Even as Most High School Students Say Their Parents are Involved in their Academic Lives,
Many Teens Want to Keep Them Out of their Facebook Realms

For a 2-minute video news release discussing the results of the survey, click here.  
Feel free to share the video as part of your story, crediting Kaplan Test Prep.

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 (January 12, 2011) – According to Kaplan Test Prep’s latest survey* on social networking trends and practices among today’s teens, 35% of teens whose parents are on Facebook report that they are actually not online friends with them.  Of that group, 38% say the reason they are not friends is because they’ve ignored mom or dad’s friend request.  But even as some teens ignore their parents’ friend requests, 82% say that mom and dad are either “very involved” (44%) or “somewhat involved” (38%) in their academic lives.

“Although for generations high school students have come to accept and even embrace their parents’  involvement in their academic work and the college admissions process, Facebook continues to be the new frontier in the ever evolving relationship between parent and child,” said Kristen Campbell, executive director, college prep programs, Kaplan Test Prep.  “When a teen ignores a parent’s friend request, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are hiding something, but it could mean that this is one particular part of their life where they want to exert their independence.  Alternatively, some parents and their children may actually mutually decide to keep their Facebook lives private from one another.”

Other key Kaplan Test Prep survey results:

• 16% of teens who are friends with parents on Facebook report that being friends with them was a pre-condition for being allowed to create their own profile.
• 38% say that if their parents were able to see their progress in their SAT or ACT prep classes – just like they track their progress in school – that they would have put more effort in.

A separate May 2010 Kaplan Test Prep survey of 973 high school students reported that of teens who said their parents were on Facebook, a much higher percentage (56%) provided their parents with full profile access – status updates, party photos and all – than with no access at all (34%).  Only 9% of teens gave their parents limited access.

*The survey was conducted by e-mail of 2,313 Kaplan Test Prep students who took the SAT and/or ACT between June 2010 and December 2010.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Also in Survey: 78% of MBA Programs Predict
an Increase in Applications This Cycle

Available for Interview: Business School 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

New York, NY (December 1, 2010) – According to Kaplan Test Prep’s 2010 survey of business school admissions officers*, the GRE is making significant headway in gaining acceptance at business schools: 39% of the 288 business schools surveyed say their program now allows an applicant to submit a GRE score instead of a GMAT score, compared to 24% last year. Of the schools that report being GMAT-only, 75% have no plans to consider accepting the GRE. Survey respondents included 22 of the top 30 business schools, as listed in U.S. News & World Report’s ‘Best Business Schools’ 2010 edition.

But even as more MBA programs accept the GRE, the exam required by most non-business school graduate programs, the GMAT maintains an edge in perception among MBA admissions officers. While 65% of respondents who accept scores from either test say there is no advantage to applicants submitting one over the other, 32% say applicants who submit a GMAT score have an advantage over those who submit a GRE score. Applicants seem to be aware of the perception – of the business programs that accept the GRE, 69% report that fewer than 1 in 10 applicants actually submitted a GRE score instead of a GMAT score this past admissions cycle.

“While the GRE is gaining acceptance among business schools, it’s still fairly new to the MBA admissions process and programs are not in a hurry to embrace it due to its lack of history in predicting business school performance. Additionally, many business schools are satisfied with the GMAT’s predictive ability.” said Liza Weale, executive director of pre-business and graduate programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “But there’s currently a bit of an arms race between the two tests, with both making changes to be more reflective of the critical thinking necessary in business school and, in the case of the GRE, in graduate school. The GRE is rolling out significant changes to its content, design, scoring and format next August, while the GMAT will be adding a new integrated reasoning section in June 2012. For the time being, we recommend that prospective MBAs take the GMAT, not the GRE, since doing so will provide candidates with more options for business school, and it may even give them an extra edge in the admissions process.”

The business school admissions process will likely become increasingly competitive – 78% of business schools surveyed predict an increase in the number of applicants for the current cycle.

Also in the Kaplan Test Prep survey:

• A Low GMAT or GRE Score is the Biggest Application Killer: 48% of the admissions officers surveyed report that a low GMAT or GRE score is the biggest application killer; a low undergraduate GPA placed second at 33%; lack of relevant work experience followed at 10%.
• New GMAT Section: When asked about their views on the integrated reasoning section that will be added to the GMAT in June 2012, 47% of admissions officers have a neutral view, while 31% consider it a positive development. In response to a question regarding their views on the difficulty of the revised test, 42% don’t think the new section – which is meant to measure examinees’ data analysis and balanced decision-making skills that are important for success in business –will make the exam any harder, but 21% think it will.
• High Standardized Test Score = Money for Business School: 89% say a strong standardized test score will help a student receive merit-based scholarships.
• Social Networking: 66% of admissions officers report that an applicant has sent them or a colleague in their admissions office a LinkedIn networking request. 9% of admissions officers say they have visited an applicant’s social networking page to help them evaluative their candidacy.

