Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

Few concepts in education and performance psychology are as universally accepted as that of the power of a growth mindset. Does that mean the research is conclusive and settled? Not exactly. Amy and Mike invited journalist Jill Barshay to dig into an unexpectedly controversial question–does growth mindset matter? What are five things you will learn in this episode? 1. What is growth mindset? 2. How new is the concept of growth mindset? 3. What is the research evidence for growth mindset? 4. Is the science behind growth mindset universally accepted? 5. Should growth mindset be taught? MEET OUR GUEST Jill Barshay writes the weekly "Proof Points" column about education research and data, covering a range of topics from early childhood to higher education. She taught algebra to ninth-graders for the 2013-14 school year. Previously, Barshay was the New York bureau chief for Marketplace, a national business show on public radio stations. She has also written for Congressional Quarterly, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and the Financial Times, and appeared on CNN and ABC News. She was a 2016-17 Spencer Fellow in Education Reporting. In 2019 she received the American Educational Research Association's award for excellence in media reporting on education research. A graduate of Brown University, Barshay holds master's degrees from the London School of Economics and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. Follow Jill by subscribing to the Proof Points newsletter at https://hechingerreport.org/newsletters/. LINKS Does growth mindset matter? The debate heats up Should taxpayers and schools invest in 'growth mindset' programs? Growth mindset guru Carol Dweck says teachers and parents often use her research incorrectly Praise strategies and results, not effort alone, she says Thriving under pressure: The effects of stress-related wise interventions on affect, sleep, and exam performance for college students from disadvantaged backgrounds RELATED EPISODES BRINGING GRIT TO TESTING AND ADMISSIONS HELPING STUDENTS PREPARE FOR THE DEMANDS OF COLLEGE HOW TO BECOME A RIDICULOUSLY EFFECTIVE STUDENT ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Every year, timeless verities related to getting into college–or even what colleges a student can get into–give way to painful, new truths and exciting, new opportunities. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Rebecca Stuart-Orlowski to return to the show with admissions notes for the HS graduating class of 2024. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does it truly mean to build a balanced college list? What's a good way to help manage expectations for students who are applying to highly selective colleges? How optional are test scores in the current admissions cycle? What other majors might a Computer Science student consider in light of admissions challenges for those increasingly popular programs? What should students know about the University of California admissions and what are some alternative ideas for colleges? MEET OUR GUEST Rebecca Stuart-Orlowski, founder of Orlowski College Consulting, has worked in education for 35 years and has worked as an Independent Educational Consultant for 10+ years. She has a specialized Certificate in College Counseling from UCSD, a BA in Communicative Disorders from San Diego State, and two active teaching credentials. She taught deaf, LD, and 2E students for four years and was a college counselor at a small private school for 3 years. Rebecca specializes in gifted/2E, STEM, creative, homeschooled, and transfer students. Rebecca first appeared on the podcast in episode 369 to discuss ADMISSIONS NOTES FOR THE CLASS OF 2023. Rebecca can be reached at [email protected]. LINKS What Are Your Expectations? Admissions Trends for the HS Class of 2023 College Kickstart How many reach, match, and safety schools should be on your college list? Should Today's Students Take the SAT & ACT? Should You Apply Early Decision? RELATED EPISODES LONG-TERM PLANNING FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS COLLEGE ADMISSIONS INSANITY USING THE COMMON DATA SET ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Every aspect of being or raising a teenager is complicated by the emotional, irrational, and idiosyncratic responses inherent to all of us. Luckily, psychologists have been piecing together some strategies for bringing order to our typical chaos. Amy and Mike invited counselor Samantha Straub to explore using brain science to help your teen navigate the college process. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What distinguishes the teen brain from the adult brain? What are the implications that adolescent brain development has on the college process? What do all kids need from their adults during adolescence? What do parents do to make the college process turn south? What can parents do to make the college process go well? MEET OUR GUEST Samantha Straub is a licensed clinical professional counselor who treats adolescents and their parents and the owner of Teen Savvy Coaching, where she provides individual and group coaching for parents of teens and tweens. As a parenting coach, Sam helps parents of teens and tweens step into their parenting role with calm and confidence during a time of big transitions–for their kids but also for the parents! In her coaching role, she blends her training as a clinical counselor with her 26 years of experience as a classroom teacher, administrator, and school counselor to help parents tame household chaos and strengthen the parent-child connection while also maintaining healthy boundaries. She lives outside of Annapolis with her husband and two kids ages 17 and 19. She has walked one kid through the college process and is in the midst of going through it again with the second. Find Sam at https://teensavvycoaching.com. LINKS One way to increase teen motivation Talk to Me First (Deborah Roffman) RELATED EPISODES HAPPY AND RELAXED TEENS OMNIBUS HOW DO I MOTIVATE MY STUDENT? HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE READY FOR COLLEGE? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Grades 9 through 12 represent one of the most influential periods in a person's life, a time of dramatic change and growth during which many teens determine the trajectories of their lives. Amy and Mike invited educator Flo Brett to share what parents, educators, and counselors should know about how to be successful in high school. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What difficulties do students typically experience in their transitions into high school? What are the keys to a strong start in the freshmen year? What skills do students need to be successful in their first steps in their high school experience? What are the red flags that could indicate a student failing in their high school experience? What can parents and professionals do to assist in these transitions? MEET OUR GUEST Flo Brett is the Founder and Executive Director of Effective Leadership Academy. Since serving as a LEAD ICU Nurse Manager, Training and Development Lead, and Clinical Governance Manager at a hospital in the United Kingdom, Flo has been guided by her education with degrees in Nursing and Leadership Development. Flo has built a reputation for her work around managing complex cultural change, mergers, and acquisitions and has driven quality initiatives across large organizations. She has developed and implemented leadership and development programs in many diverse settings from corporate to nonprofit organizations, from board to operational level, university-level teaching, prison environments, and teaching within many Pre K-12 establishments. She became a disruptor in the Leadership Training Agenda having the opportunity to blend her two passions and founded The Effective Leadership Academy in 2008, impacting over 42,000 students to develop their most valuable assets – themselves. Flo strongly believes that your thoughts, values, and beliefs, create your reality... They form the attitudes that drive your behavior. If you want better results, you have to change the behavior that drives them. Find Flo at [email protected]. LINKS Learn how to be smarter with this one stupid trick Ever Failed, Try Again, Succeed Better: Results from a Randomized Educational Intervention on Grit Effective Leadership Academy RELATED EPISODES HOW TO BECOME A RIDICULOUSLY EFFECTIVE STUDENT WHAT IS SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING? ADVOCACY FOR PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOLERS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

