Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

Community colleges have always served students and their surrounding municipalities and counties in ways that other educational institutions do not, and crisis conditions only amplify their impact. Amy and Mike invited Cuyahoga Community College Director Heidi Nicholas to highlight the crucial role of community colleges in the time of COVID-19. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How did the COVID crisis affect operations at community colleges in spring 2020? What does summer 2020 look like at some community colleges? What is the best guess about fall 2020 conditions at community college? Why do community colleges present such great educational opportunities during times of crisis? Why might community college be the smartest choice for college students in fall 2020? MEET OUR GUEST Heidi Nicholas is currently the District Director of Enrollment Management and Dual Enrollment at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to assuming this role, Heidi served in several positions at Tri-C; Completion Manager, Interim Assistant Dean of Students at both Eastern and Metro Campus, and Student Success Specialist. Prior to working at Tri-C, Heidi held positions in admissions and recruitment at several private colleges. Heidi's most notable achievements include the 2018 Cuyahoga Community College, President's Award for her contributions in increasing the IPEDS graduation rate and the 2013 Innovation of the Year Award by the League of Innovation. Heidi is active in the Kent State University Alumni Association and is a College Now Greater Cleveland professional mentor. Heidi graduated with her Bachelor's Degree from Kent State University and her Master's Degree in Adult Learning and Development from Cleveland State University. She has completed coursework toward a Doctorate in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University and is currently A.B.D. Find Heidi at [email protected] RELATED EPISODES ATTENDING A COMMUNITY COLLEGE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC FAMILY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

While we tend to focus on how much of an academic and social education college can offer, we tend to look past the professional skills students learn. To be fair, that's because they are rarely taught in the classroom! Amy and Mike invited student advocate and podcaster Justin Dzuy Nguyen to explain what high schoolers should know about the next level. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why do personal social networks matter more than ever before? What are the right ways for teens and young adults to build meaningful connections? What single action can set a young adult apart from the rest in professional interactions? How can you find the right communities offline and online? Why is "I'm just a highschooler," the wrong attitude in networking? MEET OUR GUEST Justin Dzuy Nguyen is the CEO of GetChoGrindUp, a movement looking to share the cheat codes to navigating college. He is also the host of Declassified College, a short-form podcast focused on helping college students succeed. Justin graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2018. He was rejected by over 50 internships before graduating with 5 internships and turned down a Big 4 consulting job offer to pursue helping students through GetChoGrindUp and LinkedIn consulting since graduation. Find Justin on LinkedIn. LINKS GetChoGrindUp What is the #1 question that you have about college? RELATED EPISODES DOES COLLEGE ENGAGEMENT MATTER MORE THAN SELECTIVITY? EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS AND TEST PREP YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH: SECRETS OF COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans provide paths to procure formal help for K-12 students who struggle in school. However, pursuing these plans can be an education in themselves. Amy and Mike invited parent advocate Mary Jo O'Neill to explain the intricacies of navigating an IEP or 504 plan. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the role of a parent advocate? What is the difference between a 504 and an IEP? How do you start the process to apply for a 504 and an IEP? Who qualifies and who doesn't for a 504 or an IEP? What happens if a student is denied a 504 or IEP? MEET OUR GUEST Special Education Advocate Mary Jo O'Neill, M.Ed., has a broad background in education. She began her career as a teacher in public and private schools, including Julie Billiart School. She was also an Advocate with Lawrence School. In addition to her time in the classroom, Mary Jo created a division within the Academic Support Center at Notre Dame College to provide quality educational opportunities and support services to students. Mary Jo most recently created her own consulting practice, in which she served as an Intervention Specialist and Parent Advocate for over ten years. She joined Hickman & Lowder in 2018. Mary Jo serves on the national board of the International Dyslexia Association and is an advisor for the local branch and is also a member of the Julie Billiart Network Board. She authored the Forward of Expect a Miracle by Sandy and David Petrovic, Infinity Publishing (2014). Mary Jo graduated cum laude from Vermont College of Norwich University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. She received her Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Cleveland State University. She is a Licensed Intervention Specialist: Mild to Moderate Learning Disabilities. Find Mary Jo at Hickman & Lowder at 216-861-0360. LINKS The Difference Between IEPs and 504 Plans What do all these special education acronyms mean? Using an ETR When Drafting an IEP How do I apply for testing accommodations? RELATED EPISODES TRANSITIONING YOUR IEP OR 504 PLAN TO COLLEGE TEST PREP FOR STUDENTS WITH ACCOMMODATIONS INCREASED COLLEGE COSTS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The COVID-19 continues to upend all of our assumptions about education, particularly in regard to advancing directly from high school to college. What other options exist when even traditional "pause" activities aren't viable? Amy and Mike invited entrepreneur Megan O'Connor to discuss gap year alternatives during COVID. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why might a student be wise to pause before entering college? How does the COVID-19 crisis impact college options? What options should students consider over enrolling in a four-year school? How can a structured work readiness program benefit college-aged students? Why can non-linear paths sometimes lead most swiftly to one's goals? MEET OUR GUEST Megan O'Connor is serving as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Kaplan, one of the world's largest and most diversified educational services providers. She is currently spearheading development of Kaplan's new Boost Year program, designed for pre-college students to help bridge the gap between the college experience and work readiness. Prior to joining Kaplan, Megan founded, led and sold Clark, a provider of end-to-end operation software, education services and coaching for teachers who want to grow their tutoring business. Before Clark, Megan was a founding partner of New York-based startup studio Human Ventures and Director of Development at the nonprofit Pencils of Promise. She has an MPA from NYU's Wagner School of Public Service and a BA from Santa Clara University. Find Megan on LinkedIn. LINKS https://boostbykaplan.com/ RELATED EPISODES WHY TAKE A GAP YEAR? COLLEGE ADMISSIONS DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC UPSIDE OF A SEMESTER ONLINE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Advocates of abolishing admissions tests claim that exams like the SAT and ACT discriminate against some populations while serving as proxy wealth tests. But do data or evidence support these positions? Amy and Mike invited student advocate Dr. Yoon S. Choi to analyze whether test optional policies drive equity. What are five things you will learn in this episode? If the test scores correlate highly with income and race, does eliminating tests address the underlying contributors to low scores? What does it mean to describe admissions tests as levers? What did the UC Regents get wrong about the implications of their own commissioned study? In what ways do standardized tests promote equity and access? Why must the K-12 educational system be considered in the larger conversation about college access and readiness? MEET OUR GUESTS Dr. Yoon S. Choi is CEO of CollegeSpring, a national nonprofit that helps schools and teachers provide free SAT and ACT prep to students from low-income backgrounds. She has over a decade of leadership, management, and fundraising experience, primarily with organizations serving underrepresented youth. In 2020, she was named a Presidential Leadership Scholar by the program led by the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson. She has published articles about testing and college access in Inside Higher Ed, The Hechinger Report, and EdSource. Yoon earned her doctorate in anthropology from the University of California at Irvine, as well as a master's degree from New York University and a bachelor's degree from Scripps College. Reach Yoon at https://collegespring.org/. LINKS Words Matter: Don't Go Test Optional, and If You Do, Call it Something Else Test Optional Won't Level the College Admissions Playing Field, RELATED EPISODES WHO BENEFITS MOST FROM TEST OPTIONAL POLICIES? COLLEGE ADVISING FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS WHY GRADE INFLATION IS HARMFUL ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Teaching, tutoring, training, and coaching all describe ways we give of ourselves to help others become better in one way or another. But how can we support others if we don't support ourselves? Amy and Mike invited three nationally recognized educators--Michael Jordan, Ben Sexton, and Bara Sapir--to sit on our Summer 2020 Summit panel on the importance of self-care for tutors and test prep professionals. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why is self-care important for tutors and test prep professionals? What do you mean when you think of self-care? How do you manage the stress of client conflict or disappointment? What do you advise regarding work-life balance? How do you handle toxic staff or client situations? MEET OUR GUESTS Bara Sapir, CEO/Founder of City Test Prep, is an internationally recognized expert in high-performance coaching, personal empowerment, and transformative test preparation. She has over 20 years of experience in the test preparation field, including six years as an instructor for The Princeton Review. Bara is a pioneer bringing holistic, mindful human potential techniques to the test preparation field, including teaching students effective ways to stay calm, focused and able to recall material learned. She does this through hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming, tapping, integrated life coaching, mindfulness, and more. A resident of Dover, MA, Ben Sexton graduated with a Philosophy degree from Skidmore College in 2004 and has been working in the tutoring and test preparation industry ever since. After running a one-man show from 2005-2012, Ben began Sexton Test Prep in earnest in 2012, when he attracted his wife as a manager and began hiring tutors. Since then, Sexton Test Prep has expanded to a company of 20 employees that serves nearly 500 students each year through its mix of one-one tutoring, classes, and bootcamps. Ben writes all of the SAT/ACT curriculum for STP and continues to work with as many students as is healthy for him. A native of Lawrence, Kansas, Michael Jordan is a National Merit Scholar and perfect-scorer on the SAT and ACT. After teaching high school band in Texas for four years, Michael branched out to test prep tutoring in 2013. He started hiring tutors in 2015, and since then, Michael Jordan College Prep has established itself as the leading provider of in-home test prep in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Michael is still a certified teacher as well as a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. Outside of running a test prep business, Michael enjoys running a competitive barbecue team, cooking with his wife, Ashleigh, playing with his dog, Ella, and planning world travels. LINKS Tests and the Rest Summer Summit 2020 RELATED EPISODES MENTAL TECHNIQUES FOR PEAK TEST PERFORMANCE THE INNER GAME OF TESTING USING MINDFULNESS FOR TEST AND SCHOOL SUCCESS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

