Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

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.

Most of us understand at least intuitively how challenging the road to becoming a doctor is. Few realize, however, how hard just gaining admission to medical school can be. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Shirag Shemmassian to describe in detail the process of getting into medical school. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the different routes to becoming a physician in the US? How do medical school admissions differ from college admissions? How tough is the MCAT vs. the ACT or SAT? What makes a great medical school personal statement? What are some common med school admissions mistakes? MEET OUR GUEST Shirag Shemmassian, Ph.D. is the founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions and college admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school and top colleges using his systematic and proprietary approach. Find Shirag at https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/. LINKS How to Get Into Medical School: The Ultimate Guide (2021) RELATED EPISODES WHAT EVERY PRE-MED MAJOR SHOULD KNOW GETTING INTO BUSINESS SCHOOL LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: GOOD VS. GREAT ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Nobody doubts the efficiency of never putting off until tomorrow what you can do today. Why, then, is executing that strategy so difficult? Amy and Mike invited academic coach Maggie Wray to explain how to help teens fight procrastination. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the difference between functional and dysfunctional procrastination? When does procrastination become a problem? Why do so many students really procrastinate? What is the first step in stopping procrastination? What are ways to help students stop procrastinating? MEET OUR GUEST Maggie Wray, Ph.D. is a former SAT/ACT prep tutor with a Bachelor's degree in Astrophysics from Princeton and a Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Behavior from Cornell. She founded Creating Positive Futures in 2012 to help students across the country learn how to earn better grades with less stress. Her team of dedicated Academic & ADHD Coaches is on a mission to empower their students to develop the mindset, organization, time management, and study skills they need to achieve their goals. In addition to running her coaching practice, Dr. Wray also enjoys giving seminars and presentations to middle and high schools on topics related to students' mindset, motivation, study strategies, and executive functioning skills. Find Maggie at https://creatingpositivefutures.com/. LINKS 12 reasons why students procrastinate and what you can do about them How to Prioritize When Everything Feels Important RELATED EPISODES EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IN TEENS EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS AND TEST PREP HOW TO TEACH STUDENTS TO STUDY EFFECTIVELY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Every day, people watch over a billion hours of video on YouTube. Is it possible to make just a little bit of that time educational?! Amy and Mike invited educator Brooke Hanson to take us behind the scenes of test prep YouTube. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does it take to build a YouTube Channel? Why should you both listen to and speak with your audience? How do you crack the YouTube algorithm and get subscribers? In what ways is the format of YouTube at odds with the goals of educational content? What value comes from building a YouTube channel? MEET OUR GUEST Brooke Hanson grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and Kansas City, graduated from Stanford University with honors, and holds an MFA in Cinematic Arts Production from the University of Southern California. After spending over a decade juggling a career in Hollywood with her tutoring and test prep work, Brooke founded Supertutor Media to make college admissions and test prep more accessible and engaging. Her YouTube channel SupertutorTV now boasts over 20 million views and 230K subscribers. She's been featured on CNN, US News and World Report, Teen Vogue, and Yahoo! Finance. Brooke has also written two ACT® math books and developed comprehensive online video-based prep courses for both the SAT and ACT. Find Brooke at supertutortv.com or subscribe to her YouTube (youtube.com/supertutortv). LINKS The Best ACT Math Books Ever by Brooke Hanson RELATED EPISODES TEST PREP TIKTOK HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF ONLINE TEST PREP CREATING AND USING EDUCATIONAL WEBSITES ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

While there are over 3,000 four-year colleges and universities in the United States, most conversation about higher education focuses on 5% of them at most. No wonder these name-brand schools have become tougher than ever to get into. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Aly Beaumont to discuss preparation for highly selective college admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What happened to the Class of 2025 and what do we anticipate for the Class of 2026? Did submitting test scores help or hurt the chances of admission at highly selective schools? Does applying early really make a difference? How much does full-pay or full-need matter to highly selective colleges? Why is a diversified college list so important? MEET OUR GUEST Aly is 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. Find Aly at https://www.admissionsvillage.com. LINKS Considerations for Admissions to Highly Selective Colleges RELATED EPISODES ADMISSIONS INSIGHTS FOR HIGHLY SELECTIVE UNIVERSITIES WHAT TO CHECK BEFORE SUBMITTING THAT COLLEGE APPLICATION 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.

