Podcast appearances and mentions of amy seeley

The Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and AP Economics is no exception. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Michael Rodriguez to share valuable strategies, insights, and resources for getting ready for the AP Economics exam.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is tested on the Macro vs Micro AP Economics exam? How do students score points on the AP Economics exam? What are the highest priority topics on the tests? How should students prepare for the AP Economics exam? What are the best prep materials for AP Economics? MEET OUR GUEST Michael Rodriguez is a national champion speaker and debater. While he was competing, he claimed the title of national champion in Parliamentary Debate from Phi Rho Pi in 2009. Michael completed his undergraduate degree in economics at Cal State Fullerton in 2012. While in school he helped perform research on the long term implications of training students to become financially and economically literate. After college he worked as an economic consultant to law firms.   For the past 10 years, Michael has worked as a teacher at Modern Brain Academy in Irvine California and as a private tutor in AP economics.  When students learn from coach Michael, they learn how to think like an economist. Find Michael at michael@modernbrain.com. LINKS AP Microeconomics – AP Students | College Board AP Macroeconomics – AP Students | College Board 5 Steps to a 5 500 Must-Know AP Microeconomics/Macroeconomics Questions Jacob Clifford - YouTube RELATED EPISODES BIG CHANGES TO AP TESTS IN 2025 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 and LEAP. 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 Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and AP Precalculus is no exception. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Joey Lin to share valuable strategies, insights, and resources for getting ready for the AP Precalculus exam.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is tested on the AP Precalculus exam? How do students score points on the AP Precalculus exam? What are the highest priority topics on the test? How should students prepare for the AP Precalculus exam? What are the best prep materials for AP Precalculus? MEET OUR GUEST Joey Lin's journey in test preparation and college admissions began in 2005 when he landed a job with Kaplan. From that moment, he was hooked on helping students navigate the pre-college process. Over the years, he has worked with a range of institutions, including Preply, PrepExpert, Northwestern University's Office of Admissions, and the University of California Office of Admissions. At Thinque Prep, Joey has dedicated himself to delivering comprehensive and results-driven programs. Whether guiding students through the SAT and ACT, leading AP exam prep courses, or providing strategic college counseling, his mission remains the same: to equip students with the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Although his career has expanded in many directions, Joey still finds joy in teaching AP content—especially math and physics, the subjects he loved most as a high schooler. Beyond test prep, Joey is deeply committed to mentorship and education reform. He frequently hosts webinars, workshops, and live sessions, providing students and parents with the knowledge they need to navigate the competitive admissions landscape successfully. Find Joey at http://www.thinqueprep.com. LINKS AP Precalculus – AP Students | College Board AP Precalculus Activities - Bryan Passwater • Collection AP Precalculus - Mr. Sindel RELATED EPISODES BIG CHANGES TO AP TESTS IN 2025 GETTING READY FOR THE AP CALCULUS AB OR BC EXAM GETTING READY FOR THE AP STATISTICS EXAM 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 and LEAP. 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 Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and the various AP World Language and Culture exams are no exception. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Milton Alan Turner to share valuable strategies, insights, and resources for getting ready for AP World Language exams. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is tested on AP World Language and Culture exams? How do students score points on AP Language exams? What are the highest priority topics on AP Language exams? How should students prepare for AP Language exams? What are the best prep materials for AP Language exams? MEET OUR GUEST Milton Alan Turner has taught French, Spanish, and now AP African American Studies at Saint Ignatius High School since 1987. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in French and Linguistics from Georgetown University and master's degrees from Cleveland State University in Educational Technology and in Global Interactions.   Alan currently serves on the Board of Directors at ACTFL as its President, on the Shaker Heights Public Library Board of Trustees, on the AATF Commission on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, is a member of La Maison Française de Cleveland's Board of Directors and is an NAACP Silver Life member. He has participated in two Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminars Abroad in Morocco & Tunisia and Thailand & Vietnam and in three National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Seminars and Institutes studying world literature, Arabic language & culture, and US foreign policy.   Alan has served as a Reader, Table Leader, and Question Leader at the AP French Reading and is an AP Workshop consultant. He has been a member of the SAT French Development Committee, the AATF Standards Task Force, the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy Expert Advisory Group, co-chair of the Ohio World Languages Standards Revision Advisory Committee, and president of the Ohio Foreign Language Association.  He was awarded a 2000 MBNA Excellence in Education Grant, named a 2011 Microsoft US Innovative Educator, chosen the 2014 Ohio World Language Teacher of the Year, listed in the 2017 Who's Who in Black Cleveland, and won the Saint Ignatius High School Trailblazer Award in 2020. This summer, he will be one of 14 educators selected to participate in the AATF Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad to Côte d'Ivoire to study West African storytelling traditions.  Since 2021, Alan has hosted the podcast Milton Alan Turner: Worldviews. Find Milton at maturner@me.com. LINKS AP French Language and Culture AP German Language and Culture AP Italian Language and Culture AP Spanish Language and Culture RELATED EPISODES Big Changes to AP Tests in 2025 Getting Ready For The AP Literature Exam Getting Ready For The AP Language Exam 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 and LEAP. 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.

AKA Not Just Your Tutoring Software–It's Your Tech Team What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind Wise? How does Wise work? Who currently uses Wise?  What kinds of outcomes do users experience?  What should someone curious about Wise know about it? ABOUT WISE Founded by a former test prep tutor, Wise is a feature-packed tutor management platform built for both online and in-person tutoring, supporting one-on-one and group tutoring formats. Backed by the founders of Teachable, Plaid, Rippling, and others, it is trusted by over 1,000 tutoring businesses and solo tutors. Businesses like Boston based Break Debate have used Wise to scale from $70,000 to $1,000,000 in revenue within a year.  Wise's standout feature is its AI-generated student progress reports. These reports are automatically created by analyzing session transcripts, tutor feedback, assignment and test performance, as well as student attentiveness and punctuality. The result is a clear, professional summary neatly organized into sections, including the following: Topics Covered Areas of Strength Areas for Improvement Next Steps These highly customisable reports keep parents engaged, boost retention, and drive up to 3x more referrals.  To learn more about Wise and use it as a completely white label solution, reach out to the founder at mubeen@wiseapp.live. 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 and LEAP. 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.  

Mental math trains working memory, boosts confidence, supports faster problem-solving, enhances number sense, and facilitates everyday calculations. So why do so many teachers deemphasize this valuable academic and life skill? Amy and Mike invited educator Mike McGibbon to explore the value of mental math and automaticity. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why do you need mental math if you have a calculator? What does automaticity mean and why is it important? What are some examples of higher-level problem types that depend upon automatic math skills? What is math debt? Why is mental math important in everyday life? 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  and Grammarchops.com, adaptive math and grammar practice tools. 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, episode 332 for a SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Mathchops, episode 480 to discuss How Standardization Can Benefit Education, and in episode 532 to discuss All About Digital SAT Math. Mike can be reached at mike@mathchops.com. LINKS The Top Six Reasons Why Mental Math is Important and Useful Math Debt RELATED EPISODES MATHEMATICAL MATURITY & TEST SUCCESS HIGH IMPACT STRATEGIES TO HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED IN MATH HOW TESTS AID MEMORY 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 and LEAP. 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.

A test platform by tutors and for tutors Better SAT and ACT Tests, Smarter Analytics with educators Sonya Muthalia and Neill Seltzer  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind ScoreSmart? Which tests does ScoreSmart support? Who currently uses ScoreSmart?  What kinds of outcomes do users experience?  What should someone curious about ScoreSmart know about it? ABOUT SCORESMART ScoreSmart is the brainchild of Sonya Muthalia and Neill Seltzer. ScoreSmart is dedicated to giving discerning tutors tests they can trust, scores calibrated to the real thing, and meaningful insights into student behaviors. ScoreSmart was built by tutors, for tutors and is the practice test engine of choice for many of the top tutors and tutoring companies in the world. ScoreSmart offers 20 DSAT tests, including three "extra spicy" tests for top scorers, 4 Enhanced ACTs with another two on the way, and three ISEEs with another ten on the way. All tests are validated with actual user data and are regularly reviewed to ensure accuracy.  The ScoreSmart platform is available in a white label format so the entire student experience can be skinned with your company branding. There is no charge for adding students, so tutors can add an unlimited number of students to the platform and all student are automatically given access to a free SAT, a free current and Enhanced ACT, and the ability to upload results for Bluebook tests 1-10 and get performance analysis and branded score reports for each. Students can take full tests or single-subject tests. Tutors only pay for the tests that their students actually use. If you'd like to learn more about ScoreSmart or try out some tests, reach out to neill@testperformanceanalytics.com or sonya@testperformanceanalytics.com for a tour of the system and some free tests to test.  LINKS SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: ScoreSmart with educators Sonya Muthalia and Neill Seltzer NEW SAT TEST SPECIFICATIONS with educators Neill Seltzer and Sonya Muthalia SUCCESS IN COMPUTER-BASED TESTING with educator Sonya Muthalia AVOIDING THE PAGEANT APPROACH TO COLLEGE ADMISSIONS with educator Neill Seltzer 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 and LEAP. 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.  

