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

Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanNCLEX

New York, NY (August 28, 2014) — For those entering the workforce, typical top-of-mind issues include opportunities for growth, benefits, and job security — but nearly half of those entering the nursing profession voice another concern: being bullied by colleagues. According to a just-released Kaplan survey of over 2,000 nursing school graduates from the class of 2014, 48% say they are concerned about being the victims of workplace bullying or working in a hostile working environment.* The survey also found that 39% personally knew nurses who were victims of workplace bullying or a hostile working environment.

One widely cited study found that approximately 60% of nurses left their first nursing job within six months because of bullying issues or because of a hostile work environment.** And studies conducted over the past decade show there’s a financial cost to this for medical providers, ranging from $22,000 to over $64,400 per turnover. (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/569393_2).

“Workplace bullying is a disturbing dynamic in the nursing profession and our survey shows that nurses entering the workforce have a justifiable degree of anxiety about the issue,” said Susan Sanders, DNP, RN, NEA-BC and vice president of nursing, Kaplan Test Prep. “What makes workplace bullying among nurses so appalling is that most who enter this profession do so because they care about the well-being of others and rightfully expect the atmosphere of caring to include peer-to-peer interactions. But unfortunately that’s all too frequently not the case. Changing cultural norms within the nursing profession will require efforts from all parties: from nursing graduates, in treating their colleagues with respect and raising awareness by reporting incidents; from nursing leaders, in leading by example to foster supportive behaviors and promote a healthy work environment; from health care institutions, in setting zero tolerance disciplinary policies and empowering staff to report on issues without fear of retaliation; and from academic institutions, in preparing students with conflict management skills to address situations as they arise.”

In fact, Kaplan’s survey also found that 79% of nursing school graduates think nursing schools should provide workshops and special training about how to handle workplace bullying or a hostile working environment.

Kaplan is currently surveying nursing school and medical school administrators for additional insight on the issue. Results will be released later this year.

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

For a video release illustrating the results of Kaplan’s survey, visit: http://bit.ly/nursingbullying.

*The online survey was conducted in August 2014 of 2,012 nursing school graduates who prepared for the NCLEX-RN® exam with Kaplan.

**American Nurse Today, “Break the bullying cycle,“ by Terri Townsend, MA, RN, CCRN, CVRN. January 2012. http://www.americannursetoday.com/assets/0/434/436/440/8612/8614/8618/8648/c1d7657a-4b54-4a43-98d6-05ceee4471cb.pdf

The NCLEX-RN® is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.

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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Tuesday, August 26, 8:00 PM ET; Register at http://blog.kaplanlsat.com/the-180-live/

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

New York, NY (August 22, 2014) — Kaplan Test Prep’s most popular event for aspiring law school students is back, for its fourth straight year.  “You Be The Judge – A Mock Admissions Roundtable,” a special episode on Kaplan’s legal affairs web show “The 180,” webcasting live, Tuesday, August 26, at 8:00 PM  ET, will give pre-law students a behind-the-scenes look at what really happens during a law school admissions committee meeting.

Viewers will get to watch admissions officers from New York University School of Law (@nyulaw) and the George Washington University Law School (@gwlaw) and former admissions officers from the University of Virginia School of Law (@UVALaw) and Boston College Law School (@bclaw) conduct a realistic mock admissions meeting. They will review, discuss and analyze “sample” applicants’ LSAT scores, undergraduate transcripts, personal statements, diversity statements, letters of recommendation, resumes and work experience, academic misconducts, criminal records, application addenda and more to show attendees exactly how they arrive at their ultimate decisions.

Event attendees can see the applications in advance by either downloading them at http://blog.kaplanlsat.com/wp-content/uploads/The_180_Mock_Apps_2014.pdf or viewing them at bitly.com/the180apps2014.

During the event, attendees can sound off with their own opinions on “the committee’s” deliberations and verdicts as part of a live Twitter chat, using the hashtag #Kaplan180.  Plus they can ask questions directly to Kaplan’s admissions experts, who will be live tweeting from @KaplanLSATPrep.

“This must-attend event will give aspiring law school students an exclusive look into how actual decision makers arrive at their final decisions of who gets in, who doesn’t, and the reasoning behind it.  The admissions panel we assembled work or have worked at some of the country’s top JD programs, so they can accurately give attendees unparalleled behind the doors access,” said Jeff Thomas, director of pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep.  “While a law school applicant’s LSAT score remains by far the most important admissions factor, this event will give attendees a complete, holistic view of exactly what else top law schools look for.”

