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

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 917.822.8190
Twitter: @KaplanEdNews

New York, NY (February 22, 2022) ⁠— Louisiana State University, the flagship institution of the Louisiana State University System, has partnered with Kaplan, the global educational services provider, to offer Kaplan Credegree programs in more than 15 areas to LSU student-athletes. Kaplan Credegree enhances college graduates’ job readiness and marketability by pairing the university’s traditional four-year degree program with industry-recognized credentials, which are highly valued by employers. LSU is one of a growing number of institutions of higher learning that is making a major investment in alternative credentialing programs, which could be of great benefit to traditionally time-strapped student-athletes looking to upskill before graduation. 

Kaplan Credegree seeks to bridge the gap between the expectations of student-athletes and their prospects to play professionally, ensuring they are marketable in the workforce. Half of those playing men’s basketball and one in five women’s basketball players believe it is at least “somewhat likely” that they will compete professionally or in the Olympics, according to a 2019 NCAA survey. But in fact, fewer than 2 percent of NCAA athletes go on to compete professionally. Of the more than 480,000 students currently competing in an NCAA program, the overwhelming majority will eventually earn their living doing something besides playing sports. The partnership announcement also comes at a time when more student-athletes are speaking out about how athletic programs can better prepare them for life after graduation. 

Among the credentialing programs offered at LSU are: Certified Digital Marketing Professional (DMI Pro), Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Certified Public Accountant, and Wealth Management Specialist (WMSSM). LSU athletes can also receive preparation for professional licensing exams such as the NCLEX-RN® for nurses. Louisiana State University’s athletic department is the first college athletics department in the nation to adopt Kaplan Credegree programs. 

The Kaplan Credegree offerings build upon LSU’s commitment to helping their student-athletes prepare for life after the field. In 2016, the flagship university became the first Southeastern Conference (SEC) school to partner with Kaplan to provide GRE®, GMAT®, LSAT®, MCAT®, DAT®, OAT®, and PCAT® prep to support their student-athletes getting ready for the graduate school admissions process.

“LSU Athletics prides itself in providing student-athletes with everything they need to perform at the highest levels, in the classroom and in competition,” said LSU Director of Athletics Scott Woodward. “Our partnership with Kaplan has been integral in helping our student-athletes earn their degrees and maximize their opportunities, during their collegiate careers and after.”

“We are very excited to expand our partnership with Kaplan. It’s a real game changer for our student-athletes. We are committed to challenging student-athletes to achieve their highest level of intellectual and personal development and our strengthened partnership with Kaplan emphasizes the importance of furthering one’s education and preparing our student-athletes for life after LSU,” said Walt Holliday, executive director of the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes, Louisiana State University.

Mark Reimonenq, Kaplan’s director of partner solutions, added, “LSU Athletics providing this type of inclusive access goes a long way to demonstrate their commitment to removing barriers of entry to graduate or professional school and certain career fields, regardless of their socioeconomic or cultural background. LSU is known nationwide for providing students with a world-class liberal arts education and coupled with Kaplan’s Credegree programs, their student-athletes will be even better equipped to close the skills gap and succeed in the world of work.”

For reporters who want to learn more about Kaplan’s Credegree programs and this growing trend, contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com and visit https://kaplan.com/universities/kaplan-university-partners/kaplan-credegree-program. 

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

About Louisiana State University

Since 1860, LSU has served the people of Louisiana, the region, the nation, and the world through extensive, multipurpose programs encompassing instruction, research, and public service. Louisiana State University is one of only 30 universities nationwide holding land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant status. www.LSU.edu.

About Kaplan

Kaplan is a global educational services company that provides individuals, universities, and businesses with a diverse array of services, including higher and professional education, test preparation, language training, corporate and leadership training, and student recruitment, online enablement and other university support services. With operations in nearly 30 countries, Kaplan serves nearly 1.1 million students each year and has partnerships with 2,000-plus universities, colleges, and schools/school districts, and more than 4,000 businesses globally. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). For more information, please visit www.kaplan.com.   