You can't please everyone, nor should you seek to, because then you won't please anyone, least of all yourself. When actor Dylan Moran dispensed that bit of wisdom, he probably wasn't aware of how aptly it applied to highly selective admissions. Amy and Mike invited education consultant Feiyang Liu to highlight the troubling college pleasing epidemic. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is college pleasing, and where does it originate from? How can students, parents, and educators spot signs of college pleasing? What are the hidden costs of college pleasing, both in the admissions process and in students' long-term development? How does people-pleasing in general contribute to the college-pleasing mindset, and how can students learn to prioritize their own needs? How can students shift their mindset from what colleges want to what actually excites and fulfills me? MEET OUR GUEST As a naturally introverted high school student, Feiyang Liu felt immense pressure to adopt a bubbly, inauthentic persona for his college applications. This led to a lack of fulfillment and a realization that pretending to be someone he wasn't came with significant consequences. After graduating from UCLA with a degree in Political Science and from USC with a Master's in Education (Enrollment Management and Policy), he grappled with people-pleasing while working in admissions and student services at UC Berkeley from 2019 to 2023. The burnout from constantly putting others' expectations above his own led to a pivotal moment of self-reflection. In 2023, Feiyang relocated to New York, where he finally had the space to rethink my identity and values. This journey of self-discovery ignited a passion for genuine mentoring and ultimately led him to found Your Epic Consulting. His mission is to help students avoid the trap of "college pleasing" and instead showcase their true selves in their applications. Feiyang combined his personal experiences and professional expertise to guide students toward holistic success. At Your Epic Consulting, they don't coach you to say what 'sounds good' for college admissions. Instead, they empower you to express your authentic self, ensuring that self-acceptance and college acceptance go hand in hand. Feiyang previously appeared on this podcast in episode 609 for an IEC Profile. Find Feiyang at https://www.instagram.com/yourepic.consulting/. LINKS College Pleasing Series part 1: Origins College Pleasing Series part 2: Hidden Costs of College Pleasing College Pleasing Series part 3: Intersection w/ People Pleasing Summary of "The Disease to Please" RELATED EPISODES FINDING YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF IN THE PATH TO COLLEGE BUILD A WINNING BRAND TO ACE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS AVOIDING THE PAGEANT APPROACH TO COLLEGE ADMISSIONS 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 and LEAP. 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.

Learn everything you need to ace the AP U.S and World History Exams in One Day What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind Edison Prep AP History Boot Camps? How do Edison Prep AP History Boot Camps work? Do you need to live in Atlanta to attend Edison Prep AP History Boot Camps?  What kinds of outcomes do users experience?  What should someone curious about Edison Prep AP History Boot Camps know about it? ABOUT AP HISTORY BOOT CAMPS Every April, Edison Prep offers AP US and World History Bootcamps in preparation for the May AP exams. These bootcamps incorporate multiple learning activities that use actual past AP exams, effective writing strategies, and activities that keep students engaged while learning test-taking techniques. The history content portions are interspersed between the strategy and essay-writing portions of the bootcamp to maintain a lively atmosphere and to utilize real examples during the pedagogical portions. Greg Hudson and Kelsey Hudson have been teaching AP US History and AP World History, respectively, for decades. In addition to being College Board-approved AP Readers (graders), they have authored AP history questions. Greg has also served as a senior trainer for other AP History essay readers due to the depth of his grading experience. Greg and Kelsey are both scholars of the test, dissecting each year's exams for the benefit of their future students. The students in their AP classes have done very well; over 90% of his students have passed the exam with over 2/3 having received a score of 4 or 5 on the exam. DATES: 4/26/25 or  4/27/25 (same content each day, two date options) LOCATION: Live In person (Atlanta) or remote (nationwide) To learn more, please contact edisonprep.com/aphistory LINKS GETTING READY FOR THE AP US HISTORY EXAM with educator Greg Hudson 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 and LEAP. 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.  

Many student athletes (or at least their parents) dream of earning a full ride to the college of their dreams. What most applicants find is that having sports on their resumes yields different but still substantial advantages. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Matt Arant to demystify Division III and Ivy League athletic recruitment. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Who is an athletic/admission liaison and what do they do? How does the recruitment process differ between Division III and Ivy/Patriot League schools and Division I and Division II schools? Can Division III athletes be awarded athletic scholarships? Do athletes typically apply earlier than non-athletes? How should I approach my application as a prospective DIII athlete? What are the test score requirements for DIII athletes? MEET OUR GUEST Matt Arant is the founder of Arant Academic Planning, LLC. Prior to becoming an independent counselor, Matt worked as an admission representative at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. At F&M, Matt was the primary athletics liaison for the Office of Admission, working closely with over two dozen intercollegiate sports throughout the entire application cycle.  Matt has been invited to present on college athletic recruitment and the admissions process to public and private schools all across the country and is an active member of both the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and Texas Association for College Admission Counseling (TACAC). He is also a current associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), based in Metro Austin, Texas.  Find Matt at https://www.arantacademicplanning.com/. LINKS NCAA Eligibility Center Division I and II Recruitment Calendars Division Recruiting Fact Sheet Ivy League Recruit Information NESCAC Admission Statement RELATED EPISODES MYTHS ABOUT TESTING AND COLLEGE SPORTS LOOKING FOR A FULL RIDE HOW TENNIS AND TEST PREP ARE SIMILAR 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 and LEAP. 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 Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. Catch up with us in the latest episode of EXTEMP with Amy & Mike. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What happened with the March SAT? How can test takers mitigate the impact of test cancellations? What are our thoughts on The Ohio State University turning to test-required admissions? What did Amy and Mike work on over the last month? What's coming up for Amy and Mike? We definitely want to respond to listener questions in our next EXTEMP episode, so reach out to us on social media or get in touch through our contact page. Let's get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling! LINKS What Happens When a Test Goes Wrong? Always Have a Testing Plan B OACAC RELATED EPISODES EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: February 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: December 2024 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 and LEAP. 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.

Traits like cognitive flexibility and impulse control strongly influence student grades and test scores to such an extent that they may be best learned in an academic context. Amy and Mike invited educator Ariel Lieberman to explore the relationship between the three core executive functions and test prep. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the core executive functions and why are they important?  How do weak EF skills get in the way of a student's test prep?  Why is executive function best learned in a relevant academic context? What are ideal strategies to build EF skills within the framework of test prep? Does remote instruction influence the effectiveness of EF coaching? MEET OUR GUEST Ariel Akselrad Lieberman is the founder of Your Best Prep, a tutoring company based in Westchester County, NY that helps high school students, both neurotypical and those with learning differences, master the standardized test prep process and achieve their academic goals.  Prior to founding Your Best Prep, Ariel wrote SAT and AP curriculum for Ivy Consulting Group in New York City, where she also worked as a GED tutor for young adults in the criminal justice system as a member of the Ivy League Tutors Foundation.  Ariel has an M.Ed from Manhattanville College School of Education, where she studied Secondary Special Education and was a recipient of the Dean's Award for Innovative Teaching, and a B.A. in history from SUNY-Purchase College, from which she graduated summa cum laude.  Ariel holds a Professional Certificate in Learning Differences (LD) and Neurodiversity with a Specialization in Executive Function through the Landmark College Institute for Research & Training. Ariel previously appeared on this podcast in episode 194 for a Test Prep Profile. Find Ariel at http://www.yourbestprep.com/. LINKS Executive Function: What It Is, How To Improve & Types The False Promise of EF Coaching RELATED EPISODES HOW EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING PROCESSES IMPACT LEARNING EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS AND TEST PREP  POST PANDEMIC LEARNING LOSS 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 and LEAP. 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.