Tests like the SAT and ACT are almost universally reviled by those who deem the tests not only worthless and self-referential but also key agents in educational inequality. But does the evidence actually support those bold claims? Amy and Mike invited author and academic Freddie deBoer to dispel five myths about standardized tests. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Aren't admissions exams just wealth tests? Can superior test scores be bought? Do SAT and ACT scores really predict college success? Is it true that the SATs only tell you how well a student takes the SAT. Is it true that test-optional policies increase racial diversity at colleges? MEET OUR GUEST Freddie deBoer is a writer and academic. He is the author of the book The Cult of Smart. He lives in Brooklyn. Find Freddie at https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/. LINKS You Aren't Actually Mad at the SATs RELATED EPISODES WHY GRADE INFLATION IS HARMFUL HOW SAT AND ACT SCORES HIGHLIGHT EDUCATIONAL INEQUITY DO TEST-OPTIONAL POLICIES DRIVE EQUITY? 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 Sheri Elmore is the Vice President of LEAP. Growing up in Cincinnati, graduating from Sycamore High School then Miami University, teaching high school mathematics for 12 years, and earning a master's degree in educational administration from Wright State University, all paved the way for Sheri to be an integral leader at LEAP. Sheri started with LEAP as a tutor in the early years of the company. She has added additional responsibilities over the years. In 2009, Sheri was elevated to Vice President of LEAP and serves as LEAP's ACT-SAT Director. Sheri works closely with families to put together highly individualized testing timelines and prep plans for students to reach full testing potential. Most days Sheri is found engaging with clients by phone, email, and in-person presenting for LEAP and at local schools. Sheri and her husband, Bill, reside in Lewis Center north of Columbus where their three boys attend school and are active in a variety of extracurricular activities. Her oldest son is now in college. Find Sheri 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 Vince Kotchian, who grew up in small-town Connecticut and completed the honors program at Boston College, graduating with a B.A. in English Literature. Vince moved to San Diego in 2007 and has been working full-time as a test-prep tutor ever since. Vince has scored a perfect 170 in verbal (twice) and a 167 in quant on the GRE. He is the founder of both Vince Kotchian Test Prep and GRE Verbal Precision. Over the years, Vince has written some test-prep books and courses, but still enjoys GRE tutoring: "When a student texts me that she aced the test or got into her reach program, I still literally jump up and down and grin." In his spare time, Vince likes traveling using miles and points (Japan is his favorite country to visit), reading (favorite authors include Haruki Murakami, Karl Ove Knausgaard, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, and Philip Pullman), watching The Great British Bake-Off (and sometimes actually baking things), hiking and camping, and rooting for the Red Sox and Patriots. Vince first appeared on the podcast on episode #197 to talk All About The GRE. Find Vince at Vince Kotchian Test Prep. 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 Robin Satty, Ph.D., a graduate of Brown University with an Sc.B and Sc.M 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 in the evenings. Since earning an Ed.D 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 a certified teacher in three states and several subjects. She has contributed to several books on test prep and is currently working on an ACT Science workbook. She has developed NGSS- and CCSS-aligned STEM curriculum and consulted on STEM programs across the US. Robin's strengths lie in efficiently collecting data to determine the highest-leverage ways to help individuals and programs reach their goals, including higher grades and scores for an individual, improved learning in a school, or better teacher satisfaction and retention in a district. Find Robin at https://stemsmartconsulting.com or [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 Alexis Avila, the founder of Prepped and Polished tutoring and test preparation in 1999. Headquartered in South Natick, the company helps elementary, secondary, college-level and adult students improve their grades and test scores and has served thousands of students across the globe. Through his 20+ years in business, Avila has been an innovator within the tutoring industry, creating over 300 free math, English, and test prep resources through his YouTube channel and podcast. The podcast is also a resource to help families deal with stress, make the most of time during quarantine, and demystify the college admissions process. Alexis's commitment to community extends beyond his company. He's a member of the Wellesley Chamber of Commerce board of directors, was one of five finalists for Big Brother of the Year through Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America, and is involved with Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Mass Mentoring and Community Servings. He was recently honored as one of the 50 most influential business people of color by Newton Needham Regional Chamber. Find Alexis at http://www.preppedandpolished.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 Laura Link, the founder of Link Private Tutoring. Laura is passionate about meeting every student where they are so they can access opportunities that fulfill their dreams. As a sought-after test prep expert, Laura has traveled the United States training teachers how to help students raise their ACT and SAT scores. Now, she is both a full-time ACT Prep teacher in a Louisiana public school as well as an active tutor helping students earn the scores they deserve so they can get into the schools they dream of. Laura has also created the online course The Link Method to ACEing the ACT. Laura is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. Find Laura at www.Facebook.com/linkprivatetutoring. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Tutors may be part of the educational ecosystem of any district, state, or country, but they tend to be forgotten when celebrations roll around. Don't tutors deserve better? Amy and Mike invited educators Julia Silver and Ludo Millar to announce the inaugural World Tutors' Day. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is World Tutors' Day? Why do we need a World Tutors' Day? How will World Tutors' Day provide a mechanism to express gratitude to tutors? What is the Love Tutoring Festival, and how will Amy and Mike be involved? How much of the Love Tutoring Festival events will be free to all attendees? MEET OUR GUESTS Julia Silver BA, QTS, NPQH is passionate about unlocking learning. Julia launched Qualified Tutor to enable tutors to improve outcomes for all our students. Julia is Senior Leader in a primary school in London, has been tutoring for fifteen years and has children ranging in age from 4 to 14. Julia first appeared on the podcast on episode #170 to share The 4 P's of Student Engagement. Ludo Millar has been involved in tutoring for almost 10 years now, first working as a tutor for primary school children in his local area in 2014. Since then, after graduating from university, he's helped develop Qualified Tutor into what it is today: a wide and welcoming tutoring community, training provider and quality mark for tutors all around the world. With a background in languages, Ludo spent a year working for a start-up in Paris in 2018, learning the ropes at a small but ambitious sports booking company - it is this entrepreneurial attitude that has helped him grow QT from its earliest days in September 2019. Now, as Love Tutoring Festival Director, he's ready to raise the profile of tutoring to another level Find Julia and Ludo at https://qualifiedtutor.org/. LINKS World Tutors' Day Love Tutoring Festival (Use the code FestTestsAndTheRest for a 10% discount) Qualified Tutor RELATED EPISODES TUTOR SELF-CARE INTRODUCING THE NATIONAL TEST PREP ASSOCIATION LEGAL ISSUES FOR EDUCATIONAL ENTERPRISES (PART 1) ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