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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, 917.822.8190
Twitter: @KapEdNews, @KaplanSATACT

New York, NY (February 1, 2022) ⁠— Kaplan’s 2021 college admissions officers survey shows that a near record percentage of admissions officers think that applicants’ social media postings are “fair game” to help determine who gets in*. Of the hundreds of admissions officers surveyed, 66 percent (up 9 points since 2018) see no issue with social media being part of the admissions equation, a point of view that has gained support in recent years. In Kaplan’s 2020 survey, 65 percent reported they had a “fair game” view; in 2019, it was 59 percent, while the 2018 survey found it to only be 57 percent, and 68 percent in 2017, a high water mark. Taking the contrarian view, 34 percent of admissions officers consider viewing applicants’ social media “an invasion of privacy and shouldn’t be done.” 

The survey results come on the heels of teens increasingly using newer social platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, which has widened its lead as teenagers’ favorite social media platform.

Among other findings:

• The survey found that 27 percent of admissions officers visit applicants’ social media profiles to learn more about them⁠—significantly down from 36 percent in Kaplan’s 2020 survey**.
• Of admissions officers who have checked out an applicant’s social media footprint, six percent say they do it “often,” a steep drop from the 17 percent who responded this way in Kaplan’s 2020 survey.
• Of the admissions officers who say they check applicants’ social media, 38 percent say that what they found has had a positive impact on prospective students, down from 42 percent in 2020. On the flip side, 57 percent say that what they found had a negative impact, down slightly from the 58 percent who answered this way in 2020.

“Kaplan has been tracking the role of social media in the college admissions process since 2008 and it’s clear that a strong majority of admissions officers have arrived at being philosophically comfortable with the idea of visiting applicants’ social media profiles. Most will continue to say that while social media profiles shouldn’t be off limits, they are much more focused on evaluating prospective students on the traditional admissions factors like GPA, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, admissions essays, and extracurriculars,” says Isaac Botier, executive director of college admissions programs, Kaplan. “What also struck us was that a far lower percentage of admissions officers are actually visiting applicants’ social media profiles, compared to the past few years. We believe that given COVID-related issues, admissions officers decided to take a step back and give applicants the benefit of the doubt.”

To schedule an interview about the survey results, contact Russell Schaffer at 917.822.8190 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com. 

*Admissions officers from 247 of the nation’s top national, regional and liberal arts colleges and universities – as compiled by U.S. News & World Report – were polled by e-mail between September and October 2021. 

**Admissions officers from 262 of the nation’s top national, regional and liberal arts colleges and universities – as compiled by U.S. News & World Report – were polled by e-mail between September and October 2021.

About Kaplan

Kaplan is a global educational services company that provides individuals, universities, and businesses with a diverse array of services, including higher and professional education, test preparation, language training, corporate and leadership training, and student recruitment, online enablement and other university support services. With operations in nearly 30 countries, Kaplan serves nearly 1.1 million students each year and has partnerships with 2,000-plus universities, colleges, and schools/school districts, and more than 4,000 businesses globally. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). For more information, please visit www.kaptest.com.   

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

Press Contact: Gregory Ten Eyck, gregory.teneyck@kaplan.edu, 954.515.3026

Centennial, CO (January 26, 2022) ⁠— Few institutions of higher education were founded on as clear a purpose as the College for Financial Planning®—a Kaplan Company. Now 50 years since its founding in 1972, the College is reflecting on the impact of its mission to develop and deliver premier, student-centered education and cutting-edge research to advance the field of financial planning and enable its students to make a difference in their clients’ lives.

A resolution to create the College came from a meeting by the 13 founders who sought to advance the financial planning profession. In 1972, the first group of 35 students enrolled in the College’s inaugural Certified Financial Planners (CFP) course to be trained in principles that integrated knowledge and ethical practices across the various areas of the financial services industry for the benefit of clients.

This led to the creation of the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, which is now the world’s most recognized and respected financial planning credential with more than 90,000 certified professionals in the US. Over the years, the College, certified by the Higher Learning Commission, has expanded its offerings to include two Master’s degree programs (Personal Financial Planning and Financial Analysis) as well as 10 professional designation programs and has graduated more than 195,000 financial professionals. While there are now over 300 CFP Board Registered education programs, still about one-third of all CFP^® exam takers complete their education requirements through the College to be eligible to sit for the exam.