Expanding your tutoring business with MentoMind with educators Amit Jain and Jeremy Bryant What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind MentoMind? How does MentoMind work to help with student outcomes? How does MentoMind work to help educators attract students? Who currently uses MentoMind? How is MentoMind helping educators transition to an AI future? ABOUT MENTOMIND MentoMind is a revolutionary SAT/ACT prep platform designed to support students and help tutoring and test prep businesses thrive. It helps tutors attract and engage students through free diagnostic tests, practice questions, fun quizzes, and video courses. With robust white-label capabilities, freemium features, and payment gateway integration, tutors can launch their own branded platform to offer free content and sell digital subscriptions or self-paced programs. By using automated drip emails and parent communication, tutors can nurture a community of students and become their go-to choice the moment students need additional support in the form of full tutoring services. MentoMind uses AI-powered insights, adaptive learning technology, and high-quality test prep content to deliver personalized practice and strengthen student outcomes. The platform offers more than 3,500 expert-created practice questions, full-length tests, and real-time performance tracking, making it a well-rounded resource for standardized test preparation. For tutors, MentoMind streamlines time-consuming tasks such as grading, quiz creation, and student progress tracking. Its centralized dashboard lets instructors assign practice tests, monitor performance, and provide personalized feedback. It also integrates parent communication tools to support transparency and engagement. With AI-powered features, tutors can create or upload their own learning and practice materials, allowing them to focus more on teaching and student growth. One noteworthy feature of MentoMind is its AI-powered learning assistant, which offers 24/7 support to students. It provides hints and step-by-step guidance when they encounter difficulties, while keeping tutors informed of their conversations and progress. This interactive tool adapts to individual learning needs, making study sessions more engaging and effective. Beyond test preparation, MentoMind provides a holistic environment for both learners and educators. Whether you're an independent tutor, a test prep center, or a school, MentoMind delivers the tools, insights, and automation needed to enhance student success while streamlining workflows and supporting business growth. With advanced AI capabilities, automation, and white-label flexibility, MentoMind is a forward-thinking solution for college test preparation. Amit first appeared on the podcast in episode 539 to discuss How Can Tutors Use AI? To learn more about MentoMind, please visit mentomind.ai or reach out to amit.jain@mentomind.com or jeremy.bryant@mentomind.com. 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 and LEAP. 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.

So much of the college search and application process looks forward, focusing on the destination. Where a student is coming from matters quite a bit though. Amy and Mike invited educational consultants Aly Beaumont and Meg Joyce to explain the significance of the high school class profile. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the high school class profile? What information do school profiles contain and why does it matter? Do all high schools have a school profile?  What can be done to overcome the deficiencies of a school profile or the lack of one?  Why should every applicant look at their high school profile? MEET OUR GUESTS Aly Beaumont is the founder of Admissions Village, a family focused, affordable, one-on-one college guidance consultancy. Aly is deeply committed to making the college admissions process less stressful, and her success with this objective can be measured by both the growing number of referrals she receives as well as the repeat business of family siblings. Aly is also a founder and advisor to The College T, a website connecting high school students with college students and recent graduates so that first-hand information and experiences can be shared. Aly is a graduate of Tufts University where she majored in History with a concentration in Modern Women and African American History, and was captain of the Equestrian Team. She lives in Wilton, CT with her husband Perry, their two dogs Buddy and Buzz and their three sons. Two of their sons are currently in college at The University of St. Andrews in Scotland and Keyon College in Ohio, and one graduated from Santa Clara University. Aly is a Professional member of IECA and she has her certificate as an Independent Educational Consultant from the University of California Irvine. Aly previously appeared on this podcast in episode 212 to discuss PREPARATION FOR HIGHLY SELECTIVE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS, in episode 341 to discuss COURSE SELECTION FOR HIGHLY SELECTIVE ADMISSIONS, in episode 406 to discuss WHAT DOES UNHOOKED MEAN IN ADMISSIONS?, in episode 537 to discuss WHAT DO TRULY TEST OPTIONAL COLLEGES FOCUS ON?, and was the subject of an IEC PROFILE in episode 264. Meg Joyce works with Aly at Admissions Village, helping students and their parents navigate every step of the college search and application process. A self-professed research and detail geek, her favorite part of her job is watching students grow in skills and confidence as they work their way through high school and eventually, college applications. Meg wants every student to feel supported and heard, and most of all - special - because when students feel that, it comes through not just in their applications but in everything they do.  Meg is a graduate of Georgetown University where she studied Finance and English and worked in the Alumni Office, spending hours talking to alums and learning about their time on campus. She also volunteered for many years as an alumni interviewer. Meg is the mother of four grown children, each of whom had different educational journeys. One has a masters degree in foreign service, another has a masters in creative writing, a third was a college athlete, and another has been working full time while attending community college. She is also an identical twin, so if you see her and she doesn't say hi, she's not being rude, it's just her twin! Meg is an Associate member of IECA and has her certificate as an Independent Educational Consultant from the University of California Irvine.  Find Aly and Meg at https://www.admissionsvillage.com. LINKS Have You Seen Your High School Profile? RELATED EPISODES HIGH SCHOOL COURSE SELECTION AND ACADEMIC RIGOR CRAFTING YOUR COLLEGE RESUME THE PROBLEM WITH GRADES IMPLICATIONS OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT DASHBOARD ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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.  

A year ago, an innovative new digital adaptive SAT came to the United States–a year after its first appearance internationally. This is the perfect time to find out how College Board feels about both the obstacles and opportunities encountered over this historic transition. Amy and Mike invited Vice President of SAT Suite Program Maureen Forman to talk all about the digital SAT: how it started and how it's going. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Looking back, what were the most substantial challenges in transforming the SAT to a digital adaptive test? What were the most positive outcomes from the digital transition? What is the current and projected state of the Bluebook practice tests and question bank? What is the role of Khan Academy as College Board's Official Digital SAT Prep Partner? What can students and educators expect from College Board through 2025? MEET OUR GUEST Maureen Forman is the Vice President, SAT Suite Program and Innovation for College Board. Like many of our listeners, Maureen considers herself an educator first and began her career as a high school teacher in the School District of Philadelphia with the New Teacher Project. She earned her Masters in Education from Eastern University before moving into her work with education technology almost 15 years ago.  Maureen's earliest experiences in product management and edtech implementation consulting were with Naviance, a popular college and career readiness application designed to support high school counselors and students' college, career, and life readiness. Maureen joined College Board in 2018 and in partnership with hundreds of dedicated College Board employees, helped to lead the digital transformation of the SAT Suite of assessments which culminated with the final delivery of the world's last paper-based SAT in December 2023. Learn more about the SAT at https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/. LINKS SAT Suite of Assessments Khanmigo RELATED EPISODES THE NEW DIGITAL SAT EXPERIENCE: A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE NEW SAT TEST SPECIFICATIONS HOW THE DIGITAL SAT IS SCORED 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 and LEAP. 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 we generally profess to celebrate all interests and contributions, the clubs and activities that mean the most to some high schoolers fail to earn the respect that other extracurriculars do, even when students receive recognition on a state or national level. Do colleges at least care? Amy and Mike invited educator Vida John to explore the admissions implications of academic competitions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are academic competitions, and what are some examples? Why should students consider participating in academic competitions?   What do colleges think of them?   What are the advantages and disadvantages of participating in these activities? What can we learn from the example of American Mathematics Competitions?   MEET OUR GUEST Vida John is a math coach and tutor, specializing in students who are preparing for math contests and studying curriculum published by Art of Problem Solving.  Vida grew up in Iowa where she was a high school mathlete before studying at the Stanford School of Engineering and UCSF School of Medicine.  After working in Silicon Valley for a medical start up, she homeschooled her two daughters with the intent of providing an excellent education especially in math and science.   She coached homeschooled math teams for 10 years, and with both daughters now attending Stanford, she continues to help students prepare for MathCounts, AMC, and other contests while building their problem solving skills. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and runs workshops on using math contests to prepare for college level work.   Vida previously appeared on this podcast in episode 255 to discuss Competitive Math And Testing and in episode 536 to discuss All About the American Math Competition. Find Vida at vidajohntutoring.com. LINKS American Mathematics Competitions MATHCOUNTS Foundation Art of Problem Solving RELATED EPISODES MATHEMATICAL MATURITY & TEST SUCCESS HIGH IMPACT STRATEGIES TO HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED IN MATH CHOOSING HIGH SCHOOL MATH COURSES STRATEGICALLY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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.  

