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

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

Interviews with Experts, Photos and B-Roll Available at www.satchange.com

New York, NY (March 1, 2016) — This Saturday, hundreds of thousands of teens across the country will undertake the first administration of a redesigned SAT — the first time the test has changed since 2005.  What are the changes?  How significant are they?  Kaplan Test Prep, the world leader in test preparation, has helped hundreds of thousands of students through dozens of test changes, and its experts can provide context, including:

• An overview of the changes
• What they mean for test takers
• How the changes could impact who does well
• How the new test compares to the ACT®
• Whether students should take the SAT or ACT
• How colleges view these tests
• How students should prepare
• What parents can do to help students prepare

Based on questions and comments from the thousands of teens who attended a February 21 all-day, live online SAT Prepathon (www.kaptest.com/sat/prepathon), students across the country are anxious about the upcoming test.

For journalists who will be covering this rite of passage for college-bound teens,  taken by 1.7 million students across the country last year, Kaplan can provide expert perspective and resources.  To schedule a TV, newspaper, blog, or radio interview with a Kaplan Test Prep expert about the new SAT, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

For hi-res photos and B-roll of students preparing for and taking a practice test, editable video interview clips addressing new SAT FAQ, downloadable SAT sample questions and other call-outs, go to www.satchange.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.  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 90 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. Additionally, Kaplan offers new economy skills training (NEST) programs and resources designed to provide training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

# # #

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

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

Register at www.kaptest.com/prepathon; Use #SATPrepathon for the Twitter Chat

New York, NY (February 16, 2016) — In a first-ever all-day, live online SAT prep event, global test prep leader Kaplan Test Prep will hold a free “Prepathon” on Sunday, February 21, between 11 AM ET and 11 PM ET to help students get ready for the new SAT launching on March 5. This innovative daytime to bedtime SAT prep event will feature live expert instruction from some of Kaplan’s most highly rated teachers, who combined have taught approximately 24,000 students. Created to provide best-in-class live SAT review for students anxious about the new test, Kaplan’s SAT Prepathon is designed to enable live engagement with instructors and interactivity with peers, as participants can ask questions through Twitter, using the hashtag #SATPrepathon, and can also interact through live polling.

“We know from experience that successful test prep relies not only on practice and having a good strategy, but also on the interaction and engagement that comes from live instruction. Given the heightened anxiety brought on by a new, redesigned SAT, we wanted to create a free all-day forum that allows all students, everywhere, the opportunity for live engagement with top instructors and fellow test preppers,” said Lee Weiss, vice president of college admissions programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “While the Prepathon is not a substitute for comprehensive studying, it will give attendees the opportunity to hone their skills further and build up confidence for test day. It will demystify some of the new SAT’s most difficult question types and help students looking to earn every point they can on the exam.”

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 12-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.

Weiss noted that preparation for the March 5 exam is particularly critical, given the scope of changes. “This SAT will see its biggest changes ever.  While changes like eliminating the wrong answer penalty and obscure vocabulary will help students, other changes like limiting calculator use and adding deeper and more rigorous content will lead to a more challenging test experience overall,” he said.

For example, one change includes revising the Reading portion of the test from three 20- to 25-minute sections with three different question types (sentence completion, short passage-based questions and long passage-based questions) to one 65-minute section with only one question type (long passage-based questions). According to a recent Kaplan Test Prep survey of nearly 800 students, when asked which of the three question types they’d find most challenging for a 65 minute section, 88% said long passage-based questions. Only 8% of students felt 65 minutes of sentence completions would be most challenging, while 4% felt 65 minutes of short passage-based questions would be most challenging; both of these question types have been retired from the SAT.

In the most recent test taking cycle, 1.7 million aspiring college students took the SAT, including 110,000 non-U.S. citizens.

No registration for the event is required. All students need to do is log on to www.kaptest.com/prepathon at any time during the event.

To schedule an interview with a Kaplan Test Prep expert about the new SAT, 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 90 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. Additionally, Kaplan offers new economy skills training (NEST) programs and resources designed to provide training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

# # #

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

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

Students prepare for the new SAT, which launches March 5, 2016. (Feel free to use photo, but please give credit to Kaplan Test Prep as the source.)

New York, NY (February 4, 2016) — With one month to go before the debut of a redesigned SAT, Kaplan Test Prep is reporting that its business for students prepping for this weekend’s ACT has jumped more than 50%, as many students opt to hedge their bets by prepping for both tests. In a November survey of parents of college applicants, 43% reported that their child plans to take both admissions tests, and in a 2012 survey of college admissions officers, 18% reported an advantage to applicants’ submitting scores from both tests.

