The Daily Targum (Rutgers University): “Online version of LSAT to be offered starting next year”
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, @KaplanLSATPrep
The LSAT is switching to a digital format next summer. Find out how this may affect you in the law school admissions process.
New York, NY (October 3, 2018) — The Law School Admission Council made two announcements today, with the stated goal of modernizing law school admissions and easing the process of applying to law school for students taking the LSAT next summer and beyond. First, LSAC announced the transition to a digital tablet-based testing format from its current paper-and-pencil format, beginning in July 2019. The exam’s content and length will remain the same.
LSAC also announced an expansion from six to nine testing dates for the 2019-2020 testing year, giving more options for students to test when they are ready.
The following statement about what this means for pre-law students in the short-term comes from Jeff Thomas, executive director of pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep:
“Transitioning the LSAT from a paper-and-pencil format to a digital format will be one of the biggest changes to hit the exam in its 70-year history. Because there is always some uncertainty with a test change of this magnitude, our advice is to make every reasonable effort to test by June 2019, but no later than July 2019. Here’s why: June 2019 will be the last administration of the LSAT in which all students can take the exam in its current paper-and-pencil format, the format they know and have many existing practice tools; in July, the test maker will assign some test takers pencil-and-paper tests, while some will be assigned digital tests. The choice will not belong to the student. However, uniquely, and just in July, test-takers will have a one-time opportunity to cancel their scores. Come September 2019 though, every test taker will take the exam in its new digital format, on a tablet, with no option to cancel after receiving a score. While change is not always easy, digital testing should allow for a more consistent test-taking experience for students, and should allow scores to be in students’ hands faster, which are both positive developments.
“Kaplan Test Prep will of course provide ample digital LSAT preparation tools and practice opportunities for those who do end up sitting for a digital LSAT administration.
“More broadly, the LSAT’s move to a digital format follows the trend that we have seen among all major graduate-level admissions exams over the past decade. The admissions exams for graduate school, business school and medical school have all already made the switch from paper-and-pencil. The ACT® college admissions exam has also begun piloting the test to some students in a digital format, making the SAT® the last major exam in paper-and-pencil format, for now. While students have been quick to embrace everything digital in their personal lives, now they will have no choice but to adapt to it on their educational tracks too if they plan to earn a graduate-level degree, which may take some getting used to.”
For more information about the test change, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.
All test names are registered trademarks of their respective owners. None are affiliated with or endorse this specific message.
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 100 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.
# # #
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: @KapTestNews, @KaplanLSATPrep, @KaplanGMATPrep
The percentages of admissions officers at America’s law schools and business schools who say they have looked at applicants’ social media pages to learn more about them has hit record highs.
New York, NY (October 3, 2018) — The percentages of admissions officers at America’s law schools* and business schools** who say they have looked at applicants’ social media pages like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn to learn more about them has hit record highs, at 56 percent and 40 percent, respectively, according to new Kaplan Test Prep research. This compares to Kaplan’s surveys from 2011 — the first year the company began asking this question — when just 37 percent of law school admissions officers and 22 percent of business school admissions officers examined social media posts.
Notably, the actual occurrence of applicant social media profile checks is significantly lower than the belief that its use is acceptable practice in admissions. Kaplan’s surveys found that 91 percent of law school admissions officers and 71 percent of business school admissions officers say visiting applicants’ social media profiles is “fair game,” as opposed to “an invasion or privacy and shouldn’t be done.”
Kaplan’s surveys also find that among admissions officers who do visit applicants’ social media pages, the prevalence of finding something that hurt their chances of getting in is much higher among law schools than business schools, at 66 percent and 36 percent, respectively. Law school admissions officers most cited things like “inappropriate photos” where applicants were drinking underage or engaged in “unsavory activities.” Other mentioned applicants who posted something racist or posting about undisclosed criminal activity. Business school admissions officers most cited applicants who misrepresented their professional experience.
On the flip side, 29 percent of law school admissions say that what they found has helped applicants’ admissions chances, compared to a much larger 46 percent for business school admissions officers. Both groups cited discovering community service activities unmentioned in the traditional application as aiding applicants’ admissions chances.