Mike & Amy's Website - Tests and the RestMike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and creator of the TestBright SAT/ACT Curriculum System and Roots2Words. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. Between them, expect over 60 years of industry knowledge, educational expertise, insider insight, and maybe a bit of sarcasm.--------------------------Straight From The Admissions Office: Insider Strategies For College ApplicationsIf you're looking for helpful tips and insights for the college admissions process, check out my book by clicking the links below:

The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. Catch up with us in the latest episode of EXTEMP with Amy & Mike. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Where did Amy and Mike go last month? What is keeping Mike and Amy busy professionally these days? How does Amy like the SAT/ACT TestBright Curriculum System? What is the Words We Love 2025 Substack Carnival? What does the next month hold for your fearless hosts? We definitely want to respond to listener questions in our next EXTEMP episode, so reach out to us on social media or get in touch through our contact page. Let's get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling! LINKS TestBright SAT/ACT Curriculum System Words We Love 2025 RELATED EPISODES EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: December 2024 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: November 2024 ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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.  

During a period of American education history where most standardized tests fell at least momentarily out of favor, one series of exams seems to be growing in popularity with no end in sight. Amy and Mike invited educator Rob Franek to explore the explosive rise of Advanced Placement testing. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What has inspired the recent increase in AP tests and testing? What is College Board's strategy with the Advanced Placement program? Will AP tests replace the need for SAT and ACT in admission considerations? Where do these developments leave students without access to AP programs? Will digital APs be cause for applause? MEET OUR GUEST A national expert on colleges and higher education, Rob Franek is a publisher, editor, lecturer, media contributor, and author as well as a former college admissions administrator. As Editor-in-Chief at The Princeton Review, he oversees the company's 150+ Princeton Review books distributed by Penguin Random House. He also directs the company's annual surveys of students, parents, and school administrators. The survey findings are reported at dozens of education conferences and by hundreds of media each year. Over his 33-year career, Rob has visited more than 1,200 high schools and more than 1,000 colleges and graduate schools. It is his interactions with students, parents, and counselors that he cites as his most inspiring professional experiences. He gives more than 100 talks a year to audiences of students, parents, educators, counselors, and advisors. He has chaired panels and presented keynotes at many National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) conferences and delivered commencement addresses at three universities. Rob is author of four books: The Best 390 Colleges; The Best Value Colleges; College Admission 101; and Colleges That Create Futures. He also spearheaded the publications of The Ultimate Guide to HBCUs and The College Wellness Guide . As director of The Princeton Review's surveys, Rob has polled millions of college and graduate school students for the company's school rankings which are based on student ratings of their schools and tallied in dozens of categories. Rob also oversees the company's annual College Hopes & Worries Survey of thousands of college applicants and their parents as well as its annual College Administrator Summer Survey . Rob has hosted 140+ videos on The Princeton Review's YouTube channel . which collectively have received more than a million views. Among them: The New SAT: 15 Must-Know Answers About the Test , The ACT is Changing: 5 Things to Know , and Key Concepts for Spring 2024 AP Exams . Sourced by the AP, Voice of America, New York Times, Chronicle of Higher Education , and other media, Rob has also appeared on hundreds of broadcasts including more than 30 appearances on NBC TODAY. Hoda Kotb, the show's co-anchor, has introduced him saying “ He talks. We listen!”  Rob has also appeared on ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX, NPR, PBS, and NHK (Japan) as well as the Emmy-award winning show Teen Kids News. Rob earned his B.A. at Drew University (NJ) and serves on its Board of Trustees. Prior to joining The Princeton Review in 1999, he was a college admissions administrator at Wagner College (NY) for six years. A resident of Manhattan, Rob is a New York history buff and an avid runner. Rob can be reached at robert.franek@review.com. LINKS Advanced Placement - College Board AP Test Prep - The Princeton Review The Princeton Review Reports Findings of Its 2024 College Administrator Summer Survey RELATED EPISODES BIG CHANGES TO AP TESTS IN 2025 CONTROVERSIES AROUND NEW AP PROGRAMS THE FUTURE OF AP EXAMS CHOOSING BETWEEN AP AND IB PROGRAMS 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 and LEAP. 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 tremendous Amy Seeley is back and this time the subject is right in her wheelhouse: COMEDY. We talk the legendary work of the absurdly brilliant Monty Python, whose "Flying Circus" and subsequent movies dominated the 70s. We talk our favorite performers, favorite sketches, favorite lines, and favorite movies. We also get into a discussion of their influence, and talk a bit about comedy in general. It's a most excellent 90 minutes, so strap in for something completely different! TUNE IN!

Big life changes hit all of us differently, which is to say that not every teen is equally prepared for the dramatic academic, social, and emotional shift that comes with moving away from home. Amy and Mike invited counselor Katie Burchenal to discuss college transitions and distress tolerance. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is Distress Tolerance?  What issues elevate Distress Tolerance?  What are some strategies to manage Distress Tolerance and what is DBT? How can parents, educators, and counselors support students through big life changes?  What are self-care strategies for parents, educators, and counselors?  MEET OUR GUEST Katie Burchenal is a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the owner of Katie Burchenal Counseling. Her private practice specializes in counseling for teens, individuals, and couples. Known for her empathetic approach, warmth, and humor, Katie connects deeply with her clients. She is dedicated to empowering individuals to pursue self-growth beyond therapy by offering solution-focused homework and practical strategies for daily life. Katie Burchenal Counseling also provides coaching services for teens, parents, and individuals nationwide. She assists teens and young adults with issues such as academic stress, social relationships, divorce, self-discovery, confidence, anxiety, communication challenges, and transitions to high school, college, and post-college life. Additionally, Katie has a strong passion for supporting student-athletes aiming for college competition. She guides them through the recruitment process, effective communication with coaches, self-marketing, and the transition to college athletics. Outside of her professional life, Katie enjoys a blended family with her husband and their eight children. Katie can be reached at https://www.katieburchenalcounseling.com/. LINKS The Secret to Surviving Stressful Transitions Dialectical Behavior Therapy Distress Tolerance Skills for College Students: A Pilot Investigation of a Brief DBT Group Skills Training Program Dialectical behavior therapy for college students: A randomized clinical trial RELATED EPISODES THE W-CURVE MODEL AND NEW COLLEGE STUDENTS THE PARENT TRANSITION FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE HOW PREPARATION AND MINDFULNESS GO TOGETHER ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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 entire edifice of higher education and industry depends on a steady flow of students coming in and qualified graduates flowing out. What happens to the system when the crucial input of applicants drops dramatically? Amy and Mike invited journalist Jon Marcus to answer that very question, because the dreaded demographic cliff is here. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What exactly is a demographic cliff? What have colleges done to prepare for a decline in applicants?  Which schools are most and least threatened by the demographic cliff? How does the demographic pattern benefit applicants?  How will this shift in population impact schools and society? MEET OUR GUEST Jon Marcus is higher-education editor at The Hechinger Report and also writes for The Washington Post, The New York Times, Wired, NPR, and other magazines, newspapers, and websites. Jon holds a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree from Bates College, and attended Oxford University. He teaches journalism at Boston College and Northeastern University. Jon previously appeared on this podcast in episode 201 to discuss How College Board and ACT are Changing. Find Jon at jmarcus@hechingerreport.org or on Bluesky/X at @jonmarcusboston. LINKS The number of 18-year-olds is about to drop sharply, packing a wallop for colleges — and the economy A looming 'demographic cliff': Fewer college students and ultimately fewer graduates Despite public perception, and for the first time in decades, college acceptance rates are going up Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica RELATED EPISODES DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS AND COLLEGE ADMISSIONS THE ULTIMATE COLLEGE STRESS TEST PSYCHOGRAPHICS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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.  