In an era when every other aspect of education has integrated at least some digital component, can we really expect standardized tests to stay the same as they have since the mid-20th century? Amy and Mike invited researcher Benjamin Backes to compare paper- and computer-based testing. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why are so many tests being moved to digital platforms? In what meaningful ways are traditional paper- and computer-based tests different? Do students score equally well on both platforms? What testing challenges are exacerbated by computer-based testing? How does computer-based testing impact English-language learners? MEET OUR GUEST Benjamin Backes is a senior researcher at the American Institute for Research, where he has been since finishing graduate school in 2012. His training was in economics and he conducts education policy research using large-scale student-level administrative data from states and school districts. His interest in this topic grew out of a research partnership with the department of elementary and secondary education in Massachusetts, where they were interested in the impacts of changing standards and assessments on measured student performance. Find Ben at [email protected]. LINKS Is the pen mightier than the keyboard? The effect of online testing on measured student achievement Is Online a Better Baseline? Comparing the Predictive Validity of Computer- and Paper-Based Tests Pencils Down? Computerized Testing and Student Achievement RELATED EPISODES ACT SUPERSCORING AND SECTION RETESTING HOW DOES REMOTE PROCTORING ACTUALLY WORK? PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF TESTING ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The SAT and ACT test a plethora of math, reading, and writing skills drawn from the full extent of a K-11 academic career. Considering the breadth of expertise required, are there certain areas students should go deep? Amy and Mike invited educator Jennifer Winward to identify high-priority SAT and ACT topics? What are five things you will learn in this episode? What can be learned from analyzing official released SAT and ACT exams? What are the most important grammar and writing rules to learn for the tests? Which reading skills mean the most on the tests? What are the highest priority math content and skills to learn for the tests? What other essential insights has analysis of official exams revealed? MEET OUR GUEST Dr. Jennifer Winward earned her Ph.D. with a dual emphasis in Neuroscience and Developmental Neuropsychology from University of California, San Diego. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude (top 1%) with highest distinction honors. She is a distinguished teaching professor at UCSD, renowned 20-year veteran of high school tutoring, and the founder and CEO of Winward Academy. Jennifer has been widely recognized for her academic success, published research, and service efforts with awards from the President of the United States, the California State Assembly, Rotary International, the Marin County School Administrator Association, the American Psychological Association, and the National Science Foundation. She has been honored as San Diego's most influential education leader, as Top 40 Under 40 in San Diego, as Top 35 Under 35 nationally, and as a Top 5 Female Entrepreneur in IT. She was featured in Forbes to provide the top tips for success in college applications and in Entrepreneur as a prominent leader in U.S. education. She was also selected as a Top 20 Most Dynamic CEO of 2020 for the unparalleled support she and Winward Academy have provided to families during school closures. Find Jennifer at [email protected]. LINKS How To Solve It: Math Problem Solving Strategies How Much Science Does ACT Science Require? RELATED EPISODES DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAT AND ACT GRAMMAR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAT AND ACT MATH DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAT AND ACT READING ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

When you hear "resume," you probably think (perhaps with a shudder) of applying for a job. But since a document like this serves as a succinct summary of someone's experience, educational background, and special skills, it also makes a surprising difference when applying to a school. Amy and Mike invited college counseling expert Judi Robinovitz to detail the process of crafting a college resume. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How important is it for a high school student to create a resume for college admissions? What should a college resume look like both digitally and physically? How do verbs like initiate, lead, collaborate, and solve matter on your resume? What can students do to build a resume under unusual circumstances? How does building a high school resume help students later? MEET OUR GUESTS Judi Robinovitz is a Certified Educational Planner with more than thirty-five years of experience in college counseling and school placements. She is the author of numerous articles, books, and software products on educational planning and test preparation. Judi has been a featured speaker at national educational conferences, schools, and places of worship. To keep pace with current educational trends, Judi continually travels across the country to visit dozens of college and boarding school campuses every year. She has acquired vast knowledge of the admissions process as well as the requirements and specialties of hundreds of educational institutions. Since 1980, she and her team have successfully guided more than 8,000 students – from those at the very top of their class to students experiencing significant academic struggles – and their families through the planning and application process for private school, college, and graduate school. Judi specializes in guiding students applying to prestigious double-degree BS-MD programs and the nation's most selective universities as well as colleges that best serve mid-range students and those with learning disabilities. During her 23-year tenure at Educational Testing Service, Judi served as technical liaison to the College Board. She designed and led the programming team to implement the College Board's first SAT-prep software; she also wrote strategy chapters of their original SAT-prep books. Taking the SAT numerous times throughout her career, Judi has several perfect 800 scores on her record. As a founding faculty member of two private schools in Boca Raton, Florida, Judi created their college guidance programs and served as Director of College Guidance to the first four graduating classes of each school. Judi founded Score At The Top Learning Centers & Schools in South Florida. Accredited by AdvancED and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the learning centers provide academic tutoring, SAT & ACT preparation, and courses for credit to over 1,000 students every year, both in person and via Skype. The accredited schools are home to more than 180 full-time students who thrive in intentionally small classes ranging in size from one to eight students. Judi is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, the Higher Education Consultants Association, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the Secondary School Admissions Test Board, and the Learning Disabilities Association of America. Judi earned degrees in mathematics and computer science from the University of Connecticut and Rutgers University, both with highest honors. Her professional life has been devoted to helping students achieve academic success. Judi first appeared on our podcast in episode 139 to discuss Building an A+ Extracurricular Resume. Find Judi at [email protected] LINKS Should I Upload a Résumé with my College Applications? Present a Consistent Picture of Yourself in Your College Applications RELATED EPISODES BUILDING AN A+ EXTRACURRICULAR RESUME CREATING A PASSION 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.

While the College Board and ACT have become synonymous with the SAT and ACT respectively, the test makers strive to contribute much more than their flagship exams to the challenges of education, equity, and college and career readiness. Amy and Mike invited journalist Jon Marcus to explore all the ways College Board and ACT are changing. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are some little-known but substantial aspects of the test makers' business models? What are the College Board and ACT doing to diversify? How successful have these organizations been in pivoting from their flagship exams? What threats and challenges do the test makers face? Are the SAT & ACT going away any time soon? MEET OUR GUEST Jon Marcus is a higher-education editor at The Hechinger Report and also writes for The Washington Post, The New York Times, Wired, NPR, and other magazines, newspapers, and websites. Marcus holds a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree from Bates College, and attended Oxford University. He teaches journalism at Boston College and Northeastern University. Find Jon at [email protected] or on Twitter at @jonmarcusboston. LINKS A Test for the Test Makers As admissions season descends, wealthier applicants again have the advantage Desperate for students, colleges resort to previously banned recruiting tactics RELATED EPISODES WHAT COLLEGE BOARD AND ACT ARE DOING RIGHT KEEPING STUDENT DATA PRIVATE 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.

