National Jurist: “Law grads say schools aren’t doing enough for mental health”

Above The Law: “Survey Says Law Schools Need To Do A Better Job Providing Mental Health Services”

Law.com: “Law Grads Say Schools Don’t Offer Enough Mental Health Support”

New York, NY (May 1, 2019) — With mental health diagnoses on the rise among U.S. college students, a new Kaplan Bar Review survey of more than 300 recent law school graduates finds that just 29 percent think their law school does enough in the area of mental health to help its students who may experience elevated levels of academic stress*. Forty percent say their law school does not do enough, while 31 percent don’t know.

This survey illustrating a lack of confidence, coupled with a lack of awareness of how their law school may help students take better care of themselves comes as America observes Mental Health Awareness Month. This also comes at a time when more law students are demanding school administrators be more transparent about student data they collect about mental health.

“What students are telling us is that law schools need to do a better job of providing the kinds of services that they need for self-care, and also communicating how those services can help them. This is an important conversation to have. We have to conquer the stigma traditionally associated with mental health, particularly in the legal community,” said Tammi Rice, vice president, Kaplan Bar Review. “May in particular can be an emotionally taxing month in the life of law school graduates, as it is when they begin preparing to take the July bar exam. We strongly encourage law students who need help during this time to reach out to their law school. Law schools want to make sure that as many of their students as possible pass the bar, so they have a vested interest in ensuring their students are ready in every way for Test Day.”

The Kaplan survey also finds that law school graduates largely disagree with two policies most state bar examiners currently practice: asking aspiring practicing attorneys about mental health and substance abuse issues.

Nearly three quarters (74 percent) of law school graduates say state bar examiners should not be able to ask students on their bar exam application if they’ve ever been treated for a mental health issue. Many students opposed to this practice express strong opinions:

• “I believe large law firms and corporations would prefer new hires that do not suffer from these issues. This would exacerbate the existing stigma against mental health problems within the profession…We do need to discuss mental health within the profession, however I do not believe that the place for discussions of mental health should be in the certification process.”
• “It is of no consequence what a person’s mental health state is, especially if they are seeking treatment and are functional. It is a personal matter and if it does actually impede the attorney’s ability to practice, it will show in the work.”
• Unless there is an incentive to disclose mental health, such as a time accommodation, then no, not anyone’s business. Sad to see so many students and practicing attorneys suffering with addiction and mental illness; something needs to change.”

Earlier this year, the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners decided to no longer ask aspiring practicing lawyers to disclose mental health treatment on their application.

Sixty-one percent of law school said that state bar examiners should not be able to ask students on their bar exam application if they’ve ever been treated for an addiction issue. Those in opposition cited both practical and privacy issues:

• “The profession absolutely needs to address the problem. However, screening people with issues from entering the profession is not the way to combat these problems.”
• “While I do not condone the use of drugs, the state should mind its own business until the drug addiction becomes an actual problem in the legal profession.”
• “How on earth could you prove it either way? Someone lies, and they show signs of addiction later, how can you prove they didn’t disclose? What good would it do, except for catching a few people with addiction issues who are honest.”

“Law school graduates overwhelmingly believe that asking applicants about their mental health or past substance abuse challenges is irrelevant to the job of being a lawyer. Attitudes toward these issues are evolving and we think it’s largely generational. A decade ago, these percentages in opposition might have been much lower,” added Rice.

For more information about Kaplan’s survey or to schedule an interview, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

*Based on the results of Kaplan Bar Review e-survey conducted between February and March 2019 of 303 law school graduates who took a Kaplan bar preparation course.

About Kaplan Bar Review

Kaplan Bar Review (www.kaplanbarreview.com) offers a robust suite of personalized onsite, live online and on-demand offerings, as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, for the bar exam in 51 jurisdictions (all 50 states and Washington, DC), including state-specific bar exams and the Uniform Bar Examination. Kaplan Bar Review also offers supplemental preparation for the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE). Additionally, Kaplan’s Excellence Program provides law schools with learning tools, skill support, and assessments to help their students succeed at every stage of their legal education, from admissions to through licensing. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry.

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The Daily Illini (University of Illinois): “Study reveals importance of demographic representation in medical profession”

The Daily Tar Heel (University of North Carolina): “Med schools are unsure of affirmative action, but students are sure they want diversity”

The Winston-Salem Journal: “The ultimate bar passage rates for N.C. law schools”

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @metsgroupsales, @KapTestNews, @KaplanSATACT, @ACTStudent

New York, NY (April 24, 2019) — To help high school students across the New York City area prepare for the college admissions process, the New York Mets will be hosting College Prep Day on Thursday, May 2 at Citi Field, partnering with Kaplan Test Prep and ACT, makers of the ACT® college admissions exam. Kaplan, which began partnering with the Mets for College Prep Day in 2018, will provide guidance and insights to thousands of students on the path to college and how to be strong applicants. ACT will be on hand to discuss why the exam that was taken by 1.9 million students last year might be the right one for them.

