Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Kevin Newton, the founder of An Education Abroad, a company that helps Americans who are interested in earning a degree outside of the United States. Since 2016, he and his wife have helped place dozens of students at top universities around the world. Kevin fell in love with everything that international education has to offer while studying for his MA in Islamic and Chinese Law at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies. Kevin previously appeared on this podcast in episode 57 to discuss Attending University in Europe. Find Kevin at http://www.aneducationabroad.com/. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Aly Beaumont, the founder of Admissions Village, a family focused, affordable, one-on-one college guidance consultancy. Aly is deeply committed to making the college admissions process less stressful, and her success with this objective can be measured by both the growing number of referrals she receives as well as the repeat business of family siblings. Aly is also a founder and advisor to The College T, a website connecting high school students with college students and recent graduates so that first-hand information and experiences can be shared. Aly is a graduate of Tufts University where she majored in History with a concentration in Modern Women and African American History and was captain of the Equestrian Team. She lives in Wilton, CT with her husband Perry, their two dogs Buddy and Buzz, and their three sons. Two of their sons are currently in college at The University of St. Andrews in Scotland and Keyon College in Ohio, and one graduated from Santa Clara University. Aly is an Associate Member of IECA and she has her certificate as an Independent Educational Consultant from the University of California Irvine. Aly previously appeared on this podcast in episode 212 to discuss Preparation For Highly Selective College Admissions. Find Aly at https://www.admissionsvillage.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Steven Mercer, Ed.D., the founder of Mercer Educational Consulting, a private college counseling practice in Los Angeles, CA. He is an experienced educator with an extensive background in selective college admission, counseling, teaching, and academic and non-profit leadership. Prior to founding Mercer Educational Consulting he was an admission officer at the University of Southern California. In addition to working with students one-on-one, Dr. Mercer is an Adjunct Faculty in the on-line College Counseling Certificate program at UCSD Extension and works as a consultant to colleges and universities on matters related to college admission. Dr. Mercer has a BA in philosophy from the University of California, Santa Cruz, a MA in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College and an Ed.D.in Educational Leadership from UCLA. Steve first appeared on this podcast in episode 156 to discuss Transparency in College Admissions. Find Steven at https://mercered.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Immigrating from Korea in her youth, Julie Kim is a graduate of USC and Harvard (Ed.M). She founded Julie Kim Consulting after years of working in larger consulting firms, hoping to establish a new way of approaching college admissions. Julie offers a unique perspective as the first in her family to navigate the American college admissions process and works with students of similar backgrounds to develop their own stand-out factor among thousands of other Ivy League applicants. Julie is the host of the "Demystifying College Admissions" podcast and the "Conquer College Admissions" YouTube channel. Julie previously appeared on this podcast in episode 196 to discuss Creating a Passion Project. Find Julie at https://juliekimconsulting.com/masterclass. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Phil Black, the creator of PrepWell Academy, an unconventional approach to preparing high school students (and their parents) for the rigors of the college admissions process. His unique program is delivered online and focuses on the early preparation of students (freshman and sophomore year) interested in attending highly-selective colleges (e.g. Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, etc.), military service academies (e.g. Naval Academy, West Point, etc.), and those seeking athletic or ROTC scholarships. Over the years, Phil has built a record of unique accomplishments including Division I college athlete, Navy SEAL Officer, Goldman Sachs Investment Banker, bootstrap entrepreneur, 2X Shark Tank contestant, firefighter, husband, and father of four sons. He earned a bachelor's degree from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Phil previously appeared on this podcast in episode 162 to discuss High School Course Selection and Academic Rigor. Find Phil at prepwellacademy.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

While nearly all high schoolers arrive at the ACT able to read, their levels of mastery often seem spotty at best. How can test takers determine where their reading skills fall short? Amy and Mike invited educator Cody Eadie to review ACT Reading Reporting Categories. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the main ACT Reading Reporting Categories? What should students, parents, and educators know about ACT Reading? What are ACT Reading answer traps? Why is being a nonfiction reader so important for ACT Reading? What's new on the horizon for ACT Reading? MEET OUR GUEST Cody Eadie is a National Board-Certified English teacher at Harrison Central High School in Gulfport, Mississippi, where he has worked for nine years. His course curriculum includes Accelerated English, AP Language and Composition, and Dual Credit World Literature. Additionally, he oversees the AP Capstone program and serves as the Chair of the English Department. Cody began tutoring for the ACT six years ago and has enjoyed great success in that aspect, which led to the launching of his test prep business, Peerless Education. Cody also serves as an ACE trainer, predominantly focusing on reading and English. Find Cody at [email protected]. LINKS Reading Test Description for the ACT ACT Reporting Categories: READING & SCIENCE College Readiness Benchmarks The ACT is a Reading Test Visual Qualitative Information Sample Questions RELATED EPISODES DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAT AND ACT READING ACT ENGLISH REPORTING CATEGORIES WHAT SAT & ACT DIAGNOSTIC TESTS CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Tutoring at its best entails so much more than a mechanical transfer of information designed to improve a grade or score. An authentic student-teacher relationship depends on a commitment to establish rapport and personalize instruction. Amy and Mike invited educator Mary Thomas to share her insights on teaching teens. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why is it important to see teens as more than just students? What teaching methods do teens best respond to? Why is flexibility in planning so important? What characterizes a bottom-up approach to instruction? How can tutors make item and test review more effective? MEET OUR GUEST Mary Thomas, the founder of Test Prep Simplified, has implemented her 24 years of experience in education to create simple, proven, and unique ACT and SAT Prep programs. Mary has helped thousands of students from hundreds of schools via classroom, tutoring, test prep, consulting and curriculum development experiences. Mary ranked 4th in her high school graduating class and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Education from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. She has taught and tutored thousands of students ages 4 through 18 both nationally and internationally. As a mother of three teens, Mary is also personally invested and entrenched in the testing and college admissions process. As the creator of the Bright Futures Parent Page on Facebook with nearly 3,000 members, Mary helps families navigate and earn the popular Florida scholarship. You can earn more about Mary and her background, experience, and practice in her TEST PREP PROFILE from episode #172. Find Mary at www.testprepsimplified.com. LINKS What Really Motivates Students? RELATED EPISODES THE 4 P'S OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT USING STUDENT SELF-ANALYSIS TO IMPROVE INSTRUCTION HOW TEST PREP TUTORING SHOULD WORK ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Traditional beauty pageants typify the kind of competition where contestants do everything possible to be judged positively by a group of complete strangers. Unfortunately, selective college admissions can feel like this as well, unless applicants learn a better way. Amy and Mike invited educator Neill Seltzer to discuss how to avoid the pageant approach to college admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What's wrong with the beauty pageant approach to admissions? What are some eternal truths of college admissions? Why is an empowerment model of admissions the best approach? What is the dual role of a college admissions office? How is authenticity the secret to successful admissions? MEET OUR GUEST Neill Seltzer is the TestPrep Director for Mindprint Learning. Neill is a long-time test prep veteran who got his start as an SAT tutor in Hong Kong in the early 90s. Since then he has run test prep and tutoring companies around the country and internationally including stints as the COO of Test Services Inc, Chief Product Officer at Inspirica, CEO of Noodle Pros, and the National Content Director at The Princeton Review. Neill has written or contributed to over twenty books on standardized tests, built test prep apps, designed testing engines and score reports, trained hundreds of tutors, and tutored or taught thousands of students. He has a BA in English from Vassar and a Masters of Architecture from Pratt. Now, as a father of three, Neill is navigating the world of standardized tests in a whole new, eye-opening role: parent. Find Neill at [email protected]. LINKS 3 Underrated Facts About College Admissions RELATED EPISODES TRANSPARENCY IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH: SECRETS OF COLLEGE ADMISSIONS DO COLLEGES CARE ABOUT THEIR APPLICANTS? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Some challenges in life loom larger than others, fraught with the potential to immeasurably transform our lives for the better if only we can rise to the occasion. Sometimes, that challenge is a really important exam. Amy and Mike invited author and professor Zachary Howlett to explain big tests as fateful rites of passage. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the Gaokao, and what makes this test so important? What is the significance of describing an event as chancy and consequential? In what ways does a culture grow around very influential exams? Are there drawbacks to investing great importance into the results of a single day or week? How is society served by having big tests as fateful rites of passage? MEET OUR GUEST Zachary M. Howlett is an assistant professor of social sciences at Yale-NUS College at the National University of Singapore. He is a sociocultural anthropologist who researches education, rural-to-urban migration, and demographic change in China. Zachary is the author of Meritocracy and Its Discontents: Anxiety and the National College Entrance Exam in China (Cornell University Press, 2021). In Meritocracy and Its Discontents, he contends that the Gaokao serves as a pivotal rite of passage in which people strive to personify cultural virtues such as diligence, composure, filial devotion, and divine favor. Find Zachary at [email protected] or on Twitter at @howlett_zachary. LINKS Meritocracy and Its Discontents: Anxiety and the National College Entrance Exam in China The Future of Higher Education podcast episode with Zachary Is China's gaokao the world's toughest school exam? RELATED EPISODES DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER: WHAT TESTING TELLS US TRACKING COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS HOW TESTS DRIVE LEARNING ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

