® scores and GPAs—when deciding who gets in*.

These results come at a time of both introspection and infighting among law schools about who’s to blame for the low bar passage rates for some state bar-specific exams and the lowest Multistate Bar Examination scores in recorded history. In recent years, many law schools have begun to admit students with lower LSAT scores and GPAs than they previously had because of the multiyear slump in applications. In addition, to boost application numbers and diversify the pool of prospective students, a handful of law schools now allow applicants to submit scores from the GRE®— the exam traditionally used for graduate schools and more recently business schools— instead of the LSAT, though the jury is still out on what the results may be.

“There’s a certain irony to our survey results,” says Tammi Rice, vice president, Kaplan Bar Review. “On one hand, law school graduates recognize that perhaps getting into law school has become easier than in previous years, but on the other hand, though they may not realize it, these lower academic standards might have played a role in why they got in. With the number of LSAT administrations on the upswing this cycle, some law schools may have more applicants to choose from, which means they might become more selective. This is a trend we plan to continue watching.”

The survey also found that among law school graduates who carry student debt, 42 percent described the amount as “manageable,” but 58 percent described it as “unmanageable.” Exactly 50 percent of law school graduates say they are satisfied with the amount of financial aid their alma mater provided them, while the other half of law school graduates say they are not satisfied.

Additionally, Kaplan Bar Review found that recent law school graduates are split on the issue of increasing the number of distance (online) credit hours that law schools be allowed to offer, currently capped at 15. Of those surveyed, 50 percent think the American Bar Association, the organization that accredits the nation’s more than 200 law schools, should “significantly increase” the number of credit hours, while 50 percent are against it. In 2014, the ABA upped the permitted number from 12 hours to 15 hours. Schools that are out of compliance with the ABA on this rule, or any, might risk losing their accreditation.

“Student debt continues to understandably be a concern for law school students. We encourage all students and prospective students to be as thoughtful as possible when thinking about how to finance their legal education. For instance, consider tuition, and anticipated starting salary at the law school you plan to attend or are currently attending. Those numbers are publicly available and aspiring attorneys should do this important research,” added Rice.

For a short video illustrating the results of the survey, click here.

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 2017. It includes responses from 346 law school graduates from the class of 2016.

LSAT® is a registered trademark of the Law School Admission Council, which neither sponsors nor endorses this product. GRE® is a registered trademark of the Educational Testing Service, which neither sponsors nor endorses this product.

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).

# # #

Mark Your Calendars: Kaplan Will Hold Its First Ever Free, Live Online Prepathon Events for AP U.S. History and Biology on April 22-23

 Register at www.kaptest.com/APPrepathon

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 (April 4, 2017) — Kaplan Test Prep’s most recent survey of college admissions officers from 361 of the nation’s top-ranked schools finds that 78% give an edge to prospective students who complete and perform well in Advanced Placement (AP) courses compared to those who don’t*. Within that 78%, 20% describe that edge as “significant,” while 36% consider it a “moderate” edge and 23% say it’s a “slight” edge. When asked about why AP courses can play such an important role in the application process, admissions officers shared several insights, including:

• “Students who take APs tend to do better in their courses over all, so that tends to indicate that they’ll be able to adapt to the college level work.”
• “We want to see that students are taking challenging courses and doing well, but if you’re taking challenging courses and not doing well, that may be indicative of your ability to do well at the college.”
• “We take a holistic approach, but we give moderate to significant edge because we want to see students taking challenging courses, so it’s a plus, but if students don’t have access to AP in their schools, they won’t be penalized.”
• “Students shouldn’t just take an AP to have an edge and then get a C. They should
  take the course that best fits them.”
• “Doing well gives an applicant a higher chance of being admitted into the honors program.”

According to recently released data, 1.1 million high school students from the Class of 2016 took at least one AP exam, up from 645,000 a decade earlier. Public colleges and universities in at least 20 states, including most recently Nevada, Illinois and Texas, are required to award credit to students who score well on AP exams — a score of three out of five possible points is the common threshold. In other states, it can vary by school.