Among the noted alumni of the College are Alexandra Armstrong, the first person in Washington, D.C. to earn a CFP; George Kinder, widely viewed as the father of the life-planning movement; and Jonathan Guyton, principal of Cornerstone Wealth Advisors credited with popularizing the concept of dynamic income withdrawals.

College President Dirk Pantone, said, “We are proud to continue and advance the legacy of our founders, which was rooted in competently and ethically helping Americans meet their financial planning needs. Our alumni and students—whether they graduate from our programs in CFP^® certification, professional designations, or Master’s degrees—support that heritage by applying their knowledge and putting clients’ interests first as they help them achieve their desired financial goals.”

The College continues to support progress in the profession with initiatives to nurture diversity and inclusion. In 2020, the College introduced a Diversity Scholarship Program, which offers up to 60 scholarships annually to qualified individuals from underrepresented communities who are pursuing the education requirement necessary to attain CFP^® certification. Additionally, the College partners with the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning to offer 10 scholarships annually to individuals from underrepresented populations which covers the full cost of the College’s Premium CFP^® Exam Prep Review.

The College also has responded to the changing needs of the financial services industry through expanding its professional designation program offerings, many of which provide stackable credit toward the CFP^® certification program to support ongoing advancement in financial services. In recent years, the College created a designation for sustainable, responsible, and impact (SRI) investments (Chartered SRI Counselor℠) and a program focused on behavioral finance (Accredited Behavioral Finance Professional℠). Last year, the College collaborated with Merrill Lynch to develop a new designation for wealth advisors serving the specialized financial needs of professionals in the sports and entertainment industries—the Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor℠—which will be available to all financial advisors later this year.

Pantone says, “As we look ahead, the College has a clear vision for continuing its mission. We remain committed to innovation for our educational programs as well as supporting careers in financial planning that ultimately expand access for more Americans to receive qualified and ethical planning advice. We’ll continue to support the ongoing educational needs of post-graduate advisors who are already in the profession while also reaching out to high school and college students to consider financial planning careers.”

The College’s website has a 50th Anniversary timeline of the landmark events in its history. For more information, visit www.cffp.edu

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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, 917.822.8190
Twitter: @KaplanEdNews, @KaplanSATACT

New York, NY (January 25, 2022) — The following statement about The College Board’s announcement on changes to the SAT comes from Isaac Botier, executive director of college admissions programs, Kaplan:

“These represent some of the biggest changes to the SAT in its nearly 100-year-old history, with many aspects from its testing interface to its length seeing a major overhaul. In general, we think these changes are student-friendly and we are glad that initial research shows them to be popular with test takers. 

“The move to a digital format has been a long time coming, not only because there has been talk that the test maker was going to do this, but because it’s where education is going, in general, and that includes the SAT.

“As for cutting the testing experience from three hours to two hours, who won’t like a shorter exam? While it will still challenge test takers’ time management skills, it won’t be quite the daunting marathon it has been. 

“It’s no secret that most colleges and universities across the United States have recently suspended their standardized test requirement, in order to make the application process less stressful for prospective students who have enough hardships on their plates due to the pandemic. It’s very possible this will be the new norm, even post-COVID. That said, we’d point out to students that submitting a strong test score could still give them an important edge. According to Kaplan’s 2021 college admissions officers survey, 61 percent of test optional colleges and universities say that a competitive SAT score can help a prospective student’s application. Our advice to students is this: use the strategy that most helps your chances of getting in. If you think you’ll do well on the SAT, then prepare accordingly and submit a great score. You can also take the SAT, see how you do, and then decide to keep the score to yourself. For all students, as always, put together the strongest application possible, which includes an outstanding GPA, compelling personal essay, convincing letters of recommendation, and a record of extracurriculars that accentuates your leadership skills.

“Over the next few months and years, Kaplan will do what it does best whenever there’s a test change of this magnitude: educate students, parents, and high school counselors about what this means for them and revamp our courses to make sure they effectively prepare students for the new challenges they’ll face for every step of their academic and professional journey.”

To speak with an SAT expert at Kaplan, contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 917.822.8190. 

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

About Kaplan

Kaplan is a global educational services company that provides individuals, universities, and businesses with a diverse array of services, including higher and professional education, test preparation, language training, corporate and leadership training, and student recruitment, online enablement and other university support services. With operations in nearly 30 countries, Kaplan serves nearly 1.1 million students each year and has partnerships with 2,000-plus universities, colleges, and schools/school districts, and more than 4,000 businesses globally. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). For more information, please visit www.kaptest.com. 