For more information about Kaplan Test Prep’s survey on the business school admissions landscape or to schedule an interview with a Kaplan expert, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

*The survey was conducted by phone in July and August 2010 and included responses from 288 of the nation’s top MBA programs, including 22 of the top 30 – as designated by U.S. News & World Report. Kaplan Test Prep also annually conducts surveys of admissions officers at colleges, graduate schools, law schools and medical schools.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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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 (November 30, 2010) – After just two years in the full-service bar review market, Kaplan PMBR recently provided its 10,000^th student with comprehensive bar review services. In addition to having passed this threshold, Kaplan PMBR has also provided hundreds of thousands of students with supplementary bar review which includes preparing for the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), a national, 6-hour, 200-question multiple-choice test that is part of the bar exam in 48 states.

Since entering full-service bar review in 2008, Kaplan PMBR has expanded its comprehensive programs to 22 states (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Texas) and Washington DC, in addition to preparation for the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) in all 48 states that require it. Aspiring lawyers in Michigan, Ohio and Virginia will have a comprehensive option from Kaplan PMBR in time for the July 2011 exam. Currently, more than 80% of the U.S. Bar-taking population has access to Kaplan PMBR’s full-service bar review program.

Kaplan PMBR’s Complete Bar Review course includes: the Learn-Practice-Assess-Strengthen system of tools that includes an online Strengths & Weaknesses Guide; unlimited essay grading; unlimited lectures-on-demand that enable students to review parts of lectures specifically assigned to address individual weaknesses or make up missed in-class lectures at their convenience; mobile bar review iPhone apps that include a course manager and over 800 flashcards; innovative outlines designed for different learning styles; “Ask-An-Attorney” support; an “MBE Qbank” online quiz builder; and a money-back guarantee. More information can be found at www.kaplanpmbr.com.

Kaplan’s portfolio of legal education programs also includes three law schools (the wholly-online Concord Law School, Nottingham Law at Kaplan Law School and Holborn College in the U.K.); as well as criminal justice and legal training through its higher education division. Kaplan’s test prep division prepares tens of thousands of aspiring law students for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) annually.

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Just Two Years After Test Prep Industry Leader Enters Full-Service Bar Review, Kaplan PMBR Courses Available to More than 80 Percent of
U.S. Bar Taking Population

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 (November 19, 2010) – Beginning Tuesday, graduating law school students and JDs in Massachusetts and Maryland will have access to bar review program resources from Kaplan PMBR, a leading provider of full-service bar review. With live courses beginning in December, aspiring attorneys in the Bay State and the Old Line State enrolled with Kaplan PMBR will have full access to their online review coursework on November 23, including comprehensive resources like pre-taped, dynamic lectures on-demand; an MBE (Multistate Bar Exam) Qbank, which includes more than 2,000 questions that simulate the actual exam experience; and mobile bar review iPhone apps that include a course manager and over 800 flashcards.

Currently, Kaplan PMBR offers full-service bar review programs in 22 states (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas), and Washington DC, in addition to preparation for the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) in all 48 states that require it. Aspiring lawyers in Michigan, Ohio and Virginia will have this option in time for the July 2011 exam.

Kaplan PMBR Bar Review’s roll out of full bar review services represents continued growth in Kaplan’s portfolio of legal education programs, which also includes three law schools (the wholly-online Concord Law School, Nottingham Law at Kaplan Law School and Holborn College in the U.K.); as well as criminal justice and legal training through its higher education division. Kaplan’s test prep division prepares tens of thousands of aspiring law students for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) annually. Kaplan has been preparing students for high-stakes exams for 72 years.

Kaplan PMBR’s Complete Bar Review Course includes the Personalized Study System that pinpoints students’ specific areas of weakness, generates individualized assignments for targeted improvement and makes the overall intensive preparation required more manageable; unlimited essay grading; unlimited lectures-on-demand that enable students to review parts of lectures specifically assigned to address individual weaknesses or make up missed in-class lectures at their convenience; mobile bar review iPhone apps that include a course manager and over 800 flashcards; innovative outlines designed for different learning styles; “Ask-An-Attorney” call-in support; an “MBE Qbank” online quiz builder; and a money-back guarantee. More information can be found at www.kaplanpmbr.com.