To help students get ready for two of the most widely taken AP exams, both administered in May, Kaplan Test Prep will hold its first ever free, live, online Prepathons for AP U.S. History, on Saturday, April 22, between 1 PM and 5 PM ET, and AP Biology on Sunday, April 23, between 1 PM and 5 PM ET. Accessible at www.kaptest.com/APprepathon, the events will give test takers access to Kaplan’s most highly rated teachers and its open format will allow students to come and go as needed, staying for whatever amount of time they feel is valuable for them. Students can ask questions in the chat and receive responses in real-time, engage with instructors, and interact with peers. AP U.S. History event participants are encouraged to share their experiences on Twitter using the hashtags #APUSH and #Prepathon; AP Biology event participants are encouraged to use #APBio and #Prepathon.

“Doing well on AP exams serves several important purposes for prospective college students. First, they show admissions officers that you are capable of mastering complex material. Second, you can earn college credit, which could lead you to graduating on time or even graduating early, which can lead to saving tens of thousands of dollars in tuition. Doing well on AP exams can also earn you placement in higher level courses,” said Cailin Papszycki, director of college admissions and K-12 programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “We hope more high schools across the United States provide this opportunity to their students to take AP courses in the coming years, as doing well in them can give them an edge getting into college.”

While this is Kaplan’s first Prepathon for AP exams, its recent Prepathons for the SAT® and ACT® and free PSAT® Prep Live course attracted tens of thousands of enthusiastic, engaged students. Among the comments and quotes from participants included:

• “Thank you! This really opened my eyes about the things I need to practice more!”
• “I feel like i can ace it right now.”
• “Thanks to all of you, I feel so much more confident about the test now!”
• “Thank you guys for 6 hours of awesomeness.”
• “Thanks a lot everyone! You have no idea how helpful this is for me!”

For a short video illustrating the results of Kaplan’s survey, please visit here.

For journalists wanting to arrange an interview with one of Kaplan Test Prep’s college admissions experts, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com. To register for the event, go to www.kaptest.com/APprepathon.

*For the survey, 361 admissions officers from the nation’s top national, regional and liberal arts colleges and universities – as compiled from U.S. News & World Report – were polled by telephone between July and August 2016.

AP® is a registered trademark of the College Board. SAT® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. PSAT/NMSQT® is a registered trademark of the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. None of the aforementioned trademark holders were involved in the production of, and do 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.

                                                                                        # # #

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 (March 31, 2017) — Leaders of American business schools continue to believe in their ability to better prepare their students for business management roles than their European and Asian counterparts, even as European and Asian business schools continue to stay competitive in the global rankings. Of the nearly 125 U.S. business schools surveyed by Kaplan Test Prep in its annual admissions officers survey, almost all (97%) think American business schools better prepare their students for the business world than European business schools do*.  This indicates a slight increase from 95% in 2014, the last time Kaplan asked this question. In comparing themselves to their Asian counterparts, practically the same percentage of U.S. b-school admissions officers (96%) believe American business schools are stronger, which also shows an uptick from 2014, when it was 92%.

When asked why they believe business schools in the United State are stronger than those in Europe and Asia, admissions officers often cited accreditation, portability and cachet, seemingly keeping American students in mind when coming to their conclusions:

• “American MBA degrees are more valuable around the world. That might speak to what the world thinks. The curriculum might be the same but a U.S. degree sells better.”
• “Business education is very location-centric, so you want to go to a school near where you’re planning to launch your career because their connections will be strong in that area.”
• “As long as the school is accredited through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the degree carries about the same weight, but without any concrete evidence, I think American schools are a little better.”

This high degree of confidence comes as the European-based INSEAD (Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires), with campuses in France, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, remains the number one ranked program for the second year in a row, according to The Financial Times’s global rankings, with London Business School and Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge also continuing to rank well. Some business school admissions officers who were surveyed, however told Kaplan that they couldn’t offer an opinion on European or Asian business schools, however, because they didn’t know enough about programs outside the United States.

Kaplan’s survey comes at time of great change in business school admissions trends, as political events in the United States and the United Kingdom may prompt many prospective MBAs around the world to consider attending business school elsewhere.  And in India, a blockbuster report last year found that fewer than one in 10 graduates from business schools on the subcontinent are “employable,” causing many Indians to seek a second MBA degree abroad.

“With the job market expanding and salaries rising, an MBA at a top ranked business school with a strong global reputation remains a sound investment, regardless of location,“ said Brian Carlidge, executive director of pre-graduate and pre-business programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “It’s important to consider that if you attend a business school overseas and its brand isn’t well known outside that particular country, you could be at a disadvantage when seeking employment back home or in another nation. Reputation matters with global employers and that needs to be part of aspiring MBAs’ decision-making process.”