First held in August 2011, “You Be The Judge – A Mock Admissions Roundtable” is Kaplan’s largest annual event for pre-law students, attracting thousands of prospective applicants.

To register for the event, students can visit http://blog.kaplanlsat.com/the-180-live/.  Journalists interested in learning more about the changing  legal education and law school admissions landscapes, are also welcome to attend and can contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com for more information.

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

New York, NY (August 19, 2014) — According to a Kaplan Bar Review survey* of over 1,200 law school graduates from the class of 2014, a strong majority of tomorrow’s attorneys give their alma maters strong marks overall: 40% of law school graduates gave their overall law school education an “A” (up from 37% in 2012), while 45% gave it a “B”.  Only 11% gave their legal education a “C”; and a relatively small percentage (4%) scored it as below average or failing.  And while law school grads gave their former JD programs generally favorable marks in a number of subcategories, there was one glaring exception:  job placement.

• On professor quality: Law school graduates were most generous in grading their instructors:more than half (52%) gave their professors an “A”, while 37% awarded them a “B” grade.  Eight percent of graduates gave their professors a “C”, while “D” and “F” grades were only doled out by 1% respectively.
• On making them “practice-ready” for the workforce: Graduates also rated their former law schools highly in this category.  25% gave their schools an “A”, while 40% gave them a “B”. A “C” was given by 21%, while 9% assigned a “D” and 4% an “F”.
• On how worthwhile the financial investment was:  Also good news for law schools: most graduates feel they’re getting their money’s worth.  Twenty percent awarded an “A” to their alma maters, 33% a “B”, 27% a “C”, 11% a “D” and 9% an “F”.  According to American Bar Association data, in 2013, average tuition at a public law school was $23,879 per year for in-state residents and $36,859 per year for non-state residents. The average tuition at private law schools was significantly more, at $41,984 per year.
• On helping them find jobs in the law industry: Of the categories surveyed, this was the only one to receive a double-digit percentage of “F”s: 15% of students flunked their law schools, while 17% gave their schools a “D”. Twenty-eight percent gave their schools a “C” grade; 27% gave it a “B”. Only 13% felt their schools merited an “A”.  According to the American Bar Association, 57% of graduates from the class of 2013 were employed in long-term, full-time positions where passing the bar is required – slightly up from the class of 2012 – though that percentage varies widely by law school.

“Jobs are top of mind for law school graduates in what continues to be a challenging job market for new attorneys, so it’s not too surprising that students are tough graders on this front,” said Steven Marietti, vice president and general manager, Kaplan Bar Review. “The survey tells us that students are happy with the quality of their legal education overall and still see law school as a worthwhile investment, but they really want more assistance from law schools in helping them land jobs in the legal sector.  It behooves law schools to do all they can do to help their graduates secure work, as a program’s employment stats for graduates factors into law school rankings, which in turn is a factor for law school applicants.  We also encourage students to take advantage of every networking and internship opportunity, which means visiting your law school’s career office early and often.”

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

*The online survey was conducted in August 2014 of 1,273 law school graduates who took a bar review course with Kaplan Bar Review.

About Kaplan Bar Review

Kaplan Bar Review (www.kaplanbarreview.com) provides full-service bar review programs in 44 jurisdictions and Washington DC, making its courses available to over 97% of the U.S. Bar-taking population. Additionally, Kaplan Bar Review offers supplemental preparation for the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE).

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Partnership Launches with Interactive Medical Education Module for Postpartum Hemorrhage, a Common Cause of Maternal Death in Developed Countries

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

New York, NY (August 5, 2014) — NYU Langone Medical Center and Kaplan, Inc., a world-renowned leader in the educational services industry,  today formally announced the launch of a new partnership focused on creating a series of  online training modules  to educate medical professionals worldwide to improve rapid diagnosis and treatment – and ultimately save lives.

Principal work, already under way through this agreement, is to develop online, on-demand instructional tools, such as team-focused simulations, easily accessible in any healthcare setting. This interactive format is a unique training resource specifically designed for a multidisciplinary audience.

“This partnership combines the very best in academic medicine with the experience of a global leader in educational services,” said Thomas Riles, MD, associate dean for medical education and technology at NYU Langone and executive director of the NY Simulation Center for Health Sciences. “The Medical Center is committed to improving health for all, and we believe working with our colleagues at Kaplan helps us to further our reach.”

