Also: While Most New Law School Graduates Don’t Have a Job Lined Up Yet, Confidence Abounds

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571
Twitter: @KapTestNews

New York, NY (October 23, 2012) – According to a Kaplan Bar Review survey of over 700 law school graduates from the class of 2012,  the vast majority of tomorrow’s attorneys who collected their JDs give their law schools high marks.  37% of law school graduates gave their law school education an “A” grade, while 53% gave it a “B”.  Only 9% gave their legal education a “C” grade; 1% scored it a “D”.  No respondents gave their law school education an “F”.

But in spite of the overall solid grades new graduates give their law school education, more than 1 out of 4 (28%) feel their law school education didn’t prepare them well enough for the first important post-graduate obstacle they’ll face: passing the bar exam, which will give them the right to practice law.

“Most students who enter law school do so with a lot of passion and excitement about the educational experience awaiting them and also the eventual goal of practicing law, so it’s encouraging that most new graduates feel their law schools provided them with a productive three years, ” said Steven Marietti, Esq., vice president and general manager, Kaplan Bar Review. “Since bar passage rate is one of the factors that affects a law school’s position in the rankings and out of a sense of responsibility for their students’ futures, law schools may be interested to learn that nearly 30% of the  graduates we surveyed felt that their law schools didn’t prepare them well enough for the bar exam.  From the new JD’s perspective, passing the bar is critical because many employers will not consider applicants until they have a license to practice law. ”

Other key survey results:

• Bullish on Job Opportunities: It’s the toughest job market for new lawyers in nearly 20 years, but the survey finds optimism in the face of adversity.  While 56% of recent law school graduates surveyed said they had not found a job in the legal field yet, 62% expressed confidence that they would find employment within the next three months.
• Green Acres, Here They Come?: And although many law schools are located in big cities like New York, Washington DC,  and Boston, 49% of law school graduates surveyed said they would consider moving to a rural community to practice law. Recent reports** have highlighted the fact that many rural communities are in need of attorneys, which for the job-hunting new lawyer might be appealing.

*The survey was conducted by email in August 2012 and includes responses from 705 Kaplan Bar Review students from across the United States.
**The Wall Street Journal, “New Lawyers, Seeking Jobs, Are Advised to Think Small,” June 25, 2012: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303506404577448974083992182.html

About Kaplan Bar Review

Kaplan Bar Review (www.kaplanbarreview.com) provides full-service bar review programs in 28 states (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia) and Washington DC, making its courses available to approximately 85% of the U.S. Bar-taking population.  Additionally, Kaplan Bar Review offers supplemental preparation for the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE).

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Aspiring College Students in Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Texas will Benefit from Kaplan’s Award-Wining SAT, ACT and PSAT On Demand Programs

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571
Twitter: @KapTestNews

New York, NY (October 15, 2012) – Kaplan K12 Learning Services has partnered with the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) to offer Kaplan’s award-winning SAT and ACT On Demand programs to thousands of high school students in Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Texas.  COE is a non-profit organization, working with federal TRIO programs, that is dedicated to expanding college opportunities for low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities. Kaplan also will provide professional development to help teachers better meet the needs of students on their pathway to college.

“This is a great opportunity to use the services of Kaplan to help TRIO students in Upward Bound and Talent Search prepare for their college entrance tests. In teaming with Kaplan, we have high expectations that this tool will assist our students in successfully enrolling in college,” said Maureen Hoyler, executive vice president of the COE.

Kaplan’s comprehensive, adaptive and interactive On Demand programs, available 24/7, allow students to learn at their own pace and schedule with a personalized path through the curriculum. The courses are powered by Kaplan’s exclusive Smart Track^™ system, which analyzes student performance and prescribes a customized learning plan. The programs include full-length practice tests, more than 50 hours of engaging video instruction on every tested topic on the exams, step-by-step problem solving exercises, and 1,000+ practice problems.  The courses also feature Smart Reports^™, which is essential in keeping students, parents and educators up-to-date on progress.  Kaplan’s SAT On Demand was recognized as the top high school “Test Tool Website” in the ComputED Gazette’s 2011 Education Software Review Awards (EDDIE).  ACT On Demand was recognized as the top high school “Test Preparation Website” as part of ComputEd Gazette’s 2012 Best Education Software Awards (BESSIE).