While we have no choice but to accept that life isn't always fair, we can--and should--do much better to make sure education is always equitable. Amy and Mike invited educator and author Michael Marlowe to explore what it means to level the playing field for students. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How is education in the United States like a pendulum? What hasn't changed in education in the 21st century? Can you create fairer standards by eliminating objective data? Who is disadvantaged by overemphasis on grades? How can we really level the playing field for students who are behind educationally? MEET OUR GUEST Michael Marlowe is a man of all trades within the supplemental education community. Michael spent the better part of 16 years with Kaplan before moving on to Huntington Learning Centers and then on to founding Math and English Consulting, now Succential. Michael is a writer with few peers. He has written materials for all graduate-level examinations, high school examinations, and high-stakes test examinations at all elementary levels. Michael's thirty-five-plus-year career has spanned the realms of teaching, writing, marketing, managing, and leading at local, state, and national levels. Michael started his career at Kaplan by handing out tapes in the tape library and finished 16 years later as the product director for their institutional sales division. At Huntington Learning Centers, Michael re-created their entire SAT program and started the rebuild of its SAT division. Finally, in January of 2000, Michael started his own SAT and College Consulting business. Mr. Marlowe has always advocated innovative approaches and equity in supplemental education. Since 2000, Michael has authored multiple SAT preparation books and conducted a variety of workshops on how to prepare for standardized examinations. Michael is an expert in creating in-school, duplicative programs, that foster capacity and growth in scores and learning. Finally, Michael has written 16 books to be used in courses for the SAT, ACT, CDOS, Accuplacer, TSI, Regents, and ALEKS exams in the last two exciting years. Find Michael at succential.com or [email protected]. LINKS Grade Inflation in High Schools (2005–2016) High School Grades: Higher and Higher RELATED EPISODES DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER: WHAT TESTING TELLS US THE HEIGHTENED NEED FOR TESTING IN 2021 IMPLICATIONS OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT DASHBOARD ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

While many teens shudder at the prospect of adding math as an extracurricular activity, others relish the opportunity to engage in quantitative competitions. And they should, because the path of a mathlete is rewarding on many levels! Amy and Mike invited educator Vida John to expound upon the connections between competitive math and testing. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the competitive math landscape for students in the U.S. How does the AMC test compare with an SAT, ACT, or AP exam? What math concepts are associated with math competitions? What makes a student right for competitive math (and vice versa)? How do students benefit from participating in math competitions? MEET OUR GUEST Vida John is a math coach and tutor, specializing in students who are preparing for math contests and studying curriculum published by Art of Problem Solving. Vida grew up in Iowa where she was a high school mathlete before studying at the Stanford School of Engineering and UCSF School of Medicine. After working in Silicon Valley for a medical start up, she homeschooled her 2 daughters with the intent of providing an excellent education, especially in math and science. She coached homeschooled math teams for 10 years, and with both daughters now attending Stanford, she continues to help students prepare for MathCounts, AMC, and other contests while building their problem-solving skills. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and runs workshops on using math contests to prepare for college-level work. Find Vida at vidajohntutoring.com. LINKS American Mathematics Competitions MATHCOUNTS Foundation Art of Problem Solving RELATED EPISODES MATHEMATICAL MATURITY & TEST SUCCESS HIGH IMPACT STRATEGIES TO HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED IN MATH CHOOSING HIGH SCHOOL MATH COURSES STRATEGICALLY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

