Future Law School Applicants Now Have Even More Powerful Resources to Help Them Succeed on the LSAT and in the Law School Admissions Process

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 (September 15, 2010) – As the number of LSAT administrations reached a record high of 171,500 last year (a 13.3 percent increase over the 2008-2009 testing year and the biggest spike since the 2001-2002 testing year) and the number of law school applications reached its highest level ever, Kaplan Test Prep has just launched a course that redefines what it means to prepare for the critical admissions exam, with the industry’s first fully simulated test day event – accessible in most major cities – the LSAT Experience.* From registration and fingerprinting, to proctors and stringent rules, Kaplan becomes the first LSAT prep provider to replicate students’ actual test day experience so they’ll know what to expect for the real thing. Fact: Bringing your cell phone or iPod into the test or even wearing a hoodie may be grounds for dismissal or having your score cancelled! Included in the course, or as a stand-alone prep option, the first two LSAT Experience* events will take place on Friday, October 1 or Saturday, October 2, depending on the city.

The new Kaplan LSAT preparation course not only includes more than 100 hours of classroom instruction and incorporates the industry’s first ever, simulated test day experience, but also continues to provide industry-leading expertise aimed at giving students the edge they need to succeed in today’s increasingly competitive law school admissions environment, including:

• Extensive Online Resources: Includes 50+ hours of additional video instruction, skills tutorials, test reviews, section management tutorials and stress management techniques, personalized to fit students’ needs.
• Every Released LSAT… Now Online: Students gain online access to every released LSAT, with explanations for every one of the 6,449 questions and 30,000+ answer choices.
• Home Study Resources: Includes lesson book, mastery and timing books (by section), endurance book and full-length tests. Because the LSAT remains a paper and pencil test, print study materials remain important components for effective studying and realistic practice. Resources also include an online companion to help students integrate with online instruction.
• Logic Games On Demand (stand-alone product): With 15 hours of online instruction, and including 150 previously released logic games with detailed explanations, this stand-alone product provides extra help for what students rate as the most challenging section of the LSAT.

“While all graduate level programs place a high emphasis on your standardized test score when evaluating your application, none weigh it as strongly as law schools do, which is why realistic LSAT practice is so important,” said Jason Moss, vice president, graduate programs, Kaplan Test Prep.  “Kaplan’s LSAT Experience*, coupled with our new online, print and at home resources, will continue to give students the knowledge and confidence they need to score well on test day and succeed in the law school admissions process.”

According to Kaplan’s annual survey of law school admissions officers at JD programs in the United States, the LSAT is consistently listed as the most important admissions factor, far outdistancing undergraduate GPA, the personal statement and letters of recommendation.

For more information about Kaplan’s LSAT prep programs, including the LSAT Experience*, please visit www.kaplanlsat.com.

*Students unable to attend Kaplan’s LSAT Experience on site at an area testing location will be able to get the fully simulated experience in an online environment, either live or on demand at their convenience. Kaplan’s LSAT Experience stand-alone product includes a condensed course to explain each question and answer.

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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From Ranking the Most Desirable Urban Schools to Which Schools Provide Both a Great Education and Tan, the Guide also Provides Expert Advice
and Personal Essays on Preparing for the SAT and ACT,
Navigating the Financial Aid Process and Much More

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 (September 13, 2010) – Combining the leadership of more than 70 years of college admissions expertise with the award-winning journalistic excellence of the nation’s leading news magazine, the 2010 Kaplan/Newsweek “Finding The Right College For You” guide – on sale September 13 – debuts the publication’s first ever college rankings.  The rankings categories are tailored to address the real concerns of prospective students and their parents in an increasingly complex admissions process, covering all the aspects of the undergraduate experience: academics, social life, school size and location, diversity and even the ability to get some sun.

In recognizing that where to attend college is one of the most important personal decisions of a young person’s life and that each comes into the process with different values, “Finding The Right College For You” highlights schools that offer special niches and qualities to accommodate almost every student’s biggest must haves. A sampling of the 12 rankings categories and the 25 schools within each one, include:

• Most Desirable Urban Schools: Columbia University, Duke University, Harvard University, New York University, University of California – Los Angeles, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
• Most Desirable Rural Schools: Amherst College, Clemson University, College of the Ozarks, Dartmouth College, State University of New York at Geneseo, Whitman College
• Most Service-Minded Schools: Davidson College, Marquette University, Morehouse College, Syracuse University, Tulane University, Widener University
• Great Education, Great Tan: Arizona State University, Pepperdine University, Pomona College, Scripps College, Stanford University, University of Southern California
• Stocked with Jocks: Bates College, Boston College, Ohio State University, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, University of Oklahoma – Norman Campus, University of Virginia