“With our nearly 75 years of experience helping students develop the skills, strategies and admissions knowledge needed to pursue higher education, Kaplan’s mission aligns well with COE’s mission,” said Mark Freidberg, vice president and general manager, Kaplan K12 Learning Services. “We are proud to work with so many dedicated educators to support aspiring students in reaching their educational goals.”

More than 2,900 TRIO programs currently serve nearly 1 million low-income students. Kaplan has worked with over 40 GEAR UP and TRIO programs in the past two years.

About Kaplan K12 Learning Services

Kaplan K12 Learning Services (http://www.kaplank12.com), a unit of Kaplan Test Prep (http://www.kaptest.com), partners with schools to measurably propel student achievement. 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 teaching resources and professional development support to impact achievement in their classrooms. Kaplan was recently recognized by ComputED Gazette’s 2012 Best Educational Awards (BESSIEs) for its ACT On Demand course as the “Top High School Test Preparation Website” and for its Teach! Strategies and Resources as the top Curriculum Development program in the “Teacher Tools” category. Kaplan Test Prep is a division of Kaplan Inc. (http://www.kaplan.com), a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

About the Council for Opportunity in Education

The Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) is the only national organization dedicated to furthering the expansion of postsecondary opportunities for low‐income and first‐generation students. Established in 1981, COE serves the interests of college opportunity professionals at major U.S. higher education institutions. Through nearly 3,000 federal TRIO programs, these individuals help low‐income and first‐generation students overcome class, social, academic, and cultural barriers to enter college and graduate. COE provides members with national advocacy on Capitol Hill, educational resources, and networking opportunities as well as offers research and information through the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education and the Louis Stokes Institute for Opportunity in STEM Education.

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Over a Quarter of College Admissions Officers Today Include Google or Facebook in Applicant Evaluations; 35% Report Discovering Information that Negatively Impacted Prospective Students’
Admissions Chances – Up from 12% Last Year

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571
Twitter: @KapTestNews

New York, NY (October 4, 2012) – Results from Kaplan Test Prep’s 2012 survey of college admissions officers* show that schools are increasingly discovering information on Facebook and Google that negatively impact applicants’ acceptance chances. While the percentage of admissions officers who took to Google (27%) and checked Facebook (26%) as part of the applicant review process increased slightly (20% for Google and 26% for Facebook in 2011) from last year, the percentage that said they discovered something that negatively impacted an applicant’s chances of getting into the school nearly tripled – from 12% last year to 35% this year. Offenses cited included essay plagiarism, vulgarities in blogs, alcohol consumption in photos, things that made them “wonder,” and “illegal activities.” In 2008, when Kaplan began tracking this trend, only one in 10 admissions officers reported checking applicants’ social networking pages.

“Social media used to basically mean Facebook. But the underlying trend we see is the increase in use of Google, which taps into a social media landscape that’s proliferated to include Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, blogging and other platforms — and teens today are using all of these channels,” said Jeff Olson, Vice President of Data Science, Kaplan Test Prep. “Additionally, we’re seeing a growing cultural ubiquity in social media use, plus a generation that’s grown up with a very fluid sense of privacy norms. In the face of all these trends, the rise in discovery of digital dirty laundry is inevitable.”

Olson noted, “With regard to college admissions, the traditional application — the essays, the letters of recommendation — represent the polished version of an applicant, while often what’s found online is a rawer version of that applicant. Schools are philosophically divided on whether an applicant’s digital trail is fair game, and the majority of admissions officers do not look beyond the submitted application, but our advice to students is to think first, Tweet later.”

Kaplan’s survey also found that only 15% of colleges currently have rules regarding the checking of applicants’ Facebook or social networking pages – a percentage that has remained fairly consistent over the past few years. Of schools that do have a policy, 69% said the policy prohibited admissions officers from visiting applicants’ pages – still leaving the vast majority of admissions officers with the flexibility to act at their own discretion.

Students can learn more about how to better safeguard their digital footprints at www.kaptest.com/socialmediatips.

Far more common than the use of social media to evaluate applicants is its use in recruiting potential students. Kaplan Test Prep’s survey found that 87% of colleges use Facebook for this purpose (up from 82% two years ago); 76% use Twitter (up from 56%); and 73% use YouTube (up from 56%). College admissions officers have not, however, embraced Google Plus – only 9% are using it to recruit prospective students.