Traditional schooling challenges even the most diligent learners, let alone those with attention deficit or hyperactivity. Luckily, there are a host of practical skills and strategies students can learn to make schooling more productive and successful. Amy and Mike invited academic coach Wendy Weinberger to explain the connections between executive function and ADHD. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What makes executive function skills so essential for teens and young adults? What particular executive function challenges does ADHD cause? Which executive function skills help students with ADHD learn more effectively? How can students with ADHD develop these skills? How do routines and automaticity support efficient use of time and energy? MEET OUR GUEST Wendy Weinberger is the President & Co-Founder of Illuminos Academic Coaching & Tutoring, a passion project born from her experiences growing up with numerous family members with ADHD. When a child close to her received the same diagnosis, she not only worked hard to help him overcome the many challenges, but decided to bring her cousin Evan's academic coaching business to the DC area to help students in her community with similar struggles. A lifelong supporter of children's causes, Wendy has been a long-time advocate for the Children's Hospital and has raised more than $550,000 for the facility. Wendy holds a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center, and a BS, cum laude, from the University of Maryland. Prior to founding Illuminos, she spent 25 years as an attorney, General Counsel, and COO of publicly traded companies gaining a broad range of experiences that she leverages today in managing Illuminos. Find Wendy at https://www.illuminos.co/ LINKS Understanding an ADHD Student How to Get Organized timetimer.com RELATED EPISODES EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IN TEENS TEST PREP FOR STUDENTS WITH ACCOMMODATIONS COLLEGE ADMISSIONS FOR TWICE-EXCEPTIONAL LEARNERS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs both set the standard for academic rigor in high school. But is one of them clearly better than the other? Amy and Mike invited educators Garry and Christy Shriver to analyze the choice between AP and IB programs. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the benefits of the Advanced Placement (AB) program? What are the benefits of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program? In what ways are the AP and IB programs superior to each other? Which program do US colleges seem to respect more? What role and forms do testing play in both programs? MEET OUR GUESTS Garry and Christy Shriver are educators from Memphis, TN. Currently, they produce the How to Love Lit Podcast, a tool to support IB and AP students in preparation for their exams. They both have been teaching both AP and IB in public and private schools in the Memphis area for the last 20 years. Christy graduated from the Escola Americana de Belo Horizonte as an IB student and has lived much of her life internationally, primarily in the country of Brazil. Although she is a strong advocate of the IB program, she is currently an AP Language teacher and AP reader. Garry is a consultant for the College Board in AP psychology, serving as a question writer and member of the rubric team. Garry is a strong advocate of the AP program. Find Garry and Christy at https://www.howtolovelitpodcast.com/. LINKS International Baccalaureate Website Advanced Placement Program IB vs. AP vs. AICE programs RELATED EPISODES TO IB OR NOT TO IB 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.

Optimal performance in sports requires careful attention to nutrition. Why should optimal performance on grueling tests be any different? Amy and Mike invited dietitian nutritionist Hannah Byrne to recommend what to eat and not eat for test day. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What dietary considerations are important in the weeks leading up to a big test? What should test takers eat on the morning of a big test? How can diet and nutrition help test takers to excel? What snacks should test takers either add or avoid? Is caffeine a good or bad idea on test day? MEET OUR GUEST Hannah Byrne is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics with a specialization in Health Promotion at Michigan State University and her Master of Science in Dietetics at D'Youville College. Hannah is the owner of Hannah Byrne Nutrition, where she meets with clients individually to counsel them on medical nutrition therapy. The goal of her practice is to help clients achieve their health and wellness goals while also realizing that eating healthy is not only optimal for living their best life, but also can be really simple and fun. Find Hannah at https://www.hannahbyrnenutrition.com/. LINKS Ask the NTPA Experts: What to Eat on Test Day? Brain Food: Go Nuts for High Scores Build Your Willpower to Improve Your Scores RELATED EPISODES HELPING TEENS GET THE SLEEP THEY NEED USING MINDFULNESS FOR TEST AND SCHOOL SUCCESS HOW TEST PREP AND SPORTS ARE SIMILAR ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The end of college doesn't necessarily mean the end of testing, as anyone who aspires to business, law, or graduate school knows well. Amy and Mike invited educator Vince Kotchian to speak in-depth about the GRE. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the GRE? What kinds of schools or programs use the GRE for admissions? When should students prepare for and take the GRE? How does the GRE resemble and differ from the SAT or ACT? What should test takers know about the computer-based format of the GRE? MEET OUR GUEST Vince Kotchian grew up in small-town Connecticut and completed the honors program at Boston College, graduating with a B.A. in English Literature. He moved to San Diego in 2007 and has been working full-time as a test-prep tutor ever since. Vince has scored a perfect 170 in verbal (twice) and a 167 in quant on the GRE. He is the founder of both Vince Kotchian Test Prep and GRE Verbal Precision. Over the years, Vince has written some test-prep books and courses, but still enjoys GRE tutoring: "When a student texts me that she aced the test or got into her reach program, I still literally jump up and down and grin." In his spare time, Vince likes traveling using miles and points (Japan is his favorite country to visit), reading (favorite authors include Haruki Murakami, Karl Ove Knausgaard, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, and Philip Pullman), watching The Great British Bake-Off (and sometimes actually baking things), hiking and camping, and rooting for the Red Sox and Patriots. Find Vince at Vince Kotchian Test Prep. LINKS About the GRE General Test RELATED EPISODES THE INNER GAME OF TESTING GETTING INTO BUSINESS SCHOOL THE ROAD TO A PERFECT SCORE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Too many students believe that the process of putting together highly selective college applications should be a joyless grind. Why not follow your bliss to the school of your choice? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Julie Kim to share her passion for Passion Projects. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How has the extracurricular landscape changed in admissions over the last decade? Why don't traditional methods ensure that students get accepted into colleges? How can students create their own stand-out factor, even without any "unique" qualities? What important questions do properly conceived Passion Projects answer about a student? Do Passion Projects need to be directly linked to stated major or career aspirations? 