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Also: Pre-Law Students Think Their Facebook Page Content
Would Help Their Law School Admissions Chances

Available for Interview: Law School 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

New York, NY (November 16, 2010) – In deciding where to apply, pre-law students consider a law school’s place in the rankings more important than affordability, geographic location, its academic program – and even more important than its job placement statistics. That is what 1,383 aspiring lawyers who took the October LSAT told Kaplan Test Prep in its latest student survey, when asked “What is most important to you when picking a law school to apply to?” According to the results, 30% say that a law school’s ranking is the most critical factor, followed by geographic location at 24%; academic programming at 19%; and affordability at 12%. Only 8% of respondents consider a law school’s job placement statistics to be the most important factor. In a related question asking, “How important a factor is a law school’s ranking in determining where you will apply?” 86% say ranking is “very important” or “somewhat important” in their application decision-making.

“Our survey shows that pre-law students are heavily influenced about where to apply to law school based on rankings, likely because of the perceived benefits that come with graduating from a top-ranked program,” said Howard Bell, executive director, pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “Though generally speaking the higher a law school places in the rankings, the more earnings potential a graduate has, rankings don’t show you the entire landscape. In fact, many law schools themselves don’t think the rankings process is generally fair. Ultimately, pre-law students should enroll in the JD program that best fits their personal needs and professional goals.”

This past summer, Kaplan co-sponsored a live online event called “Inside the Law School Rankings,” with U.S. News & World Report, which gave students a more in-depth look at the rankings process. To view a recording of the event, visit www.kaptest.com/lawschoolseries.

Other results from Kaplan’s survey:

• A Self-Assured Group: 62% of pre-law students report that if a law school admissions officer had full access to their current Facebook page that it would actually improve their chances of getting in. Also, in a separate Kaplan survey of pre-law students conducted earlier this year, 52% reported that they were “very confident” in finding a job in the legal field after graduating law school and passing the bar, but only 16% said they were “very confident” that the majority of their fellow aspiring lawyers would be as successful in that endeavor.
• But Few Are Actually Fans: Only 4% say that they are Facebook fans of at least one law school, although most law schools have Facebook pages which they use for recruiting purposes.
• A Recent Decision: 36% say they only decided to apply to law school within the past year; 8% of respondents say that even though they took the LSAT, they still may not end up applying at all.

For more information about Kaplan’s most recent survey of pre-law students, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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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 (November 10, 2010) – Beginning in July 2011, the tens of thousands of students who take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) every year will face that test’s first ever computer-based administration since it was introduced in 1974. The PCAT’s conversion from a pencil-and-paper format to a computer-based format makes it one of the last post-graduate admissions tests in the U.S. to go digital, following the MCAT (which converted in 2007), GMAT (converted in 1997), GRE (converted in 1992), TOEFL (1998) and a host of other pre-health tests including the DAT (Dental Admission Test) and OAT (Optometry Admission Test). Following the PCAT’s conversion next year, among major graduate level exams, only the LSAT remains a paper-based test. Although the PCAT is not widely known outside the world of pharmacy, the number of test takers in this high-earnings-potential profession (pharmacists command a median starting annual salary range of $70,000 – $110,000) has nearly tripled in the past decade – last year, more than 33,000 PCATs were administered. Currently, over 65% of American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy institutions require the PCAT for application to pharmacy degree programs, and with student pharmacist enrollments continuing to rise for nine consecutive years, this number is likely to increase.

Would-be pharmacy school students who want to take the PCAT in its current paper-based format before it changes will have one final chance to do so in January 2011. But while the PCAT’s format will change, its content, order of subtests, scoring and reporting will not. Consisting of approximately 240 multiple-choice questions broken out into five sections, the PCAT is one of the most difficult exams to prepare for as it tests basic scientific knowledge in three science subjects (physics, organic and inorganic chemistry), math skills and verbal knowledge. The exam spans approximately four hours, including one short break given in the middle.

“While computer-based exams bring advantages, such as increased number of test administrations and increased test security, some test takers find the new format a challenge since it’s so unfamiliar to them,” said Amjed Saffarini, executive director, pre-health programs, Kaplan Test Prep. In a 2005 Kaplan survey of students, 80 percent of respondents said they had never taken a college level exam on computer. “While we believe that this change represents a step forward for the PCAT in the long term and Kaplan will be fully prepared to ready students to take the new exam, we are advising students to carefully consider the pros and cons of taking the test before the change to computer.”