A widely held belief about brain function is that very little is truly understood in modern science. Unfortunately, most people probably know even less than they think! Amy and Mike invited education professional Gretchen Wegner to explore and debunk the most common neuromyths.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? 1. What exactly is a neuromyth?  2. Is there one neuromyth that stands out over all the others? 3. What are some other common neuromyths?  4. Why is it so destructive to believe and teach neuromyths?  5. How do we eliminate neuromyths in education and instruction?  MEET OUR GUEST Gretchen Wegner is the founder of the Anti-Boring Learning Lab, where educators obsess over discovering the best science-backed study skills and executive function strategies every student needs to thrive. A former classroom teacher and academic coach, she now specializes in consolidating the science of learning into fun, digestible, actionable, executive function-friendly nuggets for educators and their students. Gretchen is also a tireless learner, consistently and transparently modeling the Anti-Boring Study Skills Toolkit in her speaking presentations and throughout her courses and community. Gretchen previously appeared on this podcast in episode 34 to discuss How to Teach Students to Study Effectively and in a spotlight in episode 542 SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Anti-Boring Learning Lab.   Find Gretchen at www.antiboringlearninglab.com. LINKS Neuromyths: What Science to Ditch (or Defend?!) When Coaching Students Expand your academic coaching toolkit The Role of Meta-Analysis in Scientific Studies RELATED EPISODES DEBUNKING LEARNING STYLES DOES GROWTH MINDSET MATTER? MAKING LEARNING SCIENCE WORK FOR YOU ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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 opacity and complexity of elements of the college application process inspire endless speculation about what really matters. In many cases, though, the best place to find answers is with the colleges themselves. Amy and Mike invited educator John Durante to review admissions lessons learned from admissions representatives.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What can admissions reps share about the college admissions process that you won't find elsewhere? What are some of the things you do control in the college admissions process?   What aspects of the college admissions process are out of an applicant's control? What common mistakes do students or families make when focusing on the things they can control? Why does today's admission process require so much knowledge and experience?  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. John 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 nearly 300 episodes, while currently averaging over 10,000 downloads each month. John is the author of Straight From The Admissions Office: Insider Strategies for College Applications. John previously appeared on this podcast in episode 493 to discuss How To Speak To A College Admissions Rep. Find John at collegeadmissionstalk@gmail.com. LINKS Straight From The Admissions Office: Insider Strategies for College Applications 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 past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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.  

A new year brings new excitement. The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. Catch up with us in the latest episode of EXTEMP with Amy & Mike. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How were Amy and Mike's holidays? What are our one word mantras for 2025? How are Amy and Mike starting the new year?  What trips do Amy and Mike have coming up? Why is Mike so excited about his newest Substack? We definitely want to respond to listener questions in our next EXTEMP episode, so reach out to us on social media or get in touch through our contact page. Let's get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling! LINKS College Road Newsletter RELATED EPISODES EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: December 2024 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: November 2024 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: October 2024 ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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.  

Considering how prevalent the topic of AI has become in business, leisure, and education, it was only a matter of time before college students would choose to focus on its study. Amy and Mike invited college dean Jennifer Stephan to explore what you need to know about artificial intelligence as an undergraduate major. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What do students study when they major in AI? What are some focus areas within an AI degree? Is an AI major a replacement or improvement over a CS major? Are there non-technical pathways to contribute to AI? What majors besides AI and CS can prepare you for a career in AI? What important questions should students interested in studying AI be able to answer? MEET OUR GUEST Dr. Jennifer Stephan has held a variety of roles across top colleges and universities, including professor, academic dean, and board of admissions member, in addition to serving as a private college counselor, alumni interviewer for Johns Hopkins University, and parent of three. She holds a BS degree in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, as well as an MS and a PhD in electrical and computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. Jennifer is currently the Dean of Academic Advising and Undergraduate Studies for the School of Engineering at Tufts University. Prior to joining Tufts in 2016, she spent over two decades serving as a dean and a professor of Computer Science at Wellesley College, where she collaborated with colleagues at MIT, Olin College of Engineering, and Babson College to support students pursuing engineering. While at Wellesley, Jennifer served on the College's Board of Admissions, reading and evaluating approximately one hundred transfer applications each year. Jennifer also is the founder of Lantern College Counseling, a robust college counseling practice where she regularly employs insights from her experiences leading in higher education to help students develop their college lists and shape competitive, authentic applications. Jennifer specializes in STEM, computer science, engineering, undecided and transfer students She is a member of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) and a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). Jennifer first appeared on our podcast in episode 541 to discuss NAVIGATING THE COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ADMISSIONS and in episode 559 for a Test Prep Profile. Find Jennifer at jennifer@lanterncollege.com or https://www.lanterncollegecounseling.com. LINKS Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an Undergraduate Major: What You Need to Know Navigating the Competitive Landscape of Computer Science Admissions: An Expert's Approach — Lantern College Counseling RELATED EPISODES STRATEGIES FOR SELECTING A COLLEGE MAJOR ON TIME COMPARING MOST POPULAR AND MOST LUCRATIVE COLLEGE MAJORS CHOOSING HIGH SCHOOL MATH COURSES STRATEGICALLY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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 global onset of the coronavirus shut down schools, which interrupted the educational process for millions of students. The expectation was that deficits in fundamental areas would be made up once the world opened up again. Did that happen though? Amy and Mike invited education professional Nancy Weinstein to explore post-pandemic learning loss.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Are students really performing differently since the pandemic?  Does learning loss differ based on age or gender? Were students in all parts of the United States equally impacted by the pandemic? How can students begin to repair pandemic learning gaps? What can parents, educators, and coaches do to repair pandemic learning loss? MEET OUR GUEST Nancy Weinstein founded Mindprint Learning with the perspectives of both a parent and an innovator.  Realizing a need to address a common challenge for parents and educators, she drew upon her background in science and business to create Mindprint, the first ever valid at-home cognitive assessment supported with next-step strategies for growth. Nancy has an extensive background in business, including work at Goldman Sachs, The Walt Disney Company Corporate Strategic Planning, Bristol Myers Squibb, and several smaller Internet companies. Nancy has an MBA from Harvard Business School with first year honors and a BS/BSE summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and Wharton School of Management and Technology Program, Bioengineering and Finance. As a mother of two, Nancy recognizes the challenges parents face today, from helping with homework, to navigating the ever-changing pace of education and technology.  Nancy previously appeared on this podcast in episode 132 to discuss The Science of Memory. Find Nancy at https://mindprintlearning.com/. LINKS MindPrint Research Brief - Post Pandemic Brain Changes: Results from 35K Students Study Finds COVID Harmed Cognitive Skills of Students — and Teachers – The 74 RELATED EPISODES COVID LEARNING LOSS THE GROWING IMPACT OF CHEATING DURING COVID HOW TESTS AID MEMORY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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.  

Finding your best fit school requires a lot of smart research, so don't overlook one of the best sources of institutional information available. Amy and Mike invited independent counselor Jane Gabin to discuss how the common data set can help interpret what colleges tell you. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the Common Data Set? How can studying the CDS help with judging the value of a school? What does a school's graduation rate tell us about the school? How can the CDS be accessed and can anyone look at it? Are there schools that try to hide their data? MEET OUR GUEST Jane S. Gabin has been publishing articles on colleges' over-hiring of adjunct faculty since 2015, when she wrote about the problem in “Ask the College Counselor,” her regular column for InsideSchools.com. Her writing on this subject has also appeared in Inside Higher Ed (June 24, 2019), the Academe Blog (July 2, 2019 and May 21, 2020), and The College Prep Guide (college-prep-guide.com). A member of NACAC, SACAC, and the International ACAC, as well as the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), she currently works as an independent counselor, addressing groups such as the local NAACP Youth Council about educational opportunities, and speaking to parents and students at local public libraries.  Dr. Gabin has over 20 years in the college admissions profession. She worked for 10 years for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she was in charge of all international admissions and counselor relations. She followed this with 11 years in college advising at independent schools in the NYC area, primarily at the United Nations International School (UNIS).  She gave a talk at the SACAC 2020 conference on “Another Way of Looking at What Makes a College ‘Good'” when she addressed this issue (in addition to suggesting a close look at colleges' admission rate, retention rate, class size, and graduation rate).  Additionally, she has given or led sessions (primarily on the essay process) at the New Jersey ACAC, the New York State ACAC, NACAC, and for KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) in NYC. She received a Ph.D. in English at UNC-Chapel Hill and has published one novel and is working on another. As an independent scholar, she is currently researching the lives of women artists in the 19th century. Jane previously appeared on this podcast in episode 328 to discuss Concerns About College Staffing Trends. Find Jane at  janesgabin@yahoo.com. LINKS Common Data Set The Shortest Guide to College Admissions RELATED EPISODES USING THE COMMON DATA SET POWER DYNAMICS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS HOW IMPORTANT IS GPA IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS? HOW ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR MORALE IS CHANGING ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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.  