The pilot project, already under way, features training modules for the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a condition that occurs when a woman’s uterus fails to contract normally following childbirth, resulting in potentially life-threatening bleeding. The material covered in the module is derived from guidelines established by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

According to Dr. Riles, “The pilot training program ensures that all providers who care for women in labor are equipped with the medical knowledge and teamwork skills necessary to effectively treat this obstetric emergency. This benefits physicians, nurses, patients, and their families, and helps decrease morbidity and mortality.”

NYU Langone chose PPH for the pilot project because symptoms can be identified early and, if treated appropriately, serious and sometimes fatal consequences can be prevented, such as massive transfusions, hysterectomies, and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Additionally, PPH is one of the most common causes of maternal death in developed countries, occurring in up to 5 percent of births.

The educational components of the pilot project were previously implemented at NYU Langone in 2012 as part of ongoing in-service education, and have impacted positively on patient outcomes.

“We are very excited to be extending our expertise in learning science to help health care practitioners deliver improved patient outcomes,” said Greg Samios, president of health programs for Kaplan. “We recognize NYU Langone Medical Center’s leadership in academic medicine and shared mission to improve quality of care, and couldn’t be more pleased to collaborate with them.  We look forward to supporting health practitioners through high-quality, interactive medical education training programs that improve patient outcomes and increase ROI for health systems.”

NYU Langone has a rich history of developing leading technologies to enhance educational experiences, such WISE-MD modules that illustrate the important principles related to the diagnosis and treatment of surgical illnesses, which is now used by more than 100 medical schools in North America.

For more information, please visit:

About Kaplan, Inc.

Kaplan, Inc. (www.kaplan.com) is a leading international provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools, and businesses. Kaplan serves students of all ages through a wide array of offerings including higher education, test preparation, professional training, and programs for kids in grades K through 12.  With nearly 400 locations in more than 30 countries, Kaplan serves more than one million students each year.  Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) and its largest division.

About NYU Langone Medical Center

NYU Langone Medical Center, a world-class, patient-centered, integrated academic medical center, is one of the nation’s premier centers for excellence in clinical care, biomedical research, and medical education. Located in the heart of Manhattan, NYU Langone is composed of four hospitals—Tisch Hospital, its flagship acute care facility; Rusk Rehabilitation; the Hospital for Joint Diseases, the Medical Center’s dedicated inpatient orthopaedic hospital; and Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, a comprehensive pediatric hospital supporting a full array of children’s health services across the Medical Center—plus the NYU School of Medicine, which since 1841 has trained thousands of physicians and scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical history. The Medical Center’s tri-fold mission to serve, teach, and discover is achieved 365 days a year through the seamless integration of a culture devoted to excellence in patient care, education, and research. For more information, go towww.NYULMC.org, and interact with us onFacebook,Twitter, andYouTube.

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

New York, NY (July 30, 2014) —  A new Kaplan survey* of over 600 pre-law students finds that a law school’s ranking continues to factor significantly into their decision where to enroll – in many cases, even more than financial aid and ability to pay. When asked which law school admissions scenario they’d prefer to be in, Kaplan found the following:

• Mid-Tier School, Some Aid:  A plurality (46%) of those surveyed said they’d rather be accepted by a mid-tier law school, where they’d receive a half-scholarship.
• Top-Tier Law School, Zero Aid:  39% said they’d prefer to be accepted by a top tier law school, where’d they’d receive no financial aid at all.
• Lower-Tier Law School, Full Aid: Just 16% said they’d prefer to be accepted by a lower ranked law school and receive a full ride scholarship.

According to American Bar Association data, in 2013, average tuition at a public law school was $23,879 per year for in-state residents and $36,859 per year for non-state residents. The average tuition at private law schools was significantly more, at $41,984 per year.  While average tuition spiked over 2012, it’s notable that the percentage increases for both public and private law schools were at their lowest rates in 30 years.  And recently, a number of schools like Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law and Brooklyn Law School announced they are actually cutting tuition.

“Pre-law students see rankings as part of the overall financial equation when investing in a law degree, as it can impact their earnings and career potential. Statistics show that generally the higher a law school is ranked, the higher a graduate’s starting salary and career opportunities are**.  In fact there’s a huge earnings gap between lawyers who graduated from top tier law schools and lawyers who graduated from law schools that are considered lower tier,” said Jeff Thomas, executive director of pre-law programs, Kaplan. “By saying they’d choose a top-tier law school where they may have to pay more instead of opting for a free ride with a lower-tier school, pre-law students are making a calculated investment in longer term gain.  We continue to tell pre-law students that rank and cost are but two of several important factors they should consider when deciding where to apply and enroll.  Applicants should seek out programs that are the best overall ‘fit’ for their academic, professional, financial, and lifestyle goals and needs.”