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

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 917.822.8190
Twitter: @KaplanEdNews

New York, NY (January 20, 2022) — The 2021 Kaplan/Manhattan Prep business school admissions officers survey finds an increasing percentage of full-time MBA programs across the U.S. securing STEM designation, though universal adoption appears to be a long way off*. According to the admissions officers surveyed, 22 percent say their programs are currently designated as STEM programs, a significant increase from the 2020 survey, which found only 13 percent were designated as STEM programs; 23 percent say that while their programs aren’t currently STEM, they plan to go through the curriculum overhaul and rigorous approval process to secure that designation; the remaining 55 percent say they are not STEM designated and have no plans to pursue it.

STEM designation is especially important to non-citizens because it gives students significantly more time to stay in the United States after graduation without an H-1B visa, via the Optional Practical Training program. Non-STEM graduates get only 12 months, but STEM graduates get an additional 24 months, bringing their total amount of time up to three years. 

“Earning a STEM designation is a trend that is catching on quickly, especially among the top ranked MBA programs. For less competitive programs, adoption has been steady, but a lot slower. And not having that designation could significantly hamstring their efforts to recruit international students, many of whom want to build a life and career in the United States after graduation,” said Brian Carlidge, vice president, Kaplan. “Non-citizen graduates of top ranked American MBA programs are almost always going to quickly find a job stateside, but it may take longer for graduates of less competitive programs, especially given how unpredictable the job market and economy have been since the start of the pandemic. This additional time would extend to the graduates a lifeline, showing prospective employers that investing in them could provide a strong ROI. While the process for business schools to secure STEM designation is not a quick or easy one, and perhaps many smaller programs don’t have the bandwidth to do so, not being STEM-designated may put them at a distinct recruitment disadvantage. For many applicants outside the United States, it will be the differentiator.”

For more information about the Kaplan/Manhattan Prep survey, contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 917.822.8190.

*Admissions officers from 91 full-time business schools across the United States were polled by e-mail between September 2021 and October 2021. Among those polled are 24 of the top 100 programs as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

About Kaplan

Kaplan is a global educational services company that provides individuals, universities, and businesses with a diverse array of services, including higher and professional education, test preparation, language training, corporate and leadership training, and student recruitment, online enablement and other university support services. With operations in nearly 30 countries, Kaplan serves nearly 1.1 million students each year and has partnerships with 2,000-plus universities, colleges, and schools/school districts, and more than 4,000 businesses globally. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). For more information, please visit www.kaptest.com.  

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

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 917.822.8190
Twitter: @KaplanEdNews

New York, NY (December 1, 2021) — The 2021 Kaplan/Manhattan Prep business school  admissions officers survey finds an evolving role for the GMAT®, GRE®, and Executive Assessment® in the business school admissions process, possibly giving applicants a strategic advantage*. According to admissions officers at nearly 100 full-time MBA programs across the United States, 67 percent currently waive the admissions exam requirement amid test taking challenges caused by the COVID-10 pandemic, including 34 percent who say their school may make the waiver permanent. But at the same time, 88 percent of exam-waiving schools say that submitting a competitive admissions exam score helps a prospective student’s application; these admissions officers explained their reasoning:

• “Anything an applicant can do to stand out from the pack is helpful. A good GMAT score shows us that they are willing to invest time to prepare for the MBA and that they have the baseline knowledge to begin.”
• “There is too much variance in GPA scores, and letters of recommendation are not always an accurate reflection of the applicant’s potential success. The standardized tests, even though they have their flaws, are useful in admissions decisions.”
• “Our scholarships are based on GPA, GMAT score, and interview experience, so strong GMAT scores have a very important impact on admissions and scholarship offers.”
• “In situations where an applicant’s GPA is lower than we would typically consider, strong scores might lead to us giving the applicant additional consideration.”
• “With so few taking the tests, a GMAT/GRE score can really make a candidate stand out.”