For more information about Kaplan Test Prep’s 2012 survey of college admissions officers, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

Kaplan will be releasing more results from its survey in the coming weeks.

* For the 2012 survey, 350 admissions officers from the nation’s top 500 colleges and universities – as compiled from U.S. News & World Report and Barron’s – were polled by telephone between July and September 2012.

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.

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Practice Test by Testive Adapts Question Difficulty to Match Individual Ability Level to Reliably Predict Test-Takers’ Scores; Kaplan Released an SAT Adaptive Test in February

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571
Twitter: @KapTestNews

New York, NY (September 25, 2012) – With college tuition increasing at a rate that outpaces inflation, most of the more than two million students who apply to college every year cannot think of going without thinking about how to pay for it.  While the biggest source for needs-based financial aid is through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students who score well on the PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test)* are eligible for up to $2,500 each – and nearly $50 million is awarded to tens of thousands of students annually overall.   To help students reach their maximum potential on the PSAT and increase their eligibility for this merit-based aid, Kaplan Test Prep has again partnered with Testive, an adaptive test development company, to create the first-ever adaptive 60-minute practice PSAT that can reliably predict a test-taker’s score.

Using computer adaptive algorithms developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and built upon decades of academic research on adaptive testing, the Kaplan PSAT TurboTest, powered by Testive, can help students understand their current score without having to sit through a full-length two and a half-hour practice exam.

The first and only computer-adaptive PSAT practice test, the Kaplan PSAT TurboTest creates an individualized test experience for each student by adjusting the difficulty of questions as the test progresses.  If a student answers a question correctly, the test difficulty level increases.  If a student gets a question wrong, the test gets easier.  By adapting to the test-taker’s ability, the PSAT TurboTest is able to create an accurate picture of his or her predicted performance more efficiently, using fewer questions.

“We are excited to bring students another adaptive practice test that they can fit into their hyper busy schedules, while also helping them meet their PSAT score goals as effectively and efficiently as possible,” said Jieun Choe, executive director of college admissions and K-12 programs, Kaplan Test Prep.  “Providing students with accurate PSAT score assessment in less than half the time of the traditional practice test experience helps them identify and focus on areas of study opportunity earlier.”

“What students today really want is instant feedback,” said Miro Kazakoff, CEO of Testive, Kaplan’s partner in building the TurboTest. “We built the TurboTest to take advantage of technology to speed up that feedback cycle. With Kaplan’s content and teaching expertise, students can get a great sense of the PSAT in much less time.”

In February 2012, Kaplan Test Prep and Testive released the first-ever adaptive 90-minute practice SAT, which helps students understand their score without having to sit through a full-length 4-hour practice exam.

The Kaplan PSAT TurboTest is available to take online at www.kaptest.com/psatturbotest and can be used on the iPad® using a web browser.

The next administrations of the PSAT are Wednesday, October 17 and Saturday, October 20.  Students can register at their local high school.  Every year, more than 3.5 million students – mostly high school juniors and sophomores – take the PSAT.

For additional info on the PSAT, students can like Kaplan Test Prep at www.Facebook.com/KaplanSAT and follow on Twitter at @KaplanSATACT.

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.

About Testive

Testive (www.testive.com) builds faster, better tests.  Founded by MIT graduates, the company uses adaptive algorithms to create assessment experiences that provide more data back to test takers with fewer questions than traditional tests. Based in Cambridge Massachusetts, Testive is currently a member of TechStars – Boston technology accelerator program.

*PSAT/NMSQT® is a trademark jointly owned by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which were not involved in the production of, and do not endorse, this product.

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New white paper gives practical tips and best practices for transforming teachers’ expectations of students and fostering a collaborative classroom where every individual feels supported.

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571
Twitter: @KapTestNews

New York, NY (September 25, 2012) – Teachers have long been challenged in affording underperforming students the opportunity to achieve academically. One explanation for this challenge centers on the Teacher Expectancy Model. Kaplan K12 Learning Services’ new white paper, “Positively Impacting the Student-Teacher Relationship through Differentiated Instruction,” written by Erick E. Witherspoon, Ed. D., an adjunct professor at the University of Redlands and principal of W.J.C. Trapp Elementary School in Rialto, Calif., outlines how to overcome this challenge.