To speak with a Kaplan law school admissions expert about the survey, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

*The e-survey included responses from 637 pre-law students who took a Kaplan LSAT course and sat for the June 2014 administration of the LSAT.

**U.S. News & World Report,“Infographic: 2015 Best Law Schools,” March 11, 2014, Delece Smith-Barrow. http://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/articles/2014/03/11/infographic-2015-best-law-schools

About Kaplan, Inc.

Kaplan, Inc. (www.kaplan.com) is a leading international provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools, and businesses. Kaplan serves students of all ages through a wide array of offerings including higher education, test preparation, professional training, and programs for kids in grades K through 12.  With nearly 400 locations in more than 30 countries, Kaplan serves more than one million students each year.  Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) and its largest division.  In 2013, Kaplan reported $2.2 billion in revenue.

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

New York, NY (June 23, 2014) — Educational services industry leader Kaplan has teamed up with Microsoft Corp. to create Core Score, a free educational app for Windows devices that provides students in grades three through eight with grade-appropriate math practice questions created for the Common Core State Standards.  As students solve problems through the app, it provides them with answers and detailed explanations in order to encourage independent skill practice and mastery.  The app is designed for easy classroom implementation with built-in tools for teacher monitoring of student performance and usage to best support student learning.

With Core Score, teachers can easily create student accounts and monitor performance as students master content and solve math problems created for the Common Core State Standards. Teachers can also view math problems by standard and preview the questions, answers, and explanations their students receive.  Registered teacher accounts provide students with 5-question math practice sets across the grade-level standards.

The Common Core State Standards are an effort led by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors Association to define the knowledge and skills in English Language Arts and mathematics that students will need upon high school graduation.

“The intent of the Common Core State Standards is to provide a clear, consistent understanding of what students are expected to learn to be successful in college, and at Kaplan, helping students prepare for college has always been a major focus of what we do,” said Seppy Basili, vice president, Kaplan. “By launching Core Score with Microsoft, a longtime champion of quality education for all, we can provide hundreds of thousands of talented and dedicated teachers with the digital tools and resources they need to help their students succeed in the classroom.”

The Core Score app was developed using Learningpod, Kaplan’s open content platform, which provides high-quality practice questions for educators and students.

“Microsoft is committed to helping schools make the digital transition and transform learning outcomes for students,” said Andrew Ko,general manager, U.S. Education at Microsoft . “Adding Core Score to our app ecosystem brings another top-quality learning tool to all students and teachers using our platform.”

About Kaplan, Inc.

Kaplan, Inc. (www.kaplan.com) is a leading international provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools, and businesses. Kaplan serves students of all ages through a wide array of offerings including higher education, test preparation, professional training, and programs for kids in grades K through 12.  With nearly 400 locations in more than 30 countries, Kaplan serves more than one million students each year.  Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) and its largest division.  In 2013, Kaplan reported $2.2 billion in revenue.

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

New York, NY (June 11, 2014) — Kaplan K12 Learning Services has partnered with Education is Freedom to help the Dallas-based nonprofit in its mission of helping thousands of underserved high school students across the Dallas Independent School District with the college admissions process.

Through the partnership, schools can leverage Kaplan’s expertise by providing the opportunity for students to access Kaplan’s SAT, ACT, and PSAT preparation resources. Kaplan’s resources include classroom-taught options and the company’s award-winning interactive online program that students can access 24/7.

Both programs offer personalized instruction, multiple practice tests and a host of materials to prepare students for the critical college admissions exams. Kaplan will also administer practice test events for the students and provide other college prep print materials.

“We are pleased to support the mission of Education is Freedom by partnering with them to provide access to high-quality SAT, ACT and PSAT prep materials to students across the Dallas Independent School District,” said Seppy Basili, vice president of K12 and college admissions programs, Kaplan K12 Learning Services. “Kaplan and Education is Freedom share a commitment to improving student success, which is fundamental to Dallas’ and our nation’s economic and social success. We look forward to working closely with EIF and the Dallas community to produce strong, well-rounded college applicants.”

“As part of our ongoing efforts to help more students get into college, Education is Freedom is excited to partner with Kaplan K12 Learning Services to provide comprehensive preparation for the ACT, PSAT, and SAT,” said CEO of Education is Freedom Marcia Page. “Through our shared mission of college and career readiness, we will create a brighter future for many students in the Dallas area.”