How can educators ensure that students and their families understand not just important instructions and policies but also professionalism and a clear commitment to their success? Nothing beats clear communication early and often. Amy and Mike invited three nationally recognized test prep professionals--Laura Link, Andrea Kay McFarland, and Andre Kiss--to sit on our Summer 2020 Summit panel on the essentials of client-teacher communication. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is your philosophy regarding client-teacher communication? What information do you make sure parents know about their children? How quickly should student and parent messages be returned? What platforms and technology facilitate superior communication? In what ways can automation improve client-teacher communication? MEET OUR GUESTS As founder of Link Private Tutoring, Laura Link is so much more than a tutor: she's a certified teacher specializing in building students' strengths. In her 12 years helping students raise their test scores, Laura has discovered secrets that have helped thousands of students earn the ACT and SAT test scores that result in college acceptance and scholarship money. Parents and students alike will tell you that 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. Andrea Kay McFarland is the president and founder of Kay Tutoring. A Minnesota native, she has a Master's in Education from the University of Minnesota, attended Yale for her B.A. in History and graduated cum laude from The Blake School. Andrea is a credentialed social studies teacher and has experience working as a classroom teacher as well as in one-on-one settings. Starting out as a volunteer, Andrea discovered her passion for education and tutoring in 2000. Her professional tutoring career began in 2006, when she began providing formal academic and test prep tutoring. Andre Kiss is the founder and lead tutor for Critical Point Test Prep, which helps Philadelphia Area students get one step closer to their top-choice college with individualized SAT and ACT test prep. Andre is also the author of I Used to Hate the ACT, Too: How to Conquer the #1 College Admissions Test. LINKS Tests and the Rest Summer Summit 2020 Responding to Students: The 24-Hour Rule Six Messages Every Tutor Should Send Acuity Scheduling SMS-Magic Zoho Gmail Templates RELATED EPISODES HOW PARENTS CAN BEST SUPPORT STUDENTS IN TEST PREP WHAT MOTIVATES STUDENTS AND HOW TO ENGAGE THEM WHAT SAT & ACT DIAGNOSTIC TESTS CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Independent educational consultants and test prep professionals are natural partners, at least in theory. What are the keys to uncovering the kinds of productive synergies that benefit students, families, and everyone else involved? Amy and Mike invited three nationally recognized educational consultants--Judi Robinovitz, Lt. Col. Lisa Hillhouse, and Stacey Cunitz--to sit on our Summer 2020 Summit panel on how IECs and test prep professionals can work together. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why do IECs so often work in conjunction with test prep professionals? How large do these collaborative networks tend to be? What makes a test prep partner effective? Are referral bonuses ethical? What are the best ways to find a great IEC? MEET OUR GUESTS Judi Robinovitz, founder and co-owner of Score At The Top, which comprises several family-owned, full-service Learning Centers and schools throughout Palm Beach and Broward Counties. Judi is a Certified Educational Planner with more than 30 years of experience in education. Specializing in educational counseling, she is the author of numerous books, articles, and software on test preparation and college planning. She has been a featured speaker at national educational conferences and schools. 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 is nationally recognized for her expertise and specialty of guiding and supporting students through the complex process of becoming commissioned officers. Stacey Cunitz, founder and director of Blue Moon Educational Consulting, earned her BA in Literature and Creative Writing from Barnard College, Columbia University. She went on to earn an MA in Secondary English Education at New York University and a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA. In 2018, she became a Certified Educational Planner. She is an active member of Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC), and the Pennsylvania Association of College Admissions Counselors (PACAC), where she has served on various committees over the last ten years. LINKS Tests and the Rest Summer Summit 2020 RELATED EPISODES HOW SCHOOL AND PRIVATE COLLEGE COUNSELORS CAN WORK TOGETHER WHO BENEFITS MOST FROM TEST OPTIONAL POLICIES? APPLYING TO A MILITARY ACADEMY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

With so many components of the college application designated as optional these days, you have to wonder what that term even means. For context, Amy and Mike invited Tulane admissions director Jeff Schiffman to clarify why optional statements aren't optional. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Do all colleges ask a "Why College X?" question? How should students respond to such an essay prompt? What should students avoid in their essays? How influential is an optional statement like this? What other "optional" pieces of the college application aren't really optional? MEET OUR GUEST Jeff Schiffman was born and raised in Washington, DC, but he loves his adopted home in New Orleans. He has two degrees from Tulane: an undergraduate degree from the A.B. Freeman School of Business and a Master's Degree from the School of Professional Advancement. Jeff has been in the Tulane Office of Admission since the month he graduated back in 2005 and worked his way up to Director of Admission three years ago. He is currently the chair of the Millennial Admission Directors special interest group with NACAC where he enjoys sharing the trials and tribulations of being a millennial and a leader in the admission profession. In his free time, he enjoys anything related to health and fitness: snowboarding, pumping iron at the gym, fantasy football, triathlons, and indoor cycling. He teaches a spinning class called RIDE at a studio not far from campus. If you're a student and ever in New Orleans, your first class is free! He also writes a popular blog that gives away all of the "secrets" of the college application process. Find Jeff by Googling Tulane Jeff. LINKS Apps 101: The "Why College X"? Statement RELATED EPISODES TABOO ESSAY TOPICS UTILIZING A REFLECTION JOURNAL TO PREPARE FOR YOUR COLLEGE ESSAY REDUCING FRICTION IN THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The ACT and SAT are, at least for the moment, always offered at schools. But what happens when the exams are offered DURING school? Amy and Mike invited school counselor Larry Mandernach to describe the benefits of school day testing. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What underserved populations benefit from school day testing? What logistical challenges does school day testing pose? How did implementation change from one year to the next? What benefits did Valley HS see from school day testing? What valuable lessons were learned? MEET OUR GUEST Larry Mandernach received his BA in German from the University of Northern Iowa in 1989. After teaching German, French, and eventually Health, he completed his Masters Degree from Wayne State College in school counseling. For the last 21 years, he has been a school counselor at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. In addition to his counseling duties, Larry holds the role of testing coordinator at his school. He has been in charge of state testing for the last 8 years, overseeing the PSATs, ACTs, APs, and serving as the Services for Students with Disabilities coordinator. Larry Mandernach recently celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary with his wife, Karen. His two grown children, Caiden and Mara, are embarking on their own journeys. He likes to spend time outside, near a pool, or any water for that matter. Larry recently picked up the ukulele on a whim and has learned to strum the basic 4 chords in island rhythm. Find Larry at [email protected]. LINKS ACT State and District Testing SAT School Day RELATED EPISODES OBSERVATIONS OF A TEST SITE SUPERVISOR WHAT COLLEGE BOARD AND ACT ARE DOING RIGHT ACT SUPERSCORING AND SECTION RETESTING 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 have always been the ultimate paper-and-pencil exams, but that era is approaching its end. But how secure can the digital tests of the future be without proctors watching test takers in person? Amy and Mike invited ProctorU executive Ashley Norris to illuminate the reality of how remote proctoring actually works. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How does remote proctoring work? What hardware does remote proctoring require? In what ways are remote and in-person testing similar? How secure is remote or in-home testing when done well? What specific challenges apply to remote proctoring for high schoolers? MEET OUR GUESTS Dr. Ashley Norris serves as ProctorU's Chief Academic Officer & Chief Compliance Officer. Dr. Norris has a background in policy and procedure development, regulatory and accreditation compliance, and assessing and reducing potential risk both internally and in collaboration with external partner organizations. She leads ProctorU's academic partnerships and works with organizations and institutions on developing policies, best practices and procedures to support their innovation, accreditation, and accessibility needs. Dr. Norris has spent nearly 15 years in higher education as both a faculty member and administrator across major institutions including University of Alabama and Samford University. Most recently, she served as the dean of programmatic accreditation and regulatory affairs at the University of Phoenix. There, she led thought leadership on ethics and integrity in education and continues to spearhead similar efforts for ProctorU's key initiatives in academic integrity. Find Ashley at ProctorU and https://studenttestingrights.org/. LINKS Student Bill of Rights on Remote and Digital Work Always Know More Than The Proctor RELATED EPISODES KEEPING STUDENT DATA PRIVATE NEW OPTIONS FOR THE ACT 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.