“An overarching theme to the entire law school application is whether a prospective student is able to exercise good judgment; an applicant’s digital trail can be an indicator of whether or not he or she possesses this quality,” said Jeff Thomas, executive director of pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “The legal community takes ethics among its members seriously. You not only have to pass a state bar’s Character and Fitness test to be admitted, but even afterward, unethical behavior can lead to your disbarment, stripping you of your ability to practice. Not many other professions have that kind of enforceable code of conduct, so it’s natural that law schools do scrupulous research into their applicants.”
Noah Teitelbaum, Kaplan Test Prep’s executive director of pre-business programs, added, “While what you post on social media is not nearly as important as the traditional factors in admissions process like your standardized test scores and GPA, always be mindful of what you post. Your social media footprint can potentially give you an admissions boost, but in some cases it can and will be used against you. Share wisely.”
*Based on the results of a Kaplan Test Prep survey conducted by phone in August 2018-September 2018 of 117 law schools, including 28 of the top 50, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
**Based on the results of a Kaplan Test Prep survey conducted by phone in August 2018-September 2018 of 162 business schools, including 34 of the top 100, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
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 best in class interactive livestreaming capabilities. 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 100 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®, AP®, GRE®, GMAT®, LSAT®, MCAT®, NCLEX-RN® and bar exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.
# # #
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: @KapTestNews, @Naviance
New York, NY (September 25, 2018) — Kaplan, a premier provider of educational resources and livestreaming learning services, and Hobsons, a leader in education technology and college, career and life readiness, today announced a partnership to provide free and low-cost interactive livestreaming and video on-demand programs covering areas including test preparation, social and emotional learning (SEL), middle to high school transition, and preparing for life after high school. As part of the agreement, Kaplan becomes Hobsons’ exclusive partner for livestreaming and video on-demand learning via Hobsons’ widely-used Naviance ecosystem, which helps navigate and guide millions of students to be more ready for college, career and life after high school in collaboration with their support network of parents, counselors, teachers and administrators.
In the months ahead, Kaplan and Hobsons will offer Naviance users a series of free interactive livestreaming sessions aligned to the industry College, Career and Life Readiness (CCLR) Framework, which outlines the competencies today’s students need to succeed in life. The Kaplan hosted, expert-led, interactive seminars will cover an array of topics to help students with test preparation, adjust to the demands of high school, manage stress, and write compelling college admissions essays. These seminars will also help inform parents about digital literacy and navigating the financial aid process. Beginning in 2019, Naviance users will have access to an even wider assortment of Kaplan’s interactive livestreaming learning offerings.
“Kaplan and Hobsons both know that there are so many touch points throughout middle and high school where students and parents are looking for expertise and guidance. We’re thrilled to make our programs accessible to millions of Naviance users,” said Lee Weiss, Vice President, Kaplan. “In speaking with hundreds of school counselors, teachers, and administrators around the country, we confirmed first hand that it’s important for students to not only have outstanding, score-improving test prep, but also encouragement and expert advice to help them with guidance through their high school experience as they explore college and career pathing. Users are so excited for the community, interactivity, and real-time engagement that interactive livestreaming provides in these spaces. This partnership will provide access to a plethora of learning programming for students and parents at scale.”
“At Hobsons, we are committed to providing our Naviance users with dynamic learning resources and solutions geared at enhancing students’ college, career and life skills,” said Monica Morrell, General Manager of Naviance by Hobsons. “We are thrilled to partner with Kaplan in offering Naviance users exclusive access to free and low-cost livestreaming and video on-demand programs that are highly engaging and directly align to the industry College, Career and Life Readiness (CCLR) Framework. Through this partnership we are addressing the most frequently requested topics from our clients to better support their students as they transition from middle to high school and prepare for life after graduation.”
Visit https://www.naviance.com/kaplan to learn more.
Test names are the property of the respective trademark holders, none of whom endorse this program.
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 best in class interactive livestreaming capabilities. 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 100 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®, AP®, GRE®, GMAT®, LSAT®, MCAT®, NCLEX-RN® and bar exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.
About Hobsons
A leader in education technology, Hobsons helps more than 15 million students to identify their strengths, explore careers, match to best-fit educational opportunities, create academic plans, and reach their education and life goals. More than 13,000 K-12 and higher education institutions partner with Hobsons and leverage our expertise and our solutions — Naviance, Intersect, and Starfish — to improve college and career readiness, college recruiting and admissions, and higher education student success to support millions of students around the world.
# # #