The schools that EIF currently works with are: W. H. Adamson High School, David W. Carter High School, Thomas Jefferson High School, Justin F. Kimball High School, Moisés E. Molina High School, North Dallas High School, L. G. Pinkston High School, Irma Rangel Young Women Leadership School, Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, The School of Business Management, The School of Science and Engineering, The School of Education and Social Services, The School of Health Professions, The School of Government, Law and Law Enforcement, Seagoville High School, Skyline High School, A. Maceo Smith New Tech High School, W. T. White High School, W. W. Samuell High School and Wilmer-Hutchins High School.

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. 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 K12 Learning Services

Kaplan K12 Learning Services (www.kaplank12.com), a unit of Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), partners with schools to measurably propel student achievement and accelerate college readiness. Kaplan K12 offers state test readiness programs to help students meet and exceed state standards, and college preparation solutions that support students as they prepare for college entrance exams and the admissions process. Its solutions also provide teachers with robust Kaplan K12 resources and professional development support to impact achievement in their classrooms. Kaplan Inc. (www.kaplan.com) is a subsidiary of the Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC).

About Education is Freedom

Education is Freedom (www.educationisfreedom.com) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive college planning services and producing life changing results for students and families. Founded in 2002 with the creation of a dynamic board of corporate leaders who envisioned a world where every young person could pursue a college education, EIF has helped over 100,000 students and their families complete the college process.

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Good News for Students: ACT Adds Context But Doesn’t Change Content

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

New York, NY (June 6, 2014) —  The following statement is from Christine Brown, Executive Director of College Admissions and K12 programs, Kaplan, regarding today’s announcement by the ACT on the addition of new scores and indicators that will, according to the announcement, “describe student performance and predicted readiness levels in categories such as STEM, career readiness, English language arts and text complexity, giving students a greater and more specific understanding of both their preparation for success after high school and how to better meet their goals.”

“Adding dimension to the ACT score adds context without changing content – both of which are great for students.  The test isn’t really changing, which is a good thing for students who are looking for a familiar test.  By the same token, the new scores will help students better relate their ACT performance to real world potential.”

“A key reason students find the ACT attractive is that it’s always been more aligned to high school curriculum.  The SAT is moving in that direction, but for most students, the ACT looks more like what they learn in schools.  The new scores give students an added lens on how their performance in Math, Science, Reading and Writing applies more broadly.”

To arrange an interview with a Kaplan ACT and college admissions expert about the upcoming changes to the exam, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. which was not involved in the production of, and do not endorse this product.

About Kaplan, Inc.

Kaplan, Inc. (www.kaplan.com) is a leading international provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools, and businesses. Kaplan serves students of all ages through a wide array of offerings including higher education, test preparation, professional training, and programs for kids in grades K through 12.  With nearly 400 locations in more than 30 countries, Kaplan serves more than one million students each year.  Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) and its largest division.  In 2013, Kaplan reported $2.2 billion in revenue.

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

New York, NY (May 7, 2014) — With the approaching launch of a new MCAT® designed to better prepare tomorrow’s doctors for a changing medical environment, a new Kaplan Test Prep survey of nearly 500 pre-med students* finds that aspiring doctors have definite opinions about what their future professional selves should know:

• Serious about Psychology: 73% of pre-meds say psychology—the study of the human mind and behavior—is a relevant field of study  for future doctors.  This consensus meshes well with the content of the new MCAT, which will include a semester’s worth of college-level introductory psychology.
• Digging into Data: Just over half (52%) say analytics and data analysis are relevant areas of study for future doctors. This thinking also aligns with the new MCAT, which will include a Research Design component that focuses on the fundamentals of creating research projects, research bias, faulty results, and variable relationships. Additionally, there will be a Graphical Analysis and  Data Interpretation component that focuses on deriving conclusions and drawing inferences from visual data, including figures, graphs, and data tables.
• Se habla español: Almost half (48%) of pre-meds surveyed say knowing Spanish is an important skill set for doctors to have. While the new MCAT doesn’t measure test takers’ foreign-language skills, pre-meds may benefit from squeezing in a few semesters worth of Spanish classes.  According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Spanish is the primary language spoken at home by almost 37 million Americans—more than double what it was in 1990.
• Of lesser value…: The areas of study which pre-meds think are less relevant to future doctors include sociology (46%), anthropology/cultural studies (38%), and philosophy (14%).