With all the focus on the primary personal statement, we often overlook the importance of supplemental essays in the college application. Amy and Mike invited IEC Jodi Rosenshein Atkin to explain the best ways to answer the matched questions, "Why this college, why this major?" What are five things you will learn in this episode? 1. Why are supplemental essays so important in college applications? 2. Why is the "Why this college?" supplemental important? 3. Why is the "Why this major?" supplemental important? 4. What kind of research should applicants do for these supplements? 5. What extra follow-up really makes them stand out? MEET OUR GUEST Jodi Rosenshein Atkin is an independent educational consultant in private practice. She holds a BA and MA from the University of Rochester in Psychology, and has over 20 years of experience in educational and clinical settings. Her first career focused on working with individuals and families living with learning challenges. She is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, as well as a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, New York State Association of College Admissions Counselors, and Higher Education Consultants Association. Her practice is entering its seventh season. During that time, she has visited almost 200 college campuses in 15 different states! Jodi is committed to finding a "best fit" school for every student, considering academic, financial, social and cultural factors. It's about more than the mascot and the sweatshirt; it's about finding the places that each student can thrive and grow, making the most of their higher education investment. Finding the right school is a journey, not a race to some imaginary finish line. Jodi is a frequent guest speaker at libraries, schools, podcasts and webinars. Her insights have been featured in publications nationally, including the Wall Street Journal, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Teen Vogue, Rochester Business Journal, and The Deseret News (Utah). She has also presented to professional groups, including the NYS Association of College Admissions Counselors. She and her husband, Louis, have four adult children and live in Rochester, NY with their golden doodle, Dustin. Jodi has appeared on this podcast in episode 32 to discuss Making the Most of College Visits and in episode 160 to discuss Demonstrating Interest During Virtual College Tours. Find Jodi at www.jodiratkin.com. LINKS Why This College Essay Guide + Examples RELATED EPISODES WHY OPTIONAL STATEMENTS AREN'T OPTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR SELECTING A COLLEGE MAJOR ON TIME DO COLLEGE MAJORS MATTER? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Every time a sophisticated educational assessment changes, every aspect has to be reconsidered and possibly changed. The digital adaptive SAT is no exception, and one particular aspect of that test has transformed substantially. Amy and Mike invited educator Brenna O'Neill to explain how the digital SAT is scored. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How does multistage adaptive scoring work on the digital SAT? Does every question count the same on the dSAT? What is Item Response Theory (IRT) and how does it apply on the dSAT? What are the advantages and challenges of using IRT in test design and scoring? How does the way the test is scored inform test-taking strategies? MEET OUR GUEST Brenna O'Neill is the President of Test Innovators. Brenna brings an intimate knowledge of private schools, standardized tests, and the admissions process. Her experience in math, English, and test prep education helps to improve student learning and inform product development at Test Innovators. Brenna is excited to ensure every student's success through building excellent educational content, resources, programs, and tools. Brenna appeared on the podcast in episode #266 to discuss What is the ISEE? Find Brenna at [email protected]. LINKS Digital SAT Suite of Assessments Item response theory RELATED EPISODES NEW SAT TEST SPECIFICATIONS THE NEW DIGITAL SAT EXPERIENCE: A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE THE NEW DIGITAL PSAT ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Keith Brown, Ph.D. With a strong foundation in standardized tests such as ACT, SAT, and PSAT, Keith is committed to guiding students toward academic excellence. His teaching journey commenced at CalTech, where he earned an MS and Ph.D. in Biology, amassing extensive tutoring experience exceeding 4000 hours. Having served as a Teaching Assistant, he has mastered the art of instilling self-assurance and motivation in students, nurturing their autonomy in learning. Keith holds degrees from Grambling State University and CalTech, equipping him to mentor students across diverse subjects, encompassing Biology, Genetics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. His unwavering enthusiasm for facilitating student achievements is evident as he witnesses their conquest of challenges and assimilation of novel concepts. Find Keith at [email protected]. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Maria Harmon. With an MIT degree and love of all things STEM, Maria knows the value of curiosity and its power inside and outside the classroom. She attended a vocational high school, studying under electricians for 4 years. Her Environmental Engineering degree led her to visit farmers in India, get dirty with waste-pickers in Nicaragua, and chase volcanic smog around Hawai'i. Yet every experience has built her passion for unlocking student potential. Since 2011, she has continually tutored, first for work-study, then the Americorps program City Year, then as a full-time career. Maria has a passion for unlocking potential not only in grades and conceptual understanding, but also in self-esteem and the joy of learning. She loves to help students combine vulnerability and effort to invigorate their academic lives as well as their emotional, social, and/or faith lives. In any given tutoring session, you may find Maria: – becoming overly enthusiastic about percents and fractions, – convincing skeptics that tests are fun, or – sharing openly about life lessons she wished had been taught in school. Fun Facts: Maria is a jack of all trades. She is quite handy around the house, makes chocolate board games, and loves singing a cappella. She is very involved in her church, especially helping to run a homeless and refugee resettlement ministry. Find Maria at [email protected]. PLAYLIST Listen to all of our profiles of outstanding test prep teachers, tutors, and innovators on our Test Prep Profile playlist. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Kartik Sarda. At 25, Kartik's journey is a promising one, marked by an intriguing blend of entrepreneurship, education, and creativity. It all began at Streamline Learning, where Kartik spent three years juggling roles, from tutoring to handling their digital marketing and product development. His entrepreneurial spirit then led him to found two startups: Saathi Global Education Network and Seven Square Learning. Saathi GEN was an ambitious venture aimed at creating a global networking platform for schools. Although it was eventually closed due to pandemic-induced financial challenges, the experience added a significant chapter to Kartik's story. On the other hand, Seven Square Learning, a test-prep company, focuses on tutoring American high school students for SAT/ACT while emphasizing their mental health. Currently, Kartik is pouring his energies into creating a comprehensive SaaS platform for tutoring companies, a tool that will streamline operations, invoicing, CRM, schedule management, and automatic grading and test reports. His first-hand experience with tutoring gives him a unique perspective in building a product that directly addresses the needs of the industry. Traveling and cricket are two of his passions outside work. Having lived independently in five cities since he was 16, Kartik's travel experiences have enriched his perspective and equipped him to adapt quickly to new environments. And when he's not working or traveling, you'll likely find him engrossed in a cricket match or exploring the intricacies of virtual reality. In all, Kartik's journey is one of constant learning, adaptability, and exploration. And it's only just begun. Find Kartik at [email protected]. PLAYLIST Listen to all of our profiles of outstanding test prep teachers, tutors, and innovators on our Test Prep Profile playlist. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Josh Kutchai, a private SAT/ACT and curriculum tutor. Josh teaches all sections of the SAT and ACT as well as curriculum mathematics up to and including calculus BC. Josh grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he spent a lot of time playing basketball and piano. He then moved to New Jersey to attend Princeton University, where he majored in mathematics and minored in music. After struggling to become a famous rock 'n' roll star, Josh decided that his temperament was better suited for education! He obtained a masters degree in mathematics from Rutgers University, worked as a mathematics professor for a few years, and ultimately became a professional tutor in the year 1999. He fell madly in love with the profession and has never looked back. Josh still loves music and has recorded multiple albums during the course of his career. He also passionately follows college and pro basketball. He is tired of all the flopping! Find Josh at [email protected]. PLAYLIST Listen to all of our profiles of outstanding test prep teachers, tutors, and innovators on our Test Prep Profile playlist. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

The promise and potential of higher education remain popular in good economic times and bad. Even more popular is the prospect of not paying full price for a degree! Amy and Mike invited educator Dr. Kuni Beasley to reveal some colleges that offer the best scholarships and financial aid. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does college cost so much and what are the best ways to lower out-of-pocket costs? How can families find low-cost colleges? Which colleges offer the best financial aid? Which colleges offer automatic, easily accessible scholarships? How can one earn institutional scholarships regardless of family income? MEET OUR GUEST Dr. Kuni Michael Beasley, the founder of Beasley College Prep, has a BS from Texas Christian University (GO Frogs!), an MBA from Oklahoma City University, a Doctor of Ministry in Greek and Hebrew from Tyndale Seminary, and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Arlington. He has been helping students prepare for college for over 40 years. Dr. Beasley has helped students enroll in the top colleges in the country including Harvard, West Point, Stanford, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Pepperdine, and MIT, with many on full scholarships. Dr. Beasley has an eclectic background. After earning his undergraduate degree, he served on active duty with the Army where he was the youngest commander in Europe in charge of a nuclear Field Artillery unit. When he returned to the US, he oversaw Officer Training and developed several novel training strategies that won him a medal for his efforts. While on active duty, Dr. Beasley earned his master's degree in fifty weeks by attending classes at night. He left active duty to take a position with the Federal Reserve Bank where he was a Training Specialist, Management Systems Coordinator, and Strategic Planner. While there, he worked on the new currency and applied creative ideas to operations and check processing. From there, Dr. Beasley was the International Management Consultant for Caltex Petroleum overseeing executive development and strategic training for executives in 55 countries. Dr. Beasley left corporate America to pursue a personal passion to coach football. In his first year as a high school football coach, Coach Beasley's team won the 1994 Texas AAA state championship. He returned to coaching in 2021 and led his team to the state championship game again. Seeing that many students were under-challenged, in 1996, Dr. Beasley started his own school in a rented Sunday School room at the First Baptist Church in Duncanville, Texas, with seven students. By 2009, there were 22 schools from Springfield, Massachusetts to Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Palm Springs, California. He initiated a College Readiness business taking his unique preparation process to the public and private school students. His SAT and ACT prep programs were used in public schools in nine states. Dr. Beasley taught college for sixteen years at several institutions to include Northwood University, Dallas Baptist University, University of Texas at Arlington, and thirteen years at LeTourneau University. He is credentialed to teach at the graduate level in 14 subject areas to include Business, Political Science, Public Administration, Urban Studies, Economics, Psychology, Geography, and Military History. His Ph.D. is in Urban and Public Administration where he wrote his dissertation on the transition of the Federal Reserve in the late 80's. He earned his Doctor of Ministry in Greek and Hebrew studies concurrently with his Ph.D. Very few can bring a portfolio with military command, championship coaching, academic achievement, college teaching, school administration, and the innovative entrepreneurship to build a nationwide business. Kuni first appeared on this podcast in episode 415 for a TEST PREP PROFILE. You can find Kuni at [email protected]. LINKS Best Affordable Colleges 2023-2024 RELATED EPISODES INVESTING IN COLLEGE CONSIDERING COLLEGE FINANCIAL FIT FIRST MOST COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT MERIT AID ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

At every level of education, teachers serve irreplaceable roles as purveyors of knowledge, curators of culture, and gatekeepers to priceless opportunities and understandings. So why do students seem to so desperately avoid their instructors? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Dale Troy to enumerate the compelling reasons why students should get to know their teachers. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How does knowing your teachers–and having them know you–open up opportunities? What are the best ways for students to get to know their teachers? Why should high schoolers build strong, positive relationships with teachers? Do students report having better college experiences if they've developed a relationship with professors? What life skills are strengthened when a student gets to know their professors? What are other benefits of having a professor as a mentor? MEET OUR GUEST Dale Troy is a College Success Coach and Certified Health Coach. Parents hire her to help their children transition successfully from high school to college. Dale's experience in helping college students started with her own three daughters. All three of her daughters graduated from Yale College, and she is a graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School. Dale helps students get good grades, make great friends, and stay healthy, both physically and mentally. The freshman dropout rate is currently 30%. Dale's College Success Formula program protects parents' college investment by setting their children up for success from the start of freshman year. The program helps students, at any point in their college career, implement the habits and skills they need for academic and social success, as well as physical and emotional health. Find Dale at [email protected] or talkwithdale.com. LINKS Getting Along With Your Teachers (for Teens) A Parent's Guide to College: Six Keys to Ensure Your Child Graduates on Time RELATED EPISODES THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF COLLEGE SUCCESS GALLUP ALUMNI SURVEY AND THE SIX COLLEGE EXPERIENCES THAT DRIVE SUCCESS LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: GOOD VS. GREAT ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