For more information about Kaplan’s survey, contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

*The survey was conducted between August 2016 and October 2016 of admissions officers at 124 business schools in the United States. Among the 124 business schools are 5 of the top 25, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

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.

 # # #

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 22, 2017) — College admissions officers offer this advice to parents of college applicants: Let your child sit in the driver’s seat. According to a recent Kaplan Test Prep survey of admissions officers at over 350 colleges across the United States, 75 percent say parents should only be “somewhat involved” in the admissions process, stepping in only when their child asks them*. Only one in five (18 percent) recommend parents be “very involved,” guiding their child every step of the way; just one percent say be “extremely involved,” suggesting parents take care of everything themselves. On the other end of the spectrum, only six percent say parents should be “not very involved,” and less than one percent say “not involved at all.”

As one admissions officers explained: “Parents should be very involved in coaching and advising in the actual decision making, but it’s also important for students to be the ones most engaged in the process and in contact with the admissions officers.” Another admissions officer shared: “Students need to make the transition into college, where they’re going to need to be independent, so we appreciate when students take ownership.” Other admissions officers indicated that an ideal area for parents to be involved in is the financial aid process.

But when has a parent overstepped their boundaries or violated norms in the college admissions process? Admissions officers offered a long list of things NOT to do, which could inadvertently harm their child’s chances of getting in. Among the anecdotes:

• “I once had a parent call pretending to be the student, but I had met the student before so I knew how their voice sounds. I called the student’s cell phone after to suggest that her mom not pretend to be her and call other schools because that’s fraud.”
• “We’ve had parents make their students sign waivers so that the parent can speak to anyone on campus regarding them.”
• “We have plenty of ‘helicopter parents’ who are overly involved. We’ve had parents who wouldn’t let the student speak in meetings even when we tried to engage the student specifically.”
• “There have been parents who’ve called requesting to change their child’s major because they don’t want their child in that major.”
• “In some cases we’d get duplicate records due to parents and students both trying to complete parts of the application without talking to each other.”

“At Kaplan Test Prep, we believe parents can play a constructive role in their child’s admissions process, whether accompanying them to campus visits, making sure they meet application deadlines, and helping them fill out necessary financial aid paperwork. But in other areas, it’s most beneficial for parents to let their child take the lead, including deciding where to apply, letting them speak for themselves when talking with admissions officers, filling out their own applications and ultimately deciding where to enroll,” said Cailin Papszycki, director of college admissions and K-12 programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “The college admissions process will have its ups and downs, so it’s crucial that parents and their kids establish good communication lines with each other, which could result in better outcomes and even turn it into a fun, bonding experience.”  

For a short video illustrating the survey’s findings, click here. And to read a blog post on Kaplan’s college admissions blog College: Admission Possible, visit here.

To interview a college admissions expert at Kaplan, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

*For the survey, 354 admissions officers from the nation’s top national, regional and liberal arts colleges and universities – as compiled from U.S. News & World Report – were polled by telephone between July and August 2016.

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.

                                                                                                      # # #

Visit www.kaptest.com/prepathon to Register

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 16, 2017) – Kaplan Test Prep will hold the industry’s first-ever free, live, online ACT Prepathon on Saturday, March 25, between 12 PM ET and 6 PM ET to help students get ready for the April 8 Test Day. This innovative prep event will feature live expert instruction from some of Kaplan’s most highly rated teachers and its open format will allow students to come and go as needed, staying for whatever amount of time they feel is valuable for them. During every 60-minute or 30-minute segment, a Kaplan instructor will coach participants through different content areas of the ACT: Reading, English, Math and Science. Students will be able to ask questions in the chat and receive responses in real-time, engage with instructors, and interact with peers. They are encouraged to share their experiences on Twitter using the hashtag #ACTPrepathon.

Kaplan is the exclusive, official partner for live, online prep for the ACT test.

“We know from working with tens of thousands of high school teens annually that successful test prep relies not only on practice and teaching good strategies, but also on the interaction that comes from engaging instruction from outstanding teachers,” said Cailin Papszycki, director of college admissions programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “While the Prepathon is not a substitute for comprehensive studying, it will give ACT preppers the opportunity to hone their skills, build their confidence, and enjoy the excitement of a live event in the process. Participants can count on our expert instructors demystifying some of the ACT’s hardest question types to help them earn every point they can on this high stakes exam.”