Wanting to pursue higher education is not exactly the same as being ready for higher education and all that its pursuit entails, as too many students learn to their detriment. Amy and Mike invited educator Carey Dukes to explore just how prepared and ready most teens are for college.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Are students typically prepared for both the academic and emotional challenges of college? What critical skills should students develop to enhance their readiness for college life and beyond? Why does approaching college in terms of semesters make sense?  Why should student persistence be a priority for colleges? What role do parents and educators play in fostering college readiness among teens? MEET OUR GUEST Carey Dukes brings a unique blend of expertise in business management and academic leadership, honed over three decades in both the corporate and educational sectors. Currently an Assistant Professor of Management at North Greenville University, Carey has a distinguished career that spans from managing large-scale transportation operations to pioneering new approaches in student retention and academic success.   With a Doctorate in Business Administration and extensive experience as a CEO in multiple companies, Carey has a deep understanding of business process improvement, change management, and organizational development. His work in the trucking and logistics industry, where he specialized in fixing broken processes and leading innovation, has equipped him with practical insights into managing complex systems and driving efficiency.   In academia, Carey's focus has shifted towards addressing one of higher education's most pressing challenges: student retention. Drawing from his own experiences as a first-generation college student, Carey authored a book and developed a model aimed at improving student readiness and retention, particularly in the critical first year of college. His research identifies key variable components that predict student success, offering actionable strategies for institutions to retain more students and reduce the high dropout rates that plague universities.   Find Carey at carey@therci.net.  LINKS The Readiness for Change Institute https://www.youtube.com/@HigherEdReady College Readiness Benchmarks RELATED EPISODES HOW TO PERSIST TO COLLEGE GRADUATION WHY COLLEGE READINESS MATTERS COLLEGE READINESS ADVICE FROM A COLLEGE PROFESSOR ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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 Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Once in a while, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. Catch up with us in the latest episode of EXTEMP with Amy & Mike. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How was the NTPA Winter Workshop? How did Amy celebrate the end of Mike's term as NTPA President? How will Amy and Mike be celebrating the holidays? Where is the newest place you can find Tests and the Rest? What are our goals for the new year? We definitely want to respond to listener questions in our next EXTEMP episode, so reach out to us on social media or get in touch through our contact page. Let's get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling! LINKS https://www.youtube.com/@TestsAndTheRest RELATED EPISODES EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: November 2024 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: October 2024 INTRODUCING THE NATIONAL TEST PREP ASSOCIATION ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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.

How odd is it that one of the most effective ways to learn about college applicants tends to be among the least frequent steps in the process. How valuable is direct conversation for evaluating prospective members of an educational community and what might the future hold? Amy and Mike invited college admissions expert Parke Muth to explore the importance of college interviews. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is typically meant by a college interview? How common and impactful are interviews in the current admissions process? What are the best ways to prepare for college interviews? Why should interviews be used more often? What are some of the downsides of requiring more interviews? MEET OUR GUEST Parke Muth has worked in education for over 35 years. Most of the time he served as a Dean at the University of Virginia in the admission office and in the English Department. He now works with companies, schools, families, and students across the world but mostly focusing on Asia where he spends about 1/2 of the year.  While at Virginia, Parke was, among other things, Director of Selection and Recruitment of Honors Scholars, Director of Application Assessment Training, and Director of International Admission. He's been serving for over 25 years as a member of the Jefferson Scholars selection committee. This four-year, full scholarship is among the most elite programs in the United States. Parke also serves as an advisor for the Ron Brown Scholars Program, an elite scholars program that provides financial support and leadership training, networking, and career services for underprivileged black students.  Because of his experiences in admissions, Parke is a highly sought-after speaker He has been interviewed by the New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Bloomberg, Associated Press, NBC, etc. He has had over 6 million people read his responses on the website Quora.com. He also has a blog with over 4,000 pages of content, all free, no ads or promotions: https://onlyconnectparke.blogspot.com/ Parke previously appeared on this podcast in episode 81 to discuss You Can't Handle the Truth: Secrets of College Admissions and in episode 148 to discuss Stop Making $en$e: The International Student Problem and in episode 292 for an IEC Profile. Find Parke at parkemuth@gmail.com. LINKS Glimpse by InitialView Can You Answer These 10 College Interview Questions? Askwith Education Forum Details Impact of Wealth on College Admissions RELATED EPISODES HOW TO PREPARE FOR A COLLEGE ADMISSIONS INTERVIEW POWER DYNAMICS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS HOW TO SPEAK TO A COLLEGE ADMISSIONS REP WHY OPTIONAL STATEMENTS AREN'T OPTIONAL ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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.

