Bridges.com Inc. (TSE:BIT) and Xap Corporation have entered into an agreement that will make post-secondary admissions and financial assistance application services more accessible and easier to use by college- and university-bound students.

With online application services, leading edge technologies and exemplary privacy policies for youth, Bridges.com and Xap will make the transition from high school to post-secondary institutions much easier for students and their families. Bridges.com Inc., the leading provider of career services to North American high schools, will incorporate Xap's online application services for U.S. high school students into its CX Online and eChoices platforms. Xap Corporation of Los Angeles, California, the leading developer of online student services systems, will provide the application technologies.

Bridges.com and Xap each significantly expand their business potential with the signing of this agreement. By connecting students from schools using Bridges.com products with online application services and a robust financial aid module provided by Xap Corporation, the Bridges.com-Xap partnership will have the most efficient platform from which to offer student loans. The companies expect to be able to facilitate the completion of a large volume of student loans on behalf of allied financial institutions and derive revenue for their loan initiation efforts.

"This is the first example of Bridges.com utilizing its market share in secondary schools to launch progressive new business opportunities," said Doug Manning, President and CEO of Bridges.com. "Most young people need financial assistance to complete the post-secondary programs related to their career goals. This makes it easier for them to pursue their career successfully."

Allen Firstenberg, President and CEO of Xap commented that, "We are most pleased to have the opportunity to work with Bridges.com, the premier company in career planning. The combination of career planning, college exploration, admissions and financial aid will provide students and their families the full complement of tools they need for a successful education."

More than a million graduating seniors in over 6,000 U.S. high schools will have access to Bridges.com's co-branded online application services for post-secondary education and financial assistance. According to the College Board, student aid awards in the U.S. topped $64 billion in 1998-1999, an increase of four percent over the preceding year (after adjusting for inflation). Few students can afford to pay for college without some form of education financing. The typical undergraduate student completes college with US$16,500 in student loans. Graduate and professional students borrow even more.

Bridges.com and Xap will also explore other innovative student application services that enable young people to begin implementing their career/life plans.

About Bridges.com

Bridges is a leading provider of products and services used by schools, universities and agencies to help people achieve education and career success. Over 13,500 schools and agencies use Bridges' products and services. Bridges' planning and exploration products give students and adults in transition reasons to achieve more -- exploring all their options, setting goals and making plans to get there.

The company's two key products, CX Online and Choices, are currently sold on a subscription basis to over 10,000 North American middle and secondary schools (28 per cent of the market). As a leading provider of career information, Bridges.com's resources -- CX Online, Choices and several new consumer services - set the standard across the United States and Canada.

About Xap Corporation

Xap Corporation is the leading developer of online student services systems for associations of colleges and universities across the United States. In September 2000, Xap launched its national student services site at www.xap.com to give students a free resource to use throughout the college planning, selection, application and financial aid processes.

The company also provides comprehensive student services on a regional basis under the brand "Mentor," with the online Mentor system serving as the students' counsellor and guide. Xap has become the clear market leader in this field with 37 Mentor systems currently under contract, representing 1,179 post-secondary institutions.

For further information about Bridges.com

For further information about Xap Corporation