In a system where selective colleges benefit from as many applicants as possible even as acceptance becomes rarer than ever, smart applicants need to do more than take public statements at face value. Prepare to delve into the data! Amy and Mike invited educator Shane Bybee to explain how to use the Common Data Set. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the Common Data Set? How and by whom can the Common Data Set be accessed? What kind of information does the CDS hold? Why should college applicants seek this information out? What are the limitations of the CDS? MEET OUR GUEST Shane Bybee of Bybee College Prep has spent over half his life teaching. Along the way, he has worked with thousands of different students teaching everything from remedial 7th grade English/Language Arts to Dual Credit English IV and AP Language and Composition and even remedial Algebra I. Every year, no matter the subject he taught, his students outperformed the campus average on standardized tests. He has written curriculum, presented topics at the state convention for English teachers, and created professional development sessions for colleagues and school districts. While earning a master's degree in Educational Leadership and getting certified as an administrator, he started Bybee College Prep. He did research into how schools could help more students achieve National Merit recognition. His research grew into a tutorial service that has helped dozens of students reach National Merit Semifinalist status. As an educator, he is certified to teach Gifted and Talented students and has completed courses for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. He has also served on test item review committees multiple times for the companies that write standardized tests and helped write online curriculum used by major test preparation companies. He understands what goes into crafting these tests. Shane is also the co-founder of Parent University and host of the Let's Talk College Podcast. Shane has appeared on this podcast in episode 25 to discuss When Gifted and Talented Students Struggle and again in episode 195 as the subject of a Test Prep Profile. Find Shane at [email protected]. LINKS Common Data Set Initiative Texas A&M Student Data and Reports College Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics RELATED EPISODES SHAPING AN ADMISSIONS CLASS THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN THE COLLEGE PROCESS HOW IECS AND TEST PREP PROFESSIONALS CAN WORK TOGETHER ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Higher education resembles most other goods and services in that price often increases with scarcity. In other contexts, though, the industry seems to defy economic principles. Amy and Mike invited editor Hilary Burns to explain the unexpected allure of the most expensive colleges. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Are college prices continuing to increase? What relationship cost and selectivity? Are the most expensive schools seeing more or fewer applicants? Why is the total cost of attendance still an important consideration? What surprising tier of college has also seen an increase in enrollment? MEET OUR GUEST Hilary Burns is the founding reporter and editor of higher-education newsletter, The National Observer: Higher Education Edition, which launched in September 2020. Burns' higher-education coverage is published in more than 40 business publications owned by American City Business Journals. Previously, Hilary served as associate editor of the Boston Business Journal, where she covered higher education in Greater Boston and managed the paper's special industry sections. She has also been in reporting roles for American Banker, The Charlotte Business Journal, and Bizwomen.com. Beyond those publications, her work has appeared in the Cape Cod Times, USAToday, Huffington Post, Charlotte Magazine, and USAirways Magazine. She has also been featured on local tv stations, NPR, and Bloomberg radio stations in Charlotte and Boston. Hilary graduated from Wake Forest University, where she was editor of the student newspaper the Old Gold & Black, and now lives in Cohasset, Massachusetts, with her husband and rescue dog. Find Hilary at [email protected]. LINKS Federal disclosures show the most expensive and most affordable colleges are the ones winning students The 25 most expensive colleges in the US show how 'the business model of higher education in the U.S. has been broken since 1635' Are 'best' rankings detrimental to the US higher-ed system? National Observer Higher Education Newsletter RELATED EPISODES THE PRICE YOU REALLY PAY FOR COLLEGE THE ULTIMATE COLLEGE STRESS TEST THE IMPACT OF NACAC ADMISSIONS CHANGES ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Most of us imagine that human intelligence is simply too complex and magical to measure in any reliable way. Why, then, do so many studies suggest otherwise? Amy and Mike invited data scientist Stanislaw Pstrokonski to explore the research regarding the validity of IQ tests. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What do IQ tests purport to evaluate? What other attributes also correlate with IQ? How much research has been done to support the findings of these tests? What measurable aspects of IQ can be improved or increased? If IQ tests are effective, why aren't they used more? MEET OUR GUEST Stanislaw "Staś" Pstrokonski is a data scientist in the education technology industry. He currently works for Busuu, where his role is to use machine learning to increase the speed and effectiveness at which users learn a foreign language. A former teacher and private tutor, Staś is also the host of Education Bookcast, a podcast which he has been running for over 5 years, in which he summarises, reviews, critiques, and contextualizes books and articles relating to education. Find Staś at Education Bookcast. LINKS Intelligence: All That Matters by Stuart Ritchie RELATED EPISODES DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER: WHAT TESTING TELLS US DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE LEVELS ON THE SAT AND ACT THE SCIENCE OF MEMORY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Like it or not, most major assessment and admissions tests will eventually migrate to a digital platform, some sooner than you'd think. This need not be a cause for despair. Amy and Mike invited educator Sonya Muthalia to describe the path to success in computer-based testing. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How do computerized tests differ from the paper-pencil version? What are the advantages and disadvantages of taking computer-based tests? How is the prep for computerized tests different from the paper-pencil version? What digital tools are often provided to improve the computer-based testing experience? Why should educators feel excited about an inevitable expansion of computer-based testing? MEET OUR GUEST Sonya Muthalia is the Founder and CEO of Informed Decisions, a leading Mumbai based test prep company that trains students for the SAT, ACT, GMAT and GRE. Over the last two decades Sonya, along with her faculty located in India and North America, has trained over 10,000 students across 33 countries. Sonya also contributes to articles in newspapers and is a speaker at various online and offline forums. Sonya is always looking for newer and better ways to help her students and enhance their experience. Informed Decisions is one of the strongest proponents of the Mindprint Learning Assessment and holds marketing exclusivity for India. Sonya uses MindPrint to design bespoke tutoring plans for her students which has helped significantly improve teaching outcomes and ultimately translated to optimal scores. Sonya is also a passionate cook and particularly loves baking. Her newfound love for sourdough bread making is what helps her destress the eve of test day or results day! Find Sonya at [email protected]. LINKS Taking A Computer-Based ACT What Does A Computer-Based ACT Look Like? Looming Questions About a Digital SAT or ACT Is Online a Better Baseline? Comparing the Predictive Validity of Computer- and Paper-Based Tests RELATED EPISODES COMPARING PAPER- AND COMPUTER-BASED TESTING HOW DOES REMOTE PROCTORING ACTUALLY WORK? HOW COLLEGE BOARD AND ACT ARE CHANGING ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Anna Solomon. Anna grew up in Florida and graduated with a B.A. in History from New College of Florida. She lived in Asheville (NC) and Richmond (VA), and now lives in Salisbury (MD). She worked for Huntington Learning Center, Tutor Doctor, and other private tutoring and test prep companies before beginning her own company, Flamingo Tutoring. Now she focuses on one-on-one tutoring for the SAT and ACT. Anna is thrilled to be part of the NTPA and co-founder of the NTPA Book Club and Women of NTPA. When Anna isn't hanging out with colleagues (virtually) or working with students (virtually), she is out exploring with her three-year-old. Find Anna at [email protected]. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Adam Snoza. Adam graduated from Creighton University and was a high school English teacher for 9 years in both public and private schools. He has spent 13 years in ACT test prep with Aim High Test Prep in Omaha, NE. He is the lead instructor and curriculum developer, authoring his own 350-page instructional manual. Adam is also an ACT Certified Educator (ACE) in all 6 certification areas: Basics, English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing. Now, he is a trainer of the ACE program and works with teachers and tutors across the country on how to effectively teach the ACT test. In addition, Adam co-authored the 2021 update to The Official ACT Mathematics Guide. Though every student he helps gain a life changing scholarship or entry into an elite college gives him great satisfaction, his greatest pride comes from working with multiple local charities to bring test prep to underserved populations in an effort to bridge the education gap. Adam previously appeared on this podcast in episode 159 to discuss ACT Math Reporting Categories. Find Adam at [email protected] ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Leia LeMaster Horton, who has been an educator for over eighteen years. Her favorite subjects were Latin and Math. In the last seven years, Leia has focused her attention on preparing students for their college entrance exams and is the owner of Horton Test Prep. Through these years, she's helped countless students raise their scores hundreds of points and turn dream school into reality with dream financial aid packages. She is running on coffee and helping students have "aha" moments. Find Leia at [email protected] or on Instagram @hortontestprep. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Alex Chip, the founder of Top Score Education, a boutique tutoring, test prep, and academic counseling company headquartered in Washington DC, in 2005. Over the past 16 years, Alex has tutored several thousand students in high school and college admissions testing, developed innovative project-based learning programs for students of all ages, and launched new branches servicing students in Miami, FL, and Durham, NC. In addition to his work as an educator and entrepreneur, Alex is the author of Building Your Student's Story: The Parent's Companion to College Admissions Strategies, Standardized Tests, and Crafting an Exceptional Application. A graduate of Duke University (BA, English) and Johns Hopkins (MA, Nonfiction Writing), Alex lives in Washington DC with his wife and two children. Find Alex at https://www.topscoreedu.com/. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Jennifer Henson a.k.a "The GOAL DIGGER", a nationally sought after test prep expert specializing in the ACT test. Jennifer, who was Winton Woods City School's (OH) Teacher of the Year in 2014, holds a Master of Education degree with a Bachelor's in English from Xavier University—where she was a walk-on tennis player. She's taught for 21 years and coached ACT prep for over 12 years– and has an army of teachers trained to assist her requests for tutorials. Her former ACT students now attend notable higher learning institutions, including Notre Dame, The Ohio State University, Texas A&M, The Naval Academy, and the University of Kentucky—among others. Jennifer has assisted students from California to Connecticut—and states in between—to reach their personal ACT goals. No score is too low or too high, as she has doubled the scores of students starting at the low end, in addition to helping initially higher scoring students achieve the coveted 36 on every section of the test. Two young men playing D1 football had a composite score of a 9 originally, and scored 18 and 20 (respectively) after working with her. Jen first appeared on the podcast on episode #57 to talk Test Scores and the NCAA Clearinghouse. Find Jen at jenhensonactprep.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