Just about anyone can become an educator or coach, but can anyone become great at it? Amy and Mike invited educator Dan Lerman to enumerate the qualities of great educators and coaches. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the foundational qualities of a great tutor or coach?  What can be taught to tutors and how? How do you know if you are not a great tutor or coach? Beyond a test, what does a great tutor teach?  What is the current state of tutor training?  MEET OUR GUEST Dan Lerman is a professor of Cognitive Science at Columbia University. He is passionate about using Cognitive Science to optimize learning, and his specialty is in creative problem-solving. Dan has previously taught at St. Paul's School in London, Saint Ann's in Brooklyn, and Oxford University, and he has founded three companies in the tutoring space. He is passionate about social skills, personal growth, and combating the loneliness epidemic, which has spawned the Backyard Comedy Series. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, daughter, and dog.  Find Dan at dml2183@tc.columbia.edu or at danlerman.com. LINKS Advanced Tutoring Techniques | Programs | TC Academy Rogers Three Characteristics/Attributes Needed for Client-Therapist Relationship How to Assess Tutors and Test Prep Providers RELATED EPISODES THE VALUE OF EXPERIENCE IN TEACHERS HOW TO BE AN INNOVATIVE EDUCATOR WHY YOU WANT TO WORK WITH A CAREER TUTOR TUTORING TREASURES: TIPS FOR TEACHING TEENS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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 Alison Merzel. Alison Merzel is the founder of AHM Advising LLC, an independent educational consulting practice focused on helping high school students and families find their best-fit post-secondary educational options. Prior to launching her business in 2019, Alison was at The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business for 15 years, most recently as the Senior Director of Graduate Recruiting and Admissions.  Alison holds a BS from Northwestern University in Communications and Spanish and a Master of Labor and Human Resources from The Ohio State University. She has a certificate in Independent Educational Consulting from the UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education. She is a Wow Writing Workshop Certified College Essay Coach and completed the Gap Year Association's 2022 Counselor Institute. Alison is awaiting the results of her CEP assessment (Certified Educational Planner) and upon approval, will become just the 6th education professional in the state of Ohio to hold this designation.  Alison is a professional member of IECA, the Independent Educational Consultants Association, where she serves as co-chair of the Jewish IEC Affinity Group and as a member of the College Tour subcommittee.  She is also a member of NACAC, OACAC, and OASFAA and serves as an Advisory Board Member for College Planner Pro, software that is designed exclusively for IECs.  Locally, Alison is a member of the Bexley Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Board of Trustees of Congregation Tifereth Israel where she serves as the Co-Chair of the synagogue's Personnel Committee.  Alison and her husband, Jeff, have lived in Bexley for 17 years and have three children (17, 15, and 10) The Merzel family is not complete without mention of Marvin, an Australian Labradoodle, and Toby, a Cavapoo.   Find Alison at www.ahmadvising.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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 Julie Spak. Since 1985, Julie has been connecting students to their futures in her work as a College Admissions Officer, Financial Aid Officer and Honors Program Counselor at the University of New Hampshire, where she received her M.Ed in Counseling and BA in Communication and English. Julie also worked as a School Counselor, so she knows how to help students and families from "both sides of the desk." She is a Past President of New Hampshire School Counselors Association and is currently a member of the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association and National College Advocacy Group (NCAG). Julie is Birkman certified. Julie's coaching produces a stand-out college application and also accelerates the career search during college and beyond. Working as a Career Coach & Educational Consultant combines all of her passions of helping students learn about their strengths and finding the best fit college major and institution while keeping finances in mind. Julie lives in suburban Philadelphia with her husband and two active boys, where there is truly never a dull moment! Julie previously appeared in episode 479 for a SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: National College Affordability Group. Find Julie at juliespak@leaprogram.com or https://www.juliespakconsulting.com/. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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 Stef Mauler, founder of the Mauler Institute™ and author of The Complete Candidate™. She began working in Ivy League admissions over 30 years ago. She met thousands of high school students and their families as they went through the mysterious Ivy League admissions process. Discovering that the majority of applicants had the academic record, but were not accepted, she set out to find patterns in what differentiated the students who were accepted from those who weren't. Stef holds a B.A. in Economics and International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a Graduate Certificate in College Counseling from the University of California, San Diego. Stef is a Certified Educational Planner and a professional member of IECA, HECA, AICEP and NACAC. Find Stef at https://www.themaulerinstitute.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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 Michelle Siddons. Michelle is an Associate Member of IECA, a new member of NTPA, and has her Masters in Education from Seton Hall and undergraduate degree from Colgate University.  Michelle has been helping high school students for over twenty five years with test prep and the past five years with college counseling. She completed her certificate in college counseling from UCLA.  She and her husband live in Mountain Lakes New Jersey, have three young daughters and she serves as a volunteer with many local organizations including the Mountain Lakes Swim and Dive Association, the local travel soccer club and serves on the board of a program called Project Readiness which seeks to level the playing field for all of New Jersey's children – regardless of economic background – through school supply drives, and free counseling services for students seeking financial assistance for college.   In her free time, Michelle can be found on local platform tennis courts as she is a self-professed “paddle junkie”. Find Michelle at msedsvcs20@gmail.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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 Feiyang Liu. As a naturally introverted high school student, Feiyang felt immense pressure to adopt a bubbly, inauthentic persona for my college applications. This led to a lack of fulfillment and a realization that pretending to be someone he wasn't came with significant consequences. After graduating from UCLA with a degree in Political Science and from USC with a Master's in Education (Enrollment Management and Policy), he grappled with people-pleasing while working in admissions and student services at UC Berkeley from 2019 to 2023. The burnout from constantly putting others' expectations above his own led to a pivotal moment of self-reflection. In 2023, Feiyang relocated to New York, where he finally had the space to rethink my identity and values. This journey of self-discovery ignited a passion for genuine mentoring and ultimately led him to found Your Epic Consulting. His mission is to help students avoid the trap of "college pleasing" and instead showcase their true selves in their applications. Feiyang combined his personal experiences and professional expertise to guide students toward holistic success. At Your Epic Consulting, they don't coach you to say what 'sounds good' for college admissions. Instead, they empower you to express your authentic self, ensuring that self-acceptance and college acceptance go hand in hand. Find Feiyang at https://www.instagram.com/yourepic.consulting/. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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 successful outcome of preparing for the SAT & ACT can yield a massive return on investment, but the real value lies in the process itself. Amy and Mike invited educator Rob Pollak to explore how test prep prepares you for college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is test prep all about tips and tricks? How is standardized test prep more than just preparation for one isolated exam? In what way does test prep challenge students to think more strategically about their learning and approach to studying? How do the skills students develop during test prep translate to real-world applications beyond college? How can test prep be a tool for teaching students to manage stress and perform under pressure? MEET OUR GUEST Rob Pollak is an expert SAT and ACT tutor with a passion for helping high school students and their families navigate the standardized testing process. In 2012, Rob founded Pollak Tutors, a private tutoring company that helps students in NJ, NY, and CT prepare for and achieve their goals on college entrance exams.   Rob is a graduate of Hamilton College, Fordham University School of Law, and the ACT Certified Educator program. Rob first appeared on the podcast in episode 155 in a Test Prep Profile and in episode 397 to discuss How And Why To Manage Your Proctor. Find Rob at support@pollaktutors.com, 201-472-5050, or www.pollaktutors.com LINKS College Readiness Benchmarks RELATED EPISODES COLLEGE READINESS ADVICE FROM A COLLEGE PROFESSOR WHY COLLEGE READINESS MATTERS TRACKING COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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.  

Teens on the road to college tend to encounter a variety of counselors positioned to support them on their journeys. However, not every one of these counselors has the same job. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Margaret Rothe to define the different roles of school and private counselors. What are five things you will learn in this episode? In what ways are school and private college counselors the same? Do you have to be a high school counselor to be a private college counselor? What is something high school counselors do that IECs don't or can't do? What is something an IEC does that school counselors don't or can't do?  What resources support all counselors supporting college applications? MEET OUR GUEST Margaret Rothe is a leading authority in higher education and student affairs policy. With over 20 years of experience, Margaret has been a driving force behind shaping institutional policies that deeply impact student communities. She was instrumental in pioneering the nation's first live/learn communities, creating powerful connections between faculty and staff that enrich the student experience, earning both campus and national recognition for her efforts. Her expertise spans from first-year programming to balancing enrollment goals, even stepping into public safety roles when needed. After leaving university administration, Margaret brought this extensive experience into private college counseling, where she recognized a significant gap in college readiness that contributed to student attrition. There was no standard for guiding students on how to choose the right school or how to prepare academically and personally. Moreover, no software existed that was truly counselor-centric—most were built for government reporting or data extraction. This realization led her to co-create CounselMore Educational Services Management Software, a platform that combines both the art and science of college counseling to reduce counselor burnout and better serve students. CounselMore now supports over 1,000 private college counselors and has earned two EdTech Digest awards for education innovation and she was honored in 2023 with the Innovation Visionary award. Margaret can be reached at support@counselmore.com. LINKS The Role of the School Counselor FAQs on the Independent Educational Consulting Profession RELATED EPISODES HOW SCHOOL AND PRIVATE COLLEGE COUNSELORS CAN WORK TOGETHER OVERWORKED SCHOOL COUNSELORS HOW TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE COUNSELOR ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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 fact that students are earning higher grades than ever without any appreciable increase in other assessments of academic ability should be well-known by now. Less understood are the root causes of this increasing phenomenon. Amy and Mike invited researchers Maia Goodman Young and Dan Goldhaber to dig into the data on how grading policies influence grade inflation. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the purpose of grading? How did state policy around grading in Washington change during the pandemic? What does the research show about changes in grades throughout the pandemic? What is the current connection between grades and test scores? How does weaker rigor in grading influence student interest in academic support? Are there differences in grading in different subjects or socioeconomic status? What other grading policies might impact grade inflation? What can we make of the weaker connection between grades and test scores? Is it bad or good? MEET OUR GUESTS Dr. Maia Goodman Young is a researcher at the Center for Education Data and Research at the University of Washington and an instructor in the UW's secondary teacher education program where she teaches courses in English Language Arts methods and assessment. She is also a National Board Certified Teacher who taught for nine years in California and Washington. Maia's experience as a classroom teacher informs her research, as she worked to better understand questions of grading policies and practices, teacher preparation, and the teacher labor market. Maia can be reached at maiag@uw.edu. Dr. Dan Goldhaber is the Director of the Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research (CALDER, caldercenter.org) at the American Institutes for Research and the Director of the Center for Education Data & Research (CEDR, cedr.us(link is external)) at the University of Washington. Both CALDER and CEDR are focused on using state administrative data to do research that informs decisions about policy and practice. Dan's work focuses on issues of educational productivity and reform at the K-12 level, the broad array of human capital policies that influence the composition, distribution, and quality of teachers in the workforce, and connections between students' K-12 experiences and
postsecondary outcomes. Topics of published work in this area include studies of the stability of value-added measures of teachers, the effects of teacher qualifications and quality on student achievement, and the impact of teacher pay structure and licensure on the teacher labor market. Dan's research has been regularly published in leading peer-reviewed economic and education journals such as: American Economic Review, Journal of Human Resources, Journal of Policy and Management, Economics of Education Review, Education Finance and Policy, and Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. The findings from these articles have been covered in more widely accessible media outlets such as National Public Radio, the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, and Education Week. Dan previously served as president of the Association for Education Finance and Policy (2006-2017), an elected member of the Alexandria City School Board from 1997-2002, and as co-editor of Education Finance and Policy. Dan can be reached at dgoldhab@uw.edu.  LINKS Every teacher grades differently, which isn't fair Are SAT & ACT Scores More Predictive Than GPA? Journal of Policy Analysis and Management: Vol 43, No 4 The Unintended Consequences of Academic Leniency Grade inflation: Why it matters and how to stop it Grading for Equity: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Can Transform Schools and Classrooms RELATED EPISODES THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION WHY GRADE INFLATION IS HARMFUL THE PROBLEM WITH GRADES ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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 Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Once in a while, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. Catch up with us in the latest episode of EXTEMP with Amy & Mike. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What new piece of curriculum did Mike create recently?  What is Mike's background in birding? What were Amy's big takeaways from the College Board National Forum? What have we learned about college admissions? When and where will the NTPA Winter Workshop be? We definitely want to respond to listener questions in our next EXTEMP episode, so reach out to us on social media or get in touch through our contact page. Let's get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling! LINKS Roots2Words Teachers Pay Teachers Store 2024 National Test Prep Association Winter Workshop 10,000 Birds RELATED EPISODES EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: October 2024 PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF TEST PREP: AMY SEELEY'S ORIGIN STORY SAT & ACT TESTING TIMELINES: MIKE BERGIN'S ORIGIN STORY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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 ACT has been remarkably stable since the last time the exam was “enhanced” in 1989. However, significant changes are coming more quickly than you might think to this influential college admissions exam. Amy and Mike invited ACT representative Catherine Hofmann to share all the details about the ACT Test Enhancements. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How is the ACT changing? What aspects of the ACT are staying the same? What is the motivation for these enhancements? Will the Enhanced ACT be linear or adaptive? What is the timeline for the Enhanced ACT?  MEET OUR GUEST Catherine Hofmann serves as the Senior Vice President of Government and Public Relations at ACT, where she has held a leadership role since 2014.  Prior to joining ACT, she worked in Oklahoma as a teacher and assistant principal, at the Oklahoma Department of Education, and then at College Board overseeing state strategy.  Growing up in a fifth-generation rural farming family and as a first-generation college student, Catherine understands the value of a college education and strives to use her voice and professional experience to advocate for underserved students. She holds a bachelor's degree in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and a master's degree in School Administration.  Catherine lives on the family farm established in 1860 outside Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband, her four children, and her beloved rescue cats and rescue dog, Cash. And the family is growing—she regularly fosters rescue animals and engages in a range of other community volunteer services. Learn about the coming changes and sign up for updates at the ACT Test Enhancements page. LINKS ACT Test Enhancements The Upcoming Changes to the Enhanced ACT RELATED EPISODES WHY TESTS MATTER: STUDENT PERSPECTIVES WHY THE SAT AND ACT ARE AWESOME WHEN SHOULD YOU TAKE THE SAT OR ACT? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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.  