In many ways, higher education can be considered one of the top U.S. exports, especially when you consider just how long the line of prospective international students is. Amy and Mike invited visa expert Ben Arterburn to share top tips to pass your study visa interview. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Who needs a visa to study in the United States? What is the main reason someone is denied a visa? What is the biggest mistake visa applicants make? How can a visa applicant best prepare for the visa interview? What advice would you give to someone who has already been refused? MEET OUR GUEST Ben Arterburn is the Director of Argo Visa. He served as a U.S. diplomat for 6 years, adjudicating over 60,000 visa applications in China and Colombia. Having worked on immigrant visas, nonimmigrant visas, and fraud prevention, he is an expert on all aspects of the visa application and interview process. Before leaving the State Department, Ben served as the press secretary and spokesperson for the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai, China. While serving as a visa officer, Ben saw that visa applicants had very little access to accurate, authoritative information about what happens in a visa interview, and many applicants were refused their visas unnecessarily. He became an immigration and visa consultant to help prevent that. Ben has a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering and a master's degree in contemporary Chinese studies from Columbia University. He speaks English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. Find Ben at [email protected]. LINKS Argo Visa - YouTube RELATED EPISODES WHY STUDENTS SHOULD STUDY IN THE UNITED STATES WHAT IS THE TOEFL? WHAT IS THE IELTS? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

The U.S. media has been delivering heavy doses of news and commentary about the state of our higher education system for years. Interestingly, the topic draws a lot of attention internationally as well as domestically. Amy and Mike invited educator Kathryn Suwa to make the case to students around the world about why students should study in the United States. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are some of the key benefits of pursuing higher education in the United States? What opportunities and resources are available to students in the U.S. that contribute to their personal and professional growth? How does a U.S. education help students develop a strong network of professional connections and open doors to career opportunities? What role does the flexibility and interdisciplinary approach of the U.S. education system play in shaping well-rounded graduates? Are there specific programs or initiatives in U.S. universities that support students' career readiness and employability skills development? MEET OUR GUEST Kathryn B. Suwa (M.S.Ed.), an Education Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, has played a pivotal role in promoting international education and facilitating connections between Nigerian students and U.S. institutions over the last decade. Her achievements include increased awareness of educational and scholarship opportunities in the United States through outreach programs and workshops, and establishing collaborations between education stakeholders in international education. Kathryn's expertise has guided applicants, parents, and institutions through the college application process, resulting in improved success rates for hundreds of Nigerian students. She has also conducted training sessions and developed resources to enhance the skills of high school counselors and teachers, promoting capacity building in the field of education. Additionally, Kathryn has fostered cultural understanding and appreciation of U.S. culture among Nigerians through thematic events and high school competitions highlighting U.S. culture and history. Through her regional engagement and mentoring of new EducationUSA advisers, Kathryn contributes to knowledge sharing and support for students seeking educational opportunities from the sub-Saharan region. Her dedication and commitment to promoting quality education have made a significant impact on the lives of Nigerian students and families, empowering them to pursue educational pathways and contribute to societal advancement. She is a student affairs professional with a Masters degree in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from the University of Wisconsin, La-Crosse (USA). You can find Kathryn at [email protected]. LINKS EducationUSA Invitational video to international students Video on diversity in U.S higher education How The SAT & ACT Can Make Us Proud of America RELATED EPISODES MATCHING TYPES OF STUDENTS TO TYPES OF SCHOOLS HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE FRESHMAN STOP MAKING $EN$E: THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROBLEM ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

The written portions of applications to selective colleges have always evoked a lot of stress to say all the right things under limited word counts. How much more pressure are students crafting their essays under in light of the ruling against affirmative action in higher education? Amy and Mike invited educator Dominique Padurano to discuss the latest insights into diversity and the college essay. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the expected influence of the recent SCOTUS decision on affirmative action on future college applications? What is the general role of the personal statement? Should students consider writing an essay that signals their racial or ethnic background? What factors should students who do want to write about their ethnic or racial background consider? How can optional and supplemental essays be used strategically to communicate to admissions offices? MEET OUR GUEST Dominique Padurano, M.S., Ed., Ph.D. – aka "Dr. P." – loves helping students of all ages fulfill their academic and personal goals. President and Founder of Crimson Coaching, Dr. P. herself personally tutors students in History, English, Spanish, French, Math, and study, time management, and organizational skills; prepares them for tests like the SAT, ACT, and GRE; and coaches them through the college application process. Essays that students have written under Dr. P.'s guidance have earned them admission to Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and other top universities, as well as scholarships totaling more than $1million. She loves helping guide students through the process of reflecting on their lives and believes that writing a college essay can be a valuable conduit to growing into the adult that a teen wants to become. Also an adjunct professor of U.S. history at the City University of New York and a published author, Dr. P. is currently writing a memoir of her time as an undergraduate at Harvard. Read more about her work at www.crimsoncoaching.com and on Google, straight from the hearts and minds of Crimson Coaching's parents and students. Dominique appeared on the podcast in episode #373 to discuss Small Group Classes Vs 1-1 Tutoring for SAT & ACT Prep. Find Dominique at Facebook, LinkedIn, and [email protected]. LINKS What Does the SCOTUS Decision Mean For Your Child? With Supreme Court Decision, College Admissions Could Become Even More Subjective Prompting Discussion or Tempting Litigation How will the Supreme Court's affirmative action ruling affect college admissions? How to Write the Diversity Essay (Guide + Examples) RELATED EPISODES WHY OPTIONAL STATEMENTS AREN'T OPTIONAL TABOO ESSAY TOPICS WRITING RHETORICALLY IN ADMISSIONS ESSAYS (Be sure to explore our full College Essay Playlist) ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Success in college depends on more than just finding the right academic fit–you have to find an environment where you can be yourself in all the ways that are important to you. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Robert Powers to share insights into navigating college and admissions as an LGBTQ+ student. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are important factors to consider when trying to find the right fit as an LGBTQ+ student? What are the different campus organizations that support the social and emotional identity of LGBTQ+ students? Is it important or necessary to disclose LGBTQ+ status in the college application? What should students and families be asking when on campus to ensure a safe environment? What are good resources to use to identify colleges that support LGBTQ+ students? MEET OUR GUEST Robert Powers is an expert on the LGBTQ+ college search and a national advocate for LGBTQ+ students. He is currently writing the chapter on LGBTQ+ students for the upcoming sixth edition of NACAC's textbook Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling. He owns his own college counseling firm, College Torch, where he guides LGBTQ+ students through the college search and application process. He is also the co-founder of IECs for Human Rights, the only grassroots advocacy organization for IECs. Find Robert at [email protected] or Follow Robert on LinkedIn LINKS 10 College Campus Red Flags for LGBTQ+ Students Campus Pride Join IECs for Human Rights Anti-LGBTQ+ policies RELATED EPISODES WHAT EDUCATORS SHOULD UNDERSTAND ABOUT GENDER FITTING IN AND STANDING OUT ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

The difficulty of individual multiple-choice questions depends on far more than just the questions themselves, as any test taker who has struggled to differentiate between several tempting choices can attest. Amy and Mike invited educator Vinny Madera to share his research on answer traps on standardized tests. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is an answer trap, and why do they exist? What is a distractor answer choice? What are common types of math distractor choices on standardized tests? What are common types of verbal distractor choices on standardized tests? How does knowledge of trap choices help students? MEET OUR GUEST Vinny Madera is the guy who shapes Test Prep Wizards and helps the team determine the most effective and efficient ways to get the results students need. Tutoring in some capacity since college, Vinny decided in 2007 to become a full-time tutor and works directly with over 800 students per year through his classes and individual students. Aiding numerous school districts, private institutions, and tutoring companies, Vinny has developed all Test Prep Wizards' reporting software and has written the company's SAT and ACT manuals, which have been licensed by many school districts as an efficient, low-cost means of helping their students. Vinny is a huge nerd fan of data and statistics, moonlighting as a math enthusiast at Fairfield University where he teaches a variety of math courses and freshman experience workshops. He brings this love of numbers and trends to Test Prep Wizards in the form of its state-of-the-art analysis programming. Vinny is the author of Demystifying the Calculator: A Guide to Using the TI-84 PLUS CE on the ACT. Vinny appeared on the podcast in episode #141 to discuss Tracking Test Score Data, in episode #225 to discuss Calculator Usage On The SAT And ACT, and in episode #340 SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Test Prep Wizards Score Reporting. Find Vinny at testprepwizards.com or [email protected]. LINKS The Position of Distractors in Multiple-Choice Test Items: The Strongest Precede the Weakest A Comparison of the Two-Option Versus the Four-Option Multiple-Choice Item: A Case for Fewer Distractors Three Options Are Optimal for Multiple‐Choice Items: A Meta‐Analysis of 80 Years of Research Knowledge-Driven Distractor Generation for Cloze-Style Multiple Choice Questions Multiple-Choice Item Distractor Development Using Topic Modeling Approaches Advanced Answer Elimination Strategies RELATED EPISODES COMMON TESTING MISTAKES AND HOW TO AVOID THEM WHY PRACTICE TESTS MATTER SO MUCH USING STUDENT SELF-ANALYSIS TO IMPROVE INSTRUCTION ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