So many aspects of modern life represent obvious improvements over past practices. So why does it feel like we're not consistently applying what we've learned about learning year over year? Amy and Mike invited educator and author Shane Trotter to consider where modern education fails. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What skills tend to be lacking in today's high school graduates? Which students do schools tend to focus on and exclude? What systemic educational issues are hurting academic development? Are modern high school graduates more or less ready for college than peers from the past? How can students seek out the skills and knowledge they'll need for their futures? MEET OUR GUEST Shane Trotter is the author of Setting the Bar: Preparing Our Kids to Thrive in an Era of Distraction, Dependency, and Entitlement. As a writer, educator, and High-School Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, he has been challenging youth development norms for over a decade. He has been published by websites with millions of readers, such as Quillette, Areo, and Breaking Muscle, and he's been featured by Spartan.com. His blog, Inspired Human Development, focuses on exploring the principles of human thriving. In Setting the Bar, Trotter takes us on a journey to discover what has gone wrong in the modern youth development culture and how we can turn the tide, both individually and collectively. Setting the Bar is an investigation into the human condition—who we are, what we need to flourish, and where we are going as a culture. This is a book for every concerned parent, teacher, or coach, and every conscious citizen who cares about our kids and our future. Find Shane at trottershane.com or on Twitter @TrotterWrites LINKS Inspired Human Development Setting the Bar: Preparing Our Kids to Thrive in an Era of Distraction, Dependency, and Entitlement Remedial Education for All Shane's articles on Quillette RELATED EPISODES WINNING THE GAME OF SCHOOL DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER: WHAT TESTING TELLS US WHY GRADE INFLATION IS HARMFUL ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The existence of a science test sets the ACT apart from all other college entrance exams. What should a student do to be set apart from peers on this challenging test section? Amy and Mike invited educator Robin Satty to explore top lessons for ACT science. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How important is specific science knowledge vs other skills on the ACT Science Test? How has this section changed over time? How can students approach each of the three types of Science passages differently? What makes some questions harder and some questions easier? Which questions give students the most trouble, and what can they do about it? MEET OUR GUEST Robin Satty, Ed.D is a graduate of Brown University with a Bachelors and Masters in Biology. Robin began her career in test prep in 2010 at Revolution Prep and began teaching science full time in 2011. Since then, she has taught Biology, Chemistry, and General Science at the middle school and high school levels, while tutoring for the SAT and ACT. Since earning her doctorate in STEM Education from the University of Pittsburgh, she has stepped back from full-time teaching to focus on curriculum, consulting, and tutoring. Robin is the recent author of 28 ACT Science Lessons to Improve Your Score in One Month. Learn more about her and her background, experience, and practice in her TEST PREP PROFILE from episode #208. Find Robin at https://stemsmartconsulting.com or [email protected]. LINKS 28 ACT Science Lessons to Improve Your Score in One Month All* the Science You Need to Know: *to Ace the ACT Science Section RELATED EPISODES WHAT IS ACT SCIENCE ALL ABOUT? HIGH-PRIORITY SAT AND ACT TOPICS EMERGING TRENDS IN SAT AND ACT CONTENT ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The various versions of high school admissions tests may be even more confusing than those for college or graduate school. As part of our series on HS admissions tests, Amy and Mike invited educator Kenny Tan to explain the role and structure of the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT). What are five things you will learn in this episode? What schools require the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT)? What does the SHSAT cover? How is the SHSAT scored, and how many students "pass" the test? How does the SHSAT differ from other high school admissions tests? How competitive is the specialized high school admissions process? MEET OUR GUEST Kenny Tan has been working in test prep since 2010. Kenny founded Kenny Tan Test Prep to empower students with the grit, resilience, and curiosity necessary for a successful academic and professional career. He specializes in the SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, SAT, and ACT. Kenny, the son of Chinese immigrants, graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York City and received his B.A. in Economics from Vanderbilt University. His hobbies include an interest in aviation. He received his private pilot certificate (airplane single-engine land) in 2016. Some of his favorite flying experiences are featured on his YouTube channel. Find Kenny at kennytan.nyc or learn more about him on his Test Prep Profile! LINKS NYC Specialized High Schools 14 SHSAT Tests (And How to Use Them!) The Ultimate Guide to SHSAT Poetry: 248 Practice Questions for the newest section of the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test RELATED EPISODES WHY SELECTIVE SPECIALIZED SCHOOLS MATTER WHY TESTING STANDARDS MATTER WHAT IS THE HSPT? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The aspect of a college application that lies most outside an applicant's control is the recommendation. How can recommendation writers and requesters alike get this essential piece right? Amy and Mike invited author Becky Munsterer Sabky to explain how to write a standout letter of recommendation. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What makes a standout recommendation? Who can or should write college recommendations? What should a recommender ask of the applicant (and vice versa) to make writing a recommendation easier? Is it okay to turn down a recommendation request? Should applicants waive their right to read their recommendations? MEET OUR GUEST Becky Munsterer Sabky likes to communicate. She's an author, columnist, speaker (and handwritten letter writer). Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Boston Globe Magazine, Reader's Digest, and SKI Magazine. She's been interviewed on Vermont Public Radio and Boston Public Radio and is currently on a speaking tour for her book Valedictorians at the Gate. She's a graduate of Colby College and received her M.A.L.S. degree in creative writing from Dartmouth. When Becky was a high school senior she was rejected by her dream school, Dartmouth. She had done everything right. Checked every box. Played on every team. And yet still she received, "the thin envelope." A decade later she was the one helping to make the admissions decisions for the Ivy League university. Drawing back the curtain, Valedictorians at the Gate is a behind-the-scenes look at how best to prepare for the admissions process, from the first day of high school to welcome weekend on campus, with the needed perspective to stay true to yourself and discover your passions as you battle the other valedictorians at the gate. Written with actionable advice (do take the SATs multiple times; don't write your college essay about Hermione Granger), Valedictorians at the Gate answers the questions of just who to ask for a college recommendation (a note from a janitor will turn more heads than a form letter from the chair of the math department), just what to do on-campus visits (have the student ask the questions, not their mom and dad), and what curriculum to take (if you like art, go for it over AP physics). This is the book every student and parent wishes to have by their side as they navigate the immensely competitive, and confusing, process of selecting a college. Perfect for both prospective students and (hopefully-not-helicoptering) parents, Sabky infuses her wisdom gleaned from years making the tough admissions decisions with illuminating anecdotes of her time as an Ivy League gatekeeper. Parents and students will find relief, and advice that cuts through the confusion and intimidation of applying to college and places the power firmly in the hands of the applicant. A college doesn't choose you, you choose it. Find Becky at https://beckysabky.com/. LINKS Valedictorians at the Gate: Standing Out, Getting In, and Staying Sane While Applying to College RELATED EPISODES LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: GOOD VS. GREAT THE MAKING CARING COMMON PROJECT DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP IN COLLEGE APPLICATIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Advanced Placement (AP) classes and exams set the standard for academic rigor for millions of high school students every year. Will this continue to be the case over the next few years? Amy and Mike invited educator John Moscatiello to help understand the future of AP exams. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the AP program, and why is it so important now? What challenges does the AP program face? Does taking a lot of AP exams help a college application? What are the implications of the elimination of SAT Subject Tests for the AP program? How relevant are AP language classes and exams in college admissions? MEET OUR GUEST John Moscatiello has been a leader in the education space for the past two decades. His career began at the Princeton Review, where he taught the SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, AP Exams, ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT Verbal, and TOEFL. At the Princeton Review, John went on to train hundreds of teachers, write content for 13 test preparation books, and work as a college admissions consultant. In his capacity as the National Director of Tutoring from 2007 and 2009, John managed thousands of teachers and tutors, supporting them with online professional development and the creation of an online community. From 2015 to 2016, John starred in more than 200 educational videos for the Princeton Review's SAT, ACT, and GRE self-paced courses. John's academic career began as a Spanish major at New York University, where he realized the value of the AP Program by using credits to graduate a full year early. He then pursued graduate degrees in history from Fordham University and the University of Notre Dame, where he won awards for his undergraduate teaching. He was a Fulbright scholar to Spain in 2012 and worked at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) in Madrid. John's academic research has been published in both English and Spanish. He currently teaches part-time at a private high school in Princeton, New Jersey. John has supported thousands of students by building and implementing programs for underserved communities through the Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, TEAK Fellowship, NYC Service, Corporate and Social Responsibility at Proskauer Rose LLP, and the Aga Khan Development Network. John's tutoring and NGO work has taken him to more than 10 states and 25 countries around the world, especially in Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and East Africa. In 2018, John founded Marco Learning in order to address the lack of high-quality AP resources and to better support AP teachers and their students. Find John at https://marcolearning.com/. LINKS The Ultimate Guide to the 2021 Digital AP® Exams Advanced Placement Program RELATED EPISODES CHOOSING BETWEEN AP AND IB PROGRAMS HIGH SCHOOL COURSE SELECTION AND ACADEMIC RIGOR CHOOSING HIGH SCHOOL MATH COURSES STRATEGICALLY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

If the success of educational institutions depends on a steady and predictable flow of incoming students, what does the American "birth dearth" forebode for the future of higher education? Amy and Mike invited higher ed professional Chris Lucier to explain the implications of demographic trends for college admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the value to higher ed professionals in exploring demographic data? What do the combined data sets tell us about the next ten years in the United States? Which colleges portend to be most impacted? What should colleges be doing now to prepare for upcoming demographic shifts? What role might international applicants play in future enrollment strategies? MEET OUR GUEST Chris Lucier is the Director of Partner Relationships at Othot, leveraging over 20 years of experience in admissions and strategic enrollment management to help colleges and universities adopt data-driven decision making in addressing enrollment and student success challenges. Before joining Othot in 2019, Chris was the vice president for Enrollment Management at the University of Delaware (UD) where he developed, implemented, assessed, and refined a management strategy to mitigate the challenges presented by a volatile enrollment environment. In this capacity, he was responsible for undergraduate admissions, the registrar's office, and student financial services. Prior to UD, he was the vice president for enrollment management at the University of Vermont, where he developed and shaped the overall enrollment strategy and implemented operational programs to recruit, admit, retain and graduate undergraduate students. In 2001, after a 21-year career as a US Army Officer, Chris started his career in higher education as Director of Recruitment & Operations in the University of Michigan Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Chris received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and a Master of Public Administration degree from Western Kentucky University. He is a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College. Find Chris at [email protected]. LINKS Demographic Comparison Tool for Higher Education RELATED EPISODES THE ULTIMATE COLLEGE STRESS TEST THE IMPACT OF NACAC ADMISSIONS CHANGES INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS IN HIGHER EDUCATION ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