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. Find Julie at https://juliekimconsulting.com/masterclass. LINKS 4 Steps for Creating Your Passion Project RELATED EPISODES BUILDING AN A+ EXTRACURRICULAR RESUME COLLEGE DECLASSIFIED: WHAT HIGH SCHOOLERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE NEXT LEVEL THE MAKING CARING COMMON PROJECT 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 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 masters 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. Find Shane at http://bybeecollegeprep.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 Ariel Akselrad Lieberman, the founder of Your Best Prep, a tutoring company based in Westchester County, NY that helps high school students, both neurotypical and those with learning differences, master the standardized test prep process and achieve their academic goals. Prior to founding Your Best Prep, Ariel wrote SAT and AP curriculum for Ivy Consulting Group in New York City, where she also worked as a GED tutor for young adults in the criminal justice system as a member of the Ivy League Tutors Foundation. Ariel has an M.Ed from Manhattanville College School of Education, where she studied Secondary Special Education and was a recipient of the Dean's Award for Innovative Teaching, and a B.A. in history from SUNY-Purchase College, from which she graduated summa cum laude. Ariel is currently pursuing a Professional Certificate in Learning Differences (LD) and Neurodiversity with a Specialization in Executive Function through the Landmark College Institute for Research & Training. Find Ariel at http://www.yourbestprep.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 Christopher Sanderson is Sanderson Test Prep's Founder and President. In 2011, when starting STP, Chris established a company and elite teaching team that caters to academically competitive students who are serious about success. Chris was born in Miami, FL and attended the University of Notre Dame. Prior to founding Sanderson Test Prep, Chris taught for Kaplan where he was responsible for hiring and training new teachers and was twice named Teacher of the Year. He now lives in San Antonio with his wife and their 3 dogs 🙂 Chris specializes in a wide variety of academic subject areas and standardized tests. Find Christopher at https://sandersontestprep.com/ or 305-878-TEST. 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 Carmen Fernández de Tarrago, the founder of SATPrep DR, based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. A high school math teacher with 25+ years of experience, Carmen is a provider of test preparation tutoring and classes for the SAT/ACT and academic tutoring in math. She is devoted to helping students improve their math SAT scores and for the last 5 years, many of her students have scored perfect or nearly perfect scores on the SAT getting accepted to Ivy League schools and receiving handsome scholarship money as a result of their scores. Carmen earned her B.A. in Economics at PUCMM in Santo Domingo and her M.S. Ed. from Framingham State University. Find Carmen at [email protected], 829-272-5914 or IG @SATPREP_DR if you want to get a peek at what goes on in her classes. 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 Scott Greenspan, the founder/president of Span Test Prep in Glenview IL, which is located in the north suburbs of Chicago. For the last 25 years, Scott has helped over 4000 students reach their goals on the ACT and SAT. He especially enjoys working with his students on motivation, mindfulness, and mastery of the content. He and his staff also do academic tutoring and college admissions coaching. Scott is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with a BA in math, and he earned an MA in teaching from North Park University. His hobbies include tennis, skiing, and hiking. Find Scott at [email protected] or https://www.spantestprep.com/. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

We all know that college costs. But how much will a semester at a given college cost for you? Will that tuition differ from what others pay? Why is college so expensive anyway? Amy and Mike invited author and columnist Ron Lieber to explain the price you really pay for college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does college cost so much, and who is paying the full sticker price? Why and how has the financial aid system gotten so complicated? How does conventional wisdom about merit aid diverge from reality? What practical considerations should drive financial decisions when choosing schools? Why are the criteria of education, kinship, and credential so central to college decisions? MEET OUR GUEST Ron Lieber is the author of The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money, which was an instant New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller when it was released in 2015. The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make was published by HarperCollins in January, 2021. Ron has been the "Your Money" columnist for The New York Times since 2008. Before coming to The Times, he wrote the "Green Thumb" personal finance column for The Wall Street Journal and was part of the startup team at the paper's Personal Journal section. Ron's first book Taking Time Off: Inspiring Stories of Students Who Enjoyed Successful Breaks from College and How You Can Plan Your Own, co-authored with Colin Hall, was a New York Times bestseller in 1996. He also wrote Upstart Start­-Ups, a book for young entrepreneurs, and was the co-author of a guidebook to the best entry­-level jobs in the United States. Ron is a graduate of Francis Parker School in Chicago and Amherst College. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with his wife, the author and New York Times investigative reporter Jodi Kantor, and their two daughters. Find Ron at https://ronlieber.com/. LINKS The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make How to Predict Merit Aid in a Strange College Application Season RELATED EPISODES 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLANS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STUDENT LOANS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FAFSA & CSS PROFILE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The global pandemic changed nearly everything about schooling and testing. One aspect of the academic experience, however, that might not have changed has been the willingness of some students to misrepresent their knowledge or understanding in order to earn better grades. Amy and Mike invited testing expert Jarret Dyer to share research regarding the growing impact of cheating during COVID. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Do students take tests differently based on whether they are proctored or not? How has the global pandemic weakened objective assessments of academic ability? Why are accurate assessments essential for admissions, placement, and readiness? What dangers of self-placement to both students and institutions? How important are test proctors? MEET OUR GUEST Jarret Dyer is an experienced Testing Center Administrator with over 18 years of industry experience. He is the Past-President of the National College Testing Association (NCTA), Executive Committee Member and serves as Co-Chair of the ATP-NCTA Remote Proctoring (e- Proctoring) Standards Joint Management Committee. He has been a featured speaker, debate panelist and industry expert on remote proctoring and test administration. He has consulted, developed and implemented test security plans for major US transportation agencies. His research interests focus on test administration, test security, and academic integrity. His most recent publication focused on how the testing environment impacts students' decisions to cheat. Jarret serves on multiple industry committees, including the Test Proctor Certification (NCTA), Online