New college students invariably arrive on campus flush with optimism for all the good times, academic successes, and healthy relationships ahead. If only life proceeded that smoothly… Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Lee Norwood to explain the W-Curve Model and new college students. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the W-Curve Model? How do the five stages of the W-Curve Model map levels of student comfort at school? Why should new college students be prepared for culture shock? How can having this W-curve map in advance facilitate adjustment to college life? Can parents be too reactive to their student's struggles? MEET OUR GUEST Lee Norwood is a successful entrepreneur and a published author with two bachelor's degrees in Business/Marketing and English from Elon University. Her energy, connections, humor, knowledge, and talents are expanding our reach and bringing amazing partners to the Annapolis College Consulting family. Lee excels at connecting with students and bringing out the best in them, including helping them find their authentic voice and craft meaningful essays that resonate with college admissions offices. She creates opportunities for growth that matches their interests (non-profit and business internships, local and state connections, creative opportunities) and builds consistency within their application. Described as "a stick of dynamite, in a good way" Lee maintains a strong social media presence, sharing knowledge with anyone who follows her. She keeps everyone laughing throughout the process and the ACC Instagram Stories and Reels are a wonderful example of staying relevant with a dose of humor. You can hear her voice on many podcasts as she is an evangelist for families and students finding the right fit for college at the right price. Lee's motto "a rising tide lifts all ships" has her advocating for many of the newest technologies to reach students and peers. Lee was the subject of an IEC Profile in episode 312. Find Lee at https://annapoliscollegeconsulting.com. LINKS W-Curve Model and college students RELATED EPISODES WHAT TO DO WHEN A STUDENT STRUGGLES IN COLLEGE THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF COLLEGE SUCCESS HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE READY FOR COLLEGE? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Admissions decisions for selective educational programs require as much useful data about applicants as possible, particularly regarding academic skills and ability. Is it possible that opponents of standardized testing seek something other than a fair and transparent selection process? Amy and Mike invited educator Daniel Buck to explore who loses when we abolish entrance exams. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How widespread has the elimination of entrance exams been? What is the history of standardized tests as entrance exams? What factors have replaced the data provided by standardized tests? How do objective test scores help disadvantaged students stand out? Who wins when we abolish entrance exams? MEET OUR GUEST Daniel Buck is an Editorial and Policy Associate at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. He is the author of What Is Wrong with Our Schools? and taught English and English as a second language at the middle and high school levels. He earned his master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, along with bachelor's degrees in English literature and the Spanish language. His work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, National Affairs, National Review, the New York Post, First Things, and many other publications. Find Daniel at [email protected] or on Twitter @mrdanielbuck. LINKS Who loses when we abolish entrance exams Where Did The Test Come From? - A Brief History Of The SAT RELATED EPISODES WHY TESTS MATTER: STUDENT PERSPECTIVES DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER: WHAT TESTING TELLS US LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

We accept as bedrock truth that every important test should be studied for. How often, though, do we explore what studying actually entails? Amy and Mike invited educators Anna Solomon and Kailey Ossanna to share effective study skills for test preparation. What are five things you will learn in this episode? 1. What makes studying a skill? 2. What does a lack of effective study skills look like? 3. What study skills are essential for students preparing for important exams? 4. Why are study skills best learned as interactive conversations? 5. Why is self-advocacy considered a study skill? MEET OUR GUESTS Anna Solomon grew up in Florida and graduated with a B.A. in History from New College of Florida. She lived in Asheville (NC) and Richmond (VA), and now lives in Salisbury (MD). She worked for Huntington Learning Center, Tutor Doctor, and other private tutoring and test prep companies before beginning her own company, Flamingo Tutoring. She now focuses on one-on-one tutoring for the SAT and ACT. Anna is thrilled to be part of the NTPA and co-founder of the NTPA Book Club and Women of NTPA. When Anna isn't hanging out with colleagues (virtually) or working with students (virtually), she is out exploring with her four-year-old. Anna previously appeared in a Test Prep Profile in episode 250. Find Anna at [email protected]. Kailey Ossanna is the proud owner of KO Tutoring, the test prep company she founded in August 2020. She is a graduate of Campbell University, receiving her BS in Biology. Kailey's path to KO Tutoring has had many interesting stops. From her time as an officer in the United States Army to overseeing quality control of the production of vital medical supplies to teaching math and science in Appalachia, Kailey has brought professionalism and passion to everything she has done. She is now using her experiences and love for education and education policy to provide excellent service to her clients and work towards uplifting all students by working within the professional tutoring community and local communities. Kailey previously appeared in a Test Prep Profile in episode 416 and a Sponsor Spotlight in episode 446. Find Kailey at https://www.kotutoring.com. LINKS Study Skills: Planner and Curriculum RELATED EPISODES HOW TO TEACH STUDENTS TO STUDY EFFECTIVELY FAST AND SLOW LEARNERS MAKING LEARNING SCIENCE WORK FOR YOU ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Most years, the PSAT feels inconsequential for all but the highest-scoring students. The October 2023 exam, however, will put everyone–students, schools, and College Board itself–to the test as the first U.S. administration of a very new version of an old exam. Amy and Mike invited educator and author Brian Stewart to share essential information about the new digital PSAT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How is the PSAT changing in Fall 2023? Will the scoring on the digital PSAT be different from past tests? What do we know about how the National Merit selection process will be affected by the Digital PSAT? How should students prepare for the digital PSAT? Can paper resources effectively prepare students for a digital exam? MEET OUR GUEST At the end of his first year teaching Social Studies at Dublin Jerome High School, company founder Brian Stewart thought it would make sense to do some part-time tutoring work over the summer. After all, he had done quite well on standardized tests when he was in high school and really enjoyed coming up with creative ways to explain challenging concepts to students. Other companies charged a fortune and didn't seem to have a high-quality product. As Brian worked with more students, word spread about the quality of his tutoring services. He started to offer ACT and SAT test prep group classes, and worked with students from all over Central Ohio. In 2011, Brian left his day job to run BWS Education Consulting full time with his wife Caitlin. Applying the expertise from her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, Caitlin has ensured that our teaching materials and methods make high-quality test preparation accessible to students of all backgrounds and ability levels. In 2012, Barron's Educational Series contacted Brian about submitting samples of his writing as they conducted a national search for their next ACT book author. Brian was chosen to write Barron's ACT, and has gone on to write several ACT, SAT, and PSAT books with Barron's Educational Series. His books have sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide. In 2014, BWS Education expanded to have associate tutors who teach not only the ACT and SAT, but tutor students in math, science, and writing. Brian and Caitlin personally interview and train every tutor on our staff to ensure they are the best in the business. BWS is a team of committed educators who relentlessly look for the best way to deliver educational enrichment to our clients, whether it's test prep, academic help, or college admission counseling. Brian appeared on the podcast in episode #33 to discuss PSAT and the National Merit Scholarship and in episode #383 to discuss Should You Prepare for the PSAT. Find Brian at https://www.bwseducationconsulting.com. LINKS Brian's PSAT Book: Barron's PSAT/NMSQT 1520 Why take the PSAT? PSAT and Scholarships PSAT/NMSQT Study Guide, 2023: 4 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Practice (Barron's Test Prep) Colleges that offer Full-Rides for National Merit Sample Alternate Entry Form for National Merit Information on the New Digital PSAT RELATED EPISODES THE NEW DIGITAL SAT EXPERIENCE: A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE TESTING GAMEPLAN FOR THE CLASS OF 2025 NEW SAT TEST SPECIFICATIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