A four-year degree may be one of the most expensive investments a person can make, especially when we expect teenagers to make life-defining financial decisions without sufficient education, support, and protection. Amy and Mike invited higher education professional Alex Robie Harris to discuss some uncomfortable truths about student loan debt. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are some of the assumptions we hold about student loan borrowers and defaulters? What are the lived experiences of borrowers who have defaulted on their student loans? What are some of the underlying causes of the student debt crisis? How can we tackle the student debt crisis? What is the best way to talk to students about borrowing for college? MEET OUR GUEST Alex Robie Harris, Ed.D. is a higher education professional with more than ten years of experience working in a wide range of functional areas including Housing & Residential Life, Fraternity & Sorority Programs, Financial Aid, Student Success & Retention, and Strategic Initiatives. One of the most impactful professional roles Alex has held was serving as the Coordinator for the Arizona Assurance program. Arizona Assurance is The University of Arizona's largest need-based aid program and provides financial aid and support services to low-income students in order to increase their enrollment, retention, and graduation. In this role, Alex completed full financial aid counselor training, which provided her with a strong understanding of both federal and institutional financial aid regulations. Working alongside hundreds of low-income students as they waded through the bureaucracy of financial aid laid the foundation for her research interest in how students navigate paying for higher education. In May 2021, Alex earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership with a specialization in Higher Education. Her dissertation, titled Debt Sentence: A Critical Race Theory Analysis of Student Loan Default, explored the lived experiences of Black student loan borrowers who have defaulted on their federal student loans. Find Alex on LinkedIn. LINKS Debt Sentence: A Critical Race Theory Analysis of Student Loan Default Black Student Debt – Explaining the Crisis and Providing Solutions Legislation, Policy, and the Black Student Debt Crisis The Color of Student Debt: Implications of Federal Loan Program Reforms for Black Students and Historically Black Colleges and Universities Paying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream Stop Talking About Financial Literacy and Start Talking About Wealth Justice RELATED EPISODES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STUDENT LOANS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FAFSA & CSS PROFILE THE PRICE YOU REALLY PAY FOR COLLEGE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Now more than ever, high school counselors are turned to for social-emotional counseling PLUS college and career guidance PLUS academic planning PLUS anything and everything else. No wonder they're all so busy! Amy and Mike invited college consultant Daniel Santos to discuss the challenges facing overworked school counselors. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the responsibilities of a traditional U.S. high school counselor? What are the recommended and actual average ratios of students to school counselors? How much training do most counselors receive on college admissions guidance? Where can counselors receive further training and support in testing and admissions? How can counselors determine which support resources can be trusted? MEET OUR GUEST Daniel Santos is Prepory's co-founder and CEO. Prior to founding Prepory, Daniel worked at various top-tier law firms and the United States House of Representatives. Daniel leads a team of the 30+ best college admissions and career counseling professionals on planet Earth. Together, they're helping thousands of students and professionals across five continents grow from where they are to where they should be. Daniel has been featured as a college admissions expert across several publications, including the Wall Street Journal, FORTUNE, and Yahoo! Finance. Find Daniel at https://prepory.com/ or follow @preporycoaching on social media. LINKS School Counselor Roles & Ratios The Troubling Student-to-Counselor Ratio That Doesn't Add Up RELATED EPISODES HOW SCHOOL AND PRIVATE COLLEGE COUNSELORS CAN WORK TOGETHER PATHWAY PLANNING FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS BUILDING EFFECTIVE SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

For generations, the term "SAT word" has been synonymous with extremely challenging or esoteric vocabulary words. But does the phrase even still apply? Amy and Mike invited educator Michelle Rotteau to discuss vocabulary on the SAT and ACT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is a college-level vocabulary still necessary on admissions tests? What kind of vocabulary does the SAT & ACT challenge? Which test or section presents more challenging words? What is the best way to learn the types of words tested on the SAT and ACT? How valuable is learning word roots for today's tests? MEET OUR GUEST Michelle Rotteau grew up in Goderich, Ontario, Canada where she worked in the town's public library until attending Trent University, completing a Bachelor's degree in English and Canadian Studies. She then returned to library work until she opened a bookstore in 1997 where she sold books both in-store and online. In 2001, Michelle and her husband moved to Seoul, South Korea where she started teaching reading and writing skills for test prep including SAT, ACT, SSAT, TOEFL, MCAT, and LSAT. In 2007, she returned to Canada and started working in Toronto for both a test prep company where she currently is the head teacher for 2 schools and as an independent reading tutor for international students. In 2016 she started her blog internationaltester.com as a free resource for international students who want to excel in SAT reading. In 2018, she published 2 e-books focusing on the Literature and History passages to help students overcome these dastardly sections. For the past 15 months, Michelle and her husband have reverted to sleeping on their living room floor (memories of Korea) after having transformed their bedroom into Michelle's online teaching studio. She is really looking forward to getting back to her classroom (and its collection of over 600 books) in September (hopefully). Find Michelle at www.internationaltester.com. LINKS SAT Vocabulary, Vocabulary, Vocabulary The Most Important Vocabulary Words for the SAT & ACT The Academic Word List RELATED EPISODES DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAT AND ACT READING SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTION AND READING COMPREHENSION THE SAT AND ACT ARE CLASSIST NOT RACIST ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

New hardware and software rarely introduce the sweeping improvements most adopters in education hope for, but the right ed tech can definitely facilitate powerful positive change. Amy and Mike invited tech professional Al Kingsley to describe the role of technology as an enabler in education. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Which aspects of education can--and cannot--be improved through technology? What is the tension between new tech and old ways of working? What does the near-term future of education look like? What applications of technology tend to be counterproductive in today's schools? What are some components of successful technology initiatives in schools or districts? MEET OUR GUEST Al Kingsley is CEO of edtech company NetSupport, an international software company developing market-leading solutions used by over 18 million customers. He is also the Chair of two Multi Academy Trusts and a local School Governors' Leadership Group in the UK. And is a sought-after speaker and popular podcaster who focuses on thought-provoking conversations about education technology, digital strategy, and improved learning outcomes. Al has also co-authored the 'Digital Strategy Guide for Schools' with Mark Anderson and was recognized in the 2020 "EdTech 50" awards for 'People shaping UK EdTech' section. His own book, My Secret #EdTech Diary by John Catt Educational Ltd, released in July 2021 and gives not only Al's 30 years of historical perspective of IT in education, but also is a road map to a new way of thinking about technology in education. Find Al at https://alkingsley.com/ or on Twitter @AlKingsley_Edu LINKS My Secret #EdTech Diary Guide to Creating a Digital Strategy in Education RELATED EPISODES EDTECH IN 2021: SEPARATING FADS FROM SUSTAINABLE CHANGES HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF ONLINE TEST PREP COMPARING PAPER- AND COMPUTER-BASED TESTING ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Lori Tofexis. Lori grew up in NY and NJ and attended the University of Pennsylvania, earning a degree in Communications. She worked in television for a while (behind the scenes) and then took a job in Florida. Eventually, Lori started selling sailboats in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, which provided her the opportunity to go sailing every chance she had. After raising her family, Lori decided to become a math teacher. She enrolled to get the credits needed to re-learn all the high school math that she had forgotten. This was actually fun for her, allowing her inner nerd to come out. She started tutoring kids in math. Eventually, one parent asked if she could help their daughter with the SAT. "Why not?" she said. The rest is history. Find Lori at circletestprep.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Jim Wismer, the Director of Ivy Experience. Jim first started tutoring for pay in eighth grade, and he has since earned a broad range of experience in secondary and higher education. Jim taught Latin and Ancient Greek and served as a T.A. in Greek and Roman history and mythology courses while earning his M.A. in Classics at the University of Notre Dame. After graduating with his Master's, he helped a small independent school develop a K-12 Latin curriculum. Jim has been tutoring primarily test prep (but still some dead languages) since finishing graduate school, when he came on board as a tutor for Ivy Experience. One year in, he was promoted to Director, transitioning into a managerial role involving training and overseeing tutors, planning with families, creating marketing materials, and various business functions. If you had told Jim as a young scholar that he would one day be a reasonably successful businessperson, that would have been quite the surprise to him. Jim enjoys digging into the way students' minds work, whether that means finding just the right way to help them "get" an SAT math problem or brainstorming how to develop their own most time-efficient method to memorize Latin conjugations. Jim doesn't really have hobbies, preferring temporary, all-consuming obsessions. Over the years, these have included yoga, Super Smash Bros Melee, camping, fantasy football, the Wim Hof method, and darts, to name a few. Find Jim at https://myivyexperience.com/contact/. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Marina Yalon, who has spent over 15 years in the education sector, propelled by the belief that all students have the ability to learn and deserve access to quality education! Over the years, she's helped build schools in Guatemala, measure student achievement in over a dozen countries, and worked with more than 1,000 students to help them achieve their goal scores on the SAT & ACT. She is a graduate of Rutgers and Georgetown Universities. Through more than 10,000 tutoring hours, logged in-person and virtually, in the US and abroad, she's developed effective methodologies to beat these tests and help students achieve their goals. In addition to helping with test prep, Marina also has a proven track record of helping students develop robust math skills, increase their math academic performance, and develop math (and life!) confidence. She likes to say that she helps her students see that math (and other challenges) are all figure-out-able! Find Marina at https://www.learnwithmyprep.com/. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Alex Robayo, whose background in advanced Physics gave him the tools to break down complex concepts into simple teenage language. Originally working in Bell Labs on fiber-optic transmissions, he transitioned into education after the tech bubble burst of the early 2000s. There he found his true calling. While helping scores of students in extra help sessions, Alex was offered his first tutoring gig. The rest is history! Over the past years, Alex has helped countless students improve their study habits, comprehension, and test-taking skills. As a result, these students have earned better test scores, grades, and have grown in self-esteem and confidence. He currently teaches AP Physics and runs Success Prep llc in the afternoons. His tutoring meat and potatoes are the SAT and ACTs but also specializes in math, physics, and chemistry. Find Alex at http://www.success-prep.com/. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Susan Powers, the founder and CEO of Woodlands Test Prep, a tutoring company based in the Houston area that improves students' scores, supports students' academic success, and helps families navigate the college admissions testing process with much less stress. Susan started teaching SAT and GMAT classes for Kaplan in 1994 as a hobby while an executive for a large oil and gas equipment company, doing strategy and acquisitions. The arrival of children put hobbies on hiatus, and she was able to return to tutoring in 2011, founding Woodlands Test Prep. The company has grown from a solopreneur to a larger company with multiple tutors. Susan delights in all aspects of the business from tutoring to curriculum and resource development to process improvement to hiring those few rare gems and teaching them how to help students too! Susan was a National Merit Scholar and has a B.A. in French and a B.B.A. in Finance from Southern Methodist University and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, focusing in entrepreneurship. She lives in the country with her partner, Joe, and three dogs, a cat, and a parrot named Monkey. Her two children now live adventurous lives in the mountainous West. She loves to travel around the world, play day-long board games, sing, write poetry, garden, and read a couple of books at a time. Find Susan at www.woodlandstestprep.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The various versions of high school admissions tests may be even more confusing than those for college or graduate school. For the first in a series on HS admissions tests, Amy and Mike invited educator Christine Carroll to explain the role and structure of the High School Placement Test (HSPT). What are five things you will learn in this episode? Who takes the High School Placement Test (HSPT)? What kind of high schools use the HSPT, and how do they use it? What is tested on the HSPT? What kind of students will do well on the HSPT? How does the HSPT differ from other admissions tests? MEET OUR GUEST Christine Carroll, the owner and lead instructor at Tutoring By Christine, has been teaching for over 25 years. She started her teaching career in Catholic School, which is where she began preparing students for the TACHS and SAT standardized exams. Christine moved onto teaching at a private high school and then as a public school teacher. She designed and implemented the SHSAT prep program at her public middle school. She has also written curricula for the science department at her middle school, where she sits on the School Leadership Team. She is the recipient of the 2012 Senator Lanza Teacher of the Year Award. Christine is a lead teacher at the Staten Island Zoo for the prestigious NYC Urban Advantage program. She has also worked as an adjunct professor for a local college for 6 years teaching science and education classes. She is a member of the National Science Teachers Association and the Learning Disabilities Association of America as well as the National Test Prep Association. Christine has been trained in the Orton-Gillingham methodology. She has always maintained ties with both the private and public communities. Christine contributes to her community by volunteering at various venues on Staten Island, most notably she leads an annual backpack drive for homeless students. Find Christine at [email protected]. LINKS STS - HSPT Parent's Page What Is The HSPT? RELATED EPISODES WHY SELECTIVE SPECIALIZED SCHOOLS MATTER WHY TESTING STANDARDS MATTER HOW TESTS DRIVE LEARNING ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Most parents and educators seek to become the wind filling their children's proverbial sails, but unwittingly become hurricanes driving them way off course. Amy and Mike invited authors William Stixrud, Ph.D. and Ned Johnson to share insights into helping teens find motivation and insight. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why do adults nag teens, and what should they be doing instead? How true is the claim that many parents don't care about what their kids do so long as they always do their best? What does it mean to be a non-anxious consultant? Why are sleep and technology such hot button issues to address with teens? How important is modeling the right behaviors when parenting teens? MEET OUR GUESTS William Stixrud, Ph.D. is a clinical neuropsychologist and a faculty member at Children's National Medical Center and George Washington University Medical School. Bill writes and lectures widely on the adolescent brain, meditation, and the effects of stress, sleep deprivation, and technology overload on the brain. He is on the advisory board of the David Lynch Foundation, and he plays in a rock band, Close Enough. Ned Johnson is the founder of PrepMatters and the coauthor of Conquering the SAT: How Parents Can Help Teens Overcome the Pressure and Succeed. Ned also hosts the PrepTalks podcast. A sought-after speaker and teen coach for study skills, parent-teen dynamics, and anxiety management, his work has been featured on NPR, NewsHour, U.S. News & World Report, Time, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. Bill and Ned are leading voices in parenting and child psychology and the bestselling authors of The Self-Driven Child, which Ned discussed on Tests and the Rest in episode #80 concerning Creating a Homeschool Plan During a Crisis. Bill and Ned's newest book is WHAT DO YOU SAY? How to Talk with Kids to Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and a Happy Home. Find Bill and Ned at selfdrivenchild.com. LINKS WHAT DO YOU SAY? How to Talk with Kids to Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and a Happy Home The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives RELATED EPISODES ADVOCACY FOR PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOLERS EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IN TEENS BRINGING GRIT TO TESTING AND ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

