Panel Discussions Will Share Admissions Insights with Aspiring MAs, MBAs, JDs and
MDs Based on Proprietary Kaplan Survey Research

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

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

New York, NY (November 7, 2013)  – Kaplan Test Prep will hold its Second Annual Admissions Officers Tell All series of online events for prospective graduate school, business school, law school and medical school students Tuesday, November 12, Wednesday, November 13 and Thursday, November 14.  The series will feature panels of admissions experts who will answer students’ questions, provide insights on the admissions process, and discuss results from Kaplan’s 2013 Graduate, Business, Law and Medical School Admissions Officers surveys.  Kaplan has been conducting admissions officers surveys since 2004 to provide students with the most accurate and up-to-date information on the admissions process, all provided by the decision makers themselves.  The results are widely covered in the media and offer proprietary insights into a wide range of issues, from the impact of changing admissions tests to the wildcard that social media has become .

Following is the “Tell All” agenda:

• Graduate School Admissions Officers Survey Tell All, Tuesday, November 12, 7 PM EST. Among the questions to be explored and answered by Kaplan experts:· What admissions factors are considered application killers? Which are the most important factors in the admissions process? Has the percentage of students accepted directly from college changed? To register, visit http://bit.ly/1gpHIC2.

• Business School Admissions Officers Survey Tell All, Tuesday, November 12, 9 PM EST. Among the questions to be explored and answered by Kaplan experts: How important is a student’s Integrated Reasoning score in evaluating their their overall performance on the GMAT? Is the trend of more MBA programs accepting GRE scores continuing? Which are the most important factors in the admissions process? To register, visit http://bit.ly/1b2Z6II.

• Law School Admissions Officers Survey Tell All, Wednesday, November 13, 8 PM, EST. Among the questions to be explored and answered: Will law schools reduce class size for the 2014 incoming class? How many law schools are changing their curricula to make students more practice ready? What do top schools say about the relationship between the LSAT and law school rankings? Who agrees with President Barack Obama that law school should be two years instead of three? Joining Kaplan Test Prep experts for the live event will be admissions officers from top ranked Fordham Law School, New York University School of Law, UCLA School of Law, and the University of Virginia School of Law. To register, visit http://blog.kaplanlsat.com/the-180-live/. For a preview of the results to be discussed, visit: http://press.kaptest.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Kaplan-Test-Preps-2013-Survey-of-Law-School-Admissions-Officers.pdfhttp://www.kaplan.com/mcat

• Medical School Admissions Officers Survey Tell All, Thursday, November 14, 9 PM, EST. Among the questions to be explored and answered: Will the 2015 MCAT® be harder than the current test? How are admissions officers using social media to learn about candidates? How important are post-baccalaureate programs? What are the most important admissions factors?  Admissions experts from allopathic and osteopathic medical schools will join Kaplan’s MCAT experts to discuss the findings.  To register, visit www.kaplanmcat.com/pulse. For a preview of the results to be discussed, visit:  http://press.kaptest.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Kaplan-Test-Preps-2013-Survey-of-Medical-School-Admissions-Officers.pdf

All events will be held in Kaplan Test Prep’s live, online Classroom Anywhere format, launched in 2008.  Kaplan Test Prep has served tens of thousands of students through this real-time interactive, expert-led, engaging online format.

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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The Huffington Post: “Are colleges creeping on your Facebook?”

The Collegian (University of Richmond): “MCAT changes require additional courses of undergrads” 

The Seattle Times: “Kaplan Test Prep’s first annual national practice day”

The Mash: “Are colleges creeping on your Facebook?”

Next Step U: “7 Ways to Figure out your next career move” 

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

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

New York, NY (November 5, 2013) – According to a recent Kaplan Test Prep survey of SAT takers, 39% who opted to take the SAT instead of the ACT did so because they believe it is the more widely accepted of the two tests — a false, but broadly held perception. Other reasons cited for taking the SAT instead of the ACT: most friends and classmates are taking the test (15%), belief that there is an admissions advantage to submitting an SAT score instead of an ACT score (11%), and parental advice (9%).

“In reality, colleges in the U.S. accept both tests equally, and there is no admissions advantage to submitting scores from one test versus the other,” said Christine Brown, Executive Director of K-12 and College Prep Programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “If you’re planning to take only one of the two tests, the smart strategy is to take practice tests for the SAT and the ACT, see which one you perform better on, and go with that test.”

To help students determine which test works best for them, Kaplan Test Prep will holds its free National Practice Day on Saturday, November 16 at locations around the country as well as live, online. Students who attend the event on site will take a combo SAT and ACT test, featuring realistic practice questions, that will help familiarize them with the content. Students who attend an online event will take shortened, predictive versions of both exams. In addition to the free practice, each participant will receive a personalized detailed performance analysis. This will give students an idea of which one they should prep for and take — though many students ultimately decide to sit for both exams. Additionally, Kaplan experts will provide attendees with an overview of the exams and their important roles in the admissions process.

