Today, the Ad Council, Viacom and Get Schooled launched a new series of public service announcements (PSAs) to encourage students to seek out the information they need to apply to and succeed at college. The new PSAs urge teens nationwide to visit GetSchooled.com to access the free college preparation tools, information and activities to help guide them through the application and financial aid process.

In conjunction with the nationwide PSA launch, Viacom, the Ad Council and Get Schooled have released new research data from a survey of high school students on their feelings and concerns about going to college and the application process. 72 percent of students are “very worried” about paying for college – the biggest concern among prospective students – and only one in three have submitted scholarship applications.

The new campaign includes TV and digital PSAs created by Viacom Velocity. The PSAs, featuring Phil LaMarr and Ron Funches, offer students an ever present and free resource in GetSchooled.com that can guide them through the college application and financial aid process. The spots encourage teens to “Get Guidance. Get Informed. Get Schooled,” where they can track attendance, receive homework help and find the best digital resources for college applications. The goal of the campaign is to prepare students for making the jump to college, something that 71 percent of students consider “very stressful”. College preparation, at 71 percent, is by far the most stressful issue weighing on high school students. This compares to relatively low levels of reported stress around common teen issues such as dating (19 percent), high school athletics (16 percent) and drama with friends (15 percent).

“While the vast majority of students say they hope to go to college, it’s concerning that only half feel prepared to do so,” said Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council. “We hope that this new campaign entertains and motivates teens as they navigate the college application process that can have a major impact on their future.”

“Viacom’s goal in co-founding the Get Schooled Foundation was to create a commitment to continuing education that will prepare young people today to become skilled and capable workers and citizens tomorrow,” said Carl Folta, Viacom Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications and Social Responsibility. “We are proud that Get Schooled, working once again with our longtime partner the Ad Council, is continuing to connect teens to the engaging and relevant tools they so clearly need to succeed.”

The PSAs will run on select Viacom networks, and will be distributed to media outlets nationwide by the Ad Council this week where the spots will run in donated time and space.

Since the founding of Get Schooled in 2010, the organization has reached millions and engaged hundreds of thousands of students – motivating and delivering a unique mix of entertainment and value to teens across the nation.

For more information visit GetSchooled.com or follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter.

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Get Schooled
Get Schooled is a non-profit organization that directly engages and motivates students to graduate from high school and succeed in college. Get Schooled is the premiere education brand for young people - linking students with high quality, cutting edge resources and tools they need to succeed. Get Schooled has developed a track record of success because it engages with young Americans using the media, technology and popular culture that is an integral part of their lives. Get Schooled's work is boosted by partners like Viacom and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In its first two years, Get Schooled has engaged more than 2.5 million young Americans and has built a network of more than 325 middle and high schools.

The Ad Council
The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshaling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has affected, and continues to affect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit www.adcouncil.org, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or view our PSAs on YouTube.

Viacom
Viacom is home to premier global media brands that create compelling television programs, motion pictures, short-form video, apps, games, consumer products, social media and other entertainment content for audiences in 180 countries. Viacom's media networks, including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Spike, BET, CMT,TV Land, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., Channel 5 (UK), Logo, Nicktoons, TeenNick and Paramount Channel, reach a cumulative 3.4 billion television subscribers worldwide. Paramount Pictures is a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.

For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/viacom.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Ad Council
Kat English
212-984-1997
[email protected]

Finn Partners
David Lieberson
212-593-5894
[email protected]