Proctoring Standards and Proctoring Best Practices (NCTA/ATP) committees. He frequently presents at NCTA, Association of Test Publishers (ATP), European Network of Academic Integrity (ENAI), European Association of Test Publishers (E-ATP) and the Conference on Test Security (COTS). Find Jarret at [email protected] or https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarretdyer/. LINKS Want to stop student cheating? Then stop giving tacit permission A Spike in Cheating Since the Move to Remote? Contract cheating by STEM students through a file sharing website: a Covid-19 pandemic perspective Test Proctors Share All: Stories From The Frontlines of Testing Study Reveals Disconnect Between Colleges' and Students' Perceptions About Cheating RELATED EPISODES HOW DOES REMOTE PROCTORING ACTUALLY WORK? THE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY ARMS RACE THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Pronounced differences in standardized test scores often manifest across racial and socioeconomic segments of districts, states, and the U.S. as a whole. Does this mean the tests are biased, or can the bias be found elsewhere? Amy and Mike invited educator Eva Addae to explain how SAT and ACT scores highlight educational inequity. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the historical narrative about college entrance exams and bias? How do test makers keep bias out of test items? Is the racial gap in educational outcomes real and measurable? What societal factors contribute to educational inequity? Why is addressing rather than ignoring the fundamental causes of inequality in our system so critical? MEET OUR GUEST Eva Addae is a Partner at Summit Prep LLC and a graduate from the University of Chicago. Following some time in the corporate world, she discovered her passion for teaching when she led a few local students in achieving incredible success on their SATs & ACTs. Dissatisfied with the "one size fits all" approach to tutoring, Eva set out to create modern teaching methodologies, techniques and motivating systems that reflect the same process. Along with her business partner, David, they developed the company's Adaptive Learning Indexes from over 20 years of past SATs & ACTs. A decade and hundreds of students later, she proudly boasts an average score increase of 8 points on the ACT and 220 points on the SAT. Her personal philosophy is "only by knowing how one learns can knowledge be imbued and the joy of education discovered." Find Eva by emailing [email protected]. LINKS The Future of Educational Inequality in the United States Schools are still segregated, and black children are paying a price National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Back to school statistics (2020-21) Widening Racial Scoring Gap on the SAT College Admissions Test RELATED EPISODES DO TEST OPTIONAL POLICIES DRIVE EQUITY? THE SAT AND ACT ARE CLASSIST NOT RACIST WHY THE SAT AND ACT ARE AWESOME ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

We all know how valuable scholarship awards can be in defraying the high cost of education. But how many applicants recognize how often colleges subtract from their own aid packages the exact amounts students report in external scholarship funds? Amy and Mike invited scholarship expert Ken Downs to shed light on the mysterious phenomenon of scholarship displacement. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What exactly is scholarship displacement? Why does scholarship displacement occur and how does it impact students? What are the best ways to find out which schools follow a displacement policy? What are providers doing to get around displacement and help their scholars? Is scholarship displacement legal? MEET OUR GUEST Evangelizing how technology and best practices can remove friction for students, schools, and organizations in the scholarship and financial aid space, Ken Downs is Product Evangelist at CampusLogic. He was instrumental in leading the development of the University of Arizona's national award-winning ScholarshipUniverse product, now part of CampusLogic's platform. A longstanding member of the National Scholarship Provider's Association, Ken has given workshops titled Big Data and the Coming Scholarship Sea Change, Scholarship Hacking—Cutting the Gordian Knot, and the Scholarship Universe Story. Find Ken on LinkedIn. LINKS Winning a Scholarship is Awesome – Until It Isn't Scholarship Award Displacement SAVE OUR SCHOLARSHIPS: BAN SCHOLARSHIP AWARD DISPLACEMENT National Scholarship Providers Association RELATED EPISODES HOW TO WIN LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS LOOKING FOR A FULL RIDE PSAT AND THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROCESS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

When more selective schools open doors to more substantial opportunities--and compensation-- gaining admission to the right MBA programs can be serious business! Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Brett Ethridge to share the most current guidance on getting into business school. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Do college majors matter to business school? What admissions tests do business schools accept? What is the optimal timeline for applying to MBA and related programs? How much does work experience matter in this process? How can applicants demonstrate leadership in their applications? MEET OUR GUEST After graduating from Duke University with a degree in Public Policy, Brett Ethridge spent two years in Madagascar doing community health education with the U.S. Peace Corps. Upon his return to the States, he helped launch a PR/marketing firm in Washington, D.C. before heading to graduate school where he earned a MA in International Finance and Economic Development from the University of Denver. Dominate Test Prep, LLC is a leading provider of online GMAT and GRE test preparation courses and lessons to empower prospective MBAs and graduate school students to get into the programs of their choice. Dominate Test Prep is the parent company for Dominate the GMAT (www.dominatethegmat.com) and Dominate the GRE (www.dominatethegre.com) which have helped thousands of happy clients from around the world boost their scores on these all-important standardized tests so that they can pursue their dreams and future life aspirations, starting with higher education. Brett is also proud to be an Associate Member of AIGAC, the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants. In addition to founding Dominate Test Prep, Brett also operates successful nutrition and stock trading businesses. He is a huge Duke basketball fan, an avid tennis player, and a budding CrossFit athlete. Brett first appeared on our podcast in episode 84 to discuss The Inner Game of Testing. Find Brett at [email protected] or visit http://dominatetestprep.com. LINKS About the Executive Assessment Proven Principles of Perfect Practice RELATED EPISODES WRITING RHETORICALLY IN ADMISSIONS ESSAYS LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: GOOD VS. GREAT WHAT EVERY PRE-MED MAJOR SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