“While the admissions process remains fierce and top business schools are reporting record numbers of applicants, in some ways the admissions process has never been more flexible, and aspiring MBAs would be wise to take advantage of that,” said Brian Carlidge, vice president of admissions programs, Kaplan. “A good strategy for prospective students is submitting applications to a range of schools, including ‘safety schools’ and ‘reach schools.’ If you take the GMAT, GRE or EA, those scores are ‘for your eyes only’ unless you decide to share them. If your score is likely to help you get into a certain school, submit your score, but if you think it would hurt your chances of getting into a different school, then keep it to yourself and let other pieces of your application like your GPA and work experience speak to your strengths.”

The Kaplan/Manhattan Prep survey also finds that admissions officers almost unanimously view applicants who take the GMAT Online (97 percent) and GRE At Home (97 percent) no differently than applicants who take the exam in-person at a testing service.

“This is good news for applicants, especially since the online versions of the exams have become a permanent option,” said Carlidge. “Business school applicants can now be fully confident that they won’t be at any admissions disadvantage if they decide to take the exam from the comfort of their own home. Just focus on getting the best score possible.”

For more information about Kaplan’s survey, contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 917.822.8190.

*Admissions officers from 96 full-time business schools across the United States were polled by e-mail in between September 2021 and October 2021. Among those polled are 24 of the top 100 programs as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

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

About Kaplan

Kaplan is a global educational services company that provides individuals, universities, and businesses with a diverse array of services, including higher and professional education, test preparation, language training, corporate and leadership training, and student recruitment, online enablement and other university support services. With operations in nearly 30 countries, Kaplan serves nearly 1.1 million students each year and has partnerships with 2,000-plus universities, colleges, and schools/school districts, and more than 4,000 businesses globally. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). For more information, please visit www.kaptest.com.  

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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, 917.822.8190
Twitter: @KaplanEdNews

New York, NY (November 29, 2021) ⁠— Up 26 percent at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; up 30 percent at Howard University College of Medicine; and at Tulane University School of Medicine, up a whopping 35 percent. All across the United States, applications to medical school increased this past year, and according to a new Kaplan survey, that trend won’t be reversed in the 2021–2022 admissions cycle*. Of the admissions officers surveyed, 50 percent predict that the number of applicants will stay at last cycle’s elevated volume; 33 percent think that number will increase; and only 17 percent believe there will be a decrease in applicants. But while the pandemic-era applicant surge points to another extra competitive admissions cycle, 88 percent say they have made their admissions process more flexible due to the impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on everything from MCAT® testing dates to securing the recommended number of clinical hours. This is similar to Kaplan’s finding from 2020, when 93 percent noted increased flexibility.

Among the biggest changes to the admissions process is the advent of the online interview in lieu of an in-person interview—88 percent of medical schools say they extend this option to prospective students now. This was almost unheard of just two years ago. In fact, when asked which pandemic-era change they plan to keep in place moving forward, the online interview was mentioned more than anything else. As one admissions officer shared, “We have a responsibility to our applicants to provide a safe opportunity to interview…All interviews will therefore be virtual and we will continue to determine whether to move to virtual interviews as a more effective mode of delivery even after the pandemic is no longer a factor.” However, another admissions officer said that although this remains an option, all its applicants last year opted for in person interviews.

But while much has changed in the medical school admissions process since the COVID pandemic’s start, there’s one constant, finds the survey: a low MCAT score remains “the biggest application dealbreaker,” outpacing other factors like a low undergraduate GPA.

“COVID’s impact on the medical school admissions landscape is unprecedented and will likely be felt for years to come. With applications predicted to remain at near record levels, it means that future doctors will need an extra strong application overall, from a high MCAT score to a solid GPA, to a compelling personal statement,” said Petros Minasi, senior director of pre-health programs, Kaplan. “On the flip side though, there are some silver linings. Having the option of an online interview will likely come as a big relief to prospective students, who can often spend $10,000 or more traveling from one part of the country to the other for in-person interviews. Plane ticket prices and hotel costs add up quickly since the average applicant applies to between 15 and 20 medical schools. This previously impacted which medical schools cost-conscious prospective doctors applied to, but not for the time being. That’s a good thing for access and equity.”

For more information or to schedule an interview with a medical school admissions expert, contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 917.822.8190. 