U.S. military service academies are among the most respected and rigorous colleges in the nation. Unsurprisingly, they are also among the toughest to get into. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Lisa Hillhouse to share detailed steps and timelines for applying to a military service academy. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is a military service academy, and who is eligible to attend? How do you know which is right for you or your child? What makes the military academy application process more complex than other applications? What is the optimal timeline for applying to a military academy? What are some common pitfalls in the process? 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. You can find out more about Lisa at www.HillhouseCollegeAdvising.com. RELATED EPISODES ALL ABOUT THE ROTC SCHOLARSHIP BRINGING GRIT TO TESTING AND ADMISSIONS ATTENDING A MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMY (Coming Soon) ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

We sometimes look to educators like oracles who can predict a student's academic future based on faint and inscrutable hints. But why guess in the dark when all the answers are right in front of you? Amy and Mike invited test prep expert Phil McCaffrey to describe how to use student self-analysis to improve instruction.. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does self-reflection matter? How can an educator best elicit effective self-reflection? Why are physical journals superior to digital documents for this task? What is the importance of differentiating mistakes and behavior? How does effective self-reflection uncover critical issues? MEET OUR GUEST Phil McCaffrey is the owner and Head Math Tutor of 3RPrep (www.3RPRep.com) in Pittsburgh, PA. Phil started tutoring at age 9 in the 3rd grade when his teacher turned his desk around to give the weekly multiplication quiz-game because he had never lost, and she wanted someone else to win... she created a test-taking monster. He learned that beating tests was just practice! Now he still teaches kids to beat the test in a very unique way, through self-analysis and practice. Phil began his standardized career, like Amy, as a teacher for The Princeton Review after scoring a near perfect on the GRE. He is a proud Penn State Navy ROTC graduate and served seven years on active duty, first as a Naval Flight Officer in combat in Iraq, then began his professional teaching career in 1994 teaching Navy ROTC at Old Dominion University in Norfolk Va where he earned a MBA. Phil specializes in one on one tutoring with highly competitive students seeking selective college admissions. Find Phil at [email protected]. LINKS Test Preparation Checklist RELATED EPISODES COMMON TESTING MISTAKES AND HOW TO AVOID THEM WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A BAD TEST TAKER? UTILIZING A REFLECTION JOURNAL TO PREPARE FOR YOUR COLLEGE ESSAY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Nurse practitioners are among the host of medical professionals we rely on every day for life saving health care. Does it surprise you to learn that they need to pass certain tests to show that they are up to the challenge? Amy and Mike invited educator and nurse practitioner Latrina Walden to share a unique perspective in the debate on why testing standards matter. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What kind of testing is required to become a nurse practitioner? How stringent are these requirements? Is there resistance to requiring certain test scores for nurse practitioners? Would lowering or eliminating standards lead to better medical outcomes? In what ways do testing standards matter outside of medicine? MEET OUR GUESTS Latrina Walden was born and raised in northern California, until her family moved out to overtly green and history ridden Atlanta, Georgia where she attended high school. Upon graduation, she couldn't stay away from the California sunshine and attended college at the prestigious University of Southern California. After obtaining her Master's in Health Administration in 2006, she moved back to Georgia to catapult her colorful career of shooting for the stars and surprise, surprise - she hasn't landed yet! With her legacy in mind, and aware that to whom much is given, much is required - she wears the title of mom, wife, multi-published professor, entrepreneur, and nurse practitioner. Latrina was a senior lecturer at Clayton University and is now a double board-certified family nurse practitioner. With an exemplary record of providing caring, thorough medical services to patients, she's worked in nursing home administration, dialysis administration and numerous nursing roles - including a trauma 1 emergency room nurse, a case manager and an enterprise staffing nurse. At the heart of everything though, Latrina is a teacher. Growing up highly affirmed by her endless support system of a family, she took that love and wisdom and is giving it tenfold to the next generation. In a fun and relatable way, she talks to students about their future and what they want to change in the world. So, it's also no surprise that in her spare time, Latrina runs a highly successful online training program to help students prepare for their nurse practitioner certification tests. She presents proven test taking methodologies and skills that help students pass exams, as well as manage anxiety. Through this business, she also hopes to inspire a new wave of nurses that will flip the nursing industry on its head by creating a nurse community that supports each other and in result, provides better care to their patients. Latrina has made it clear though: mom and wife are the most important titles she has. With her steady love of a husband, Robert, by her side, they've decided to live life to the fullest with their 2 beautifully vivacious and high-spirited children, little Rob and Leah. With God on their side, they believe in the importance of education, dedication to their crafts, travel, and most importantly – staying grounded. They have one rule when it comes to facing new opportunities and a sea of endless ways to positively change the world: just jump! It's only up from here. Find Latrina at www.latrinawalden.com. LINKS Latrina Walden Exam Solutions RELATED EPISODES WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A BAD TEST TAKER? WHAT SAT & ACT DIAGNOSTIC TESTS CAN TELL YOU IN DEFENSE OF STATE TESTS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

We probably won't know until September what the Fall 2020 college experience will truly be like, but students need to make momentous decisions about their semester plans NOW. Amy and Mike invited college counselor Tim Lear to offer insights into the upside of a semester online. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why would students hesitate to attend traditional colleges remotely? What are the unexpected disadvantages of pausing education? What are the unexpected benefits of a semester (or more) of college online? Why is work not a feasible alternative for most college students? How can schools signal that they are ready to offer a rich online education? MEET OUR GUEST Tim Lear's career in education began in 1996 at Brewster Academy, where he learned that a) New Hampshire is really cold during the winter and b) working at a boarding school means teaching on Saturdays. Realizing that a day-school in NJ was perhaps a better fit for him, he joined the faculty at Oak Knoll, where he remained for 10-years. At Oak Knoll, Tim served as an English teacher in grades 9-12 and coached five Varsity sports. In 2003, Tim was named the Director of College Counseling, and in 2007 he joined his alma mater, The Pingry School, where he has served as its College Director for the past 13-years. A member of Pingry's Senior Administrative Team, Academic Committee, and Well-being Collaborative, he helps to oversee curriculum review, diversity initiatives, and student wellness programs. Tim is a graduate of Princeton University (AB 1996) and Middlebury College (MA 2003). Find Tim at [email protected]. LINKS Here's a List of Colleges' Plans for Reopening in the Fall (updated regularly) What is a Gap Year? RELATED EPISODES COLLEGE ADMISSIONS DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC WHY TAKE A GAP YEAR? 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 2019-20 academic year will live on in infamy as one of the craziest years to rock secondary and higher education. Is it a coincidence that we started the Tests and the Rest podcast right when it began? Amy and Mike invited our friend Brian Eufinger to host our 2019-20 academic year in review. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What topics were expected to be a big deal during the 2019-20 academic year? What were the real stories? What did everyone learn over the course of the year? What does the future hold for higher education? What does the future hold for the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Brian Eufinger graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2004. While an undergrad, he enjoyed working as a teaching assistant for Political Science 101, a resident advisor (RA) and as a volunteer paramedic with WashU's Emergency Support Team. He is an active member of Washington University's Young Alumni chapter in Atlanta, as well as the WashU Alumni Admissions Interviewer Program. Brian is frequently invited to speak about test prep, college admissions, and scholarships at PTSA meetings at Atlanta-area high schools as well as Edison Prep's free parent meetings. Find Brian at https://www.edisonprep.com/ LINKS Test Prep Tribe industry Facebook group Tests and the Rest Summer Summit 2020 Tests and the Rest Winter Test Prep Conference 2020 RELATED EPISODES THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION 2020 CHANGES IN ADMISSIONS RULES NEW OPTIONS FOR THE ACT ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The multiple-choice reading sections of the SAT and ACT have never been more similar, but closer analysis proves they are hardly the same. Amy and Mike invited best-selling author Erica Meltzer to explore the subtle differences between the SAT and ACT reading sections. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How similar are the reading sections of the SAT and ACT? Which section is more likely to feature 19th century or earlier passages? Which reading section may be easier to earn a top score on? What makes precision so critical in answering SAT reading questions? Why is pacing on ACT reading so tricky? MEET OUR GUESTS A native of Brookline, Massachusetts, Erica Meltzer graduated from Brookline High School and earned her B.A., magna cum laude, from Wellesley College. Before becoming involved in test prep, she worked in the Department of History of Art and Architecture at Harvard University and in the Department of Philosophy at Columbia University, where she helped coordinate graduate admissions. From 2006 until 2015, she tutored privately in Manhattan as well as online, helping students around the world achieve their SAT/ACT goals and gain admission to a number of top colleges, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, MIT, Caltech, Stanford, and Duke. With over 100,000 copies sold, her SAT and ACT Reading and Writing guides consistently rank at the top of their respective categories on Amazon, outperforming comparable guides produced by Kaplan, Princeton Review, and Barron's. She has been featured in Teen Vogue, The College Solution, and CBS Moneywatch, and her books are currently used by students and tutors worldwide. Find Erica at https://thecriticalreader.com/. LINKS Erica's extensive catalogue of books The Critical Reader SAT/ACT grammar question of the day Breaking The Code RELATED EPISODES COMMON MYTHS ABOUT THE SAT AND ACT

These days, every teacher, tutor, and college consultant has moved business online. Why does it seem, though, that some professionals are engaging with potential clients on social media platforms far more effectively than everyone else? Amy and Mike invited marketing expert Mario Ronci to share insights into delivering education and admissions messaging online. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What unexpected advantages do educators have in marketing? Do educators and admissions consultants need their own websites? Why do you have to know what your business really is? Can fear be an effective marketing element? When is the right time to directly engage with prospects online? MEET OUR GUEST Mario Ronci is a graphic designer turned marketer who went to community college in Maryland and studied abroad in the UK advertising/design. After spending 2 years in real estate marketing and hitting a dead end there, he turned to his passion in education and found a gap to be filled in helping educators and education based businesses market themselves. Today he is helping both tutors, college consultants in the UK and the US attract more students to their business. Find Mario at http://manufracture.agency/. LINKS 7 Creative Ways to Engage With Your Customers Online RELATED EPISODES COLLEGE ADVISING AND PREP BY VIDEOCONFERENCE HOW PARENTS CAN BEST SUPPORT STUDENTS IN TEST PREP BRINGING CRITICAL BALANCE TO HIGH SCHOOLERS' LIVES ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Almost every test taker finds the SAT and ACT challenging. However, learning and testing disabilities add a whole new level of difficulty, which demands thoughtful approaches to practice and preparation. Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Scott Clyburn to discuss best practices in test prep for students with accommodations. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What kind of testing accommodations are usually granted for the SAT and ACT? Why do educators have to act as advocates for students who need accommodations? How do testing accommodations influence the choice of tutoring vs. group instruction? Why does applying accommodations to practice testing matter so much? Is either the SAT or ACT better for students with accommodations? MEET OUR GUEST Scott Clyburn holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Yale University, and is the founder and director of North Avenue Education, a premier test prep and study skills firm based in Portland, Oregon. Originally from Houston, Texas, Scott has taught in both secondary and higher education and has been tutoring professionally since 2005. He sees tutoring as an opportunity for any student to become a better learner. Scott specializes in coaching students with LD and is motivated by seeing his students transform their potential into action. Find Scott at [email protected] or follow us onTwitter @NorthAveEd LINKS Testing Accommodations Explained RELATED EPISODES EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS AND TEST PREP COLLEGE ADMISSIONS FOR TWICE EXCEPTIONAL LEARNERS TRANSITIONING YOUR IEP OR 504 PLAN TO COLLEGE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