The guide also contains invaluable admissions information discussed in such articles as “College: There’s an App for That,” in which readers will learn how everything from Facebook, to Twitter, to the iPhone can enrich their college experience; “The Digital-Book Revolution,” which explores how the iPad may replace the centuries old textbook; “Parents, It’s Time to Let Go,” in which veteran Newsweek writer Barbara Kantrowitz counsels parents to put their kids in the driver’s seat so they can make their own decisions; “The College Essay 2.0,” which explores how new media application materials like YouTube videos are supplementing the traditional on paper/e-mail essay; “Strategies to Help You Pay the Bills,” in which readers will learn some savvy ways to pay ever rising tuition costs; and “A Spiraling Down Effect,” which brings added attention to the tough budget decisions facing the country’s state schools and community colleges during the tough economic environment.

From what majors may provide graduates with the biggest pay checks, to why so many students are choosing to study abroad in the most remote areas of the world, to practice for the SAT and ACT, to the revival of once moribund religious studies programs, the Kaplan/Newsweek “Finding The Right College For You” guide is designed to help college-bound students and their families by illuminating issues, challenges and opportunities that await them all the way from the application process through their college senior year.

This year’s guide also has a robust online presence at www.KaplanCollegeGuide.com, where students can find companion tools, including a Facebook application to help them find their “dream school” and even figure out which school they are; stress-busting SAT vocabulary-building quiz banks, a college search tool, videos, online polls, discussion boards, and much more.

The 168-page guide will be available in bookstores and can also be ordered on Kaplan’s Web site (http://www.kaptest.com/store) or by calling toll-free 1-800-KAP-ITEM.

This year’s college guide also marks the launch of Newsweek Education, a special section of www.Newsweek.com dedicated to helping families through the college admissions process. The site will have profiles of all the schools in the rankings as well as the strategies and tools students need to put together a strong application, choose a school, and pay for it. Newsweek Education will also have expert guidance from Newsweek writers and readers who understand the ups and downs of navigating the final years of high school as teens prepare to leave home and parents learn to let go. You can find it all at http://education.newsweek.com.

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 NEWSWEEK

Founded in 1933, Newsweek provides comprehensive coverage of national and international affairs, business, society, science and technology, and arts and entertainment. Headquartered in New York, Newsweek has bureaus located in the U.S. and around the globe. In addition to its U.S. edition, Newsweek publishes three English-language editions overseas and is the only news magazine with five weekly local-language editions—in Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Polish, and Russian. The magazine appears in more than 190 countries.

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Kaplan/Newsweek Finding the Right College for You guide

JD Journal.com: “Law School Admissions Officers Survey Tells Prospective Students How To Prepare”

Above The Law.com: “Admissions Officers Expect Even More Law School Applicants”

Also in Survey: Myth Buster! 84% of Law Schools Say Graduates of Their Affiliated Undergraduate Institution Have No Advantage Over Applicants Who Are Not

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 (September 8, 2010) – Aspiring lawyers need to be more careful about who they call as their own character witnesses for their law school recommendations. According to a new Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions survey* of admissions officers at 145 law schools across the United States, 87% say they have received a negative letter of recommendation about an applicant. According to the survey, 15% report that a poor letter of recommendation is actually the biggest application killer.

“While your LSAT score and GPA are by far the most important factors in your application, letters of recommendation do factor in, and what these results show us is that students need to be much more self-aware about who they choose to advocate for them in their applications,” said Howard Bell, executive director, pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep.

Kaplan’s research reveals that the issue isn’t limited to aspiring lawyers – in a similar survey of medical school admissions officers, the exact same percentage report having received negative letters of recommendation about medical school applicants.

Bell notes, “First rule: Do no harm. Only ask for recommendations from people who like you personally and think highly of you. If you sense ambivalence‚ don’t try to talk them into it. You only want to ask someone who is enthusiastic about you and supportive of your aspirations. A negative word from someone you think respects you may call your judgment skills into question with admissions officers and that could potentially keep you out of law school, despite of an otherwise stellar application.”

The Kaplan survey also debunks a common myth among law school applicants that having attended the undergraduate institution affiliated with the law school provides an edge – 84% of admissions officers say those who claim the undergraduate school as their alma mater have no advantage in the admissions process over applicants who do not.

Also in the Kaplan survey:

• Law School Applications Continue to Climb: 56% predict an increase in applications this year, while only 6% predict a decrease – 25% predict application numbers to remain flat, while 13% were not sure.
• The Key to Admissions: 64% of admissions officers report that an applicant’s LSAT score is the most important admissions factor; GPA placed second with 23%.
• It’s the Economy, Applicant!: 75% say the lagging effects of the recession are responsible for the recent and predicted application increases.
• High LSAT Score = Financial Aid: 73% of admissions officers testify that a strong LSAT score “very much” helps an applicant receive merit-based aid.
• Don’t Perjure Yourself: 73% say they’ve discovered claims on an applicant’s application to be exaggerated or untrue. That won’t help your case!

