Kaplan/Newsweek 2007 'How To Get Into College' Guide Names 25 Schools as America's 'New Ivies'

NEW YORK, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- For today's college bound student, an already-daunting admissions landscape has only intensified in scope, with record-breaking application numbers (an estimated 2 million) and unprecedented competition to get into the top schools. Furthermore, today's teens face not only the traditional challenges of financial aid confusion, early application jargon, and high-stakes admissions tests -- but also new issues such as the growing gap year phenomenon, the advent of social-networking websites and controversy over SAT mis-scoring.

Combining the leadership of nearly 70 years of college admissions expertise with the journalistic excellence of the nation's top newsweekly magazine, the 2007 Kaplan/Newsweek "How to Get into College Guide" -- on sale August 21st -- provides an in-depth guide to navigating the increasingly complex college admissions landscape. From guidance on the admissions process (How important are teachers' letters of recommendation? Is a rejection negotiable?) to insight on school trends (Why are student athletes increasingly hanging up their spikes? What are the "Scottish Ivies"?) to current student perspectives on campus (What goes into the decision to transfer? What do students do with high school relationships?), the 2007 Kaplan/Newsweek College Guide is designed to help college bound families by illuminating issues and opportunities that line the road ahead.

This year's guide also introduces the "New Ivies": colleges whose first-rate academic programs, combined with a population boom in top students, have fueled their rise in stature and favor among the nation's top students, administrators and faculty -- edging them to a competitive status rivaling the Ivy League:

  * Boston College, Boston, MA
  * Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME
  * Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
  * Claremont Colleges: Pomona and Harvey Mudd, Claremont, CA
  * Colby College, Waterville, ME
  * Colgate University, Hamilton, NY
  * Davidson College, Davidson, NC
  * Emory University, Atlanta, GA
  * Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
  * Macalester College, St. Paul, MN
  * New York University, New York, NY
  * Notre Dame University, Notre Dame, IN
  * Olin College of Engineering, Needham, MA
  * Reed College, Portland, OR
  * Rice University, Houston, TX
  * Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
  * Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
  * Tufts University, Medford, MA
  * University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
  * University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
  * University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  * University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
  * University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
  * Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
  * Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO

In addition to the "New Ivies" list, the guide also contains invaluable admissions information revealed in such articles as "Test Wars: SAT vs. ACT," which explores the pros and cons of standardized tests and questions whether in light of the mistakes in scoring the SAT last year the ACT may take the lead, and "How I'll Read Your Essay" in which the admissions dean from Pomona College explains what he's looking for when he reads an admissions essay, "Cash or Check," which helps students and parents understand what options they have to pay for college and what considerations should be taken both while applying and after you are accepted, and "Put your Best Face Forward" discusses the potential dangers of posting indiscreet material on popular social-networking sites such as facebook.com.

The 264-page guide will be available in bookstores and can also ordered on Kaplan's Web site (http://www.kaptest.com/store/) or by calling toll-free 1-800-KAP-ITEM.

Established in 1938, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions (http://www.kaptest.com/) is the world leader in test preparation and has served millions of students over the past 68 years. With 4,000 classroom locations worldwide, a comprehensive menu of online offerings and a complete array of books and software, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 80 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college, and graduate school as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also offers private tutoring and college and graduate admissions consulting services, as well as after-school learning programs through its SCORE! centers. Additionally, the division's K12 Learning Services unit is a leading nationwide provider of a broad range of academic intervention and support programs for school districts.

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 19 bureaus located in the U.S. and around the globe. Newsweek has a worldwide circulation of more than 4 million and a total readership of more than 22 million. The magazine appears in more than 190 countries. Newsweek magazine has won more National Magazine Awards than any other newsweekly. Kaplan and Newsweek are subsidiaries of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO) .

  Press contacts:  Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com,
                    212-453-7538
                   Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212-453-7571