You may have never heard the term "twice-exceptional," but you've likely met 2E learners and recognized the distinctive challenges they faced. Amy and Mike invited professional counselor Emily Kircher-Morris to explore specific challenges and opportunities around college admissions for twice-exceptional students. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does twice-exceptional (2E) mean? What should 2E learners look for in a college? Why can self-advocacy be difficult for 2E learners? How should 2E learners approach testing and application essays? Why are strong supports on the college side so critical for 2E learners? MEET OUR GUEST Emily Kircher-Morris is a licensed professional counselor specializing in the mental health and educational needs of gifted and twice exceptional people. She is the host of the Mind Matters podcast, which explores strategies for parents and teachers to support neurodiversity at school and home. Inspired by her experiences as a teacher, counselor, and parent of twice-exceptional kids, she wrote the forthcoming book Teaching Twice Exceptional Learners (Free Spirit Publishing, 2021). She misses watching the St. Louis Cardinals during quarantine. Find Emily at http://www.mindmatterspodcast.com/ or twitter @EmilyKM_lpc. LINKS Mind Matters podcast Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students Strategies for Supporting Students Who Are Twice-Exceptional RELATED EPISODES WHEN GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS STRUGGLE TRANSITIONING YOUR IEP OR 504 PLAN TO COLLEGE HELPING STUDENTS PREPARE FOR THE DEMANDS OF COLLEGE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Heading into 2020, various market stresses already threatened the viability of some of America's colleges and universities. Then came COVID-19! Amy and Mike invited consultant and author Susan Baldridge to explain the implications of the ultimate college stress test. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How does a stress test work, and what should it reveal? What tend to be the greatest predictors that an institution might close? How has the COVID-19 crisis impacted the survival of colleges? Which institutions are most at risk of closing and why? Which students may be most disadvantaged by school closings? MEET OUR GUEST Susan Baldridge is a strategic consultant working with educational institutions to develop strategy and execute change. She is also the co-author – along with Robert Zemsky and Susan Shaman - of the recently published book, "The College Stress Test: Tracking Institutional Futures across a Crowded Market." The book provides an analysis of the market stresses that threaten the viability of some of America's colleges and universities while delivering a method to help individual institutions evaluate the level and source of their own risk. In addition to her consulting work, Susan is a long-time faculty member in psychology and the former provost at Middlebury College. Find Susan at www.susanbaldridge.com or [email protected]. LINKS The College Stress Test: Tracking Institutional Futures across a Crowded Market College Financial Health tracker RELATED EPISODES 2020 CHANGES IN ADMISSIONS RULES WHAT EXACTLY IS A GOOD COLLEGE? YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH: SECRETS OF COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

When managed properly, the college admissions process is very much a team effort, and an applicant's family can be the most critical members of that team. Amy and Mike invited author and admissions professional Rick Clark to describe the importance of family conversations about college admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Should parents decide which schools their teens should apply to? What is a useful technique to make sure parents and teens have the same college goals? At what points should families start talking about college? When is a discussion about paying for college necessary? How can family conversations help prepare for unexpected changes or crises? MEET OUR GUEST Rick Clark is the Director of Undergraduate Admission at Georgia Tech. In addition to his work on campus, he has served in a number of leadership roles, including the SACAC Governing Board, the ACT Council, and the College Board Search Advisory Board. He is a current member of NACAC's Committee on Leadership in College Admission and immediate Past Chair of the Government Relations Committee. Rick travels annually to U.S. embassies in collaboration with the Department of State to discuss the admission process and landscape of American higher education. Over the last four years he has written a regular blog on the college admission process and topics regarding affordability of college, and is the co-author of The Truth about College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together. In addition to Georgia Tech, Rick has also served in admission at Georgia State, The McCallie School, and Wake Forest University. Find Rick at http://pwp.gatech.edu/admission-blog/ or follow him on Twitter @Clark2College 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 COLLEGE ADMISSIONS DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC DOES COLLEGE ENGAGEMENT MATTER MORE THAN SELECTIVITY? COLLEGE PRICE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Despite their role as essential components of college applications, letters of recommendation--specifically how to elicit great ones--receive far too little attention. Amy and Mike invited college admissions counselor Benjamin Caldarelli to clarify the differences between good and great letters of recommendation. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What makes a letter of recommendation great? What role does a student play in securing great letters of recommendation? What is the #1 trait a recommendation can speak to? How can students ensure that they get great recommendations? Do colleges care about traits like kindness or empathy? MEET OUR GUEST A passionate educator for over 18 years, Benjamin Caldarelli has helped hundreds of students navigate the college admissions process. With the belief that students have more potential for personal growth than they realize, he views the transition from high school to college as a unique opportunity for students to broaden their perspective and develop their character. Trained to evaluate applicants at Harvard's Institute on College Admissions, Benjamin worked to create the College Admission Index™ to help students and their families understand the complexity of the holistic admission process. Known for challenging traditional approaches to educational and college planning, he now works with the Princeton College Consulting team to help students authentically explore their academic and extra-curricular interests, as well as develop social and emotional skills necessary to be successful in college and beyond. Benjamin regularly writes about the college admission process and is a sought after speaker, frequently presenting his ideas on how students and families can navigate the admissions process with style and sanity. A former English teacher, Benjamin is committed to an educational ideal of a community of citizens and scholars ready to lead a democracy. When not working on behalf of his students, Ben likes to explore the streets of New York searching for new cafes and bookstores and tries to play as much golf as possible. Find Benjamin at [email protected] or send him a DM on LinkedIn. LINKS 16 Character Traits Colleges Care About Most RELATED EPISODES DOES COLLEGE ENGAGEMENT MATTER MORE THAN SELECTIVITY? UTILIZING A REFLECTION JOURNAL TO PREPARE FOR YOUR COLLEGE ESSAY BRINGING GRIT TO TESTING AND ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The annual rhythms of sports seasons and college recruiting cycles have always been comfortably familiar. Then came COVID-19. Amy and Mike invited college consultants David Stoeckel and Katie Andersen to share the state of sports recruiting in the time of COVID. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What athletic recruiting rules have been changed since COVID-19? How have the timelines shifted? Since practices, games/competitions, showcases, and camps are cancelled, what should student-athletes do if they want to get recruited? Should students wait to hear from coaches or actively reach out to them? Starting back to school in the fall MEET OUR GUESTS David Stoeckel played Football and Rugby for Penn State University and Katie Andersen played Soccer for Duke University. As former college athletes with over three decades of combined experience advising college-bound student-athletes, Together, David and Katie are The Student-Athlete Advisors, providing comprehensive training for college counselors in southern California and across the country on how to successfully guide their athletes through the athletic recruiting process. In addition, David specializes in athletic recruiting videos and Katie provides academic guidance and NCAA Eligibility support. Find David and Katie at http://www.TheStudentAthleteAdvisors.com LINKS Building a College List for Student-Athletes NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA RELATED EPISODES LOOKING FOR A FULL RIDE TEST SCORES AND THE NCAA CLEARINGHOUSE 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.