As part of College Prep Day, experts from Kaplan Test Prep and ACT will also offer guidance for college applicants navigating the admissions process on topics including how to decide which college admissions test is right for them and how to maximize their potential for scholarships. Also, students will enjoy video spots featuring Mets players describing their college experiences. Additionally, Kaplan and ACT will provide an opportunity to secure a scholarship for a test prep course, along with a fee waiver to take the ACT. Following the informative program, the event continues with exhibitors on the Mets’ Field Level Concourse where students can meet with admissions advisors who will answer questions and provide information about their colleges and universities. Attendees will then enjoy a day at the ballpark to watch the Mets take on the Cincinnati Reds.

“Kaplan is thrilled to again partner with the New York Mets to inspire New York-area students to bring their A game to the college admissions process and help them succeed. Last year’s College Prep event was a tremendous success and we are looking forward to another fantastic day,” said Jeff Thomas, executive director of admissions programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “The Mets, Kaplan, and ACT all share decades of promoting educational programs and our goal with College Prep Day is to leave attendees feeling better informed, more prepared, and more confident than ever.”

While this is ACT’s first time participating in College Prep Day, for the past few years it has been partnering with Kaplan to offer free, live online prep to test takers who qualify for a test fee waiver.

“College Prep Day at Citi Field is an exciting way for students to learn how ACT can help them along their path to college and career success,” said Suzana Delanghe, ACT chief commercial officer. “We are so pleased to be joining the Mets and Kaplan for this special event, and we’re looking forward to expanding access to higher education and helping kids pursue their dreams.”

The event will commence at 11 AM with the on field presentation by Kaplan and ACT experts, followed by the college fair with exhibitors. If you are a NYC area student who’d like to attend, please contact your school’s guidance office to encourage them to participate. Schools that would like to participate can contact Mark Phillips at mphil@nymets.com or 718.565.4350.

ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc.

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 200 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Among those tests are the SAT®, PSAT®, ACT®, GRE®, GMAT®, LSAT®, MCAT®, NCLEX-RN® and bar exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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The Daily Bruin (University of California, Los Angeles): “Pre-med students overwhelmingly want greater diversity, study shows”

SoFi: “Social Media and College: Does it Help or Hurt”

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

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

New York, NY (April 15, 2019) — A new Kaplan Test Prep survey of over 245 pre-med students finds that 80 percent say it’s important for the American medical profession to be more demographically representative of the general patient population*. This strong show of support for diversity comes on the heels of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s decision to no longer consider race or national origin as a factor in admissions, as part of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. This caps a 14-year investigation that began in 2004 when a complaint was filed against Texas Tech’s medical school’s admissions practices.

Students who are in favor of a more demographically representative medical profession shared the following opinions:

• “While it is certainly possible to be empathetic and ‘tuned in’ to your patients despite differences in language, culture, etc., it is important for patients to feel like they can relate to and trust their clinician…If American clinicians were more demographically representative of the population as a whole, patients would likely find it easier to connect with a care provider they are most comfortable with.”
• “I’m not a fan of the oftentimes patriarchal nature of medicine, and I really believe that having more medical professionals who are like the general patient population rather than the already privileged subset of the United States will foster a better doctor-patient understanding and relationship.”
• “I think it would be best if medicine was representative of the general population, but at the very least, doctors should be culturally competent and trained in unconscious bias.”

One student who was not supportive of more diversity in the medical profession shared, “I think if you have the drive and passion for medicine it should not matter your race.” Another added, “I think that qualifications and ability should be more important than what someone looks like.”

In a separate Kaplan survey, medical school admissions officers largely gave medical schools as a whole above average marks on the topic of diversity, in relation to recruiting and admitting students from different backgrounds**: 18 percent awarded an “A” grade, while 35 percent gave themselves a “B.” Thirty-four percent gave medical schools a “C,” while 2 percent assigned a “D” and 3 percent an “F.”

This comes at a time when the number of black men entering medical school remains slightly down compared to 1978 (1,410 in 1978 compared to 1,337 in 2015), even as the number of black men earning college degrees has grown. Of the medical schools surveyed, 82 percent say they are concerned about this trend and more than half (55 percent) say their school has a specific program to help recruit more African American male students. The most often cited initiative was pipeline programs with colleges and high schools to nurture an interest in medicine as early as possible.

To help in these efforts to diversify the medical profession, Kaplan Test Prep partners with over one hundred such pipeline programs — both at medical schools and colleges — across the United States.

“The topic of diversity in medical school and the medical professional remains an important conversation to have, particularly as a time when not only the demographics of the United States are changing, but also the demographics of those who have access to healthcare,” said Petros Minasi, director of pre-medical programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “Our students overwhelmingly think more diversity in the medical profession is important, not only from the standpoint of equality, but also because they think it will benefit individual doctor-patient relationships. As the role of affirmative action in the medical school admissions process evolves, we’ll be tracking admissions officers’ and pre-med students’ views on the issue. We are sure they’ll have much to say.”

For more information about Kaplan’s survey or to schedule an interview, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

MCAT® is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Test names are the property of the respective trademark holders, none of whom endorse or are affiliated with Kaplan.

*The e-survey was conducted in January 2019, and included responses by 245 pre-med students who prepared for the MCAT® with a Kaplan course.

**The survey was conducted by phone between August and September 2018 of admissions officers at 67 accredited medical schools in the United States and Canada.

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 200 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Among those tests are the SAT®, PSAT®, ACT®, GRE®, GMAT®, LSAT®, MCAT®, NCLEX-RN® and bar exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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