Under the Teacher Expectancy model, educators communicate high expectations to those deemed to be potential high achievers, and low expectations to those they see as potential low achievers. Being assigned to the latter category can be particularly damaging for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, but may have a negative impact on any child. Students who are treated consistently as “low achievers” often don’t form strong relationships with teachers and other school staff, may experience reinforcement of a negative academic self image, and can feel alienated and disengaged—conditions that often lead a student to drop out.

In the white paper, Dr. Witherspoon addresses best practices for remedying this situation. Teachers can:

• Avoid the natural tendency to pre-sort students based on clothing, speech or posture.
• Build relationships with every student; do not project favoritism.
• Involve all students in instruction and classroom activities so that those with learning disabilities feel engaged in their school community.

Witherspoon also encourages the use of the Democratic Classroom model, which fosters a classroom culture that encourages students to learn and use critical problem-solving techniques, allows each child to contribute their best, and helps teachers to build relationships with students and earn their trust. This model is designed to lessen teacher communication of low expectations and engage all students, not just a select few.

“Because we are committed to helping every teacher and student succeed, our state assessment and college test readiness programs are grounded in this approach,” said Mark Freidberg, vice president and general manager of Kaplan K12 Learning Services. “We’ve developed Kaplan K12 Teach!® Strategies and Resources to provide effective differentiated instruction to students at varying levels. Our online teacher toolkit is equipped with more than 3,000 lessons, assessments and videos that educators can filter by grade, subject-area, state-specific or Common Core standards. Each lesson comes in three levels, ensuring that all students can feel capable and engaged.”

About Kaplan K12 Learning Services

Kaplan K12 Learning Services, LLC (http://www.kaplank12.com), a unit of Kaplan Test Prep (http://www.kaptest.com), partners with schools to measurably propel student achievement. 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 teaching resources and professional development support to impact achievement in their classrooms. Kaplan was recently recognized by ComputED Gazette’s 2012 Best Educational Awards (BESSIEs) for its ACT On Demand course as the “Top High School Test Preparation Website” and for its Teach! Strategies and Resources as the top Curriculum Development program in the “Teacher Tools” category. Kaplan Test Prep is a division of Kaplan Inc. (http://www.kaplan.com), a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

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Available for Interview: Kaplan Test Prep College Admissions Expert

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571
Twitter: @KapTestNews

New York, NY (September 24, 2012) – With more than half of the nation’s high school graduates taking the SAT or the ACT, new data from Kaplan Test Prep’s (www.kaptest.com) annual survey of admissions officers from the nation’s top 500 colleges and universities* shows that extra motivated test takers may have an edge.  Nearly one of out five (18%) admissions officers responded, “Yes,” to the question: “Is there any advantage to an applicant’s submitting both an SAT and an ACT score, instead of only one score, assuming both scores are strong?”

Jieun Choe, executive director of K-12 and college admission programs, Kaplan Test Prep, noted that over the past year, 60% of Kaplan’s SAT and ACT students reported plans to take both tests.

“While the vast majority of schools say there’s no advantage to submitting scores from both tests, 18% is enough of a percentage to take notice,” said Choe. “With applicants competing for every advantage in the college admissions process, it may be one strategy to consider, as taking both tests can be viewed by some as a sign of extra drive and motivation.  The fact that more than half of the students taking our courses tell us they plan to take both tests indicates many already seek out this advantage.”

Also indicating a rising bar for demonstrating academic strength: more Advanced Placement courses showcased in applications.  Sixty-nine percent of admissions officers surveyed said they’ve seen an increase in the number of students submitting scores from Advanced Placement exams over the past five years.

Other findings from Kaplan‘s 2012 survey of college admissions officers:

• 85% of the colleges and universities surveyed require applicants to submit an SAT or ACT score – a percentage virtually unchanged from Kaplan’s 2011 survey.  Of schools requiring one of the exams for admissions, 97% have no plans to drop the requirement.
• Sixty-four percent of the colleges and universities surveyed by Kaplan have an early admissions policy; of the schools that do provide this option, 53% said that at least half who apply early are ultimately accepted.
• 18% of admissions officers said that a low SAT or ACT score is “the biggest application killer.”  Topping that was a low high school GPA at 37% and low grades in college prep courses at 28%.

Additional results from Kaplan’s survey will be released in the days ahead.

* For the 2012 survey, 350 admissions officers from the nation’s top 500 schools – as compiled from U.S. News & World Report  and Barron’s – were polled by telephone between July and September 2012.