Homeschooling offers a distinctive choice for families seeking a flexible, specialized K-12 education for their children. Full immersion into higher education, however, cannot be experienced at home. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Barbara Hettle to explain the nuances of college admissions for homeschoolers. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Who homeschools high school, and why do they choose this form of education? How is college admissions different for homeschoolers? What makes organized documentation so important for college-bound homeschoolers? Why do standardized exams carry special significance for homeschoolers? What special advantages do homeschoolers have in the application process? MEET OUR GUEST Barbara Hettle is an independent educational consultant who works with public, private, and homeschooled students from across the US. Barbara's background includes a wide variety of positions in the nonprofit and education sectors, including experience teaching writing and English as a Second Language. Eighteen years ago, she reluctantly became a homeschool parent planning to homeschool "just for kindergarten" and fell in love with the flexibility and freedom of this educational alternative. Barbara completed a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA in 2010. Through her business Homeschool Success, Barbara has helped hundreds of families with high school and college admissions planning. She stays current with admissions trends and is a member of professional associations including the Higher Educational Consultants Association. Barbara appreciates the diversity of the homeschool movement and loves helping teens find unique ways to engage with their interests and develop their talents. Find Barbara at https://homeschoolsuccess.com/. LINKS Homeschool Success Facebook Hettle College Consulting (for public and private school students) RELATED EPISODES THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION HELPING TEENS GET THE SLEEP THEY NEED CREATING A HOMESCHOOL PLAN DURING A CRISIS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

While the general public tends to rank colleges mainly on the basis of exclusivity and Division I sports success, applicants should consider so many other factors. Two data points are particularly valuable. Amy and Mike invited college admissions expert Michelle Kretzschmar to explain her concept of 50-50 colleges and the perfect list. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is a 50-50 college? What makes graduation rate such an informative metric? Should a high acceptance rate be considered a benefit or detriment? What factors influence the perfect college list? How can you craft your perfect list? MEET OUR GUEST Since 2011, Michelle Kretzschmar has helped over 2,000,000 people locate the information they need to find the colleges right for them and how to pay for it through her blog, DIYCollegeRankings.com. Michelle created a spreadsheet with information on all 1,600 4-year colleges along with spreadsheets of those offering baseball and softball programs. Based on the spreadsheets, she created her 50-50 list which contains over 400 colleges that accept at least 50% of students and have at least a 50% graduation rate and has profiled over 200 on her website. Michelle has also developed online classes for families on how to use the spreadsheet and target colleges most likely to meet their need. Michelle also hosts the active Coffee Cup College Planning Facebook Group. Find Michelle at DIYCollegeRankings.com. LINKS The 50-50 College List Colleges Most Likely to Meet Financial Need RELATED EPISODES GALLUP ALUMNI SURVEY AND THE SIX COLLEGE EXPERIENCES THAT DRIVE SUCCESS FINISHING A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE ON TIME NEED BLIND AND NEED AWARE ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Test prep differs from various other forms of academic instruction in that progress can be measured quantitatively. How many ways can this data be evaluated, and is that process even worth the effort? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Evan Jones to review different ways to look at score increases? What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does tracking student score improvement matter? What difficulties do educators encounter in setting reliable baselines? What are some creative ways to learn student's official scores? How many effective ways exist to measure improvement? What useful observations can be derived from score increase data? MEET OUR GUEST After graduating from Florida State University with a degree in Economics, Evan Jones went on to begin his career as a high school math teacher and football coach in the city of Tampa. Despite enjoying both, the politics of the school system wore thin on him. With the goal of "helping students achieve their dreams and fulfill the immense potential of their talents" he launched Plus Tutoring in 2016. Since then he has focused on expanding the business and creating truly creative ways to enhance the "typical" test prep process. Of particular interest to Evan is the fact that test prep offers a unique situation in which every tutor nationwide prepares students for the same test. Therefore, unlike many other professions where comparison is oftentimes primarily subjective, test prep offers a quantifiable way to measure effectiveness. Using various measures of score tracking Evan has been able to enhance his business and student outcomes in multiple ways. From monitoring the effectiveness of new tutoring strategies to the use of score tracking as a form of marketing, Evan continues to devise ways of further enhancing educational and business related outcomes. Find Evan at https://www.plustutoring.org/ LINKS By How Much Can Test Scores Improve in One Month? RELATED EPISODES WHAT SAT & ACT DIAGNOSTIC TESTS CAN TELL YOU HOW TEST PREP TUTORING SHOULD WORK COMMON MYTHS ABOUT 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.

If you think the college admissions process is an intricate and delicate dance involving numerous complex steps to be executed at precise intervals, take a look at the college financial aid process! Amy and Mike invited financial aid consultant Kevin Angney to clarify what you need to know about the FAFSA and CSS Profile. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Should everyone fill out the FAFSA? What information is required to fill out the FAFSA? How does a global economic crisis like a pandemic impact financial decisions? What is the optimal timeline for addressing the financial component of college? What is the best way to appeal and improve a financial aid offer? MEET OUR GUEST Kevin Angney is a graduate of John Carroll University as well as Cleveland Marshall College of Law. He is a proud husband and father of four, a registered representative, licensed life health and insurance agent, registered investment advisor, and financial aid consultant. Kevin has been in the financial planning/asset management business for the last twenty three years and for the past sixteen years has been the president and co-founder of Cleveland College Funding. He was inspired to enter the financial aid business as a result of his own journey through the financial aid process by paying and navigating his own way through his undergraduate and graduate degrees. His focus now is working with families to efficiently manage their way through the financial aid process. Find Kevin at [email protected]. KEVIN'S DISCLOSURES This interview is for educational purposes only. The topics and subject material covered in this interview is for educational purposes only. As such, I am not presenting advice to individuals. The content of our discussion is believed to be true and accurate as of today. Should you find any inaccuracies please inform me so that any correction can be made. Any and all opinions expressed herein is the opinion of the presenter and should not be taken as advice. Thank you! LINKS RELATED EPISODES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STUDENT LOANS COLLEGE PRICE TRANSPARENCY THE RAMPANT COST OF COLLEGE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Obviously, high schoolers put a lot of work into preparing for test day, as do teachers, tutors, coaches, and parents. But don't forget those unsung heroes who labor behind the scenes to ensure a smooth, crisis-free testing experience. Amy and Mike invited school counselor and test center supervisor Tom Carey to share his observations of a test site supervisor. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the job of a test site supervisor? How challenging is the task of test day staffing? Are there differences in interacting with College Board and ACT as a site supervisor? What are some surprising or shocking things that have happened during your tests? How are you preparing to administer the ACT while social distancing guidelines are in place? MEET OUR GUEST Thomas Carey is currently the director of school counseling at St. Edward High School. He has a masters in Systematic Theology as well as a Masters in Education with a focus on school counseling. Tom started at St. Edward in 1992 as a teacher in the Religious Studies Dept. In 2002, Tom moved into the Counseling department where he continues to work with students to help them attain success at the high school level and beyond. He has been the school testing coordinator and test center supervisor since 2005. Find Tom at [email protected]. LINKS Test Day Nightmares RELATED EPISODES MENTAL TECHNIQUES FOR PEAK TEST PERFORMANCE COMMON TESTING MISTAKES AND HOW TO AVOID THEM BRINGING GRIT TO TESTING AND ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The SAT and ACT may be more similar than ever, but they are definitely not the same. Picking the right exam to showcase your particular strengths can make a massive difference in admissions. Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Heather Krey back to help further explore the relevant criteria in deciding between the SAT and ACT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How have your thoughts about the differences between the tests evolved over the last year? Should students commit to prepping for just one or both tests? What role should diagnostic testing play in choosing a test to focus on? Do the SAT and ACT cater to different strengths and weaknesses? What are the strengths and weaknesses of an SAT/ACT combo test? MEET OUR GUEST Passionate about helping her students achieve their college dreams by being their coach and cheerleader as they prep for the SAT and ACT, Heather Krey is an experienced instructor with teaching certificates in math, physics, chemistry, and English. She knows the best tips and strategies for these tests – and she also understands that students need encouragement and practice to do their best. With dual bachelor's degrees in industrial engineering and psychology from Lehigh University, she also holds masters of education degrees in mathematics from DeSales University and in teaching from Kutztown University. Heather lives in Allentown, PA, with her husband and three children. Heather is the author of a newly released book, SAT and ACT Combo Test. TP4S is the premier location for test prep and academic tutoring located in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. We are educators first, so we never sacrifice personal connections for profits, and we strive to make our services affordable for all students. We offer in-person classes, practice tests, and tutoring at our Allentown, PA location and offer the same high-quality, personalized tutoring online for students outside our local area. Visit our website at tp4s.com to learn more about how we can help you prepare for your personal best. Find Heather Krey at http://TP4S.com. LINKS SAT and ACT Combo Test RELATED EPISODES DECIDING BETWEEN THE SAT AND ACT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAT AND ACT GRAMMAR COMMON MYTHS ABOUT 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.