The event is aimed at helping students determine their test-taking strengths and weaknesses in a simulated testing environment, enabling them to know where to focus on improvement before the Test Day. Practice also helps students become accustomed to each test’s content and format, which improves confidence and in turn, performance.

Differences between the exams include:

• Length: The SAT is 3 hours, 45 minutes; the ACT is 3 hours and 25 minutes (including the optional Writing section, which Kaplan encourages students to take.)
• Sections: The SAT includes a Critical Reading, Math and Writing section; the ACT includes an English, Reading, Math and Science section.
• Scoring: The SAT is scored on a 600-2400 scale; the ACT is scored on a 1-36 scale. On the SAT, ¼ point is subtracted from your raw score for each wrong answer (except for Math Grid-Ins); on the ACT, there is no penalty for wrong answers.

“Attending Kaplan Test Prep’s National Practice Day is a great first step for teens to get smarter about their SAT and ACT practice so they can familiarize themselves with the exams, set goals and score higher on Test Day,” said Kate Hurley, SAT and ACT Programs Manager, Kaplan Test Prep. “National Practice Test is an ideal opportunity for aspiring college students to unofficially kick off their journey through the admissions process and do so with confidence.”

To register for Kaplan’s free national practice event or for more information, please call 1-800-KAPTEST or visitwww.kaptest.com/choose.

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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AllFacebook: “How Many College Admissions Officers Check Applicants’ Facebook Profiles?”

The Minnesota Daily (University of Minnesota): “Med school hopefuls to see heftier MCAT” 

The Tulsa World: “More college admissions officers checking out social media”

Accepted: “43% of Med School Adcom Think the New MCAT is Harder” 

U.S. News University Directory: “Students Becoming More Mindful of Their Online Behavior” 

Politico: “Admissions Officers Snooping Online” 

Education Week: “Students Not Bothered That Colleges Are Checking Them Out Online More” 

The Cleveland Plain Dealer: “College admissions officers check social media sites of applicants” 

eCampus News: “Googling of college applicants reaches all time high” 

The Times of Trenton: “More colleges snooping on applicants via social networking sites”

Awtrey Middle School:”More college admissions officers going to Google or Facebook to check out applicants”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “More college admissions officers going to Google or Facebook to check out applicants” 

The Star-Ledger: “Is the admissions office Googling you? More colleges screeninig applicants’ online profiles” 

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

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

New York, NY (October 31, 2013) – The percentages of college admissions officers who say they have Googled an applicant (29%) or visited an applicant’s Facebook or other social networking page to learn more about them (31%) have risen to their highest levels yet, according to Kaplan Test Prep’s 2013 survey of college admissions officers*. When Kaplan first began tracking this issue in 2008, barely 10% of admissions officers reported checking an applicant’s Facebook page. Last year, 27% had used Google and 26% had visited Facebook — up from 20% and 24%, respectively, in 2011.

“As social media has skyrocketed from being the domain of a younger generation to societal ubiquity, the perceived taboo of admissions officers checking applicants online has diminished,” said Seppy Basili, Vice President, Kaplan Test Prep. “Granted, most admissions officers are not tapping into Google or Facebook, and certainly not as a matter of course. But there’s definitely greater acknowledgment and acceptance of this practice now than there was five years ago.”

Despite the growth in online checking, however, there’s been a dip — to 30% this year from 35% in Kaplan’s 2012 survey — in the number of admissions officers reporting that they’re finding something that negatively impacted an applicant’s admissions chances. And notably, in a separate survey of college-bound students**, more than three-quarters said they would not be concerned if an admissions officer Googled them. In response to the question, “If a college admissions officers were to do an online search of you right now, how concerned would you be with what they found negatively impacting your chances of getting in?” 50% said they would be “Not at all concerned” while 27% said “Not too concerned.” Only 14% of students said they would be “Very concerned” while the remainder said they would be “Somewhat concerned.”

“Many students are becoming more cautious about what they post, and also savvier about strengthening privacy settings and circumventing search,” said Christine Brown, Executive Director of College Admissions programs, Kaplan Test Prep. Kaplan’s student survey also showed that 22% had changed their searchable names on social media, 26% had untagged themselves from photos, and 12% had deleted their social media profiles altogether.

“Our advice to college applicants is to run themselves through online search engines on a regular basis to be aware of what information is available about them online, and know that what’s online is open to discovery and can impact them,” said Basili. “Sometimes that impact is beneficial, if online searches turn up postings of sports scores, awards, public performances or news of something interesting they’ve undertaken. But digital footprints aren’t always clean, so students should maintain a healthy dose of caution, and definitely think before posting.”

For more information about Kaplan Test Prep’s 2013 survey of college admissions officers, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

* For the 2013 survey, 381 admissions officers from the nation’s top national, regional and liberal arts colleges and universities – as compiled from U.S. News & World Report – were polled by telephone between July and August 2013.

** 422 Kaplan students who took the SAT the ACT between December 2012 and April 2013 were surveyed by email.

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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