*Based on the results of a Kaplan e-survey conducted between August 2021 and October 2021 of 61 accredited medical schools across North America.

MCAT® is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

About Kaplan

Kaplan is a global educational services company that provides individuals, universities, and businesses with a diverse array of services, including higher and professional education, test preparation, language training, corporate and leadership training, student recruitment, online enablement and other university support services. With operations in nearly 30 countries, Kaplan serves nearly 1.1 million students each year and has partnerships with 2,000-plus universities, colleges, schools/school districts and more than 4,000 businesses globally. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). For more information, please visit www.kaplan.com.   

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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, 917.822.8190
Twitter: @KaplanEdNews

New York, NY (November 8, 2021) ⁠— The 2020-2021 law school admissions cycle saw the largest year-over-year number of applicants in nearly 20 years and law school admissions officers predict this trend likely won’t reverse itself this current cycle, finds a new Kaplan survey*. Of the admissions officers at 90 American Bar Association-accredited law schools that Kaplan surveyed, 78 percent predict that the number of applicants will either stay at last cycle’s elevated volume (45 percent) or increase (33 percent.) Only 22 percent of law schools believe there will be a decrease in applicants. Admissions officers shared the following anecdotes about why they believe we’re in for another year of high applicant volume:

- “I suspect we’ll see some carryover from the students who applied late last cycle and didn’t receive admissions offers because rosters were full.”

- “If the pandemic and the new variants are brought under control, then we will see a leveling off of application volume to law school. If not, we will continue to see an increase in people interested in law school, especially in the areas of public policy, constitutional law and healthcare law.”

- “Test taker registration shows the possibility of yet another increase.”

Just how competitive did the application surge make the admissions process last year and what does that foretell about this cycle?

Sometimes Great Isn’t Good Enough: According to the survey, 72 percent say that they rejected more applicants with what they consider to be high LSAT® scores than they did in the previous cycle. 

Buyer’s Remorse: 40 percent of admissions officers expressed concern that law schools nationwide accepted too many students. One respondent said, “We have to be careful not to fall back into old admission practices that could potentially lead to an over-saturated legal employment market.” This was a major problem during The Great Recession, which officially occurred between 2007 and 2009, but whose effects were felt for years after. 

The Fight for Funds is Intense: Compared to applicants who enrolled in fall 2021, 55 percent of law schools say applicants enrolling in 2022 will receive less scholarship money; 38 percent say the level will stay the same, while only 7 percent say it will increase.

“A struggling economy and general societal malaise often lead to a surge in law school applicants, but COVID’s impact on the admissions landscape is unprecedented and will be felt for years. With such high interest, it is not a buyer’s market. A strong LSAT score, which previously almost always guaranteed you a ticket to a top law school, isn’t enough anymore. What this all means is that now you need an extra strong score and extra strong law school application overall,” said Jeff Thomas, executive director of legal programs, Kaplan. “Applicants should also keep in mind that competition for merit-based scholarships remains fierce, as funds are limited to only the highest performing prospective students. We encourage everyone who wants to become a lawyer to continue on this career trajectory, but they should prepare accordingly for a more rigorous admissions process.”  

For more information or to schedule an interview with a law school admissions expert, contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 917.822.8190. 

*Based on the results of a Kaplan e-survey conducted between August 2021 and September 2021 of 90 American Bar Association-accredited law schools. Among the 90 law schools surveyed are 16 of the top 25, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

LSAT® is a registered trademark of the Law School Admission Council, Inc. which does not review or endorse specific test preparation materials or services.

About Kaplan

Kaplan is a global educational services company that provides individuals, universities, and businesses with a diverse array of services, including higher and professional education, test preparation, language training, corporate and leadership training, student recruitment, online enablement and other university support services. With operations in nearly 30 countries, Kaplan serves nearly 1.1 million students each year and has partnerships with 2,000-plus universities, colleges, schools/school districts and more than 4,000 businesses globally. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). For more information, please visit www.kaplan.com.   