Many high schoolers benefit from academic accommodations intended to give a student with a disability an equal opportunity to benefit from the educational process. But how easy or even possible is it to receive these accommodations at the college level? You'd be surprised! Amy and Mike invited academic support professionals Mary Jo Levand and Julie Szwejkowski to demystify transitioning your IEP or 504 to college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How do legal requirements to provide accommodations differ from high school to college? Does recency of documentation matter? Are all schools equally accommodating? Should students identify their 504 or IEP during the application process? What accommodations are most common and uncommon on the college level? MEET OUR GUEST Julie Szwejkowski graduated from John Carroll University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with an Environmental Science concentration. She started her career as an Environmentalist at the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. Eventually, she went back to school at Cleveland State University for a Master's in Labor Relations and Human Resources. She transferred within the company to the HR department, where she was an analyst in the Compensation and Benefits areas. After leaving to raise her two boys, she returned to work as an Instructional Advisor at the Academic Support Center at Notre Dame College in 2009. She has tutored students with learning disabilities in Economics and other areas of business. She also serves as the Recruiting Advisor of the Academic Support Center. Mary Jo Levand is the Director of the Academic Support Center of Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio. Mary Jo earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from John Carroll University and began her career as a Certified Public Accountant. When she and her husband began their family, she decided to work from home. During that time, one of her children was diagnosed with dyslexia. Another mother who worked at the Academic Support Center shared how students with learning disabilities are underserved in the classroom. Mary Jo knew that her child with a learning difference would be impacted long term, so she decided to investigate the Center, which was looking to hire an Accounting/Business tutor and the rest is history. The Center currently supports over 100 students per year which represents 10% of the total student body at Notre Dame College. Find Julie by calling the Notre Dame Academic Support Center at 216-373-6383. LINKS Transition of Students With Disabilities To Postsecondary Education 7 Things to Know About College Disability Services Differences Between High School and College Disability Services RELATED EPISODES TABOO ESSAY TOPICS INCREASED COLLEGE COSTS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS HELPING STUDENTS PREPARE FOR THE DEMANDS OF COLLEGE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The world seems to be cleanly divided into two groups: people who aren't good at math and those who miraculously are. Yet that belief that a person is inherently bad at math is simplistic, self-defeating, and--most important--reversible. Amy and Mike invited author and educator Allison Dillard to share high impact strategies to help students succeed in math. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is it possible to "just not be a math person" or be irreparably bad at math? How does grit and a growth mindset help with math proficiency? What can be done to help students who struggle to finish their homework? What does a classic joke writing technique have to do with solving math problems? Why does process matter so much is math proficiency? MEET OUR GUEST Allison Dillard is an author, speaker and math professor with over 20 years of experience helping students figure out how to succeed in their math classes. Her books, Crush Math Now: High-Impact Strategies for Students Who Struggle with Math and Raise Your Math Grade: A Short, Informal, Uber-Streamlined Path to Success in Math, walk students through her process for raising their math grade. While other tutors and test prep classes focus on re-teaching math concepts to students, hoping that if a concept is explained differently, the student will grasp it. Allison takes a different approach. She helps students dig into and overcome the underlying problems that are holding them back from success in math. In doing so, she gives her students the tools and confidence to succeed in math (and challenges in general) on their own. Allison has helped students overcome obstacles such as math anxiety, procrastination, learning disabilities, ineffective study skills, being over-scheduled, and so much more. Whether you are failing math and want to pass, passing but want an A, or already have an A (and want an A in a quarter of the time), Allison can help you figure out how to reach your goals. Find Allison and download a free copy of Allison's uber-short book, Raise Your Math Grade, at allisonlovesmath.com. LINKS RELATED EPISODES MATHEMATICAL MATURITY & TEST SUCCESS BRINGING GRIT TO TESTING AND ADMISSIONS EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS AND TEST PREP ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Media reports would have us believe that all colleges and universities will eventually eliminate all testing requirements from admissions decisions for the betterment of humanity. The test optional reality, however, only advantages certain schools and applicants. Amy and Mike invited college counselor Stacey Cunitz to clarify who benefits most from test optional policies What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does test optional really mean? How do colleges benefit from announcing test optional admissions? In what ways do test optional policies impact equity and access What development goals tie into test optional admissions? How are many of these policy changes tied to changes in the NACAC Code of Ethics? MEET OUR GUEST Stacey Cunitz, founder and director of Blue Moon Educational Consulting, earned her BA in Literature and Creative Writing from Barnard College, Columbia University. She went on to earn an MA in Secondary English Education at New York University and a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA. In 2018, she became a Certified Educational Planner. After earning her degrees, Stacey taught English at Croton-Harmon High School in NY and at The Crefeld School where she taught MK Asante, author of Buck. Stacey has been the Director of College Counseling at The Crefeld School since 2005. She is an active member of Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC), and the Pennsylvania Association of College Admissions Counselors (PACAC), where she has served on various committees over the last ten years. Stacey serves as PACAC's Chair of the Admissions Practices Committee (2017-2020) which is charged with educating colleges, counselors, and students regarding the nature of ethical standards embraced by NACAC and PACAC. In September 2019, she joined NACAC's Admissions Practices Committee, as well. Stacey has also volunteered as an application reader for Point Foundation's scholarships which empowers promising lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students to achieve their full academic and leadership potential. Stacey is happily married to Dan, a middle school science teacher, and they are the parents of two teenage daughters. Stacey enjoys knitting, reading, their black standard poodle, and their backyard chickens. She also enjoys visiting colleges and getting to know the unique offerings at each. To date she has visited over 200 colleges and universities, and is always adding more to the list. Find Stacey at https://bluemooned.com/. LINKS Who Benefits from Test Optional Policies? SCOIR (includes a filter to search for TO colleges) RELATED EPISODES 2020 CHANGES IN ADMISSIONS RULES THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH: SECRETS OF COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

According to author Timothy Gallwey, every game is composed of two parts, an outer game and an inner game. We play the outer game against an external opponent or obstacle, but the inner game takes place in the mind of the player. This insight has as much to do with testing as it does with tennis. Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Brett Ethridge to explain the relevance of the inner game of testing. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does the "inner game" refer to? How does the inner game concept explain when students with great grades earn low test scores? What two selves are at work during high pressure activities? How can we silence our inner critics while testing? What role does deliberate practice play in improving your inner game? 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. Find Brett at [email protected]. LINKS The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance Using Mindfulness for Test and School Success (Episode #18) ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

You may have heard the saying, "Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them being made." Does that advice apply to admissions decisions as well? Amy and Mike invited college admissions expert Parke Muth to reveal the real secrets of college admissions. Can you handle the truth? What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the truth about diversity in college admissions? Why are many colleges concerned about their institutional viability? Do full pay candidates have an advantage in admissions? Should the application process elicit as much stress as it does? Are the SAT & ACT relevant in admissions anymore? MEET OUR GUEST Parke Muth has worked in education for over 35 years. Most of the time he served as a Dean at the University of Virginia in the admission office and in the English Department. He now works with companies, schools, families, and students across the world but mostly focusing on Asia where he spends about 1/2 of the year. While at Virginia, Parke was, among other things, Director of Selection and Recruitment of Honors Scholars, Director of Application Assessment Training, and Director of International Admission. He's been serving for over 25 years as a member of the Jefferson Scholars selection committee. This four-year, full scholarship is among the most elite programs in the United States. Parke also serves as an advisor for the Ron Brown Scholars Program, an elite scholars program that provides financial support and leadership training, networking, and career services for underprivileged black students. Because of his experiences in admissions, Parke is a highly sought-after speaker He has been interviewed by the New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Bloomberg, Associated Press, NBC, etc. He has had over 6 million people read his responses on the website Quora.com. He also has a blog with over 4000 pages of content, all free, no ads or promotions: https://onlyconnectparke.blogspot.com/ Find Parke at [email protected]. LINKS A Few Good Men "You Can't Handle the Truth" Parke's Blog Confessions of an Admissions Officer Regrets of an Admissions Officer RELATED EPISODES COLLEGE ADMISSIONS DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC DOES COLLEGE ENGAGEMENT MATTER MORE THAN SELECTIVITY? 2020 CHANGES IN ADMISSIONS RULES ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the locus of education from schools to homes. But should parents serve as proxy teachers or take different roles to further their children's development? Amy and Mike invited educator and author Ned Johnson to discuss creating a homeschool plan during a crisis. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How does understanding of stress response inform the best approach to homeschooling during a crisis? Why is a plan needed when a situation is N.U.T.S. and what does that acronym mean? Why is supporting success rather than preventing failure so valuable? Why is a crisis not necessarily catastrophic to development and education? What makes a focus on long term goals so critical during stressful periods? MEET OUR GUEST Ned Johnson has a BA in Economics and Political Science from Williams College. A professional tutor-geek since 1993, he is the president and founder of PrepMatters, where he is one of the most sought-after instructors in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Ned has devoted in excess of 40,000 hours in one-on-one test prep for nearly the entire alphabet of tests with all ages and abilities. A sought-after speaker and teen coach for study skills, parent-teen dynamics, and anxiety management, his work has been featured on NPR, NewsHour, U.S. News & World Report, Time, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. In addition to his time with clients, Ned is the co-author of The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives. Find Ned at [email protected]. LINKS A home school plan that's realistic, not sadistic How we can help kids increase their sense of control as the coronavirus approaches The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives RELATED EPISODES BRINGING CRITICAL BALANCE TO HIGH SCHOOLERS' LIVES HELPING STUDENTS PREPARE FOR THE DEMANDS OF COLLEGE TEEN ANXIETY AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