While teachers generally want students to be ready for the quizzes, exams, and finals associated with their curriculum, most shy away from focusing on state or national assessments. Too bad, really, when school is the perfect place to prepare for any test. Amy and Mike invited educator Laura Link to extol the virtues of incorporating test prep into the high school classroom. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How can educators reconcile readiness standards and state or district standards? When is teaching to the test considered a good thing? How can teachers gain needed familiarity in the SAT & ACT? What are practical ways to incorporate test prep without stealing time from your core curriculum? In what ways do students benefit when their teachers incorporate test material into classroom instruction? MEET OUR GUEST Laura Link, the founder of Link Private Tutoring, is passionate about meeting every student where they are so they can access opportunities that fulfill their dreams. As a sought-after test prep expert, Laura has traveled the United States training teachers how to help students raise their ACT and SAT scores. Now, she is both a full-time ACT Prep teacher in a Louisiana public school as well as an active tutor helping students earn the scores they deserve so they can get into the schools they dream of. Laura has also created the online course The Link Method to ACEing the ACT. Laura is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. Find Laura at www.Facebook.com/linkprivatetutoring. LINKS ACT Certified Educator Program RELATED EPISODES HOW TESTS DRIVE LEARNING TRACKING COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE LEVELS ON THE SAT AND ACT ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Leaders inspire others to make things happen. Colleges want students who make things happen. Seems like a natural fit, right? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Lt. Col. Lisa Hillhouse to discuss how and why to demonstrate leadership in college applications. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does leadership matter to colleges? How is leadership defined in this context? How can students demonstrate leadership in their college applications? Are titles necessary to demonstrate leadership? How can teens develop leadership ability? MEET OUR GUEST Lt. Col. Lisa Hillhouse is an independent educational consultant and the founder of Hillhouse College and Career Advising, based in Atlanta. Prior to launching her practice, Lisa retired from the Air Force after 26 years of active duty and reserve service. Much of that time focused on officer recruitment and leadership development. Lisa began her admissions journey with a special assignment to Air Force ROTC at the University of California, Berkeley. She loved educating and mentoring young leaders and continued that work at the United States Air Force Academy as a deputy liaison officer director and admissions liaison officer. There she helped lead and manage one of the largest recruiting areas in the nation while evaluating and developing candidates for military careers. While in college, Lisa enrolled in AFROTC and went on to earn a scholarship and a commission. Lisa has a Bachelor's degree in Politics from Assumption College, a Master's degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma, and a College and Career Planning graduate certificate from the University of California, Berkeley. Lisa is nationally recognized for her expertise and specialty of guiding and supporting students through the complex process of becoming commissioned officers. Many of her students are focused on earning ROTC scholarships, military service academy appointments, or becoming officer training school candidates. Lisa also collaborates with other consultants around the country. She frequently presents at admissions conferences and webinars and has served as a guest presenter for college advising courses. Lisa first appeared on our podcast in episode 104 to discuss Applying To A Military Academy. You can find out more about Lisa at www.HillhouseCollegeAdvising.com. LINKS TED Talks: Simon Sinek RELATED EPISODES THE MAKING CARING COMMON PROJECT BUILDING AN A+ EXTRACURRICULAR RESUME 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.

The road to college ideally ends when a student arrives at a school that aligns perfectly with both fit and ambition. So why do so many parents take the wheel? Amy and Mike invited educational planner Kristina L. Dooley to explore the role of parents in the college process. What are five things you will learn in this episode? In what ways can parents support their child's exploration of possible careers/majors? How can parents provide feedback on potential college options without making the list their own? How can parents discuss affordability with their child when considering college options? What role should a parent take in reviewing a child's application materials or essays? How can parents support their child when faced with college rejection? MEET OUR GUEST Kristina L. Dooley is a Certified Educational Planner (CEP) and founder of Estrela Consulting, an Ohio-based independent educational consulting firm. Kristina has more than 20 years of experience working with students from around the world navigating the complex college and school search processes. Prior to launching Estrela Consulting in 2008, Kristina served as the Assistant Director of Admission at Hiram College (OH) and as the Director of Admission and Marketing at Andrews Osborne Academy (OH). A first-generation college student, she is a graduate of Hiram College (B.A.) and Kent State University (M.A.). In addition to her work with students, Kristina is an instructor for the University of California Irvine teaching College Consulting Resources and also serves as a faculty member of the IECA Summer Training Institute for aspiring educational consultants. An expert in her field, Kristina has contributed to several websites, books, and magazines on education-related topics. A sought after speaker, Kristina presents at conferences around the country each year. Kristina is the President of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and holds membership in AICEP, NACAC, HECA, and the Ohio and International Associations for College Admission Counseling (OACAC & IACAC). In addition, Kristina is a member of the Hiram College Board of Visitors and the IECA Foundation Board. She has served on Admission Advisory Boards at several institutions including Lehigh University, Lynn University, and Washington and Jefferson College. In her free time, Kristina volunteers for Beyond Type 1 and JDRF, and serves as a mentor for College Now Greater Cleveland. Kristina resides in Northeast Ohio with her husband and their 10-year-old triplets. Find Kristina at http://www.estrelaconsulting.com/. LINKS The Truth About College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together College Conversations 5 College conversations you should have with your family NOW! RELATED EPISODES FAMILY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ADVOCACY FOR PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOLERS HOW PARENTS CAN BEST SUPPORT STUDENTS IN TEST PREP ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Keeping track of the newest social media platforms can be exhausting for many adults. Taking the time to figure out where teens focus their attention, though, offers a rare opportunity to deliver education they'll actually engage with. Amy and Mike invited educators Jackie Pollina and Josh Kariyev to open a window into the surprising world of test prep TikTok. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is TikTok? What makes TikTok an interesting platform to share educational content? How does the algorithm work for providers and viewers? How can an educator create worthwhile content on TikTok? What are valuable lessons learned from creating content on TikTok? MEET OUR GUESTS Jackie Pollina and Josh Kariyev are both the founders of J&J Test Prep, a company that prides itself on maintaining a modern, relatable feel for students. Jackie and Josh are both in their mid-20s, and, upon realizing that they had a knack for tutoring, turned down the traditional path to attend a graduate program and started their own business despite the cries from all around them that it was "too risky" at such a young age. Jackie graduated with a 4.0 GPA from Hofstra University, where she majored in Philosophy; Josh graduated with a 3.96 GPA from NYU, where he majored in Mathematics. Jackie and Josh, in maintaining a modern feel, run an academic TikTok account intended to get students more excited about learning as our world becomes increasingly digitized. Fun Fact: Jackie and Josh are high school sweethearts – they've been dating since they were 15 years old! Find Jackie Pollina and Josh Kariyev at https://www.jjtestprep.com/contact or on TikTok at @testpreptips - https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJaCVnq3/ LINKS SAT/ACT Fake Word Alert on TikTok 10 Second Coolest ACT Math Tip on TikTok RELATED EPISODES HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF ONLINE TEST PREP CREATING AND USING EDUCATIONAL WEBSITES EDTECH IN 2021: SEPARATING FADS FROM SUSTAINABLE CHANGES ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Every relationship depends on clear communication for success, including and especially those involving educators, students, and, when relevant, parents. Amy and Mike invited educational coach Michael Gibben to explore the concept of clarity in educational relationships. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does clarity mean in terms of educational relationships? Why is clarity so essential to successful outcomes? How can educators cultivate that essential clarity regarding both methods and objectives? What role does a parent or guardian play in this process? What can go wrong, and how can you restore clarity? MEET OUR GUEST Michael Gibben began his education journey as a private tutor and classroom teacher. With time, he felt he could better guide students in a one-on-one or small group setting. In 2011, he founded his mentor-tutoring company (I.M. Success Tutoring). Later he started coaching tutors using the techniques and approaches he used to grow his tutoring business. After 8 years with I.M. Success Tutoring, he decided to transition from being the owner of a tutoring company to being a full-time business coach for private tutors or tutor company owners eager to learn strategies to grow their tutoring businesses. Michael is also the founder of the private Tutoring Business Success Support Group on Facebook. Find Michael at www.coachfortutors.com or https://ca.linkedin.com/in/michael-gibben-28a6a346 LINKS Tutoring Business Success Support Group RELATED EPISODES ESSENTIALS OF CLIENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION HOW TEST PREP TUTORING SHOULD WORK COLLEGE ADVISING AND PREP BY VIDEOCONFERENCE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The global pandemic made standardized testing impractical for much of 2020. Before we get used to life without high-stakes exams--as lovely as that might sound--let's consider what we lose when we abandon objective academic assessments. Amy and Mike invited author and researcher Mike Petrilli to explicate the heightened need for testing in 2021. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What makes testing controversial? Why is 2021 different from other years? What is the value of standardized test scores in educational systems? Have standards changed during the pandemic period? In what ways are tests agents of equity and access? MEET OUR GUEST Mike Petrilli is president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, executive editor of Education Next, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow for Education Commission of the States. An award-winning writer, he is the author of The Diverse Schools Dilemma, editor of Education for Upward Mobility, and co-editor of How to Educate an American. Mike has published opinion pieces in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg View, and Slate, and appears frequently on television and radio. Petrilli helped to create the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement, the Policy Innovators in Education Network, and, long, long ago, Young Education Professionals. He serves on the advisory boards of the Association of American Educators, MDRC, and the National Association of Charter School Authorizers. He lives with his family in Bethesda, Maryland. Find Mike at https://fordhaminstitute.org/ or @MichaelPetrilli. LINKS Without tests in 2021, we'll never know which schools met the Covid-19 challenge RELATED EPISODES WHY GRADE INFLATION IS HARMFUL WHY TESTING STANDARDS MATTER DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER: WHAT TESTING TELLS US ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Civilization has never before known the wealth of inexpensive and accessible educational resources that we find on the modern web. However, finding a great site is only the first step in learning from it. Amy and Mike invited programmer Don Sevcik to clarify both using and creating educational websites. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are some of the best educational websites for teens and what traits do they share? How can students make the most of educational websites? What can parents and educators do to support learning through these sites? How does kaizen influence educational website design? How can educational website creators attract the right users? MEET OUR GUEST Don Sevcik is the founder of MathCelebrity, an automated online math tutoring website. MathCelebrity served 6.2 million parents and students in 2020 helping them step by step through 44 million math problems in a split second. Don has written 2 books on math tutoring and Search Engine Optimization. Don also tutors in math and programming. Find Don at http://www.mathcelebrity.com/ or www.linkedin.com/in/donsevcik. LINKS MathCelebrity Khan Academy ABC Mouse MathChops WolframAlpha IXL RELATED EPISODES HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF ONLINE TEST PREP USING STUDENT SELF-ANALYSIS TO IMPROVE INSTRUCTION EDTECH IN 2021: SEPARATING FADS FROM SUSTAINABLE CHANGES ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Why is it that so many of us know so much about APs but so little about IB? Amy and Mike invited college coach Kim Raybuck to explain not just what International Baccalaureate programs are, but where they fit in the continuum of academic rigor. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program and diploma? What are the advantages of participating in IB? How does IB compare to AP, AICE, and dual enrollment? Can college credit be awarded for IB work or test scores? Who should consider IB and who should not? MEET OUR GUEST Kim Raybuck lives in St. Augustine, FL and is the founder and owner of Raybuck College ProPlus, LLC. When her kids were in high school, Kim was a board member and participant on the IB Booster Club and the PTSO at Allen D. Nease Senior High School.As a member of the IB Booster Club board, Kim developed a set of monthly tips for parents of IB students from 9th through 12th grades to assist them as they navigate the college application process, which developed into the extensive knowledge base andpersonal experience that she brings to her college coaching practice. Over the past 4 years, Kim has coached over 130 high school and college students and has developed a thriving business network. In 2019, she established Raybuck College ProPlus, LLC and currently coaches high school students applying to college, current college students who are transferring schools, and undergraduates applying to graduate schools. Find Kim at [email protected]. LINKS International Baccalaureate Website - Advanced Placement Program Cambridge Assessment International Education (AICE) IB vs. AP vs. AICE programs RELATED EPISODES HIGH SCHOOL COURSE SELECTION AND ACADEMIC RIGOR CHOOSING HIGH SCHOOL MATH COURSES STRATEGICALLY ATTENDING UNIVERSITY IN EUROPE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.