The Supreme Court's ruling outlawing race-conscious admissions seems, on its face, to be a blow against diversity in higher education. But how authentically diverse were selective schools in the first place? Amy and Mike invited college advisor and author Andy Lockwood to explore the meaning of real diversity in college admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the rationale for promoting diversity on college campuses? How effective have colleges been in bringing together diverse student bodies? How will the Supreme Court decision on affirmative action impact diversity on college campuses? What would real–as opposed to visual–diversity on campus look like? What steps can schools take to promote real diversity? MEET OUR GUEST Andy Lockwood is a best-selling author of four books, including How to Negotiate Your Crappy Financial Aid and Merit Aid Award and How to Get Into Your Dream College Without Lying, Bribing or Photoshopping, and an outspoken and controversial critic of runaway college costs and the institutions that perpetuate them. He focuses on identifying admissions and financial aid strategies for college-bound teens and their families, including business owners, divorced parents, and student-athletes. He received his BA from Wesleyan University–where he was on (not "played for") the basketball team–and his J.D. from St. John's Law School. Find Andy at [email protected], lockwoodcollegeprep.com, or call 516-882-5464 LINKS 20-1199 Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College (06/29/2023) What the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action means for colleges The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education Race-conscious admissions is out. Here are my predictions for colleges in the post-SCOTUS landscape. RELATED EPISODES LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD WOULD ELIMINATING TESTS MAKE EDUCATION MORE EQUITABLE SHAPING AN ADMISSIONS CLASS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Deborah Davis Groves. "Mrs. G" as her clients call her, is an Independent Educational Consultant (IEC), Certified Educational Planner located in Austin, Texas. Mrs. G first became familiar with independent college counseling when she hired a consultant to work with her three children and Mrs. G ended up doing all the work. After 28 years of working for non-profit organizations in and around the Austin area, Mrs. G completely reinvented herself by going back to school to become an IEC. She is one of five Certified Educational Planners in Austin and one of 14 in the state of Texas. She launched her business, Davis Groves Educational Services, in December 2011. Deb is a professional member of IECA, a member of NACAC, TACAC, and AICEP. She currently serves on the IECA Nominating Committee and has worked on a variety of committees planning college tours, encouraging and mentoring members as well as being involved in community service in her numerous organizations. She also recently served on the Common Application Outreach Committee for three years. Deb started the Austin IEC Network in 2012 and bridged it into the Austin IECA Regional Group in 2018. This group of consultants grew from the original 9-member organization to over 35 members when she stepped down as the Founding Chair in December 2021. Deb was honored with the IECA's Making A Difference Award in November 2022 which recognizes those IECA members "for their selfless volunteer efforts benefiting the association's 2,300 plus members". Her daughter, Aubrey Groves, also an IECA professional member, joined Davis Groves Educational Services in 2015. Aubrey graduated from Davidson College in 2006 where she majored in English and minored in Chinese. She has lived in China, Japan, and England. She received her Master's in Eastern Asian Studies at Duke University and went on to become a Mandarin Chinese language teacher to high school students at two different boarding schools on the east coast before joining her mom as an IEC. Aubrey is the Vice Chair of the Austin IECA Regional group that now serves IEC's from Waco to San Marcos, Texas. Aubrey also serves as the Co-Chair of the TACAC IEC SIG Committee and is a member of the IECA College Tours Committee. Mrs. G and Aubrey's clients/families refer to them as "the mother-daughter dynamic duo." Davis Groves Educational Services has grown into a well-known and respected professional IEC company in the Austin, Texas community and beyond. Davis Groves Educational Services works so hard to empower their students! Managing expectations is probably the hardest part of their job because everyone wants the very best. Mrs. G and Aubrey firmly believe that there is a college for every student! Regardless of the selectivity of the college, success requires hard work wherever a student lands. They want each of their clients to flourish at the colleges that they are called to attend! Deb/Mrs. G and Aubrey have a heart for their clients and have realized that serving as their Independent Educational Consultants goes far beyond just finding the "right college fit." In many cases it is about changing lives – both Mrs. G and Aubrey's as well as the students! Find Deb at [email protected]. PLAYLIST Listen to all of our profiles of exceptional independent educational consultants on our IEC profile playlist. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Jenny Buyens, an independent educational consultant who enjoys assisting phenomenal young people in dreaming BIG! She helps families steer through the college admissions process with a minimum of stress and a maximum of fun. Jenny asks tough questions, challenges perceptions, while always listening and tailoring the journey for each individual student. She helps direct a team of 13 counselors to deliver the best, always, to their clients. Find Jenny at [email protected]. PLAYLIST Listen to all of our profiles of exceptional independent educational consultants on our IEC profile playlist. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Tonica Johnson. Her experiences as a first-generation college student and high school teacher of seven years are what led Tonica to create Cardinal College Planning to help students and their families in the college selection process. College is one of the largest investments a family will make, so the stress of making the right decision is understandable! She eases the anxiety and makes this process enjoyable for everyone involved through efficient and effective college planning services. Tonica wants every student to end up at the school that is the best fit for them- academically, financially, and socially. Each student is unique, so she works to create a customized plan of action for success! From tackling the milestones along the way of standardized testing and analyzing financial aid packages to making the final college decision, she guides both students and families on the path to success. She is fueled by her commitment to excellence and goes the extra mile to ensure satisfaction. Tonica holds a master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Dayton. She is a member of several professional organizations, including sitting on the board for College Consultants of Colorado. She believes in maintaining a positive mindset, creating partnerships with a purpose, and always striving for significant outcomes. Find Tonica at [email protected]. PLAYLIST Listen to all of our profiles of exceptional independent educational consultants on our IEC profile playlist. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Growing up in suburban Minnesota, Jen Nelson made her way to the West Coast when she started college in Santa Cruz, CA. Majoring in English and psychology, Jen spent her early post-college years teaching high school English and drama. Her family moved between the West Coast and New Zealand for several years, so Jen chose to home-educate her kids. Finally landing in Washougal, WA in 2013, Jen found herself ready to launch her second-half-of-life career. With extensive experience teaching essay writing to homeschool groups, as well as a decade of mentoring high school and college students, Jen decided to pursue a career in admissions coaching, receiving her College Counseling Certificate from UCLA. She currently volunteers with the AVID program at Washougal High School and is a full-time independent educational consultant. Jen loves working with both traditionally-educated and home-educated students in pursuit of their post-high school hopes and dreams. In her free time, Jen loves to hike, travel, read, scrapbook, spend time with her teenage sons, and practice yoga. Find Jen at [email protected]. PLAYLIST Listen to all of our profiles of exceptional independent educational consultants on our IEC profile playlist. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Nancy Steenson, a graduate of Tufts University, owner of Steenson College Coaching, and member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association and the New England Association for College Admission Counseling. Nancy visits dozens of colleges per year, and founded, chairs and moderates a group of 40 independent counselors who meet weekly to share best practices. She believes that many students underestimate the college admissions process and helps to market them in their best light by sharing underutilized strategies in order to distinguish them amidst thousands of applicants. Nancy enjoys working with young people enormously and takes great pride in helping them realize their full potential in the college application process. With her guidance, students have great success in finding and applying to colleges that are a wonderful academic, social and financial fit, and have been accepted to many varied institutions across the country. In addition to working one-on-one with students, she speaks extensively on the topic of college admissions in the corporate world as well as to parents and students, both locally and nationally. Find Nancy at [email protected]. PLAYLIST Listen to all of our profiles of exceptional independent educational consultants on our IEC profile playlist. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

The success of the Tests and the Rest podcast can be credited to our focus on fascinating guests with specific expertise and insight into admissions, testing, education, and learning. To celebrate our 500th episode, we're throwing all that away to focus on ourselves! Amy and Mike invited educator Brian Eufinger to guest host our first show devoted to listener questions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What were Mike and Amy's favorite topics, most famous guests, and most popular episodes? How spontaneous are podcast conversations, and do we record the podcast intro every time? What is the connection between Tests and the Rest, Test Prep Tribe, and the NTPA? What are Mike and Amy's tips for anyone starting a new podcast? What fascinating information came out during the speed round? MEET OUR HOST 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. 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. Brian serves on the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. He is an active member of Washington University's Young Alumni chapter in Atlanta, as well as the WashU Alumni Admissions Interviewer Program. Brian was our guest to discuss THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION (#28), SELF-PREP FOR THE SAT & ACT (#131), and SHOULD I TAKE THE ACT WRITING TEST? (#271) and TESTING GAMEPLAN FOR THE CLASS OF 2025 (#432). He also facilitated our 2019-20 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW (#100). Find Brian at https://www.edisonprep.com. LINKS Meet Amy Seeley Meet Mike Bergin Test Prep Tribe National Test Prep Association New Tutor Podcast Playlist RELATED EPISODES SAT & ACT TESTING TIMELINES + Mike Bergin's origin story PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF TESTING + Amy Seeley's origin story INTRODUCING THE NATIONAL TEST PREP ASSOCIATION ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