“Given the uncertainty that comes with a new test, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in students prepping for both the ACT and the SAT this year,” said Lee Weiss, Vice President, College Admissions Programs at Kaplan Test Prep. “Some of the changes in the new SAT that make the test more student-friendly reflect existing elements of the ACT, such as no wrong answer penalty, an optional essay, and removal of obscure vocabulary. By the same token, many students may find the increased rigor of the new SAT more challenging, as it includes multi-step word and math problems, greater integration of data and reading, and greater focus on analysis and interpretation. It’s not surprising that students aren’t sure how they’ll do on the new test and are covering their bases.”

Among the changes coming to the March 5 SAT:

• Administration: the scoring scale has reverted from its 2400 point scale to its pre-2005 1600 point scale, calculator use is now restricted, and the ¼ point wrong answer penalty has been eliminated.
• Structure: the sections are longer, with fewer breaks — no sections of the old SAT were longer than 25 minutes, while the new SAT includes a 65 minute Reading section and a 55 minute Math section. The essay is now twice as long, but optional. And the new test has only four answer choices instead of five.
• Approach: the old SAT focused on testing students’ knowledge, while the new SAT focuses on students’ ability to analyze information, integrate data from multiple sources, and solve multi-step problems.

“The way students are tested will be fundamentally different on the new SAT, but our advice to students about whether they should take the SAT or the ACT remains the same,” said Weiss. “Take practice tests for both and decide which you’re more comfortable with. All colleges accept both tests, so each student should make his or her own decision based on personal preference and strategy.”

To schedule an interview with a Kaplan Test Prep expert on the SAT changes and how students can best prepare for the tests, 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. 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 90 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. Additionally, Kaplan operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

# # #

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

Press Contacts: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7548
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanMedical

Chicago, IL (January 15, 2016) – Driven by increasing demand for clinical simulation centers by health-related businesses, Kaplan Medical will be opening its once-private Clinical Skills facility in the downtown Chicago Loop to help companies, such as research, product development, medical device and pharmaceutical firms, that require medical professional training in a simulated physician office setting. One of only a few commercial simulation centers in the Midwest, the Kaplan Medical Chicago Center for Medical Simulation is now available for rental, based on availability.

“Kaplan Medical has spent nearly 13 years bringing our best-in-class Clinical Skills preparation to medical students from all over the world – and we look forward to continuing to serve these students at our three Simulation Centers nationwide,” said Daniel Nelson, Executive Director, National Sales, Kaplan Medical. “Additionally, recent changes to our Clinical Skills program enable us to also serve our valued Medical community with their clinical skills simulation needs.”

The Kaplan Medical Chicago Center for Medical Simulation is fully separated from the Kaplan Medical test prep facility. Some of the Center’s features include:

• 12 state-of-the-art simulated patient rooms with audio and video recording capability – each including all necessary tools for a standard office visit
• Master faculty viewing room allowing trainers to view all 12 rooms concurrently
• Computers outside of each patient room that allow for trainee feedback immediately  after each training session
• Additional classrooms for larger group training and pre-and-post simulation
• A full simulated physician’s office including waiting area

The Center also partners with a large number of Standardized Patients within the Chicago area who have been trained in multiple patient scenarios, if Standardized Patients are needed to simulate health symptoms.

To speak in greater detail with a Kaplan spokesperson about Kaplan Medical Chicago Center for Medical Simulation’s rental availability and offerings, please contact Karen Arnold at 312-241-5300 or karen.arnold@kaplan.com.

About Kaplan Medical

Kaplan Medical is a unit of Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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.

# # #

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

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

New York, NY (January 13, 2016) — Kaplan Test Prep’s most recent survey of nearly 400 college admissions officers across the United States finds that the percentage of admissions officers who visit applicants’ social media pages to learn more about them has hit a record high of 40% — quadruple the percentage who did so in 2008, when Kaplan first explored this issue.* For context, out of those who do so, 89% say they do so “rarely” while only 11% say they do so “often”. And the percentage of admissions officers who say they have Googled an applicant to learn more about them has remained relatively stable over the past two years, at 29%.  