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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, 917.822.8190

Twitter: @KaplanEdNews

New York, NY (September 21, 2021) ⁠— Kaplan, a diversified, global education provider, has collaborated with pioneering university partners to launch Career Core™, an innovative career-services provider that helps students prepare for their first jobs and ongoing career success. This first-of-its-kind initiative uses a shared model to provide valuable services and resources that are difficult for an individual university to offer at scale: student access to industry- and role-specific advisors; world-class, academically-rigorous, asynchronous career course curriculum; and opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials during college. The select group of leading higher education institutions and organizations that have joined Career Core as founding members are: Adelphi University, Florida International University, Point Loma Nazarene University, University of Arizona, University of Montana, Wake Forest University, Alpha Tau Omega, and Kappa Alpha Order.

Amidst a backdrop of waning confidence in the work readiness of college graduates and the challenging budgets brought on by pandemic-related cuts, the innovative new model will enable student-serving organizations to provide their constituencies with much-needed career development support and skills for immediate application in today’s workforce. Career Core includes access for students to connect with industry- and role-specific advisors across a broad range of high-demand industries such as data science, technology, finance, marketing, healthcare, engineering and management, among others. It also includes rigorous and engaging career development content and activities designed in partnership with Wake Forest’s nationally recognized career services office. 

Career Core will help extend and scale the capabilities of even the most cutting-edge career service offices, especially to students with diverse backgrounds and needs. For campuses looking to address budget and operational efficiencies, Career Core can also serve as an affordable means to motivate and equip every student to be career ready. In researching the unique career development needs and experiences of college students today, Kaplan conducted extensive interviews of college presidents, provosts, career services leaders, employers and students to identify key elements of a successful career services experience and designed Career Core accordingly.   

“Wake Forest is proud to have become a recognized leader in career development,” said Andy Chan, vice president, innovation and career development at Wake Forest University. “We are delighted to partner with Kaplan to design this innovative offering for Wake and for every other institution that wants all of their students to be truly career and life ready.” 

“The opportunity to design and launch a breakthrough model for career services alongside forward-thinking leaders and institutions in this area has been a real honor for Kaplan. It’s testament to what innovative partnerships can bring to higher education, and we can’t wait to grow this service in partnership with committed higher education institutions,” said Brandon Busteed, chief partnership officer and global head of learn-work innovation at Kaplan.

Kaplan, which provides individuals, institutions of higher learning and businesses around the world with a diverse array of services, currently generates more than $1 billion in economic impact for its university partners across the globe as a multi-purpose strategic partner. Its services for university partners include international student recruitment, online degree management and white-labeling of industry-recognized credential courses. In recent years, Kaplan has also expanded its menu of work-readiness offerings. Earlier this year, Kaplan announced the launch of Credegree™ solutions for universities, enabling them to combine degree programs with opportunities for students to also obtain valuable industry-recognized credentials and skills. The launch of Career Core builds on its portfolio of offerings for higher education institutions seeking to improve their students’ work readiness.

Here’s What Founding Partners Are Saying About Career Core: 

“As a nationally recognized and award-winning institution for career services, Adelphi University is proud to be a founding member of the Kaplan Career Core Program. By joining forces with Kaplan and other distinguished founding members, we are shaping the future of programming in career services and workforce development. This innovative partnership demonstrates our commitment to and leadership in student success.”  — Christine M. Riordan, PhD, president, Adelphi University

“Career Core is an innovative way that will help our members think more strategically about matching their natural abilities and skill sets with a career that makes sense for them and provides a greater sense of fulfillment. This is an important initiative that fits perfectly with our mission of personal development.” — Wynn Smiley, CEO, Alpha Tau Omega

“Kappa Alpha Order is proud to be a founding fraternity partner with Kaplan’s Career Core program. Kaplan Career Core will help prepare KA brothers for their first jobs and ongoing success throughout their careers. It provides both industry- and role-specific career coaching and development in non-timebound, asynchronous training. As a moral compass for the modern gentleman, KA is committed to investing in our members’ early professional development to help them succeed.” — Larry Stanton Wiese, executive director, Kappa Alpha Order

“Point Loma Nazarene University is proud to partner with Kaplan’s Career Core as a leading higher education institution committed to our students answering the question – Who are you called to be? Through this innovative partnership, we scale our career services, expand career readiness across campus and beyond, and impact students in ways that are more equitable and sustainable.” — Bob Brower, president, Point Loma Nazarene University

“The University of Montana is adapting to meet our nation’s most pressing education and workforce challenges. Partnering with Kaplan on Career Core is our institution’s next step towards expanding career readiness and workplace training. University of Montana initiatives, such as ElevateU and Accelerate Montana, are helping ensure every student who steps foot on our campus has skills and job training that employers are looking for.  With a global economy that is rapidly changing, it is time for institutions of higher education to use the Career Core framework to collaborate with industries to meet the needs of our students and address the growing workforce demands in Montana and across the nation.” — Seth Bodnar, president, University of Montana

The service is set to launch for the 2021-22 academic year. Interested partners can learn more here or email careercore@kaplan.com for more information.