While a college education represents far more than just job training, a substantial return on that tuition investment certainly doesn't hurt. Amy and Mike invited policy expert Michael Itzkowitz to compare the most popular and most lucrative college majors. What are five things you will learn in this episode? 1. Do college graduates tend to earn more than non-graduates? 2. How should we evaluate the return on investment of college? 3. Which college majors currently pay the most right out of school? 4. How does this list compare to the most popular college majors? 5. How do timeline and future education impact calculations of ROI? MEET OUR GUEST With 10 years of experience in federal education policy, Michael Itzkowitz has held senior roles inside and outside of government. His work and expertise are often cited by national news outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and NBC. Prior to beginning the HEA Group, Michael worked as a Presidential Appointee in the Obama Administration at the U.S. Department of Education, assuming a number of roles in K-12 and higher education. Most notably, he was the Director of the Administration's College Scorecard, an initiative focused on higher education transparency and accountability. The Scorecard, announced by the President in February 2013, is the largest release of higher education data ever by the Federal government. Michael also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of Postsecondary Education, where he helped oversee the policy and administrative functions of the office, which includes over 180 employees across three divisions that disburse approximately $2.5 billion in grants and establish policy for nearly $120 billion in Federal student aid every year. There, he led the office's Organizational Performance team and directed policy initiatives on accreditation, minority-serving institutions, financial aid award letters, and data transparency. Find Michael at https://www.theheagroup.com. LINKS Which College Majors Pay the Most? Evaluating College ROI College Scorecard RELATED EPISODES DO COLLEGE MAJORS MATTER? STRATEGIES FOR SELECTING A COLLEGE MAJOR ON TIME RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN COLLEGE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Entering the halls of higher education for the first time can feel momentous and exciting, which is true. What is also true is how challenging life can be at the next level of education, especially if you aren't ready for what lies ahead. Amy and Mike invited educator Scott Lutostanski to share how to be a successful college freshman. What are five things you will learn in this episode? In what critical way does life at college differ from the high school experience? What is the definition of success for a college freshman? Why is engagement so critical for new college students? What types of students tend to struggle in college? What strategies can lead to success in all dimensions of college life? MEET OUR GUEST Scott Lutostanski began his career as a Special Education teacher in Chicago Public Schools. While working in special education, Scott also earned a Master's degree in Community Counseling from Argosy University and became a Licensed Professional Counselor. For six years, he worked at a private counseling practice in the suburbs of Chicago. He specialized in providing executive function coaching, academic coaching, and individual counseling for high-achieving, underperforming students. Scott combines his unique expertise in special education, school administration, and therapeutic counseling to foster meaningful relationships with clients. His main goal is to help direct students along the path to self-directed learning, executive function skill sets, personal growth, and independence. Find Scott at [email protected]. LINKS Your First Year of College: 25 Tips to Help You Survive and Thrive in Your Freshman Year RELATED EPISODES THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF COLLEGE SUCCESS WHAT TO DO WHEN A STUDENT STRUGGLES IN COLLEGE GALLUP ALUMNI SURVEY AND THE SIX COLLEGE EXPERIENCES THAT DRIVE SUCCESS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Graduation from high school may signal the natural time to enter the halls of higher education, but is that actually the right time? Amy and Mike invited psychologist Tamir Rotman to answer a question that should be asked more often: "How do you know if you are ready for college?" What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does it mean to be ready for college? What are the consequences when a student is not ready for college? What skills and traits should students possess before they arrive at college? What are some red flags to look for regarding college readiness? How can students who are not ready become college ready? MEET OUR GUEST Tamir Rotman is the Director of Change at Free Spirit Experience. He has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and is a practicing psychologist, working both inside and outside of the therapy room with youth from various cultures, difficulties, and needs. Dr. Rotman has spent 20 summers at Camp Ojibwa in the Wisconsin North Woods, 2 years as the clinical director at "Lotan's Way", a not-for-profit specializing in desert-wilderness therapeutic expeditions for at-risk youth, and a milieu psychologist in residential care settings for troubled youth both in the U.S. and in Israel. Find Tamir at [email protected]. LINKS We all agree that college isn't for everyone. We should start acting like it College Readiness Benchmarks RELATED EPISODES WHY COLLEGE READINESS MATTERS WHY TAKE A GAP YEAR WHAT IS SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Everybody recognizes that four or more years of college costs a lot of money, but few know exactly how much will be required or where they'll be finding that money. Even worse, far too few applicants realize how many scholarships are available to industrious students. Amy and Mike invited scholarship expert Dave Peterson to share 12 must-see scholarships. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What elements make a scholarship worth looking at? What makes replicability so valuable in the scholarship process? Which specific scholarships should all applicants consider? What connects all of these scholarships? What can future applicants do to prepare for scholarship success? MEET OUR GUEST Dave Peterson, The Scholarship Coach, is the father of a rising college junior who, to date, has won over $80,000 in scholarships. Because of his son's success with scholarships, people started asking him for advice on how their children could win scholarships. These questions prompted Dave to write the book DEBT-FREE COLLEGE: Proven Strategies for Winning Scholarships and Other Tools to Help You Avoid Student Loan Debt. Dave shares a new scholarship opportunity every day on his podcast and Substack called "Your Daily Scholarship." He provides one-on-one coaching for students and families to help them find and win scholarships to achieve their debt-free college dreams. Find Dave at [email protected]. LINKS Cameron Impact Scholarship The Gates Scholarship Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation GE Reagan Foundation Scholarship Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship Chick-fil-A Community Scholars Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program Equitable Excellence Scholarship Burger King Foundation Scholarship Taco Bell Foundation Live Más Scholarship Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarships VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship RELATED EPISODES HOW TO WIN LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS FOUR SCHOLARSHIP MYTHS COMMON MISTAKES IN SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS WHAT IS SCHOLARSHIP DISPLACEMENT? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Believe it or not, you can go to college to learn to become a pilot or work in the airline industry. Just keep in mind how much there is to know if you're hoping to get a career in aviation off the ground. Amy and Mike invited college consultant Malinda Schantz to share admissions considerations for aviation majors. What are five things you will learn in this episode? 1. What are the different aviation majors? 2. What are some considerations to keep in mind when researching professional pilot programs? 3. How is the application process different for students who want to be pilots? 4. What are some current admissions trends for pilot programs? 5. What is the current job outlook for the different aviation majors? MEET OUR GUEST Malinda Schantz is an independent college consultant based in Raleigh, NC. She has a MS in library and information science from Simmons University, a MA in musicology from Rutgers University, and a BA in music from Meredith College. She also earned the Independent Educational Consultant Certificate from the University of California—Irvine and completed IECA's Summer Training Institute. Malinda established her consulting practice, Runways To College in 2020. She is a member of HECA, SACAC, NACAC and an associate member of IECA. Malinda has experience working in music education as well as the airline industry. She has a special interest in helping students pursue aviation. Her husband has his private pilot's license and her son is a captain at PSA Airlines–American Eagle. Find Malinda at Runways To College. LINKS AABI International list of accredited programs FAA list of accredited schools for R-ATP Experimental Aviation Association Special Issuances AME Assisted - All Classes - Asthma RELATED EPISODES THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF COLLEGE SUCCESS MATCHING TYPES OF STUDENTS TO TYPES OF SCHOOLS ADMISSIONS CONSIDERATIONS FOR MUSICIANS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

When the time comes to select courses of study and future career paths, we hope to align what we are interested in with what we excel at. The preference part may be easy, but determining our strengths and weaknesses often requires expert assessment. Amy and Mike invited educator Marcus Gray to explain the Highlands Ability Battery. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the Highlands Ability Battery, and how does it help students discover their strengths and weaknesses? In what ways does the Highlands Ability Battery contribute to informed decisions about college major and career path? What differentiates the Highlands Ability Battery from other assessment tools? When is the ideal time for students to take the Highlands Ability Battery? How might parents, educators, or counselors incorporate the Highlands Ability Battery into their support of students? MEET OUR GUEST Marc Gray is the mastermind behind Odyssey College Prep. Marc uses advanced aptitude testing to demystify the college admissions journey for students and parents. As a Certified Highlands Consultant, he also serves as the Highlands Company's Director of College Counseling Relations, helping fellow college counselors and test prep specialists level up their services with aptitude testing. Find Marc at [email protected]. LINKS The Highlands Ability Battery: What Are Mike and Amy's Results? What is the Highlands Ability Battery (HAB) Assessment? High School Aptitude Testing Do You Want to Become a Highlands Consultant? RELATED EPISODES ARE IQ TESTS VALID DO COLLEGE MAJORS MATTER? FINDING YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF IN THE PATH TO COLLEGE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