To give aspiring pharmacists a more in-depth look at the upcoming changes to the PCAT, on Wednesday, November 10, beginning at 7:00 PM EST, Kaplan Test Prep will be hosting a live online event, “PCAT Test Changes: An Insider’s Guide,” with Dr. Jennifer Athay, Pharm.D., director of student affairs, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. All virtual attendees need is a computer and an Internet connection. To register, visit www.kaptest.com/pcatinsider.

For more information about the PCAT’s planned 2011 changes, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Also in Survey: Majority of Programs Haven’t Yet Planned
for GRE Change in August 2011

For a 2-minute video news release discussing the results of the survey, click here.   Feel free to share the video as part of your story, crediting Kaplan Test Prep.

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 (November 9, 2010) – According to a new Kaplan Test Prep survey of graduate school admissions officers at 108 top programs across the United States*, the admissions process will likely become increasingly competitive – 78% predict an increase in the number of applicants for the current cycle. This comes on the heels of an announcement made earlier this year by ETS – the administrator of the GRE, the admissions exam required by most graduate programs – that in 2009, global registration for the exam topped 675,000, a 9% increase over the prior year.

“The past couple of years have been hard for college graduates trying to enter the workforce for the first time, as well as for working professionals looking to change careers or bounce back after layoffs, which has made graduate school an appealing destination for both groups,” said Liza Weale, executive director of pre-business and pre-graduate programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “An increase in applications will result in an even more competitive admissions process, making it imperative for aspiring graduate students to put together a strong application. A graduate degree remains an important tool for job applicants seeking to be more marketable and can serve as a strong hedge against unemployment.”

The survey also shows that even with the vastly changed GRE set to launch in August 2011, 81% of graduate schools have still not developed a transitional policy with regard to accepting scores from the current GRE or the new one. And although the exam’s administrator says the new exam was created to make it a better predictor of student success in graduate school, 77% of admissions officers surveyed don’t know if it will be, based on the information they know. The GRE’s administrator also says the new test will have a new format, new scoring scale and new question types; that it will be about an hour longer than the current GRE; and that there will be stricter limitations around the frequency of taking it.

“The new GRE will be dramatically different – there is a lot of uncertainty among both test takers and the graduate school community,” added Weale. “While it’s safe to say most graduate programs will develop a transitional policy over time, we advise students to take the GRE before it changes, since scores are good for five years, and avoid the mystery if they can. Prospective students who want to apply for a graduate program with fall 2011 deadlines should take the current GRE because scores from the first administrations of the new test in August, September and October won’t be released until late November – too late for most fall 2011 application deadlines.”

Other Kaplan Test Prep survey results:

• GRE Most Important Admissions Factor: 30% of the admissions officers surveyed report that an applicant’s GRE score is the most important admissions factor, followed by undergraduate GPA at 26%. Work experience followed at 16%.
• High GRE Score = Money for Grad School: 66% say a strong GRE score will help a student receive merit-based scholarships, teaching assistantships or grants.
• Directly from College to Grad School: Compared to two years ago, 53% report an increase in the number of students applying directly from college.
• Not Friending or Recruiting via Facebook: Only 42% of schools use Facebook to recruit prospective students; only 2% say they’ve ever visited an applicant’s social networking page.

For more information about the graduate school admissions process and the new GRE or to schedule an interview with a Kaplan expert, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

*The survey was conducted by phone in August 2010 and included responses from 108 of the top 200 graduate programs – as designated by U.S. News & World Report – in education, engineering, psychology and public administration. Kaplan also conducts surveys of admissions officers at colleges, business schools, law schools and medical schools.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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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 (November 3, 2010) – Leading game publisher Aspyr Media and world test prep leader Kaplan Test Prep today announced that futureU™, one of the industry’s first SAT test prep videogames, is now available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. futureU, originally developed in 2008 with version for Nintendo DS, PC and Mac, is based on proven Kaplan Test Prep content and methodologies. The game is designed to provide a fun, interactive and engaging supplemental test prep resource for students preparing for the SAT.

“As the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch play an increasing role in how students receive their information, it made sense for us to expand the futureU SAT test prep game to this mobile platform,” said Kristen Campbell, Executive Director of Pre-College Programs for Kaplan Test Prep. “Aspyr’s ability to deliver engaging games to students across multiple-platforms has enabled us to bring futureU to a new audience of SAT preppers.”