Nearly 2.1 million students—close to two-thirds (64%) of graduating seniors—from the class of 2016 took the ACT, an all-time high. Results from Kaplan’s most recent college admissions officers survey show that nearly half (49%) report more applicants submitting ACT scores compared to previous years, with 63% of this subset describing the increase as “significant.”*

While this is Kaplan’s first prepathon for the ACT, its recent free, live, online prep events for the SAT® and PSAT® attracted tens of thousands of enthusiastic students. Among the comments and quotes from participants included:

• “I had a ton of fun learning I wish you guys were my actual teachers on a daily basis. THANK YOU. Love everything ;)”
• “Thank you all. The 6 hours were well worth it. Glad I stayed for the whole thing.”
• “Just wanted to say kudos to everybody who has worked hard to make this run smoothly and to teach all of this to us!”
• “You all have made these 6 hours a lot of fun!”
• “WHOO! Thanks so much! Everyone helped me feel super prepared!”

For journalists wanting to arrange an interview with one of Kaplan Test Prep’s ACT experts, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com. To register for the event, go to www.kaptest.com/prepathon.

*For the 2016 survey, admissions officers from 374 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 2016.

ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. 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. 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

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.

                                                                                                   # # #

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 (March 8, 2017) – Jeff Thomas, Kaplan Test Prep’s executive director of pre-law programs, issued the following statement today regarding Harvard Law School’s decision to begin allowing applicants to submit scores from the GRE instead of the LSAT:

“Harvard Law School’s decision to allow applicants to submit GRE scores instead of LSAT scores has the potential to create a domino effect among other law schools. When Harvard changes their admissions strategy, other law schools take notice.

“In reality, to create a true two-test admissions landscape, the vast majority of law schools would have to make this decision too.

“Kaplan Test Prep’s view is that choice is always good for students. With the GRE offered almost every day of the year, this will open up doors to applicants who would have otherwise missed deadlines, since the LSAT is only offered a few times per year, or who have shied away from the LSAT.

“In a survey that Kaplan Test Prep conducted in May 2016 of 125 law schools, 56 percent said they had no plans to adopt the GRE as an admissions alternative to the LSAT, which at the time was only something the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law had implemented. Just 14 percent said they planned to do it. The remaining 30 percent said they were not sure, which signified a lot of room to grow. We think that number is likely to increase over the next few months. However, for the vast majority of students, this change will have no immediate impact.

“Our advice for pre-law students is that unless the only law schools they plan to apply to are Harvard University and the University of Arizona is to take the LSAT, since it’s still the only admissions exam accepted by every law school.

“One other point to consider is that over the past few years, law schools across the United States have experienced slumping applications and enrollments, which has even led to some law schools closing or merging. While Harvard is in no danger of falling into any of those categories, other law schools may see the GRE option as a way to grow their applicant pools and as a way to diversify their student bodies, which has long been a goal for many.

“Either way, with Kaplan, you’ve got this. We have the industry-leading LSAT and GRE prep courses to help students no matter what the landscape holds.”

All test names are registered trademarks of their respective owners. None of the trademark holders are affiliated with Kaplan.

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.

                                                                                                   # # #

Kaplan SAT Experts Available for TV, Skype, or Phone Interviews

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 (February 28, 2017) – Many top schools are reporting a record number of applications signaling that competition in the 2017-18 college admissions cycle is likely to remain fierce — which means it’s more important than ever for teens to put together the strongest application possible, beginning with a high SAT score. With less than two weeks to go before the Saturday, March 11 administration of the SAT — one of the most popular exam administrations of the year — Kaplan Test Prep is providing the following last minute strategies to help the hundreds of thousands of students who are taking the exam this month to reach their highest score potential:

• Familiarize yourself with the test directions in advance: Know where to fill in your name and information, and how to shade the bubbles. This will save you precious test-taking time you would otherwise spend reading the directions during the test.
• Take two or more full length practice tests: Do your best to simulate the test conditions. Make sure you have everything in front of you — timer, pencils, eraser, calculator, water. This is good practice in keeping to the time limit and familiarizing your body with the stress of taking a test that’s nearly four hours.
• Take advantage of free live prep. Kaplan will hold a live, online Prepathon on Sunday, March 5, between 12  PM ET and 6 PM ET, free and open to all students, featuring live expert instruction and Q&A with Kaplan’s most highly-rated teachers. To register, go to www.kaptest.com/satprepathon
• Try and get into a routine at least four days before the SAT: For example, review math formulas before you sleep, get the right amount of sleep, wake up around the same time and review some vocabulary at breakfast. This way, when you have to wake up early on Saturday and review some notes, your body will be used to it.
• The day before the exam:  Do NOT cram. Also, make sure you know exactly where the testing center is. Do a practice drive to the location if you aren’t familiar with the area. And put together your Test Day package, which includes proper identification — you won’t be able to take the test without it.
• Test Day: Wake up an hour or two before you need to leave and eat a healthy, balanced breakfast — do not fuel up on sugar that will cause you to crash during the test. While you’re eating, spend some time reading a difficult article (e.g. an editorial in the New York Times or Wall Street Journal). Reading it will help wake your brain up beforehand.
• Final thought: Take a deep breath. You’ve got this.

For students interested in participating in Kaplan’s Sunday, March 5 SAT Prepathon (kaptest.com/satprepathon), it is a fun, innovative event designed to enable live SAT review and engagement with some of Kaplan’s most highly-rated teachers and interactivity with peers. From 12 PM ET through 6 PM ET, at every hour, on the hour, a new segment on a new topic on the SAT’s Reading, Math and Writing section will commence. The 6-hour open format is designed to allow students to come and go as needed, and stay for whatever amount of time they feel is valuable for them. Tweets from students who participated in last year’s SAT Prepathon included:

• “This is literally the greatest thing ever. PLZ PLZ PLZ do this again! :)”
• “If I can absorb all of the information from Kaplan’s SAT prepathon, I can do anything.”
• “The prepathon was a great idea! Thanks guys, I’m learning so much.”

To arrange an interview with one of Kaplan Test Prep’s SAT experts, please contact

Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

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.

                                                                                                   # # #

Also: Pre-Law Students Are Eager to Run, but Cautious
about Expressing Political Beliefs in Law School Application

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, 2017) – Fresh off an historic presidential election that has fueled increased political activism on both sides of the aisle, a new Kaplan Test Prep survey shows a jump in the percentage of pre-law students interested in politics*. Over half (53%) of the over 500 students surveyed say they would consider running for political office, up from 38% in 2012, the last time Kaplan surveyed on this topic. This 53% nearly ties the all-time high of 54% who said they would consider running for office when Kaplan first surveyed students shortly after President Obama was elected in 2008.

Approximately 35 percent of all members of Congress (both in the House of Representatives and Senate) are lawyers, the largest identified  profession in the current Congress, though markedly down from a post-World War II high of 59% in 1965. Additionally, about half of all current U.S. governors graduated law school.  

Despite many pre-law students’ passion for politics, many are apprehensive about putting their beliefs into words in the admissions process. When asked, “In general, do you think it’s better for applicants to avoid discussing their political beliefs in their law school application personal statement?”, nearly half (46%) say yes; 16% say no; 29% say it depends; and the remaining 10% don’t know.

But a separate Kaplan survey of law schools finds that admissions officers don’t necessarily think it’s a bad idea for applicants to discuss their political beliefs**. When asked the same question, 42% disagreed with the statement “it would be better for applicants to not discuss their political beliefs in their personal statement.” Of the remaining respondents, 28% agreed that politics should be avoided in law school application personal statements; 26% say it depends; and 4% don’t know.  

“Law school has long been a bullpen of aspiring politicians, and we think the recent election showed many pre-law students of all political persuasions how important it is stay involved and stand up for what you believe,” said Jeff Thomas, executive director of pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “When it comes to expressing political beliefs in your law school personal statement, we advise applicants to do it only when you can do a good job of weaving together your personal narrative and career goals. For instance, if you want to go into public interest law, by all means, talk about your college internship in the governor’s office or your canvassing job for an advocacy group. But just to spout 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.”

For a short video illustrating the survey’s findings, click here.

* Kaplan Test Prep e-surveyed 514 of its LSAT® students between December 2016 and February 2017.

** For the 2016 Kaplan Test Prep survey, 98 of the 205 American Bar Association-accredited law schools were polled by telephone between August and September 2016. Included among the 98 are 28 of the top 50 law schools, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

LSAT® is a registered trademark of the Law School Admission Council, which neither sponsors nor endorses 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.

                                                                                       # # #