November 22, 2010

Greedy Associates (Findlaw.com blog): “Pre Law Students Place Law School Rankings Above All Else”

Education Adventure.net: “With Tough Job Market, Grad Schools Expect Another Surge in Applicants”

November 21, 2010

National Jurist.com, “Rankings, not job placement deciding factor for pre-law students”

November 19, 2010

The Daily Illini (University of Illinois– Urbana-Champaign): “GRE test changes formatting”

Michelle’s Law School Blog (About.com): “Aspiring Law Students Consider Rankings Most Important Selection Criteria”

Kaplan PMBR Comprehensive Bar Review for Maryland and Massachusetts Rolls out on November 23

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.

# # #

November 18, 2010

National Law Journal.com: “Rankings Still Key in Choosing Law Schools, Survey Shows”

November 17, 2010

AM Law Daily.com: “Eyeing Schools, Brushing Off Jobs and Asking “What’s the Ranking?”

Concurring Opinion.com: “The Numbers are REALLY In–Plus Two Modest Proposals”

November 16, 2010

Above The Law.com: “Even If You Told Prospective Law Students the Truth, Would They Care?”

The Chicago Tribune: “Dialing down test anxiety”

The Yale Daily News: “New GRE planned, impact unclear”

Kaplan Test Prep Survey: Aspiring Law School Students Place Rankings Above All Else

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.

# # #

1 Comment
November 15, 2010

The Daily Egyptian (Southern Illinois University): “SIUC sees increase in spring grad school applicants”

The Daily Mississippian (University of Mississippi): “Numbers of graduate students applicants on the rise: What will it mean for The University of Mississippi?”

Law School Interactive.com: “Logic Games”

November 14, 2010

MBA Podcaster.com: “With Tough Job Market, Grad Schools Expect Another Surge in Applicants”