Utilizing the mobile and touch screen capabilities of Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod devices, futureU is now more convenient than ever, making a fun SAT test prep option available whenever and wherever users are, enabling them to play and learn at their own pace. The game offers a unique interactive experience with actual gameplay that engages users to sharpen critical thinking skills, build relevant knowledge and reduce test anxiety. futureU is made up of six individual games and three quiz types divided into three main categories – Reading, Writing and Math.

Developed as a complement to traditional SAT study methods, futureU is grounded in Kaplan curriculum and features hundreds of questions and a scoring system to track players’ progress. It incorporates a wealth of in-game content to challenge and sharpen skills within the three main study areas of the SAT:

• Reading Games: Focuses on refining players’ reading skills, vocabulary, main idea identification, themes and arguments, technique, and recognizing word meanings based on context.
• Writing Games: Concentrates on improving players’ writing skills by covering topics such as passive voice, run-on sentences, misplaced modifiers, parallelism, conjunctions, fragments, coordination and subordination, pronouns, subject-verb agreement, tenses, adverbs and adjectives, gerunds, idioms, wrong words, and double negatives.
• Math Games: Enables players to practice critical math areas of the SAT such as algebra, geometry, data, statistics, probability, polynomials and sequences.

“futureU provides an outstanding complement to students’ traditional preparation for the SAT. Harnessing clever, interactive elements on the iPad touch screen interface, this first class app gives high school students an engaging, game-like experience, while focusing on developing the strong underlying knowledge and skills to succeed in the college admission process,” said Dr. David Palumbo, Chief Information Officer of National Heritage Academies, a leading charter school management company.

“Students are always on the go and busier than ever. So for us to work with Kaplan to develop a mobile version of futureU for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices that allows students to study – even when they might only have a few extra minutes here and there – just made sense,” said Michael Rogers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aspyr Media. “And with more schools checking out iPads to students, the game will be available to offer a growing number of students a unique and entertaining way to study without really feeling like they’re studying.”

futureU for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices is free to download at the iTunes Apple App Store or at www.futureugame.com, with up to four extended levels available for $1.99 each. futureU is also available for the Nintendo DS, Mac and PC.

Through November, the company is making a special offer to teachers and tutors in the U.S. Aspyr is giving away a free, full-length PC or Mac version of the futureU SAT prep game for their classroom or school library so all of their students can benefit. Simply email schools@aspyr.com from your school email and pay a minimal shipping and handling fee of $9.95.

About Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions

Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

About Aspyr Media

Aspyr Media, Inc. is a leading video game publisher that creates, packages and delivers fun to millions around the world. Hailing from Austin, Texas, Aspyr strives relentlessly to ensure a quality experience for consumers and industry partners. Titles include Call of Duty®, Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock, Harry Potter™ Deluxe Edition , Spider-Man 2™ The Game, Star Wars: Empire at War, Treasure World™ and many more. To fall more deeply in love with Aspyr and its amazing line of products, visit www.aspyr.com and see just how much fun you can legally have. More information on futureU can be found at www.futureugame.com.

Media Contact:

* Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPhone, iPad and iPod are trademarks of Apple, Inc.

** SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board, which neither sponsors nor endorses this product.

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Also in Survey: While Emphasizing Personal Background Has Little Effect
on Admissions Officers, Nearly Half Say MCAT Needs to Focus More
on Personal Traits Such as Empathy and Integrity

Available for Interview: Medical School 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

New York, NY (October 6, 2010) – Many aspiring doctors are drawn to medicine because of a personal connection with illness, according to a Kaplan survey of admissions officers at 83 medical schools across the United States, which found that 90% report that it’s “somewhat” or “very” common for applicants to include in their application a story of personal illness or illness in their family.  Also a running theme among medical school applicants is having other doctors in the family – 69% of admissions officers report it to be “somewhat” or “very” common for applicants to include in their application mention of a family member who is a doctor. For the most part, though, referencing a personal connection with medicine makes no difference in an applicant’s chances – only 24% of admissions officers say highlighting a personal or family illness in an interview or essay helps an applicant’s cause. 75% say mentioning a family member who is a doctor makes no difference.