When Kant asserted that experience without theory is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play, he might have been talking about education. Amy and Mike invited educator Jonathan Arak to explore the value of experience in teachers. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is experience really that important in a teacher? In what ways does experience or the lack thereof show itself in teaching? What kind of experience should aspiring teachers seek out? What is the best way to assess whether a teacher has the right kind of experience? Can too much experience ever be a trap for teachers? MEET OUR GUEST Jonathan Arak has spent over 30 years prepping thousands of students as a tutor of standardized tests and admissions counselor for 10 to 60-year-olds. He has also trained hundreds of teachers around the country and Canada for the SAT, ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, GMAT, GRE, and LSAT. He is regarded as an expert in the high school admissions process for the top private and top public high schools in New York City. Jonathan has delivered workshops on students who receive special accommodations, and how to work with them. He has been a contributing author to GMAT, GRE, LSAT, and SAT materials, and his previous experience includes being National Content Director for Pre-high school programs, developing content for the ISEE, SSAT, and SHSAT. He authored Cracking the Specialized High School Admissions Test (Random House) and is one of the only tutors for the Hunter College High Exam who has proctored the actual test. Jonathan taught ACT/SAT courses for The Opportunity Network, Minds Matter, and The TEAK Foundation during its formative years. He was an intern in the admissions office while attending Oberlin College, and for the last 30 years has continued to work with the admissions staff. His opinions have appeared in Christian Science Monitor, Toronto Globe and Mail, New York Magazine, The New York Observer, New York Post, and The Duke Chronicle. Find Jonathan at [email protected] or on LinkedIn. LINKS Amateur and Professional Educators How to Assess Tutors and Test Prep Providers RELATED EPISODES THE 4 P'S OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT CLARITY IN EDUCATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS ESSENTIALS OF CLIENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The college experience is influenced not only by choice of major but by when that major is chosen. Amy and Mike invited educator Lisa Marker-Robbins to provide strategies for selecting a college major. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why are students told that "undecided" is okay and to experiment in college? What does "on time" mean in terms of college majors? Which majors tend to be most restrictive or hardest to finish in four years for students who don't start as freshmen? What majors provide the most opportunities for potential pivots. How can students avoid limiting their major options? MEET OUR GUEST Lisa Marker Robbins is an entrepreneur in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her passion and purpose throughout her career has been to serve high school students and young adults on launching into their future. With that greater purpose, she has been a classroom teacher, 23 years ago started her company LEAP, a test prep, tutoring and independent college counseling organization that has helped thousands, and in 2021 has started her new brand Flourish Coaching to guide students and young adults through her 5 part framework towards getting career clarity for what comes after graduation. Lisa first appeared on episode #119 to discuss how HOW TEST PREP PROS AND FINANCIAL PLANNERS CAN WORK TOGETHER. Find Lisa at https://flourishcoachingco.com/ or the Launch: Creating Career Clarity for Teens and Young Adults Facebook group. LINKS What's the Return on a College Investment? How to Use Personality Assessments for College Major – Career Coaching RELATED EPISODES DO COLLEGE MAJORS MATTER? PATHWAY PLANNING FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS FINISHING A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE ON TIME ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

When a highly selective school receives ten or more times as many applications as available seats, the applicant pool seems like an anonymous, homogenous horde. How can any single student hope to stand out from the crowd? Amy and Mike invited admissions consultant Aviva Legatt to explain how--and why--to build relationships with colleges. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How is building relationships for college different from showing "demonstrated interest"? How should students create a list of college representatives to connect with? What are the nuts and bolts of forming a connection? What are effective strategies for following up and staying in touch? How important is proximity in the relationship-building process? MEET OUR GUEST Dr. Aviva Legatt is the admissions expert and founder of Ivy Insight, the gold standard in college admissions consulting for undergraduate college applications. An in-demand leadership and college admissions speaker with a fresh perspective, Aviva has been hailed by the New York Times as a trustworthy expert on college admissions, and recognized as an expert in corporate culture and diversity as a faculty member for Coursera and the University of Pennsylvania. Aviva is the recent author of Get Real and Get In: How to Get into the College of Your Dreams by Being Your Authentic Self. Find Aviva at http://www.ivyinsight.com/ or on LinkedIn. LINKS Get Real and Get In: How to Get into the College of Your Dreams by Being Your Authentic Self RELATED EPISODES DEMONSTRATING INTEREST DURING VIRTUAL COLLEGE TOURS ADMISSIONS INSIGHTS FOR HIGHLY SELECTIVE UNIVERSITIES PREPARATION FOR HIGHLY SELECTIVE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