But what are the triggers that prompt admissions officers to look beyond the traditional elements of the application (GPA, standardized test scores, extracurriculars) and turn to Google and Facebook? Admissions officers mentioned several trigger points, both positive and negative:

• Interest in Talents: Some admissions officer say they will visit an applicant’s social media page — often by the applicant’s own invitation — if the applicant mentions a special talent, for example, such as being a musician, artist, poet, writer, or model. In fact, 42% of admissions officers reported an increase in such invitations compared to two year ago.
• Verification of Awards: Citation of particularly distinguished or noteworthy awards can sometimes trigger an admissions officer’s online search for independent verification; as one officer noted, something “out of the norm.”
• Criminal Records or Disciplinary Action: Some admissions officers say that if an applicant mentions they have a criminal background or a record of disciplinary action, they will do some online digging to get more details.
• Scholarships: Students applying for special scholarships can come under greater scrutiny, as schools want to ensure those receiving the scholarships are fully deserving; extra due diligence can come in the form of online checking. .
• Admissions Sabotage: Anecdotally, admissions officers say they occasionally get anonymous tips about prospective students pointing them towards inappropriate behavior. They’ll sometimes dig online to see if it has merit.

Kaplan’s survey also found that social media can cut both ways. Thirty-seven percent of admissions officers say that what they’ve found about an applicant positively impacted his or her application — and an equal percentage say that what they found negatively impacted an applicant’s admissions chances. Positive findings included discovery of undisclosed leadership roles or community service, while negative findings included criminal offenses, photos of drug or alcohol use, racial prejudice or inappropriate behavior.

“The growth of social media hasn’t made college admissions process a whole new ballgame, but it’s definitely changed the rules,”said Yariv Alpher, executive director of research, Kaplan Test Prep. “What you post online can and may be used in your favor or against you, so it’s important to think about what you share. When in doubt, the best strategy may be to keep it to yourself.”

For a 30-second 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.

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

*For the 2015 survey, 387 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 2015.

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 90 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. Additionally, Kaplan operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

# # #

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

Press Contacts: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7548
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanGMATPrep

New York, NY (December 16, 2015) — Kaplan Test Prep’s 2015 survey of 222 business schools across the United States and Great Britain finds that 90%–an all time high–allow applicants to submit a GRE score instead of a GMAT score, once the only admissions test option for business schools.* This is a 5% increase over last year and a big jump from 2009, when Kaplan’s survey found only a quarter (24%) of business schools allowed students to submit a GRE score. Additionally, 42% of admissions officers in 2015 reported an increase in the number of applicants submitting GRE scores, compared to 2014.

“Accepting GRE scores helps business schools attract a more diverse applicant pool because GRE test-takers are less likely to have traditional business backgrounds in fields like financial services, marketing, or consulting,” said Brian Carlidge, executive director of pre-business and pre-graduate programs, Kaplan Test Prep.

Yet, despite this increased acceptance of GRE scores, the GMAT might still give applicants an edge at some schools. Twenty-five (25%) percent of admissions officers say applicants who submit a GMAT score have an admissions advantage over those who submit a GRE score, an increase from 18% in Kaplan’s 2014 survey. Only 2% say those who submit a GRE score have the advantage, a drop from 4% in 2014. For the majority (74%), neither has the advantage.

“Even with the increased number of applicants submitting GRE scores, students need to understand that some schools are still reluctant to give both tests equal footing,” added Carlidge. “Our advice to students is to gather admissions intel and ask the business schools to which they will apply if there’s a preference one way or the other.”

Carlidge points out that while the exams include different content, achieving a high percentile is equally challenging on both.

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 2015 and September 2015 of admissions officers at 222 business schools in the United States (217) and United Kingdom (5). Among the 222 business schools are 20 of the top 50, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

GMAT® is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council™. Kaplan materials do not contain actual GMAT items and are neither endorsed by nor affiliated in any way with GMAC. GRE ® is a registered trademark of the Educational Testing Service, 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 90 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. Additionally, Kaplan operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

# # #

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

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

New York, NY (December 7, 2015) — With the average annual sticker price of college hitting $19,548 for in-state public college and $43,921 for private college, joint research from Kaplan Test Prep and MONEY magazine conducted among both parents and high school counselors finds that many aren’t convinced about the value-for-cost of college today. According to the Kaplan/MONEY survey of over 500 parents of prospective college students, just 21% agree that “the cost of a four-year college degree today is clearly justified for the value it delivers.”* Fifty-eight percent disagree, while 21% aren’t sure if the value is worth the cost. In a separate survey conducted among 235 high school counselors, 37% feel strongly that “the cost of a four-year college degree today is justified for the value it delivers.”**

A reason behind the reservations about value-for-cost may be the immediacy of the financial pressures college costs bring — in the same survey of parents, 60% say that thinking about how to save for college is “more daunting” than thinking about retirement. In fact, data shows long-term value in significantly higher lifetime earnings and lower unemployment of college graduates. According to a 2014 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, those with a bachelor’s degree earn about $1 million more than high school graduates during their careers, while data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the 2014 unemployment rate of college graduates to be almost half that of high school graduates (3.5% versus 6%).