For more information or to discuss these results with a Kaplan law school admissions expert, please contact Russell Schaffer at: 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

*The survey was conducted by phone in July and August 2010 as part of Kaplan’s annual survey of admissions officers at American Bar Association-accredited law schools. Kaplan also conducts surveys of admissions officers at colleges, business schools, graduate schools and medical schools. Results from those surveys will be released soon.

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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The Wall Street Journal.com (Law Blog): “Who Loves Ya, Baby? (Figure That Out Before You Apply to Law School)”

Deal provides CFA^® scholarships and discounts for Society members

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

LaCrosse, WI (September 1, 2010) – On September 1, CFA Society of Chicago announced the signing of an exclusive agreement naming Kaplan Schweser the society’s Preferred Provider of Chartered Financial Analyst^® (CFA^®) exam preparation. As part of the agreement, Kaplan Schweser will provide seven annual scholarships for select society members, and discounted CFA exam review pricing for the entire membership.

According to Kaplan Schweser Senior VP of CFA Education Dr. Doug Van Eaton, CFA, Kaplan Schweser study tools are designed to provide efficient and focused coverage of the critical material candidates need to know in order to be successful on the CFA exam.

“Kaplan Schweser is deeply invested in the growth and future of the investment profession,” said Van Eaton. “This partnership will make it easier for exam candidates to reach a major milestone in their careers by preparing for the CFA exam with courses and materials from the recognized industry leader.”

In addition to the scholarships and discounts, Kaplan Schweser will offer a free Mock Exam to CFA Society of Chicago exam candidates. The two organizations will also hold bi-annual, co-sponsored Study Group Kick-off sessions. The first of these sessions is currently being planned for December.

“We are dedicated to providing finance professionals with world-class CFA exam preparation resources,” said Angela McKay, CAE, President & CEO of CFA Society of Chicago. “This alliance will help our candidates by offering broader access to Kaplan Schweser’s comprehensive CFA course programs, including its Mock Exam and Review seminars.”

For investment professionals, the CFA charter is recognized as the most prestigious credential in the world. In 2009, more than 129,000 candidates registered for the June exam, the largest number of candidates registered for one exam cycle since the inception of the CFA Program in 1963.

Kaplan Schweser, a division of Kaplan, Inc., is a leading provider of financial and accounting education for hundreds of thousands of business professionals around the world. For more information, visit www.schweser.com.

CFA Society of Chicago serves over 3,900 members as a trusted resource for programs, information, and services to meet their professional needs. Founded in 1925, CFA Society of Chicago was the first CFA Institute member society in the world. For more information, visit www.cfachicago.org.

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preLaw: “Hiring down, applicants hopeful about future”

The Los Angeles Times: “Teens on Facebook GOL (grumble out loud) as mothers become friends”

Completing medical schools doesn’t automatically guarantee that a graduate can practice medicine.  Another challenging phase comes next.  The USMLE (United States Medical Licensure Exam) assesses an aspiring practicing doctor’s ability to apply knowledge, concepts, and principles, and to demonstrate fundamental patient-centered skills, that will be important parts of effectively carrying out their duties.  It comes in three steps, spread out over a period of about 2 years – beginning in a medical school student’s third year and going into their first year of residency.  All three steps need to be completed successfully in order to obtain a license to practice medicine in the U.S. 

Brief history of the test:

USMLE Step 1

The USMLE Step 1 is a one-day computer exam taken by most medical students at the end of their second year of medical school. It is also taken by thousands of international medical graduates (IMGs) who wish to practice medicine in the United States. Step 1 includes 322 questions and spans 8 hours of testing, broken down into seven 1-hour blocks of 48 questions each.  

• Year created: 1915
• Number of tests takers in 2008 (most recently updated year): 41,576
• Length of test: 8 hours
• Test format: computer-based test (CBT)
• Sections on test: Emphasis on basic science principles, specifically anatomy, behavioral science, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, and physiology.  Interdisciplinary areas such as genetics, immunology, and nutrition are also tested. 
• Score range: When you take Step 1, Step 2 CK, or Step 3, the computer records test takers’ responses. After the test ends, their responses are transmitted to the National Board of Medical Examiners for scoring. The number of test items the test taker answers correctly is converted to two equivalent scores, one on a three-digit score scale and one on a two-digit score scale. On the three-digit scale, most Step 1, 2 CK, or 3 scores fall between 140 and 260. The mean score for first-time examinees from accredited medical school programs in the United States is in the range of 210 to 230, and the standard deviation is approximately 20.  
• Cost of test: $525
• How often the test it administered: administered by appointment on a year-round basis.
• Administrator of test: National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®)
• Interesting fact about the test: A combined 94% of American and Canadian test takers pass USMLE Step 1, though only 71% of non-American or non-Canadian test takers pass it. 