If you ask your average high schooler (or parent) for some adjectives describing the SAT and ACT, the extensive vocabulary list will likely skew negative. But do those who know the tests best feel the same way? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional David Blobaum to effusively explicate why the SAT and ACT are awesome. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is awesome about the math tested on the SAT and ACT? What is awesome about the grammar tested on the SAT and ACT? What does the importance of education say about the SAT and ACT? Why are the SAT and ACT awesome even beyond their role in college admissions? Why are tests that help put grades in context so valuable? MEET OUR GUEST David Blobaum graduated from the University of Chicago with honors both from the college and in his major. In college, he took seriously the University of Chicago's aim of a "Renaissance" or well-rounded education and took courses in 17 different disciplines, ranging from Statistics and Economics to Philosophy and Art History. Since then, he has devoted himself to helping students reach their potential on the SAT and ACT and, more broadly, to help them succeed through education. To that end, in 2013, he founded Summit Prep with a former UChicago classmate. They now have two tutoring centers in New Jersey, and their team of SAT/ACT experts privately tutors over 500 students per year. David is a consultant to schools on SAT/ACT best practices, personally trains each Summit Prep tutor one-on-one, and tutors a select few students himself. David not only teaches students the necessary subject matter but also motivates them to continually strive towards their potential. Find David at https://summitprep.com/. LINKS Enemies of the People: The SAT and ACT The SAT and ACT are good predictors of success in college and beyond: The Truth About the SAT and ACT Standardized Tests Predict Graduate Students' Success Ability Differences Among People Who Have Commensurate Degrees Matter for Scientific Creativity ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Year after year, countless teens stress over a perceived need to attend a "good" college. But what does that even mean and how does reality differ from perception? Amy and Mike invited admissions advisor Stuart Nachbar to shed light on what exactly is a good college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What makes a college good? How much does national ranking or selectivity matter? What should you expect a college to do for a student? What numbers highlight how good a college really is? What can alumni giving tell you about campus culture? To me the "good college" is a school that succeeds at graduating the students it attracts, and guiding them into rewarding lives after college. MEET OUR GUEST Stuart Nachbar is an independent college and graduate school admissions advisor based in the Princeton, New Jersey area and publisher of EducatedQuest.com, providing college profiles, insights and search tips to college bound students and parents and counselors. He works locally as well as virtually with clients as far away as China. Stuart has worked around higher education for nearly three decades as a writer, urban economic development professional and software marketing executive. His expertise helps families consider academics, costs, housing, student success, career development, networking opportunities, and more, enabling them to get the best return on their investment in an education and towards rewarding careers. He also advises students on essay development and interviewing for admissions as well as scholarships, and assists families in addressing issues on financial aid. Stuart was formerly senior vice president, and one of the original members of the management team, for College Central Network (CCN), a New York City-based company that develops, manages and markets Web-based applications used by more than 650 US. college and university career centers. Over eleven years he directed sales, marketing, product development and customer training and helped build one of the largest client bases in the higher education space. CCN is entering its 23nd year in business, longer than any company serving its market. Stuart has a BA in Political Science and an MBA in Marketing from Rutgers, a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as well as a Certificate in Digital Media Marketing from New York University. He completed his Certificate in College Admission Counseling (with Distinction) from UCLA in 2014. In 2009 he penned Defending College Heights, a novel surrounding the murder of a US Army recruiter on a college campus during the Second Gulf War. He recently completed a new novel, America's Town, a story of small-town politics and girl's high school basketball in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the most famous small town in America. He and his wife, Carol, live in Central New Jersey. Find Stuart at [email protected]. LINKS I Wish These Four Schools Got On More College Lists: 2020 Edition ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Policies that allow students to apply to the colleges and universities of their choice ahead of the rest of the pack seem to offer tremendous advantages. But who really benefits and are there any disadvantages? Amy and Mike invited retired college president and author Michael T. Nietzel to offer an expert analysis of Early Decision and Early Action. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA) policies? What advantages and disadvantages affect students using this application approach? What are the advantages and unexpected disadvantages to colleges offering Early Decision and Early Action? Who benefits the most from these options? How will ED and EA be affected by the recent changes in NACAC policy? MEET OUR GUEST Michael T. Nietzel is president emeritus of Missouri State University. After earning my B.A. from Wheaton College (Illinois), Mike was awarded a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Illinois in 1973. He then joined the faculty at the University of Kentucky, where he progressed through the professorial ranks and served as director of the Clinical Psychology Program, chair of the department of psychology, dean of the graduate school, and provost. In 2005, Mike was appointed president of Missouri State University. Following retirement from Missouri State in 2011, Mike became senior policy advisor to Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. From 2016-18, he served as a Deputy Director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Recently, he has authored two books: Degrees and Pedigrees: The Education of America's Top Executives (2017) and Coming to Grips With Higher Education (2018), both published by Rowman & Littlefield. Mike is currently a Senior Contributor to Forbes Online. Find Mike at [email protected]. LINKS Early-Decision College Admissions For 2019 And 2020 College Board page on Early Decision & Early Action Early Action and Early Decision vs. Regular Decision Admission Rates The Debate Over Early Decision In College Admission: Who Is It Good For? Colleges Should Abandon Early Admissions 2020 CHANGES IN ADMISSIONS RULES ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

When everything in the present is turned upside-down, how can students manage current challenges while working towards long-term goals like college admissions? What will colleges even want from next year's high school graduates? Amy and Mike invited author and college counselor Brennan E. Barnard to share insight into college admissions during a global pandemic. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What reassurance can be found in the global nature of a worldwide crisis? What elements of the application rise and fall in value during a global pandemic? Will application essays about your pandemic experience be well-received? How can students learn about colleges when campuses are closed? What can we learn from an unexpected crisis about when students should work on showing colleges who they really are? MEET OUR GUEST Brennan Barnard, M.Ed is the Director of College Counseling and Outreach at The Derryfield School, an independent day school in Manchester, New Hampshire and at US Performance Academy, an on-line independent high school for elite athletes. He is also the College Admissions Program Advisor with the Making Caring Common project at Harvard Graduate School of Education. During over two decades in education Brennan has worked as a teacher, coach, dorm parent, admission officer, counselor and administrator at a number of independent high schools and colleges. He has counseled Olympians, thespians, artists, cadets, social workers, engineers, philosophers, doctors, writers, lawyers and everything in between. Brennan is a member of the Advisory Board for the New Hampshire College and University Council's New Hampshire Scholars Program and on the Executive Committee for the Character Collaborative. He presents regularly on character, athletic recruiting, mindfulness, discipline and other topics in college admission. He has written about college admission for the New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes.com, HuffPost, Concord Monitor, Journal of College Admission and other publications. He has also been featured in articles in the Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe and Associated Press and an occasional featured guest on New Hampshire Public Radio. He has been interviewed about college admission by New England Cable News and ABC News. Brennan was a New England Association of College Admission Counselors Professional of the Year for 2017. He is co-author of the book, The Truth About College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together. A native of suburban Philadelphia and practicing Quaker, he is a graduate of Westtown Friends School. Brennan earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Spanish from Franklin & Marshall College and a master's degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from The University of Vermont. This father of two lives in Hopkinton, New Hampshire where he is a volunteer firefighter. LINKS The COVID College Choice: How To Pick A College During A Global Pandemic The Truth About College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together Virtual College Tours (Episode #73) ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.76.

ACT, Inc. didn't always endorse the practice of superscoring for admissions, but the test maker has changed its institutional stance on the basis of compelling evidence. What did ACT researchers uncover that everyone should know? Amy and Mike invited ACT Senior Director in Research Krista Mattern to share the newest findings regarding ACT superscoring and section retesting. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why was ACT historically against superscoring and what changed? How predictive are superscores regarding academic success in college? How does research support the concept of section retesting? What is the philosophy behind the order of the ACT sections? What are the similarities and differences between paper-and-pencil and online testing ? MEET OUR GUEST Krista Mattern is a Senior Director in Research at ACT. Her research focuses on predicting education and workplace success through evaluating the validity and fairness of cognitive and non-cognitive measures. Also known for work in evaluating the efficacy of learning products to help improve intended learner outcomes. Krista has over 100 publications including journal articles, technical reports, and books chapters and has served as the editor of two books. Her work has been published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Educational Measurement, Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, Educational and Psychological Measurement, and the Journal of College Student Development. She received her Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology with a minor in Quantitative Psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Find Krista at [email protected]. LINKS How should colleges treat multiple admissions test scores? Testing, testing: What is the fairest score when applicants retake admissions tests? Does superscoring increase subgroup differences? Impact of superscoring on subgroup differences ACT Superscore Database ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Learning doesn't have to stop just because schools are closed, does it? The future arrives whether we are ready or not, which means counselors, educators, and consultants need to continue to provide support even when they can't meet students face-to-face. Amy and Mike invited admissions consultant Jona Jacobson to share key insights into college advising and prep by videoconference. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Can advising or instruction ever be as effective over video? How does working over video differ from working in person? What hardware and software facilitates effective meetings? How can attention to onboarding make video conferencing better? How tech savvy do you need to be to work by video? MEET OUR GUEST Jona Jacobson is an independent educational consultant who coaches students on choosing colleges and completing their college applications and essays. A former attorney and substitute teacher, Jona is in her seventh year of advising students and families through the college application process, both locally and nationally. Jona was previously our guest way back in episode 5 to discuss NEED BLIND AND NEED AWARE ADMISSIONS. Find Jona Jacobson at [email protected]. ADDITIONAL LINKS Benefits of Online Tutoring The Best Mobile Scanning Apps ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The traditional college selection process usually includes plenty of live campus visits. But what happens when logistics, expenses, or unexpected pandemics get in the way? Amy and Mike invited CampusReel cofounders Nick Freud and Rob Carroll to share the magic of virtual college tours. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How does a virtual college tour differ from visiting in person? What makes school visits important for students in terms of both fit and admissions? What should be done before, during, and after to make a virtual campus tour effective? Do virtual tours still signal demonstrated interest? Can you get a feel for campus life through a virtual tour? MEET OUR GUEST CampusReel co-founders Nick Freud and Rob Carroll maintain a library of 17,000 videos created by students at 355 colleges and universities, offering candid, insider perspectives to prospective applicants and high school counselors—as well as a marketing and recruitment tool for admissions staff. These Colgate University alums, recently named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, have reached users in 140 countries in less than three years and raised $1 million. After graduating from Colgate University in 2015, Nick moved to Phuket, Thailand to work as a math and health teacher and spent eight months bartending his way through Australia before returning to the U.S. at the beginning of 2017 to found CampusReel with Rob Carroll. Rob also graduated from Colgate University in 2015 with a degree in environmental economics. After graduation, Rob worked at Ernst & Young (EY) helping clients identify and implement process efficiencies before leaving to found CampusReel. Find Rob at [email protected]. ADDITIONAL LINKS Making the Most of College Visits (Tests and the Rest #32) https://www.campusreel.org/ ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Taking high quality practice tests at deliberate intervals is an indispensable part of any true test preparation regimen. But what makes mocks or diagnostics so important? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional David Phelps to explain specifically what SAT & ACT diagnostic tests can tell you. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why do diagnostic tests matter for students taking the SAT and ACT? At what point in the prep process should students take practice tests? What should we look for in evaluating diagnostic tests? What won't SAT & ACT diagnostic tests tell us? Is over testing a legitimate concern? MEET OUR GUEST David Phelps is the cofounder and co-director of Forum Education. A tutor by trade, David has spent the last decade consulting and tutoring nearly every major subject and test to private school students of widely different learning and psychological profiles. At Forum, he has personally co-architected three apps for tutors and education, as well as advanced mock test diagnostics that recommend what students should work on to optimize their score. He is also the author of a number of guides for analytical writing, college essays, Spanish, chemistry, and test prep. Find David at [email protected]. LINKS Practice Tests: How Many, How Often, and How to Do Them Right ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