“We know from talking to parents and high school counselors that the takeaway isn’t that they don’t believe in the value of a college degree — they’re really concerned about the high sticker price. This is understandable since for many, it’s a hefty investment that brings immediate debt but not necessarily immediate return,” says Michael Boothroyd, executive director of college admissions programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “But it’s important to recognize that college is a long-term investment that realizes itself over time — not only in higher income potential and lower unemployment rates, but also through other benefits such as making connections, fostering intellectual and social development, and broadening perspectives.”

Ironically, for a majority of counselors, understanding the value of a college degree is an infrequent topic of discussion raised by parents: just 12% of high school counselors say that it is a topic of discussion that “always” comes up with parents, though another 30% say it “often” comes up. By contrast, 22% say the topic “rarely” comes up; and 4% say it “never” comes up. A third (32%) said it only comes up “sometimes.”

“The cost of college can seem intimidating, but the last thing parents and students should do is despair and give up,” says Greg Daugherty, education editor at MONEY. “There are many top-notch colleges that provide generous financial aid packages, help students graduate with little or no debt, and launch them into successful and productive careers.”

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

*The Kaplan/MONEY magazine e-survey was conducted in October 2015 and includes responses from 539 parents of prospective college students, between the ages of 15 and 18.

**The Kaplan/MONEY magazine e-survey was conducted in October 2015 and includes responses from 235 high school counselors.

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 90 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. Additionally, Kaplan operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

About MONEY

MONEY (www.money.com), published by Time Inc., is America’s leading source of personal finance advice, with a readership of nearly 7 million. Among its popular features is “The Best Colleges for Your Money,” an annual list of four-year schools that deliver great value, published each August in print and online. To expand its college coverage, MONEY recently launched the MONEY College Planner, a special website devoted to helping parents choose the best schools for their students and their wallets, along with expert advice on saving, investing, borrowing, and paying for college.

# # #

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

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

New York, NY (November 24, 2015) — Global education services provider Kaplan Test Prep has launched a comprehensive HPAT (Health Professions Admission Test) prep course for the thousands of students who are aspiring for coveted spots at medical schools across Ireland. The 110 question, two and a half hour exam, which was first introduced in 2009,  is divided into three sections: Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving; Interpersonal Understanding; and Non-Verbal Reasoning.  Universities combine test takers’ HPAT score and their Leaving Certificate score to determine whether or not to admit applicants. Kaplan’s course launch comes at a time when HPAT scores are down for the second year in a row, which largely has to do with a change in how one of the exam’s sections is weighted. (http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/hpat-scores-for-medical-school-entry-down-for-second-year-1.2258868)

Kaplan HPAT preparation classes are designed to adapt to individuals’ needs and learning preferences: Classroom (based in Dublin), Live Online, Self Study and private tutoring. All course options include five hours of instruction, four full-length HPAT practice tests, a strategy book, personalized score reports and teacher support until Test Day.

“Kaplan is the established world leader in preparing students for high-stakes admissions exams, with over 75 years of experience and expertise,” said Bharat Krishna, Vice President, Kaplan Test Prep International. “Our HPAT course will allow medical school applicants in Ireland to benefit from the same type of research-based, personalized test prep that has helped hundreds of thousands of medical school applicants throughout England and the U.S. succeed on the UKCAT and the MCAT respectively.  We know how important the HPAT exam is in the admissions process in Ireland, and our students can be sure that we are as committed to their success on this test as they are.”

For more information about Kaplan’s HPAT course, and to access a free practice test, course giveaway and download a free study guide, visit www.kaptest.ie.

About Kaplan Test Prep International

Kaplan Test Prep International (www.kaptestglobal.com) is the international arm of Kaplan Test Prep  (www.kaptest.com), 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 90 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. Additionally, Kaplan operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

# # #

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

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

New York, NY (November 18, 2015) — Families are cutting back on vacations, setting aside less for retirement and holding off on car upgrades in order to afford their kids’ future college costs, according to a new survey by Kaplan Test Prep and MONEY magazine of 539 parents of prospective college students. Among the ways parents plan to budget for this pending investment in higher education:

• Putting the Kids to Work: Almost two-thirds (64%) of parents say that their child will have to work part-time or even full-time to help them cover the costs of college.
• Fewer Vacations: Sixty-two percent of parents say that they’ll have to cut back on vacations over the next few years to cover future college costs.
• Less Money Set Aside for Retirement: Sixty percent of parents say they will be saving less money for retirement. In a separate survey question, 60% say that thinking about how to save for college is “more daunting” than thinking about retirement.
• Deferred Investments: Home repairs or that new car may have to wait until after college costs come off the budget, as 62% of parents say they will have to scale back on major investments.
• Moonlighting: Over a quarter (27%) of parents say they or their spouse will find a second job to cover their kids’ future college education.