Reporters interested in covering this growing sector of the higher education landscape can contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 917.822.8190. 

About Kaplan

Kaplan is a global educational services company that provides individuals, universities, and businesses with a diverse array of services, including higher and professional education, test preparation, language training, corporate and leadership training, student recruitment, online enablement and other university support services. With operations in nearly 30 countries, Kaplan serves nearly 1.1 million students each year and has partnerships with 2,000-plus universities, colleges, schools/school districts and more than 4,000 businesses globally. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). For more information, please visit www.kaplan.com.   

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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, 917.822.8190

Twitter: @KaplanEdNews, @KaplanSATACT

New York, NY (September 20, 2021) ⁠— With the fall semester underway and COVID’s Delta variant raging across many parts of the country, a new Kaplan survey, conducted by College Pulse, finds overwhelming support among college students for vaccine and mask mandates on campus*. Of the 1,001 college students across the United States polled this month, 72 percent support colleges requiring students to be vaccinated if they want to attend in-person classes. This is a slight increase from a previous Inside Higher Ed/College Pulse Student Voice survey completed in May, which was sponsored by Kaplan, when 69 percent supported a vaccine mandate. The survey findings come on the heels of a number of colleges reporting a spike in COVID cases, forcing them to temporarily pivot back to remote learning.

As one pro-mandate student shared, “Public health is not a personal freedom. You not getting vaccinated puts everyone at risk.” One student who stands against the mandate said, “If I have a 99.9 percent survival rate from COVID and a healthy immune system, why would I ever be concerned?”

The survey also confirms a deep partisan divide regarding vaccinations that exists across the country. Of the students surveyed who self-identify as Democratic or Democratic-leaning voters, 96 percent support a vaccine mandate at colleges, up from 90 percent in the survey completed in May. But among those who self-identify as Republican or Republican-leaning voters, the percentage is just 24, significantly down from 37 percent in the survey completed in May.

Strong Support for Mask Requirements

The survey also finds strong support for masking, with 79 percent favoring a mask mandate for indoor settings. Some in the survey begrudgingly support this, saying if they are already vaccinated, masking up may be overkill. And just like on the vaccine mandate question, the partisan divide is strong, with 94 percent of Democrats supporting it, but only 33 percent of Republicans in favor of it.

Vaccination Status and Community Engagement

Whether or not a college student gets the shot may also impact their social life, the survey also finds, with 63 percent saying that someone’s vaccination status plays an important role in their decision to spend time in person together. One student who said vaccination status was a factor shared, “I’m vaccinated, so I’m not too worried about myself. Most people I know are vaccinated and those who aren’t we are probably not agreeing on much lately and may not be hanging out with them right now anyway.” An opposing viewpoint came from another student who said, “Seems very elitist to not interact with someone based on their vaccination status.”

“College students remain eager for a return to normalcy, and most think that for their own safety and the safety of those around them that vaccination and mask mandates, though controversial in some quarters, remain the best solutions to get there,” said Isaac Botier, executive director of college admissions programs, Kaplan. 

To schedule an interview about the survey results, contact Russell Schaffer at 917.822.8190 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com. 

*Based on the results of an e-survey conducted September 7-9, 2021 of 1,001 four-year college and community college students from across the United States.

About Kaplan

Kaplan is a global educational services company that provides individuals, universities, and businesses with a diverse array of services, including higher and professional education, test preparation, language training, corporate and leadership training, and student recruitment, online enablement and other university support services. With operations in nearly 30 countries, Kaplan serves nearly 1.1 million students each year and has partnerships with 2,000-plus universities, colleges, and schools/school districts, and more than 4,000 businesses globally. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). For more information, please visit www.kaptest.com.   

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