As the primary ambassadors to prospective students throughout the application process, college admission representatives manage most communication on behalf of their institutions. So how should applicants communicate with them? Amy and Mike invited educator John Durante to share advice on how to speak to a college admissions rep. What are five things you will learn in this episode? 1. What, in your experience, is the role of a college admissions representative? 2. What kind of questions should applicants ask admissions reps? 3. What kind of questions should applicants avoid asking admissions reps? 4. How can applicants best demonstrate authentic interest in their communications with reps? 5. How much influence, if any, do admissions reps have on which applicants get accepted? MEET OUR GUEST Dr. John Durante, a Stony Brook University alum, has been the principal of Syosset High School for 13 years. In 2016 he was named Best Principal on Long Island from the Bethpage Federal Credit Union and is also a recipient of the PTA Founders Day Award and Jenkins Award. Dr. Durante started his career at Syosset High School in 1994 as a teacher of world languages and he prides himself on helping others. After helping his daughters through the college admissions process, he came up with the idea of interviewing college admissions representatives to provide students and parents with insight and advice, straight from the people who ultimately make the admissions decisions. So, he launched "The College Admissions Process Podcast" in February 2022 and has released over 100 episodes, while currently averaging over 10,000 downloads each month. Find John at [email protected]. LINKS The College Admissions Process Podcast The College Admissions Process Alphabetical List with links John Durante on LinkedIn RELATED EPISODES MAKING THE MOST OF COLLEGE VISITS HOW TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH COLLEGES DEMONSTRATING INTEREST DURING VIRTUAL COLLEGE TOURS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid has always been a crucial but complicated and challenging step in receiving financial aid for college or graduate school. What improvements does the future hold? Amy and Mike invited financial aid advisor Ed Recker to explain the impact of the Better FAFSA for both new and previous filers. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the major differences in the current FAFSA and Better FAFSA? How do these changes impact calculation of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)? Does this new FAFSA impact a college or university's Net Price Calculator? What changes should families with multiple students in college be aware of? Will the Better FAFSA timeline have implications for Early Action/Early Decision applications or CSS profiles? MEET OUR GUEST Ed Recker is a Director of High School Relationship Management with Sallie Mae, serving high schools, states, and professional organizations throughout the U.S. He joined Sallie Mae in 2019, and has over 20 years' experience in the financial aid and enrollment industry. Prior to joining Sallie Mae, Ed was a Senior Consultant within the Enrollment Division of Ruffalo Noel Levitz, held the position of Vice President for Enrollment Management at the University of Findlay, and held various financial aid positions at the University of Findlay, Terra State Community College, and Bowling Green State University. Ed holds a M.Ed. in Higher Education from the University of Toledo, and resides in Ottawa, OH with his wife Kate and daughter Evelyn. Find Ed at [email protected]. LINKS FAFSA® 2023: How to Apply for Financial Aid | Sallie Mae View your financial aid, savings, scholarships, and loans all in one place and build your bridge to college with Nitro Next. Sallie Mae - YouTube FAFSA Simplification: A Better FAFSA Process Means a Better Future for Borrowers | Federal Student Aid - Financial Aid Toolkit https://salliemae.com/fafsa https://nitrocollege.com/next https://www.youtube.com/@salliemae RELATED EPISODES UNDERSTANDING YOUR COLLEGE TUITION BILL WHAT IS A NET PRICE CALCULATOR? THE PRICE YOU REALLY PAY FOR COLLEGE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Evaluating college fit encompasses so much more than finding the right academic programs. Many students also seek environments where they can continue to live and grow in the ways that are most important to them. Amy and Mike invited college advisor Dana Ponsky to explore navigating college and admissions as a Jewish student. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are important factors to consider when trying to find the right fit as a Jewish student? What are the different campus organizations that support the social, emotional, religious, and cultural identity of Jewish students? What should students and families be asking when on campus to ensure their student will be safe? What are good resources to use to identify colleges that have a strong Jewish life? If a Jewish student applying to or in college needs financial support, are there options beyond applying for financial aid via the government? MEET OUR GUEST Dana Ponsky began her career in education more than 20 years ago as a student at the University of Maryland where she earned a degree in American Studies, a graduate degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University, and a post-master's certificate in Enrollment Management from the University of Miami. After working in student affairs at the university level, Dana transitioned to work as a school-based college counselor and has served as a high school director of college counseling in Miami, Washington, D.C., Brooklyn, and Northern New Jersey. Dana's unique background in college admissions counseling, career counseling, and student development services, along with her entrepreneurial spirit, provides high school and college students with the tools and resources to have a great application to get into college and to ensure long-term success. Dana previously appeared on this podcast as the subject of an IEC PROFILE in episode 427. Find Dana at www.consultwithdana.com or https://www.facebook.com/groups/jewishandcollege. LINKS Top 60 Jewish Colleges Chabad Meor OU-JLIC TribeTalk Kibbitz in 10 Minutes (Being Jewish in College Video Series) Jewish Education Loan Fund - Scholarships for Jewish Students RELATED EPISODES FINDING YOUR COLLEGE FIT RED FLAGS IN COLLEGE SELECTION OVERLOOKED ASPECTS OF CAMPUS LIFE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Mackenzie Lee, Mackenzie Lee operates a "solopreneur" online tutoring business (website) focused primarily on test prep for the SAT and ACT, though also catering to occasional academic subject tutoring and other standardized tests. He has worked in tutoring for 11 years, first starting in the chemistry tutoring center at the University of South Florida, where he earned a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences and B.A. in German Studies. After college, Mackenzie started working with middle and high school students on test prep, and he has enjoyed the challenges and thrills of educational entrepreneurship ever since! In addition to tutoring, Mackenzie also worked as a biomedical researcher for ten years. In this time, he co-authored ten original manuscripts, received a Fulbright Research fellowship (among other awards), and worked in a Nobel-prize winning laboratory in Göttingen, Germany. In 2020, he completed a master's degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Neuroscience. In his free time, Mackenzie enjoys cinematography, yoga, playing piano, brewing sake and beer, travel, and the great outdoors – in 2021, he solo bicycled 3,500 mi across the United States, tutoring online along the way! Find Mackenzie at [email protected]. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Stefanie Toye, the Dean of Tutoring & Test Prep at Collegewise, a collective of admissions consultants and tutors. She has extensive leadership experience, of both full-time and part-time teams, and has helped individual offices, as well as million-dollar divisions, grow through her focus on marketing and streamlining operations. She has 2 decades of experience in the education management and academia sectors, after earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and a master's degree in education from Rutgers. She enjoys strategizing, researching current trends in higher education, and presenting her findings to colleagues and the public alike. Stefanie recently earned an Executive MBA with a focus on strategy and entrepreneurship. When not Zooming with colleagues or friends, Stefanie can be found walking her rescue dog, knitting, or eating out with her family. Find Stefanie on LinkedIn. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Nick Rubin, who grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He returned to graduate school for a Master's in History and a PhD in Musicology. He taught high school and college courses in various disciplines for over twenty years and started Rubin Academics in 2019. He teaches in-person and on Zoom out of Charlottesville, Virginia. Find Nick at [email protected]. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Ingrid Moats, the founder of Tampa Bay Test Prep, who started the company as a way to give back to the community. She worked as a math teacher and credit recovery specialist in the public school system for over 10 years and she started the company as a way to help students who were just one test away from getting their high school diploma. Through her services, she would be able to help them build up their math test skills, pass the test, and get their diplomas. She soon realized that students at all levels, including honors students, had gaps in their math understanding and to really help students excel in math they needed to build up their foundations and strengthen their problem-solving skills. Now she and her team of dedicated online teachers help students from first to twelfth grade. They love introducing students to Singapore Math methods and competition problems. She hopes to enrich their math experience and empower them with skills and knowledge to perform at their best. Ingrid is a proud wife and mother of a Purdue engineering graduate who achieved a perfect score on the ACT test. In her free time, she can be found hanging out with her family, watching anime, and dreaming about her next visit to a pho shop or boba tea spot. Find Ingrid at [email protected]. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Jim Shaver, who has been working with and preparing students for the ACT for 11 years. He has followed a very non-traditional path to his current career in the test prep industry. After earning his bachelor's degree in secondary education, Jim served as an officer in the U.S. Army for 25 years. He drew from his years of experience in training Soldiers and Cadets to develop his personal approach to test prep. Jim initially began his test prep career by working with students on a part-time basis. Then, in 2021, he founded Insight Test Prep and has since delivered instruction to hundreds of students across the state of Alabama. Jim is based out of Tuscaloosa, AL. Find Jim at [email protected]. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Sometimes, the best way to ensure that everyone taking a test is compared fairly is to make sure that not everyone takes the test the exact same way. Testing accommodations are meant to level the playing field in the case of disability or differences. Amy and Mike invited accommodations expert Bailey Graham to describe common mistakes in applying for ACT accommodations. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What accommodations are available to test takers? What is the right timeline for requesting accommodations? How important is professional documentation in the application? What are common missteps in applications? What chronic or sudden medical issues may warrant accommodations? MEET OUR GUEST Bailey Graham is the Senior Accommodations Analyst at ACT, Inc. and has been there for three years. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a dual Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and Art Therapy from Adler University in Chicago. Bailey has had over a decade of experience working in the developmental disabilities field and has operated in several different roles ranging from direct service provision, case management, compliance, counseling, and program development & management. Prior to working at ACT, she served as a Disability Specialist at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she helped hundreds of students with disabilities navigate the college experience. Bailey currently lives with her husband and one year old son in the Iowa City area. When she's not working, Bailey can be found reading books curled up with her pets and cultivating her houseplant collection. Send your questions about ACT accommodations to [email protected] or 319-337-1332. LINKS ACT Accommodations RELATED EPISODES RECEIVING TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS TEST PREP FOR STUDENTS WITH ACCOMMODATIONS HOW TO READ A PSYCH-ED REPORT ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

While schools are recognized primarily as institutions of academic study and knowledge acquisition, students learn so much more there… especially when they are in the right frames of mind. This is where SEL comes in. Amy and Mike invited educator Andy Tucker to answer the common question, "What is social and emotional learning?" What are five things you will learn in this episode? What exactly does social and emotional learning (SEL) entail? Why is SEL so relevant in educational conversations? What is the educational benefit of SEL? Why is SEL important for post-secondary workforce readiness? How is SEL support delivered? MEET OUR GUESTS Andy Tucker works with state agencies and policymakers across the United States to understand the benefits of SEL for learners of all ages, including the many ways in which SEL can build supportive environments for learners to develop essential lifelong skills. As the leader of the Collaborating States Initiative, Andy thrives in creating collaborative environments in which state leaders can learn best and promising practices from one another to support the implementation of high-quality, evidence-based SEL programming in all learning environments. Prior to joining CASEL, Andy served as the Director of Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness at the Colorado Department of Education where he led programs that supported K-12 students to prepare effectively for their future. Andy has been an educator for over 25 years with roles including secondary Spanish teacher, high school counselor, and building- and district-level administrator. In his prior role as Director of Student Supports in Boulder Valley School District, Andy worked with all district stakeholders to implement comprehensive SEL curricula to support student success. Andy spends free time in the mountains of Colorado, camping, biking, skiing, and enjoying nature with his wife, two boys, and spoiled dog. Find Andy at [email protected]. LINKS CASEL Program Guide RELATED EPISODES CULTIVATING TEEN SELF-ESTEEM BUILDING HAPPIER TEENS 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. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Teaching as a profession has largely avoided job loss incurred by technological innovation. Is it only a matter of time before we turn classrooms over to chatbots? Amy and Mike invited educator Blake Jensen to review the current state of tutoring in the age of artificial intelligence. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are Large Language Models, AIs, chatbots, and ChatGPT? What are the AI implications for tutoring and test prep? How good are Large Language Models at tutoring currently, and what is on the near horizon? What aspects of education can AI not replicate… yet? How can AI enhance live tutoring and test prep? MEET OUR GUEST Blake Jensen has been teaching and tutoring students since 2007, all over the United States as well as internationally. He uses his unique experiences teaching High School Precalculus and Chemistry, as well as playing Division 1 College Basketball to emphasize that mastering a challenging topic can be rewarding, but requires a commitment to learning from mistakes and honest assessment. He has used this approach to help students excel in all levels of math, from elementary school to college Calculus, high school Chemistry, and a wide range of standardized tests. Even though he did well in math in high school and college, his appreciation for math really matured after his BA where he continued taking so many college math courses that he could qualify for a math minor. When he isn't working with his students, he is still teaching in some form or another. He coaches his 10 year old son in basketball (and one crazy season in soccer), is a volunteer math teacher at his son's school, and has co-developed two educational apps (Smart Puppy Kids Farm, and GRE Math Knight). He loves to talk basketball to anyone who will listen, and thanks to his son, knows more about current video games and grade school slang than he would like to. He started Jensen Test Prep in 2007 when he became frustrated with the limitations of the tutoring methods used by the company he worked for. He started off helping students with their high school math and chemistry classes, and expanded into test prep for the SAT, ACT, and GRE. Find Blake at [email protected]. LINKS How Much Can Duolingo Teach Us? Opinion | Can AI help teach children to learn? Introducing… Khanmigo! Wolfram|Alpha RELATED EPISODES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY HOW TEST PREP TUTORING SHOULD WORK HOW TO BE AN INNOVATIVE EDUCATOR ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