“Parents understand that their children’s education is one of the most important investments they can make, but for most families, covering that kind of cost requires years of planning, as well as financial sacrifices,” said Lee Weiss, vice president of college admissions, Kaplan Test Prep. “We encourage parents and their children to be as honest and open as possible about how they plan to cover college costs, which may help them avoid unpleasant surprises and sticker shock by the time senior year comes around. We also encourage families to set aside time and focus early on looking into scholarships, as there’s a lot of scholarship money available for those who put in the effort to earn it.”

“The fact that a majority of parents say they’ll be saving less for retirement because of their kids’ college costs is pretty worrisome,” said Greg Daugherty, education editor at MONEY. “They may be acting nobly, but the decision could come back to haunt them when it’s time to retire. It could haunt the kids, too, if they end up having to help support their parents.”

New data shows that college costs are continuing their upward trajectory. The average sticker price at an in-state public college is $19,548, including tuition and fees and room and board and average private college tuition stands at $43,921.

For more information on how to choose a great school that’s affordable for your family, plus smart ways to save, invest, and pay for it, check out the new MONEY College Planner: money.com/colleges

To view a 30-second, animated video about the survey results, please visit http://bit.ly/1luFgiS.

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

*The Kaplan/MONEY magazine e-survey was conducted in October 2015 and includes responses from 539 parents of prospective college students, between the ages of 15 and 18.

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 90 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. Additionally, Kaplan operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

About MONEY

MONEY (www.money.com), published by Time Inc., is America’s leading source of personal finance advice, with a readership of nearly 7 million. Among its popular features is “The Best Colleges for Your Money,” an annual list of four-year schools that deliver great value, published each August in print and online. To expand its college coverage, MONEY recently launched the MONEY College Planner, a special website devoted to helping parents choose the best schools for their students and their wallets, along with expert advice on saving, investing, borrowing, and paying for college.

# # #

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

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

New York, NY (November 10, 2015) — With the cost of college a hot-button issue in the political arena, a variety of proposed remedies have been floated by regulators, legislators and advocacy groups– but what do those who are most directly impacted think? A new survey from Kaplan Test Prep and MONEY magazine of parents of prospective college students finds mixed support for many of these proposals*:

• Ending Federal Aid in Exchange for Two Years of Free Tuition: A plurality (45%) of parents would agree to a proposal that ends all federal financial aid and tax breaks, if that meant free college for two years for all students, regardless of family income. Twenty-nine percent (29%) oppose this idea; 26% are undecided.
• Living At Home: Another 44% of parents would agree to a proposal that would give students a free year of college if he or she lived at home that year and took online courses; 32% don’t agree with this proposal; and the remaining 24% are undecided.
• No New Taxes: Thirty-eight percent of parents say they’d agree to pay higher state taxes if that made tuition at public colleges more affordable. Forty percent (40%) oppose this idea, while 22% are undecided.
• Higher Income, Higher Tuition: Only 31% would agree to a plan that raised tuition rates at public colleges for higher-earning families so that students from lower-income families could be awarded more scholarships. A plurality (44%) of parents do not agree with this route, while 25% aren’t sure.
• Students as Investments: Just under a quarter of parents (23%) support the idea of an investor covering a student’s tuition in return for a percentage of a student’s income after graduation. Fifty percent don’t agree with this idea; and 27% are not sure.

A new report shows that the average sticker price at an in-state public college is $19,548, including tuition and fees and room and board, $617 more than last year. Average private college tuition stands at $43,921, up $1,476 from last year.

“As this survey confirms, parents are looking to political leaders for real solutions to the problem of high college costs, not just glib proposals,” said Greg Daugherty, education editor at MONEY. “At the same time, we’re seeing parents holding colleges more accountable for delivering value for the money. These are both very encouraging trends.”  

“While we’ve heard a lot of policy proposals during this campaign season, our survey results find that no one approach has caught fire with families,” said Lee Weiss, vice president of college admissions programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “While the not-so-bad news is that this year’s tuition increase is the lowest since the 1970s, government data show that tuition costs have outpaced inflation rate for years. Every generation of parents wants their kids to do better than they did and a policy redress on college costs is an important place to start.”

For more information on picking out the right college, try out MONEY’S College Planner: https://best-colleges.time.com/money/search-colleges#/filter

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

*The Kaplan/MONEY magazine e-survey was conducted in October 2015 and includes responses from 536 parents of prospective college students.

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 90 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. Additionally, Kaplan operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

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