A calculator on a high stakes test fits the classic definition of a double-edged sword: formidable in the hands of an expert but a liability for those who don't know how to use it. Amy and Mike invited educators Vinny Madera and Tony Miglio to outline the essential facts of calculator usage on the SAT and ACT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is a calculator really necessary on the SAT and ACT? What are the best calculators to use on the tests? On which test is the calculator more important? How do tests penalize poor calculator use? Should test-takers download useful programs into their calculators in advance? MEET OUR GUESTS Vinny Madera is the guy who shapes Test Prep Wizards and helps the team determine the most effective and efficient ways to get the results students need. Tutoring in some capacity since college, Vinny decided in 2007 to become a full-time tutor and works directly with over 800 students per year through his classes and individual students. Aiding numerous school districts, private institutions, and tutoring companies, Vinny has developed all Test Prep Wizards' reporting software and has written the company's SAT and ACT manuals, which have been licensed by many school districts as an efficient, low-cost means of helping their students. Vinny is a huge nerd fan of data and statistics, moonlighting as a math enthusiast at Fairfield University where he teaches a variety of math courses and freshman experience workshops. He brings this love of numbers and trends to Test Prep Wizards in the form of its state-of-the-art analysis programming. Vinny is the author of Demystifying the Calculator: A Guide to Using the TI-84 PLUS CE on the ACT and first appeared on the podcast on episode #141 to discuss Tracking Test Score Data. Tony Miglio is the owner of NKY Tutoring and is a nationally sought-after test prep expert, specializing in the math section of the ACT Test. He has worked with students both locally in the Greater Cincinnati area, but also students throughout the US and Europe. He works with students in person, and virtually; in groups, and 1-1, and is able to help build a rapport with each of his students to help students grow in confidence, along with growing their ACT Scores. Tony is a former teacher, and he has been an ACT tutor for more than 15 years, with the last 10 years specializing in helping students conquer and raise their Math ACT Scores. His specialty is customizing the mental approach for each student, based upon the score that they need to drive success on the test. Tony first appeared on the podcast on episode #48 to discuss How Test Prep And Sports Are Similar. Find Tony at [email protected] Find Vinny at testprepwizards.com or [email protected]. LINKS Live Online Calculator Class Demystifying the Calculator: A Guide to Using the TI-84 PLUS CE on the ACT Be Calculator Smart on Test Day RELATED EPISODES DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAT AND ACT MATH MATHEMATICAL MATURITY & TEST SUCCESS HIGH IMPACT STRATEGIES TO HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED IN MATH ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

While standardized testing and multiple-choice items tend to go hand in hand, there's a whole world of innovative assessment options beyond the classic stem-key-distractor paradigm. Amy and Mike invited assessment expert Brian Moon to describe alternatives to multiple-choice. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why have multiple-choice questions become so prevalent in standardized assessments? What are the disadvantages of multiple choice? What are the best alternatives to multiple-choice questions? Why don't more knowledge tests implement alternatives to multiple-choice? What upcoming innovations in assessments appear most promising? MEET OUR GUEST Brian Moon is founder and Chief Technology Officer for Perigean Technologies LLC and founder and President of Sero! Learning Assessments, Inc. He is widely recognized for his innovative applications of concept mapping, which are highlighted in the edited volume, Applied Concept Mapping: Capturing, Analyzing, and Organizing Knowledge and have led to the development of Sero!, a concept mapping based-learning assessment system. His consulting clients have included Fortune 500 companies and many US Federal Agencies. Brian is also the co-host of the Beyond Multiple Choice Conference and Exhibition. Find Brian at [email protected]. LINKS Beyond Multiple Choice – The future of assessment The History of the Multiple-Choice Question Anatomy of a Test Question – Chariot Learning RELATED EPISODES HOW TESTS DRIVE LEARNING DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE LEVELS ON THE SAT AND ACT THE HISTORICAL MISSION OF THE SAT ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

For many students, acceptance to college represents the last set of academic admissions hoops they'll ever need to jump through. A whole new circus, however, awaits those hoping to earn advanced degrees. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Linda Abraham to offer practical strategies for getting ready for graduate school. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What should students who want to keep their grad program options open do during college? What should college students with graduate aspirations not do? When should students considering different grad programs take admissions tests? What should students looking at specific programs like law or medicine do in advance? Why is direct experience in an intended field so critical before applying to a graduate program? MEET OUR GUEST Linda Abraham is the founder of Accepted and has over two decades of experience helping clients get admitted to top medical, law, business, and graduate schools. She is also the host of the top-rated Admissions Straight Talk podcast. Linda began helping applicants develop successful admissions strategies and craft distinctive essays in 1994. In addition to advising clients and managing Accepted, she has written and presented extensively on admissions. She also was the co-founder and first president of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants. Accepted's clients have been accepted to top professional schools throughout the country including, Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Columbia, Kellogg, MIT, Darden, Stern, Michigan, Chicago, INSEAD, LBS, and Anderson Business Schools; Harvard, Yale, Stanford, University of Chicago, Columbia, and Boalt Law Schools; and UCSF, UCLA, George Washington, Tulane, NYU, University of Wisconsin, and Tufts Medical Schools. The Wall St. Journal, The New York Times, The Sunday Times of London, Bloomberg Businessweek, US News, and CBS News are among the media outlets that have sought Linda's expertise in admissions. Business insider in March named Linda one of "9 MBA consultants, coaches, and admissions experts to know if you want to get into a top business school" Find Linda at https://www.accepted.com/. LINKS Accepted Admissions Straight Talk Accepted YouTube Channel RELATED EPISODES WHAT EVERY PRE-MED MAJOR SHOULD KNOW GETTING INTO BUSINESS SCHOOL GETTING INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