One of the major selling points of the current wave of natural language processing tools driven by AI technology is assistance in composing essays. What, then, are the implications for any admissions process that depends heavily on authentic writing samples? Amy and Mike invited educator Barak Rosenbloom to consider the state of college essays in the age of artificial intelligence. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Can current AI really write as well as humans? What makes the act of writing an application essay intrinsically valuable? Are there ways to differentiate AI essays? How can AI help writers in a way that has integrity? What might the near future hold for college essay requirements? MEET OUR GUEST Barak Rosenbloom is the founder, owner, and Chief Essay Mentor of Essay Mentors, a Seattle-area company that specializes in college admissions essays. He's mentored over 500 students in a comprehensive 1-to-1 program and has delivered training and workshops to thousands of students, parents, counselors, teachers, and admissions officers. Barak is the lead designer of EssayQuest, an all-in-one system that helps schools, teachers, and counselors help their students write better college essays. Barak and his team developed EssayQuest over eight years, incorporating principles of neuroscience, linguistics, learning theory, and instructional design. Barak started life-after-college as an English teacher; spent five years at the US Department of Labor; and for fifteen years was a leadership, organization development and communication consultant. Barak can be reached at essaymentors.com or essayquest.com. LINKS The College Essay Is Dead 6 college admissions experts share their biggest predictions for 2023 Influential Counselor: AI Essays RELATED EPISODES TABOO ESSAY TOPICS WRITING RHETORICALLY IN ADMISSIONS ESSAYS UTILIZING A REFLECTION JOURNAL TO PREPARE FOR A COLLEGE ESSAY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Response to stress manifests in a multitude of ways. Unfortunately, most of them are bad! Amy and Mike invited psychologist Ben Bernstein to explain how stress affects test performance. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the scientific relationship between stress and performance? How can stress be defined? What is the 3-legged-stool model for keeping stress at an optimal level? How can stress-reducing tools be integrated while studying and practicing for tests? What are some of the keys to assessing underperformance? MEET OUR GUEST Ben Bernstein is a senior psychologist and educator specializing in top performance. Known as the "Stress Doctor," he is the author of four books on how stress affects performance: Test Success (2009), A Teen's Guide to Success (2014); Stressed Out! for Parents (2015); and Crush Your Test Anxiety (2018). His two forthcoming books, What You Should Have Learned in School: Accept, Grow and Serve, and The Well-Trained Husband will be released in 2023. His monthly blog posts on the Psychology Today website regularly receive thousands of hits. 'Dr. B' is a performance coach for Academy Award, Tony Award, and Pulitzer Prize winners. His client list includes CEO's, business owners, dentists, athletes, attorneys, physicians, parents, opera singers and actors. He lectures worldwide, live and online, to audiences of business executives, professors, parents, and healthcare professionals as well as at conventions, corporations, universities, colleges and hospitals. An award-winning honors graduate of Bowdoin College (Brunswick, Maine), Bernstein received his doctorate in Applied Psychology from the University of Toronto (Ontario, Canada). He also holds a master's degree in Music Composition from Mills College (Oakland, California). An educator for the last fifty years, Bernstein has taught at every level of the educational system. Originally trained in London, he has received major grants from the American and Canadian governments for his work. Paralleling his career in education and psychology, Bernstein has extensive involvement in the performing arts. He created and publicly produced original films and plays with psychiatric patients in Australia and the US. As a result of this work, he was invited to be a resource artist at Robert Redford's Sundance Institute to collaborate with writers to realize their creative ideas. He has directed theater at the Juilliard School (New York) and the National Academy for Dramatic Art (Sydney). An award-winning composer, a Master Coach at the San Francisco Opera, Bernstein is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Singer's Gym, a non-profit training workshop for professional singers to have more vitality, spontaneity and connection in their work. Bernstein's wife, Suk Wah, is a novelist. The couple divide their time between the San Francisco Bay Area and Tamil Nadu in south India. Ben can be reached at [email protected]. LINKS Yerkes–Dodson law How to Breathe When Feeling Stressed Bpi https://www.drbyourbest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Bernstein_Performance_Inventory2.pdf https://courses.drbyourbest.com/courses/crush-your-test-anxiety RELATED EPISODES MENTAL TECHNIQUES FOR PEAK TEST PERFORMANCE USING MINDFULNESS FOR TEST AND SCHOOL SUCCESS HOW TO BREATHE DURING STRESSFUL ACADEMIC SITUATIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.481.

Standardization has been instrumental in facilitating groundbreaking and life-saving improvements in nearly every industry, process, and infrastructure on the planet. So why is this term a dirty word in education? Amy and Mike invited educator Mike McGibbon to describe how standardization can benefit education. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Where do we see the power of standardization in everyday life? What lessons can we learn from the success of the intermodal shipping container? Is standardization possible, or even desirable, in education? What can John Snow and the London cholera outbreak of 1854 teach us about data, theory, and practice working together? What would an ideal implementation of standardization in education look like? MEET OUR GUEST Mike McGibbon started tutoring at Kaplan while he was a student at UC Berkeley. After graduating in 2002, he moved to NYC to study music and play the trumpet professionally. During this time, Mike also worked for several NYC tutoring agencies, and eventually transitioned to a full-time tutoring career. He now runs his own solo tutoring practice, focusing on the ACT, SAT, and ISEE. He is also CEO and co-founder of Mathchops.com, an adaptive math practice tool. Today, Mike teaches in Westchester County, where he lives with his wife and three kids. He also provides free advice through articles and videos on www.nyctestprepadvice.com and the Mathchops YouTube channel. Mike previously appeared on this podcast in episode 165 to discuss Differences Between SAT and ACT Math, episode 372 to explain Making Learning Science Work For You, and episode 332 for a SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Mathchops. Mike can be reached at [email protected]. LINKS Standardized Education - Discourses on Learning in Education Standardized Tests: The Benefits and Impacts of Implementing Standardized Tests Can Education be Standardized? Evidence from Kenya RELATED EPISODES THE UPSIDES OF RAPID CHANGES IN EDUCATION WHERE MODERN EDUCATION FAILS LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Equipping college admissions and financial professionals with the knowledge to facilitate smart choices about higher education with college counselor Julie Spak. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What exactly is the National College Affordability Group (NCAG)? What is the history and mission of NCAG? What kind of professionals join NCAG? When is the NCAG National Conference, and what does that event entail? What should someone curious about NCAG know about it? ABOUT NATIONAL COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY GROUP The National College Affordability Group is a non-profit organization run by and for its members. NCAG provides education relevant to college admissions, financial aid and other subject matter appropriate for professionals working as financial planners and college admissions advisors. NCAG fulfills a unique role among its sister organizations in that NCAG focuses on both college accessibility and affordability. With membership well-represented from both admissions counselors and financial professionals of all descriptions, NCAG provides a forum for conversation and collaboration. It is a tenet of NCAG that those working primarily (or exclusively) as IECs, and those working primarily (or exclusively) as in various financial services professions (CPA, CFP, CLU, RIA, etc.) must have a basic knowledge of both sides of college education (i.e. admissions and financial aid). NCAG uniquely offers timely and pertinent education to, and conversation among the full spectrum of professionals. Furthermore, NCAG alone welcomes those just launching their professional practice. NCAG offers a foundational course (Certified College Advisor), interaction with seasoned professional and informal mentoring to assist those new to the field of college planning to establish themselves with the highest standards of practice, as well as practical education. NCAG was the vanguard organization for providing education with live webinars led by subject-matter experts. NCAG webinars are recorded and made available to all of its members. NCAG seeks and exploits opportunities to advocate for an affordable and scholastically meritorious college education for students. NCAG welcomes opportunities to collaborate with sister organizations that advocate for similar objectives. NCAG is committed to integrity and transparency in college planning and counseling. Specifically, we reject any subterfuge to sell financial products in the name of college planning, admissions counseling and financial aid assistance. NCAG urges its members to embrace unimpeachable ethical standards that always put the best interests of students and families first. To learn more, please ncagonline.org. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

AC/DC famously established that it's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll, but even they probably had no idea how true that could be even when applying to music schools and programs. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Christine Gangelhoff to clarify admissions considerations for musicians. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are some important things to keep in mind when researching music programs? What are some important factors for determining school or program fit? How is the application process different for students majoring in music? How can you evaluate the selectivity of a given music program? What kind of prospects do music majors have? MEET OUR GUEST Christine Gangelhoff, DMA grew up in a large family on a small farm in rural Minnesota. As a first-generation college student with a passion for music, she forged her own path, finding innovative ways to fund her education and establish a successful career in the field of her dreams. She earned four degrees from colleges with renowned music programs – including Yale University, University of North Texas, and University of Minnesota – all funded through scholarships, grants, and student loans. Her career includes a diverse array of interests and achievements including work as a professor of music, performer, recording artist, arts administrator, published author and scholar, and educational and career consultant. She has a passion for helping young students to establish academic and career paths to achieve their musical goals and pursue their dreams. Find Christine at mysoundpath.com. LINKS SoundPath Consulting National Association of Schools of Music -- List of Accredited Institutions Musical America -- 2022-23 GUIDE TO MUSIC SCHOOLS Musical America -- 2023 GUIDE TO SUMMER CAMPS, INSTITUTES & PROGRAMS The National Association for Music Education The College Music Society -- resources for musicians' health RELATED EPISODES OVERLOOKED ASPECTS OF CAMPUS LIFE MATCHING TYPES OF STUDENTS TO TYPES OF SCHOOLS USING THE COMMON DATA SET ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.