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.

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Available for Interview: Kaplan Test Prep ACT Expert

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571
Twitter: @KapTestNews

New York, NY (September 14, 2012) – With less than two months to go before the October 27 administration of the ACT — one of the two major college admissions exams required by most colleges and universities – Kaplan Test Prep is providing students with free score-raising online resources and some do’s and don’t’s to help increase their odds of Test Day success.   Through September 30, students can take advantage of Cram Sessions™ for the ACT for free (normally valued at $19.99 for each session), where they will learn about the exam’s structure and question types; score –raising strategies; time management tips during the test; and receive a recommended study plan.

• For Cram Sessions™ for ACT Math: 10 Key Strategies for a Higher Math Score, register here.
• For Cram Sessions™ for ACT Science: 10 Key Strategies for a Higher Science Score, register here.

PRE-TEST ADVICE

• Find the test location beforehand.  Test day is not a good time to get lost!
• Check the test maker’s site for information on security measures.
• Prepare your test-day kit the night before.  Bring your calculator, extra batteries, No. 2 pencils, a sharpener, bottled water or Gatorade, a watch, ID and admissions ticket.  Pack high-energy snacks as you will need to refuel during the breaks to stay mentally alert.
• Take the night before the test off.  Relax, recharge your mental batteries – and get a good night’s sleep.
• Eat a healthy breakfast.  You need sustenance for the four-hour test – but stay away from caffeine and high-sugar foods that will cause your energy level to spike then crash.
• Dress in layers.  Test centers can vary from sauna-like to frigid, so be prepared.  Being too cold or too hot can distract from your concentration.

TEST DAY STRATEGIES

• If you don’t know the answer, guess – don’t skip. On the ACT, you earn one point for each correct answer, but unlike the SAT, you lose no points for questions you get wrong.
• Use order of difficulty to your advantage.  On early questions, an answer that looks right probably is.  On the later questions, those are probably traps. 
• Backsolve.  Most ACT questions are multiple-choice, so the answer is in front of you.  If you can’t solve the problem the conventional way, work backward from the answer choices.

More than 1.6 million students from the class of the 2012 took the ACT – an increase of about 45% since 2002.  A record 52% of the 2012 U.S. high school graduating class took the ACT.  Every college and university across the United States accepts both the ACT and SAT for admission.

Registration for the October 27 exam closes on September 21.  Students can register at www.ACT.org.

For additional tips, students can like Kaplan Test Prep at www.Facebook.com/KaplanSAT and follow on Twitter at @KaplanSATACT.

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.

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Available for Interview: Kaplan Test Prep College Admissions Expert

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571
Twitter: @KapTestNews

New York, NY (September 12, 2012) – Jieun Choe, executive director of college admissions and K-12 programs, Kaplan Test Prep, issued the following statement today regarding how students should view the U.S. News & World Report rankings in the college admissions process:

“The U.S. News & World Report rankings have long been a part of the college search process and can be helpful as an aggregate source of data around student population, academic life and other considerations.  The statistics behind the rankings can offer useful insights.  For example, freshman retention rate can be a good indicator of how happy students are, while financial aid profiles can indicate a school’s likelihood of offering need- or merit-based aid.  But the actual rank ordering of schools is a debatable measure that’s more important to schools and their alumni than it is for college applicants.

Our advice to students is to forget about where a college falls in the rankings.  Find schools that have the academic programs and social environment they want, visit the schools and talk to students and alumni. Ultimately, students should just apply to schools that are the best overall ‘fit’ for their academic, financial and lifestyle needs.”

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

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 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.

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Kaplan Surveys Show Bar Review Students Prioritize Outcome-Focused
Data While Pre-Law Students Prioritize Comparative Standings

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571
Twitter: @KapTestNews

New York, NY (September 12, 2012) – Law school applicants, take note: your future selves recommend putting less emphasis on law school rankings.

In response to the question “What is most important to you when picking a law school to apply to?” nearly a third of respondents (32%) to a Kaplan survey of LSAT students* cited  law school rankings as the most important evaluation factor, outdistancing all other factors.  In fact, 86% said law school rankings are “very important” or “somewhat important” in deciding where to apply.