College applicants are often asked to demonstrate levels of interest that imply devotion, reverence, and unshakeable commitment. But do all schools reciprocate that respect? Amy and Mike invited IEC and author Kevin Martin to explore whether colleges care about their applicants. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why would someone think that elite colleges don't care about applicants? How does the concept of holistic review increase uncertainty in admissions? What elements of a college application feel frivolous or unnecessary? What does virtue signaling mean in the context of college admissions? How might the application process be revised to add dignity and clarity? MEET OUR GUEST Kevin Martin graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Texas at Austin. After serving in UT-Austin's Office of Admissions, where he reviewed and scored thousands of applications, he completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Malaysia and currently travels the world while helping students gain admission to top-50 universities through his business Tex Admissions. Martin doesn't offer simple Admissions 101 "how-to to write a killer essay" advice or promise "six easy steps" for Ivy League acceptance. Instead, Surviving the College Admissions Madness is the first of its kind to integrate applicant psychology with the sociology and economics of higher education. Martin observes that a system of bad incentives in education and society wastes hundreds of millions of hours each admissions cycle. It produces profound suffering for tens of thousands of students each year. He writes for families and high school educators who want a deeper understanding of the truth. Martin also provides helpful advice for avoiding application mistakes, building a reasonable college list, minimizing debt, identifying cognitive errors and distortions, and helping you reframe your college applications. Martin equips readers with the vocabulary, frameworks, and tools to make sense of America's broken higher education system, starting with the admissions gatekeepers. Find Kevin at [email protected]. LINKS Surviving the College Admissions Madness Admissions Madness RELATED EPISODES TRANSPARENCY IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SHAPING AN ADMISSIONS CLASS PREPARATION FOR HIGHLY SELECTIVE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Fraternities seem synonymous in the minds of most Americans with the classic college experience. But are the preconceived notions of these groups always positive or consistent with reality? Amy and Mike invited fraternity director Brian Bertges to enumerate the benefits of joining a fraternity. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the prevailing perceptions about fraternities? Why do most students join fraternities? How does being a part of a fraternity help with dealing with mental health issues and stresses? How do fraternity men compare to their non-Greek counterparts in areas such as GPA or retention? What should one consider when joining a fraternity at their respective campus? MEET OUR GUEST Learning from his Marine Corps veteran father to always take care of others, Brian made two vital decisions that should shape his life. He joined two fraternities: First Theta Delta Chi and Second the United States Army. Brian recounts his story of joining with a pivotal moment. With walking pneumonia, he couldn't walk and fraternities were inviting him to events. It was then that Michael Crust and other brothers took him to the hospital. Brian knew that he belonged with the Fraternity that took care of him when he needed it. However, due to financial concerns in the family, Brian joined the military. After four years of honorable service, he fulfilled his promise to his brothers and came back. The leadership he learned in the military paid off as he served in multiple positions from president of the Sigma Triton Charge to President of the Interfraternity Council at the Pennsylvania State University. His undergraduate tenure culminated in the Charge winning Fraternity of the Year at Penn State, the Victory Cup for Theta Delta Chi, and Brian Greek Man of the Year at Penn State and Undergraduate of the Year for Theta Delta Chi. Brian then was selected to be a Corps Member for Teach for America, serving underprivileged kids in both New York City and the Washington, DC metro region. Since graduating college, he has been actively involved in Theta Delta Chi International Fraternity, helping to write the curriculum for the Preamble Institute, the premier leadership conference for the Fraternity, served as a board member of the Theta Delta Chi Educational Foundation, and as the 65th President of the Governing and Visionary Board, The Grand Lodge. Brian is currently the Executive Director of the Fraternity, helping to materialize many new innovations and programming, such as their 360 Evaluations, Veterans' Scholarship, and many resources to help develop undergraduate members to be successful. He freely hands his number out to the undergraduate members accompanied by the same dad joke, "I'll give you my number as long as you promise not to call me at 3:00 AM saying, "I got up for a glass of milk, what did you get up for?" Brian has a Bachelor's in Biobehavioral Health from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master's degree in Public Management from the University of Maryland. He lives in Florida with his wonderful wife Mariví, and his two boys Caleb (8) and Jacob (5). He earnestly hopes his sons become Theta Delts, so he can share the bonds of brotherhood with them. Find Brian at [email protected]. LINKS Study: Grades of Greek-affiliated students suffer after joining fraternity, sorority On Greeks and Academic Performance, National Data Tell Different Story Mental Health Impacts of Fraternity and Sorority Affiliation Theta Delta Chi's Resources North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) RELATED EPISODES DOES COLLEGE ENGAGEMENT MATTER MORE THAN SELECTIVITY? WINNING THE GAME OF SCHOOL COLLEGE DECLASSIFIED: WHAT HIGH SCHOOLERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE NEXT LEVEL ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Both College Board and ACT offer the opportunity to order copies of certain official test dates. Should students or teachers take advantage of this offer? Amy and Mike invited educator Haley Seeley to take a deep dive into ACT TIR and ACT QAS. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the ACT TIR and the SAT QAS? What is the difference between QAS and SAS? For which dates are the ACT TIR and SAT QAS available? How do you obtain a copy of your TIR and QAS? How should students and tutors use the TIR and QAS to prepare for future tests? MEET OUR GUEST Haley Seeley received her BS in Political Science from Eastern Michigan University and her MA in Higher Education & Student Affairs from Bowling Green State University. She has worked as a Test Preparation Specialist for Seeley Test Pros since 2015. Haley began her career in higher education at Eastern Michigan University and has worked in multiple areas of college administration, including Admissions, Orientation, Student Activities, Leadership Programs, Fraternity & Sorority Life, Center for Multicultural Affairs, and Residence Life. During her time working with incoming and current college students, Haley discovered her passion for preparing students to enter university life. She understands the preparation necessary to do well on tests, as well as providing holistic support in the college application process. Haley prides herself on the scores she has earned on the ACT in recent years, earning consistent 36 composites. Find Haley at [email protected]. LINKS The ABCs of the TIR & QAS: Ordering a Copy of your ACT or SAT Verifying SAT Scores | SAT Suite of Assessments – The College Board SAT Answer Verification Services Order Form Request a Copy of Your Questions and Answers - Scores - The ACT Test RELATED EPISODES SAT & ACT TESTING TIMELINES WHAT SAT & ACT DIAGNOSTIC TESTS CAN TELL YOU COMMON TESTING MISTAKES AND HOW TO AVOID THEM ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Landing on the waitlist of your top-choice school can sometimes feel more agonizing than outright rejection. But, as Cicero assures us, while there's life, there's hope! Amy and Mike invited admissions counselor Carolyn Pippen to outline key steps for getting off the college waitlist. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How do colleges use the waitlist? How is deferral different from being placed on the waitlist? Why might a student be put on the waitlist? What should a student do if put on the waitlist? What is the best way to move on from a no or lack of response? MEET OUR GUEST Carolyn Pippen is a nonprofit founder and independent college counselor in Nashville, Tennessee. She has worked as a college admissions counselor at Vanderbilt University and as a high school teacher and counselor at multiple college prep charter high schools. Her organization Path to College Tennessee provides professional development and resources to school counselors and other college access professionals across the state. You can find Carolyn at http://www.pathtocollegetn.org/. LINKS How to Get Admitted Off a College Waitlist Inside Higher Ed's article on waitlist statistics in 2021 My students are getting deferred - what now? RELATED EPISODES SHAPING AN ADMISSIONS CLASS ADMISSIONS INSIGHTS FOR HIGHLY SELECTIVE UNIVERSITIES TRANSPARENCY IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

We often frame college as a place young adults go to find themselves. Ironically, those teens who already have a strong sense of who they are and what they stand for are the ones with the most success in the admissions process. Amy and Mike invited educational consultants Beth and Greg Langston to describe the importance of helping teens find their values and purpose. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is active self-discovery necessary for many teens? Why self-discovery is important for college admissions What process might students follow to gain clarity, confidence, and control about their values and purpose? What qualities should teens look for in trusted advisors? The power of being able to articulate values and purpose MEET OUR GUESTS Beth Langston graduated from Purdue University in Education and is an expert essay editor with a proven track record of helping students navigate the dreaded college applications essay process with tremendous success. Greg Langston graduated from Purdue's Krannert School of Business and is an expert in building high-performance teams across 10 different industries. He has built and led businesses of over $1 billion and has worked in 65 countries. Together, Beth and Greg blend unique professional perspectives and training with their roles as engaged parents, developing transformational self-discovery courses for high school students. Find Beth and Greg at [email protected]/. LINKS The Parents' Starter Kit to Teen Self-Discovery RELATED EPISODES CREATING A PASSION PROJECT DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP IN COLLEGE APPLICATIONS CRAFTING YOUR COLLEGE RESUME ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

In theory, anyone can identify as a tutor. In practice, not just anyone can be an amazing tutor. Experience, training, passion, and many more factors make a difference. Amy and Mike invited educational coach Joanne Kaminski to explain why professionalism in tutors matters. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Should anyone who provides individual instruction be considered a professional tutor? What does lack of professionalism look like in a tutor? Why isn't content knowledge enough? What are the signs of high levels of professionalism in a tutor? What is more powerful in a tutor: generalization or specialization? MEET OUR GUEST Joanne Kaminski is a former teacher with 10 years of experience turned professional online reading tutor and now founder at Online Tutor Business Coach, LLC. She helps tutors who are great teachers but don't know how to attract students learn how to market themselves so they can get the number of students they want to sustain their business goals. As a tutor that has walked this path, Joanne understands the challenges of starting and sustaining an online tutoring business and has created a step-by-step system to make it happen. She continues to serve over 16K tutors through her YouTube channel youtube.com/joannekaminski and a private Facebook group called the Ultimate Support Group for Online Tutors. Find Joanne at www.onlinetutorcoach.com. Free offer for people that are interested in how to get students for online tutoring. 50 + ways to get Online Tutoring Students LINKS Ultimate Support Group for Online Tutors Facebook group RELATED EPISODES TUTOR SELF-CARE (Tests and the Rest Summit Panel) THE 4 P'S OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT INTRODUCING THE NATIONAL TEST PREP ASSOCIATION ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

A great book makes both teaching and learning easy. Such a shame that writing a great educational book is anything but easy! Amy and Mike invited educator and author George Rimakis to share the pros and cons of writing an educational book. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the right reasons to support an education enterprise with a book? How long does the writing process take from concept to publication? Is there an ideal way to publish? What practical benefits can an educator expect from a book? What do you wish you knew when you first dreamed of writing your book? MEET OUR GUEST George Rimakis was born and grew up in New Jersey, and he has been tutoring professionally since 2011. He attended Yale University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics. After a stint as an analyst at a private hedge fund, George returned to teaching, working at one of the most successful prep centers in New Jersey. In 2017, George founded 1600.io with the mission of bringing world-class foundational education to students all over the world at the least possible cost. 1600.io's initial offering of online video explanations for all the released SATs has since grown into a wide-ranging educational ecosystem encompassing live and recorded instruction, diagnostic tools, interactive answer forms, reference resources, and, most recently, an SAT math book with companion videos. George lives in New Jersey and when he's not helping students get smarter, he enjoys collecting, researching, and writing about vintage fountain pens. Find George at https://1600.io/. LINKS The 1600.io SAT Math Orange Book RELATED EPISODES USING AND CREATING EDUCATIONAL WEBSITES SELF-PREP FOR THE SAT & ACT MATHEMATICAL MATURITY & TEST SUCCESS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.