While many Americans have either personally attended or know alumni of all-boys or all-girls high schools, very few have met graduates of women's colleges. Is a single-gendered college experience an outdated concept or a reflection of modern sensibilities? Amy and Mike invited Director of US Admission at Mount Holyoke College Catarina Costa to describe the many benefits of attending a women's college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the history of women's colleges, and who are the "Seven Sisters"? What is different or unique about attending a women's college? What distinctive academic opportunities do women's colleges offer? What are the specific benefits of attending a women's college? What kind of student should consider attending a women's college? MEET OUR GUEST Catarina Costa is the Director of US Admission at Mount Holyoke College and has been a member of its admission team since 2006. Catarina has done recruitment travel to many regions of the country and has had a varied portfolio throughout her nearly fourteen years at Mount Holyoke, which includes special event management, selection and training of the senior fellows and tour guides, and coordination of the office's diversity outreach efforts. She currently leads the domestic office operations, overseeing the first-year application reading and selection process and the campus visit experience. Catarina has a Masters degree in Counseling and Personnel Services from Fordham University, where she also completed doctoral studies in Counseling Psychology before embarking on a career change. In the early aughts, Catarina was doing career and transfer counseling for CUNY in NYC and moved to the Five College area looking for opportunities on the proverbial "other side of the desk." She found college admissions and Mount Holyoke--and they both stole her heart! Catarina is passionate about issues of social justice and is an advocate in the areas of diversity and inclusion efforts on campus. Find Catarina at https://www.mtholyoke.edu/admission. LINKS Why a Women's College? The Top 9 Reasons Why Does the World Need Women's Colleges? Why applications at women's colleges are on the rise ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Admissions essays, more than any other piece of the college application process, allow applicants to communicate distinctive and personal aspects of their lives. But can essays be too personal? Absolutely! Amy and Mike invited college admissions expert Sally Rubenstone to share both warnings and guidance about taboo essay topics. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Are there REALLY essay topics that are "taboo"? What does the "Jerry Springerization" of college essays refer to? What do admissions personnel look for when they review an applicant's essay? Is writing about a medical or mental health disorder in a college essay ever appropriate? What are the right--and wrong--ways to package essays about very personal topics? MEET OUR GUEST Sally Rubenstone knows the competitive and often convoluted college admission process inside out: from the first time the "C" word comes up at the dinner table until the last duffel bag is unloaded on a dorm-room floor. She is the co-author of Panicked Parents' Guide to College Admissions; The Transfer Student's Guide to Changing Colleges; and The International Student's Guide to Going to College in America and the author of eBook, 25 Tips from the Dean. Sally has appeared on NBC's Today program and has been quoted in countless publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, People, and Seventeen. Sally has viewed the admissions world from many angles: as a Smith College admission counselor for 15 years, an independent college counselor serving students from a wide range of backgrounds, and the author of College Confidential's "Ask the Dean" column. She also taught language arts, social studies, study skills, and test preparation in 10 schools, including American international schools in London, Paris, Geneva, Athens, and Tel Aviv. As senior counselor and contributing writer for College Confidential since 2002, Sally has helped hundreds of students and parents through the college admissions quagmire. In 2008 she co-founded College Karma, an independent college consulting firm, with her CC colleague Dave Berry. Although Sally has been dispensing advice to anxious families for more than three decades, she only became a mom herself in 1997, at the ripe old age of 45. Now she is the senior-citizen mother of a recent college graduate, delighted that she won't have to navigate the admissions maze as a parent ever again! Find Sally at Ask the Dean at College Confidential and add Tests and the Rest in your message. LINKS Which College Essay Topics Are Taboo? Should I Mention Depression on My College Application? Sally's catalog of books ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Everyone knows that you have to graduate medical school to become a medical doctor. Less obvious are the actual steps required to get into medical school. Amy and Mike invited author and med school student Elisabeth Fassas to clarify what every pre-med major should know. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What classes and majors should pre-med students consider? Why should pre-med students do as much job shadowing as possible? What is the optimal plan for taking the MCAT? What is the ideal application timeline and can a gap year fit in? What major lesson learned through the med school process should be considered at the start of the journey? MEET OUR GUEST Elisabeth Fassas graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a BA in Molecular and Cellular Biology and the London School of Economics with a MA in International Health Policy . Elisabeth initially intended to take a single gap year before attending medical school, applying at the end of her senior year of college. However, when the time came, she requested a deferral of her admission for an extra year to work with McKinsey & Co. as a junior research analyst. She is the author of Making Pre-Med Count. Elizabeth began her medical school career this past fall at the University of Maryland Medical School. Find Elisabeth at [email protected]. LINKS Making Pre-Med Count: Everything I wish I'd known before applying (successfully!) to med school ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The gap between a test taker's potential best and actual best depends entirely on delivering an error-free performance when it counts. But how easy is that in the face of tricky test questions, challenging content, and human fallibility? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Michael Jordan to identify the common testing mistakes and how to avoid them. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What types of errors do test takers think they make? What types of errors do test takers actually make? How can test takers avoid these classic mistakes? What can analyzing errors teach us? What does "muscle memory" have to do with error-free performance? MEET OUR GUEST A native of Lawrence, Kansas, Michael Jordan is a National Merit Scholar and perfect-scorer on the SAT and ACT. As a high school senior, he was torn between pursuing biomedical engineering or music education, and ultimately chose to study the latter at the University of North Texas. After teaching high school band in Texas for four years, Michael branched out to test prep tutoring in 2013. He started hiring tutors in 2015, and since then, Michael Jordan College Prep has established itself as the leading provider of in-home test prep in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Michael is still a certified teacher as well as a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. Outside of running a test prep business, Michael enjoys running a competitive barbecue team, cooking with his wife, Ashleigh, playing with his dog, Ella, and planning world travels. Find Michael at http://www.mjprep.com/ or [email protected]. LINKS The "Categorize Your Mistakes" Exercise Embracing Mistakes for Bigger Brains… and Test Scores ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Every college applicant seems to dream of attending an elite academic or athletic institution. But does the difficulty in getting into a school predict the value of its education? Amy and Mike invited lecturer and author Denise Pope to explain why college engagement matters more than selectivity. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How expectations and stress impact engagement? Does college selectivity matter to learning or well-being in the long run? What does engagement mean in the context of college? How does intellectual vitality improve college fit? How can educators cultivate engagement on the high school level? MEET OUR GUEST Denise Pope, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer at the Stanford University School of Education. For the past 13 years, she has specialized in student engagement, curriculum studies, qualitative research methods, and service learning. She is co-founder of Challenge Success, a research and intervention project that aims to reduce unhealthy pressure on youth and champions a broader vision of youth success. Challenge Success is an expanded version of the SOS: Stressed-Out Students project that Dr. Pope founded and directed from 2003-2008. She lectures nationally on parenting techniques and pedagogical strategies to increase student health, engagement with learning, and integrity. Her book, Doing School: How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students was awarded Notable Book in Education by the American School Board Journal, 2001. Dr. Pope is a three time recipient of the Stanford University School of Education Outstanding Teacher and Mentor Award. Prior to teaching at Stanford, Dr. Pope taught high school English in Fremont, CA and college composition and rhetoric courses at Santa Clara University. She lives in Los Altos, CA with her husband and three children. Find Denise at [email protected]. LINKS Doing School: How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students Challenge Success Gallup Alumni Survey and the Six College Experiences That Drive Success A "Fit" Over Rankings: Why College Engagement Matters More Than Selectivity (90 second video summary) ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

When it comes to paying for college, we could all use a bit of help. Why, then, do so many families ignore easily accessible sources of college funding right in their own backyards? Amy and Mike invited author Monica Matthews to explain how to win local scholarship awards. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are some key strategies to find scholarships? Why are local scholarships so important? What mistakes to scholarship seekers often make? How much is available in local scholarships? How can scholarship applicants ace an essay requirement? MEET OUR GUEST Monica Matthews is the author of How to Win College Scholarships. She helped her own sons win over $100,000 in college scholarships and now shares her expertise with other parents and their students. She truly has "been there, done that" in regards to helping families navigate the scholarship process. Her methods of helping students find college scholarships, write compelling essays, and create unique application packets have taught desperate parents to help their own students win thousands of scholarship dollars. Her scholarship tips have been featured in several publications such as U.S. News & World Report, The Huffington Post, and The Penny Hoarder. Monica has been dubbed The Scholarship Mom and "Go-To" expert on college scholarships. You can find her winning tips and scholarship blog at https://how2winscholarships.com. Find Monica at info@/how2winscholarships.com. LINKS How to Win College Scholarships How to Win College Scholarships Facebook group ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.