Apparently, though, three years of law school may cause aspiring lawyers to reprioritize.  Among new law school graduates, only 17% of respondents to a recent Kaplan Bar Review survey** selected law school rankings as their top answer to “Which of the following factors would you tell prospective law students should be the most important when picking where to apply?”  Instead, nearly half recommend prioritizing either a law school’s job placement rate or its affordability/tuition (each factor garnered 24%).   Other factors, including geographic location and academic programming, trailed further back.

In stark contrast, only 13% of pre-law students cited affordability/tuition as their most important evaluation factor in deciding where to apply to law school, and even fewer, just 8%, considered schools’ job placement rates to be their top priority.

“Going to law school is a significant investment of both time and money, and those who have gone through the process are affirming a rational conclusion that at the end of three years of hard work, it’s important to leave law school with a job and as little debt as possible,” said Jeff Thomas, director of pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep.  “Our advice to LSAT students has always been that while rankings can play a useful role in helping them decide where to apply, they should look closely at other statistics, including how many of a school’s graduates have found a job in the legal field and how much debt their graduates accumulate.”

To arrange an interview with a Kaplan Test Prep law school admissions expert, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

Pre-law students can be a part of the conversation by following @KaplanLSATPrep on Twitter and visiting www.the180.com,  Kaplan Test Prep’s blog that provides LSAT and law school admissions strategies.

*The survey was administered by email in June 2012 and includes responses from 645 Kaplan LSAT students.

**The survey was administered by email in July and August 2012 and includes responses from 705 Kaplan Bar Review 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.

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Expansion Will Reach Kentucky, Tennessee and Utah in Time for the February 2013 Bar Exams and Indiana, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma and South Carolina
in Time for the July 2013 Bar Exams

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571

New York, NY (August 23, 2012) – Kaplan Bar Review, a leading provider of full-service bar preparation, is expanding its bar review program to students preparing for the state bar exams in nine more states: Kentucky, Tennessee and Utah in time for the February 2013 bar exams; and Indiana, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma and South Carolina in time for the July 2013 bar exams. Earlier this year, Kaplan announced expansion of full-service bar review preparation in the state of Washington, bringing the total number of new states served by July 2013 to 37, accounting for over 92% of the entire bar-taking population.

“Kaplan Bar Review’s expansion of full-service bar review to these additional nine states continues to build on our successful 2012, when we expanded full-service bar review services to Arizona and West Virginia and continue to see a significant increase in the number of law school students enrolling in our programs,” said Steven Marietti, Esq., vice president and general manager, Kaplan Bar Review. “When students take our full-service bar review course, they benefit from Kaplan’s long standing history of unmatched exam expertise and an unsurpassed curriculum and resources. With Kaplan, students receive practical tools that help them understand and memorize legal concepts; unlimited essay grading that provides students with extremely clear and specific feedback; exam-like multiple-choice practice questions; and an adaptive, exam-focused daily syllabus that progressively tailors to improve their weakest areas. All of our course features are fully integrated with one another and contribute to our high success rate in helping students pass the bar exam.”

In a July 2011 bar exit survey of 1,973 bar examinees, at 24 randomly selected locations, who took bar review in states where Kaplan offers full service bar review, examinees who prepared with Kaplan rated Kaplan higher than examinees who prepared with BarBri rated BarBri in seven key areas, including exam likeness of the MBE (Multistate Bar Exam) practice questions; essay grading; amount of individualized guidance; amount of student support; overall value, online tools, and simulated practice.*

In 2011 (the most recently fully recorded year), 68% percent of all bar exam takers (54,448 out of 79,953) passed nationally, although pass rates varied by state. The pass rates for all students in Indiana (74%), Kentucky (80%), Minnesota (88%), Montana (90%), Oklahoma (83%), South Carolina (73%), Tennessee (69%) and Utah (84%) were above the national average; Nevada’s pass rate was slightly below the national average at 65%.

*Based on an exit survey of 1,973 July 2011 bar examinees who took bar review. Survey conducted at 24 randomly selected locations in states where Kaplan offers full service bar review. Each respondent rated his/her primary bar review course. Rated higher than BARBRI means Kaplan students rated Kaplan higher than BARBRI students rated BARBRI.

About Kaplan Bar Review

Kaplan Bar Review (www.kaplanbarreview.com) provides full-service bar review programs in 37 states (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia) and Washington DC, making its courses available to over 92% of the U.S. Bar-taking population. Additionally, Kaplan Bar Review offers supplemental preparation for the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE).

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