“Today’s pre-meds recognize that science and healthcare are far different fields than they were a generation ago and understand that it may be necessary to measure their knowledge and competency as future medical students and future doctors in different ways,”  said Owen Farcy, director of pre-health institutional partnerships, Kaplan Test Prep.  “At Kaplan we believe the new MCAT will better prepare students for medical school and careers in medicine, but because of the additional content and the marathon eight-hour length of the new exam, there’s no doubt that the path to medical school will be more challenging.  We continue to advise pre-meds who can take the current exam to do so and reserve their testing slot immediately, as space is limited.”

The new MCAT will include  three additional semesters’’ worth of material in college-level biochemistry, introductory psychology, and introductory sociology, increasing the number of prerequisite classes from eight to eleven. The challenge for many pre-meds will be to fit these additional courses into an already intense undergraduate course load. In fact, the Kaplan survey finds that students think they’d have to sacrifice taking humanity courses and other electives to fit them in. To help pre-med students prepare more efficiently for the new MCAT 2015 content areas without having to cram in three additional semesters of coursework before their test dates, Kaplan has designed a one-semester course called MCAT Foundations of Biochemistry and Behavioral Science for Medical School.  This course provides students an efficient path to the content required for the new MCAT.  Information can be found at www.kaptest.com/MCATFoundations.

*The e-survey included responses from 493 pre-med students who took a Kaplan MCAT course and sat for the March 2014 or April 2014 administrations of the MCAT.

*MCAT® is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges. The AAMC is not 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 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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Announcement Comes as New Kaplan Survey Results Show Most Pre-Law Students Consistently View Law School Rankings to be a Top Factor in Deciding Where They Enroll

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

New York, NY (April 23, 2014) — Pre-law students, law school students and other members of the legal education community will want to tune in on Tuesday, April 29, at 8 PM ET for a special edition of Kaplan’s live, online talk show about legal issues, The 180, when a panel of experts announces and discusses Above The Law’s 2014 law school rankings. Above The Law – the preeminent legal blog regularly visited by pre-law students, law school students, and law school administrators nationwide – emerged on the rankings scene in 2013, focusing on the outcomes law students care about most like jobs that are actually in the legal industry, school costs and alumni satisfaction, and less on inputs like LSAT scores and GPA.

The live broadcast comes as Kaplan Test Prep rolls out the results of a survey taken of pre-law students in February 2014*, which found the following:

• 84% of pre-law students say that where a law school places in the rankings is important in determining where they will enroll. Studies by PayScale.com show that in general the higher a law school ranks, the higher its graduates’ starting salaries are.
• A majority (55%) say they expect to incur at least $50,000 in debt to finance their law school education.  Of that group, 17% think they will incur over $100,000 in debt.
• Pre-law students surveyed were nearly unanimous in saying a law school’s academic quality (99%), bar exam passage rate (95%), and job placement statistics (94%) should have a lot of weight in determining where a law school places in the rankings.

According to previous Kaplan research of graduating law school students** though, the single biggest factor graduating law school students said pre-law students should focus on was a school’s job placement rate followed by affordability/tuition.

“We’re excited to be working with Kaplan to release our Second Annual ATL Law School rankings on their live webcast,” said Elie Mystal, editor, Above The Law, who will be on the expert panel discussing the rankings. “Our rankings are focused on what pre-law students should be concerned about when they graduate from law school, not just when they start. We think that the strength of a law school is better reflected by their job placement rates, affordability, and their skill helping graduates achieve the careers they want, as opposed to the amount of money schools spend on their faculty. We’re more concerned about what the law school can do for the students than what the students can do for the prestige of the law school.”

“Talk to any law student and most will eventually admit that where a law school placed in  the rankings was one of the biggest reasons they enrolled in a particular program,”  said Jeff Thomas, executive director of pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep, who will also be a part of the panel discussion. “At Kaplan, we tell students that the  rankings can serve as good aggregate sources of data around job placement stats, academic life and other considerations, but ultimately each law school applicant should enroll in a JD program that is the best overall ‘fit’ for the individual’s professional, financial, and lifestyle goals and needs.”

To attend this live, online event for pre-law and law school students, register at http://the180.com. To join in on the social media chat, use the hashtag #Kaplan180.

*The e-survey included responses from 227 pre-law students who took a Kaplan LSAT course and sat for the February 2014 administration of the LSAT.

**The e-survey included responses from 697 law school students who took a Kaplan Bar Review course and sat for July 2013 administrations of state bar exams across the country.

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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