USMLE Step 2 CK

The USMLE Step 2 CK is a multiple-choice exam designed to determine whether the examinee possesses the medical knowledge and understanding of clinical science considered essential for the provision of patient care under supervision. The Step 2 CK includes 352 questions and spans 9 hours of testing, broken down into eight 1-hour blocks of 44 questions each.  The USMLE Step 2 CK includes two multiple-choice formats: Single Best Answer and Single Answer Matching. The exam may also contain patient-centered vignettes with associated questions.

• Year created: 1915
• Number of tests takers in 2008 (most recently updated year): 34,308
• Length of test: 9 hours
• Test format: computer-based test (CBT)
• Sections on test: Topics are presented randomly. For example, there is no unique pediatrics section. Test takers face the challenge of having to switch from one topic to another without skipping a beat.
• Score range: When you take Step 1, Step 2 CK, or Step 3, the computer records test takers’ responses. After the test ends, their responses are transmitted to the National Board of Medical Examiners for scoring. The number of test items the test taker answers correctly is converted to two equivalent scores, one on a three-digit score scale and one on a two-digit score scale. On the three-digit scale, most Step 1, 2 CK, or 3 scores fall between 140 and 260. The mean score for first-time examinees from accredited medical school programs in the United States is in the range of 210 to 230, and the standard deviation is approximately 20.  .
• Cost of test: $525
• How often the test it administered: The test is administered by appointment on a year-round basis.
• Administrator of test: National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®)
• Interesting fact about the test: The USMLE Step 2 CK score is one of many factors considered by residency programs in selecting applicants.

USMLE Step 2 CS

The USMLE Step 2 CS is a 8-hour, live exam that resembles a physician’s typical work day in a clinic, doctor’s office, emergency department, and/or hospital setting in the United States. Examinees have 15 minutes to examine each “standardized patient” (11 total), who is an actor chosen from a broad range of age, racial, and ethnic backgrounds and trained to portray a real patient. 

• Year created: 1915
• Number of tests takers in 2008 (most recently updated year): 34,573
• Length of test: 8 hours
• Test format: live exam, clinical
• Sections on test: Test takers will be assessed on your ability to communicate with the patients in a professional and empathetic manner, elicit important historic information, perform an exam, answer any questions, inform them of any diagnoses, and inform them what tests will be ordered.  After each patient encounter, examinees must record pertinent history and findings, list diagnostic impressions, and outline plans for further evaluation. 
• Score range: Pass or Fail
• Cost of test: $1,120
• How often the test it administered: The test is administered on a first-come, first-served basis during a 12-month eligibility window.
• Administrator of test: National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®)
• Interesting fact about the test: Historically, US students have taken Step 2 CS late in their senior year, prior to graduation. However, some residency programs (such as those at the University of California, San Francisco) now require students to record a passing score for both Step 2 CS and CK prior to February 15th of the application year.

USMLE Step 3

The USMLE Step 3 is a 2-day computerized examination with approximately 500 multiple-choice questions, as well as computer-based case simulations (CCS) which assess your ability to evaluate history and physical exam information, order diagnostic tests, select initial therapies, and manage the patient. 

• Year created: 1915
• Number of tests takers in 2008 (most recently updated year): 30,931
• Length of test: Taken over a 2 day period
• Test format: computer-based test (CBT)
• Sections on test: Primarily focuses on patient management (45-55% of questions). Other topics include history and physical; lab and diagnostic studies; diagnosis; prognosis; and pathophysiology—each consisting of about 8-12% of the exam questions. In addition, each question falls into one of three clinical encounter frames: initial workup; continued care; and emergency care.
• Score range: When you take Step 1, Step 2 CK, or Step 3, the computer records test takers’ responses. After the test ends, their responses are transmitted to the National Board of Medical Examiners for scoring. The number of test items the test taker answers correctly is converted to two equivalent scores, one on a three-digit score scale and one on a two-digit score scale. On the three-digit scale, most Step 1, 2 CK, or 3 scores fall between 140 and 260. The mean score for first-time examinees from accredited medical school programs in the United States is in the range of 210 to 230, and the standard deviation is approximately 20.  .
• Cost of test: $730
• How often the test it administered: The test is administered by appointment on a year-round basis.
• Administrator of test: National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®)
• Interesting fact about the test: A test taker has to have secured his or her MD before taking the exam.

*USMLE is a registered trademark of the National Board of Medical Examiners, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.