“Our interpretation is that talking about a personal or family illness or about your family medical profession pedigree is a bit like eating chicken soup to treat a cold – it probably doesn’t help much, but it doesn’t hurt either,” said Amjed Saffarini, executive director, pre-health programs, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions. “What’s ironic is that while medical school admissions officers are much more focused on the MCAT score and GPA than on personal stories, nearly half want to see the MCAT focus more on qualities like empathy, integrity and ethics.”

Other key Kaplan survey results:

• Admissions Killer: 45% report that a low score on the MCAT – the exam for medical school admissions – is the biggest application killer.
• Med Schools Like the MCAT: 87% express confidence in the MCAT’s ability to measure a prospective student’s success in medical school, though the MR5 – a study to broadly change the MCAT – is underway. Though confidence in the MCAT is high, 47% say the exam needs to focus more on applicants’ personal attributes like empathy, integrity and ethics.
• Nothing But The Facts?: 81% of medical school admissions officers say they’ve discovered claims on an applicant’s application to be exaggerated or untrue – compared to 73% of law school admissions officers saying the same about their applicants.
• High MCAT score = Money: 85% say a strong MCAT score will help a student receive merit-based scholarships.
• Are Medical Schools the Only Ones Not on Facebook?: Only 24% of medical schools use Facebook to recruit students – far less than the 70% of law schools who do.

For more information about Kaplan’s annual survey of medical school admissions officers or to schedule an interview with a Kaplan expert, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com

*The survey was conducted by phone in August 2010 as part of Kaplan’s annual survey of admissions officers at AAMC-approved medical schools. Kaplan also conducts surveys of admissions officers at colleges, business schools, graduate schools and law schools.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

Mobile-Friendly Site Developed by Usablenet Allows Students to Register for Free Admissions or Practice Test Events, Learn More About Kaplan Course
Offerings and Search Class Schedules and Locations

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 (October 4, 2010) – With 40% of adults accessing the Internet from a mobile device,* Kaplan Test Prep has launched its enhanced site (www.kaptest.com) for smartphones. Now aspiring college, graduate, business, law and medical school students can easily register for a free Kaplan event like a practice test or admissions seminar, learn more about test prep options offered by Kaplan and look for a course being offered in their area from their iPhone®, BlackBerry®, or other mobile devices with browsers. To experience the site from a non-mobile device, visit www.um2go.com/www.kaptest.com.

“As teens, college students and aspiring professionals increasingly embrace online learning as an integral part of their educational experience, Kaplan is continually enhancing the way we deliver our services in order to reach them in ways that are relevant and best fit their busy and diverse lifestyles,” said Jason Moss, vice president, Kaplan Test Prep  “In addition to learning about course offerings from virtually anywhere using their mobile devices, users can learn how to prepare for exams like the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT from virtually anywhere with our Anywhere courses – Kaplan’s interactive virtual classroom, which brings learning directly to students’ computers using video, audio, instant chat, whiteboard, polling, and screen-sharing.”

“We’re thrilled to see our solution deliver such a successful mobile experience for students considering Kaplan to prepare for a number of important admissions tests,” said Nick Taylor, president of Usablenet. Taylor explains that Usablenet Mobile is a fully managed service that leverages the features and functionality of a company’s existing website and extends it to all mobile devices worldwide in approximately eight weeks, requiring no client IT or Web design resources.

As the test prep industry leader, Kaplan has pioneered the delivery of test prep resources over the years. Most recently, in 2006, Kaplan became the first test prep company to bring SAT prep directly to students’ iPods. In 2009, Kaplan announced the availability of Kaplan SAT Flashcubes, the test prep industry’s first ever SAT prep application available on iTunes®, for the iPhone® and iPod touch®. In 2010, in its new GMAT prep course, Kaplan launched the industry’s first fully interactive online center, where students can manage their course progress, access online resources such as b-school video-on-demand, connect with their teachers or fellow classmates, network with future MBAs from around the world and more.

*Mobile Access 2010, Pew Internet & American Life project

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

About Usablenet

Usablenet works with leading brands to translate their existing websites content and functionality to mobile Web and app interfaces. The solution requires no IT resources on the client side, works on all mobile, tablet, kiosk, and assistive platforms worldwide and can be implemented in eight to ten weeks. The platform extends marketing, e-commerce, and client service efforts to their customers’ mobile phones. Usablenet customers include top companies, such as FedEx, Kenneth Cole, American Eagle, Marriott, Jet Blue, Sprint, Walgreens, Amtrak, and Estée Lauder. Founded in 2000, Usablenet is a private company headquartered in New York City with offices in Italy. For more information, visit www.usablenet.com or on Twitter @Usablenet.

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