Kaplan Test Prep’s 2017 research found that law schools are increasingly warming up to the idea of allowing applicants to take the GRE instead of the LSAT for admissions. One-quarter of law schools plan to implement this admissions policy, up from just 14 percent in our 2016 survey. Check out all the results of Kaplan Test Prep’s 2017 Survey of Law School Admissions Officers Survey in this two-page downloadable PDF.

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, @KaplanMCATPrep

New York, NY (November 27, 2017) — Getting into medical school is about as difficult as it’s been in recent memory. Just 39.7 percent of MD applicants earned a seat in the 2016 cycle, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, marking it the second consecutive cycle where the admit rate fell below 40 percent. Kaplan Test Prep recently conducted its 12th annual survey of medical school admissions officers across North America to find out what most helps and hurts aspiring medical students*. Among the findings:

• MCAT Score Remains Top Factor: More than half of medical school admissions officers (54 percent) say a low MCAT score is “the biggest application dealbreaker,” up from 46 percent in Kaplan’s 2016 survey. A low undergraduate GPA trailed at 36 percent. Many admissions officers surveyed stressed their admissions approach was “holistic,” meaning they look at everything a candidate submits.
• Apply Early: Seventy percent of admissions officers say that students who apply early in the admissions cycle (June or July) have an admissions advantage over those who don’t, with 41 percent characterizing that advantage as “significant.” As one admissions officer shared, “People who apply earlier are usually stronger candidates because they have their stuff together.” Tip: To make sure you’re ready to apply early, take the MCAT by May, as it takes approximately 30 days after each test date before scores are released.
• Politics-Free Zone: A majority (53 percent) of medical school admissions officers say it’s better overall for applicants to avoid discussing politics in their personal statements and interviews. “It’s good to be outspoken, but you have to realize that you’re dealing with subjective views of the interviewer too. It’s risky,” noted one admissions officer.
• Social Media Matters: Nearly one in three (29 percent) admissions officers say they’ve visited applicants’ social media profiles to learn more about them. Of that 29 percent, a majority found something that negatively impacted an applicant’s admissions chances, citing “lewd images” and “unprofessional behavior” as examples.

“Kaplan Test Prep has been surveying medical schools across North America every year for over 10 years. The information we gather directly from admissions officers has helped hundreds of thousands of prospective doctors navigate the application process,” said Eric Chiu, executive director of pre-health programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “In what remains a hypercompetitive admissions landscape, pre-meds should work diligently on putting together the strongest application possible, starting with a strong MCAT score, high GPA, a compelling personal statement, and persuasive letters of recommendation. And by all means, if you can apply early, do so, as admissions officers say it can provide you a boost.”

For a one-minute video on the study, please click here.

To schedule an interview about Kaplan’s survey results, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

*The survey was conducted by phone between September and October 2017 of 66 accredited medical schools across the United States and Canada.

MCAT® is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges. The trademark holders are neither endorsed by nor affiliated with Kaplan or this study. 

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. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

                                                                                             # # #

Above The Law: “5 Percent Of Law Schools Now Accept GRE”

JD Journal: “BYU Law Will Accept the GRE for Fall 2018 Students”

The Daily Universe (Brigham Young University): “BYU Law accepting GRE scores beginning fall 2018″

Greedy Associates:”GRE Law Schools on the Rise”

The PIE News: “US: Survey of admissions staff shows enrolment outlook varies widely”

Bloomberg: “Say Hello to the Flexible MBA”

Law.com: “Texas A&M Law School Joins the GRE Crowd”

Above The Law: “GRE Plans For Law School Domination Head South”

JD Journal: “Wake Forest University School of Law Will Accept the GRE”

Above The Law: “GRE Claims Another New York Law School”

The New York Law Journal: “St. John’s University School of Law Announces It Will Take GRE Scores”

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, @KaplanSATACT

New York, NY (November 7, 2017) – According to a recent Kaplan Test Prep survey of nearly 400 admissions officers from a diverse range of colleges and universities across the United States, 63 percent are concerned about a decline in international applicants becoming a nationwide trend*. But while admissions officers are concerned about what the decline would mean for higher education in general, only 32 percent anticipate a decline in the number of international applicants to their own schools.

College admissions officers who expressed concern about the larger possible trend of fewer international students shared the following anecdotes, citing both cultural and financial reasons:

• “I think it’s more of a loss for all prospective students, not just international students. Students who would have had the opportunity to learn from different students with different upbringings and cultural backgrounds won’t have this.”
• “International students provide a different kind of atmosphere on campus. Many of our U.S.-born students can’t travel overseas, so this is a way for them to meet others from diverse backgrounds.”
• “We survive on this program. We rely on these students coming into the country.”
• “It’s something we worry about. We want students to come without barriers.”

Admissions officers unconcerned about fewer international students cited shared the following:

• “The safety of our country is more important than international students coming to get an education.”
• “Not concerned. I think there are a lot of colleges who utilize international students just for full paying tuition and not for the right reasons.”
• “A lot of the major universities have campuses around the world. Even if there were a decline of international students coming directly to campuses in America, any school that has campuses outside of America will not notice a difference because students will just go to that campus.”
• “There’s a separation between political climate and the education system in the U.S. We don’t think think one will influence the other.”

Additionally, more than one quarter of admissions officers (28 percent) say they are concerned about their school losing American and international students to colleges in Canada and elsewhere.

According to the Institute of International Education, a nonprofit that promotes international education and education access around the globe, just over 1 million international students were studying in the United States in the 2015-2016 academic year, a record high and seven percent increase over the previous year. The largest sources of international students are China, India, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Canada. While international students represent just 5 percent of all students in the United States, some top colleges and universities boast of international populations of 15 percent or higher.

“A majority of colleges are concerned that the current environment is causing a decline in applications from international students across the country, though interestingly, only a third anticipate the decline happening at their own schools. Colleges recognize that today’s political climate presents unique challenges and are likely adjusting their recruitment strategies accordingly,” says Yariv Alpher, Executive Director, Market Research, Kaplan Test Prep. “But notably, there is a broad range of opinions across schools nationwide, which represent the diversity of views that most colleges seek to cultivate on their own campuses.”

For a short video illustrating the survey results, visit here.

To schedule an interview about Kaplan’s survey results, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

*For the 2017 survey, 392 admissions officers from of the nation’s top national, regional and liberal arts colleges and universities – as compiled by U.S. News & World Report — were polled by telephone between July and August 2017.

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. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

                                                                                       # # #

LawCrossing: “4 Reasons Why Being A Lawyer Is Still A Better Job Than A Massage Therapist”