You don't need to be a future business major to bring some marketing acumen to your application to higher education. Amy and Mike invited marketing professional Stacey Ross Cohen to review how to build a winning brand to ace college admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How are college admissions and personal branding related? Why is personal branding/digital leadership critical for college-bound students? What are essential steps teens should take to build a strong personal brand? How can college-bound students use social media to their advantage? What other essential life skills are important for high school teens to navigate the college process?   MEET OUR GUEST An award-winning marketing professional who earned her stripes on Madison Avenue and at major television networks, Stacey Ross Cohen excels at taking brands to market and leveraging each client's unique voice for impactful campaigns.   In 1998, Stacey founded Co-Communications, a marketing communications agency serving clients in education, healthcare, real estate, hospitality, economic development, professional services, and nonprofits. Her accolades include Forbes Enterprise, PRSA Practitioner of the Year, City & State NY/Power100, and Crain's New York Business' Notable Leader in Advertising, Marketing, and PR (2023). Stacey recently made her debut on the TED stage, is a contributor at Entrepreneur and The Huffington Post, and has been featured in Forbes, Inc, USA Today, Newsweek, and more.   She holds a BS from Syracuse University, an MBA from Fordham University, and a certificate in Media, Entertainment, & Technology from NYU Leonard Stern School of Business. Stacey is a sought-after speaker and author in the realm of PR, Marketing, and Branding and has delivered talks at Fortune 500 companies and global education institutes. She is a newly appointed adjunct marketing professor at Fordham University. An entrepreneur at heart, Stacey started her first business when she was just 14 years old and is now a member of a prominent angel investor group.  Stacey's best-selling book Brand Up: The Ultimate Playbook for College & Career Success (Post Hill Press/Simon & Schuster) is a game changer for teens to stand out and achieve success in our increasingly connected, cluttered, and competitive world. It's packed with exercises, tools, and tips essential to establish a positive narrative and social media presence that can open doors to desired colleges and coveted first jobs. Endorsed by Barbara Corcoran, who calls the book a must-read "to excel at networking, entrepreneurship, in the classroom and the boardroom," Brand Up is available at Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target, and Amazon.  Stacey can be reached at https://branduplife.com/ or LinkedIn.  LINKS Brand Up: The Ultimate Playbook for College & Career Success Brand Up Life RELATED EPISODES FITTING IN AND STANDING OUT AVOIDING THE PAGEANT APPROACH TO COLLEGE ADMISSIONS FINDING YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF IN THE PATH TO COLLEGE PSYCHOGRAPHICS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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 current college admissions dynamic where selective schools routinely receive 10, 15, or even 20 times as many applications as they have available seats has been a tremendous source of stress for applicants and their families. But how are the professionals who have to manage these applications holding up? Amy and Mike invited author Teege Mettille to explore how admissions counselor morale is changing admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What exactly is admissions counselor malaise? How have changes on college campuses impacted the admissions process? What are the implications of this malaise in admissions for applicants? What are the implications of this malaise in admissions for educators and counselors? What can be done in the short term to improve this situation? Is there a world where colleges and universities shift their perspective? MEET OUR GUEST Teege Mettille is a nationally-recognized leader in college admissions, with a career that spans leadership roles at four different institutions, serving as President of the Wisconsin Association for College Admission Counseling, and a three-year term as a member of the President's Council for the National Association for College Admission Counseling.  He recently wrote The Admissions Counselor Malaise, a thorough assessment of the changes in college and university management that has been zapping the joy out of the profession.  He joins us today to discuss that concept, and how it is impacting not just admissions counselors, but school counselors, independent educational consultants, and students. Teege can be reached at teegemettille@gmail.com. LINKS The Admissions Counselor Malaise: Addressing the staff morale crisis in college admissions Addressing The Staff Morale Crisis In Admissions RELATED EPISODES HOW TO SPEAK TO A COLLEGE ADMISSIONS REP DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS AND COLLEGE ADMISSIONS POWER DYNAMICS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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 Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Once in a while, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. We hope you enjoy this first episode of EXTEMP with Amy & Mike. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What massive step did Amy take in her test prep business?  How many educational projects exactly has Mike been working on? What were the major developments in education and admissions last month? Where will you find us and what should you pay attention to over the next month? What are this month's hot takes? We definitely want to respond to listener questions in our next EXTEMP episode, so reach out to us on social media or get in touch through our contact page. Let's get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling! LINKS Seeley Test Pros LEAP Chariot Learning Roots2Words TestBright SAT/ACT Curriculum System Tutor: The Newsletter National Test Prep Association ACT Instructional Mastery RELATED EPISODES CELEBRATING OUR 600TH EPISODE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF TEST PREP: AMY SEELEY'S ORIGIN STORY SAT & ACT TESTING TIMELINES: MIKE BERGIN'S ORIGIN STORY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. 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.

After 599 episodes devoted to amazing conversations about testing, admissions, education, and learning, it's time for something completely different. Amy and Mike invited educator Susan Powers to help celebrate our 600th episode. Get ready to hear from the ghosts of podcasts past, present, and future along with a modified Colbert questionnaire!  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the biggest things Amy and Mike learned since the beginning of the podcast? What were some of our favorite episodes? What will our podcast tombstones say? What are Mike, Amy, and Susan's favorite test passages? What does the future hold for testing, learning, and this podcast? MEET OUR GUEST Susan Powers is the founder and CEO of Woodlands Test Prep, a tutoring company based in the Houston area that improves students' scores, supports students' academic success, and helps families navigate the college admissions testing process with much less stress. Susan started teaching SAT and GMAT classes for Kaplan in 1994 as a hobby while an executive for a large oil and gas equipment company, doing strategy and acquisitions. The arrival of children put hobbies on hiatus, and she was able to return to tutoring in 2011, founding Woodlands Test Prep. The company has grown from a solopreneur to a larger company with multiple tutors. Susan delights in all aspects of the business from tutoring to curriculum and resource development to process improvement to hiring those few rare gems and teaching them how to help students too! Susan was a National Merit Scholar and has a B.A. in French and a B.B.A. in Finance from Southern Methodist University and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, focusing on entrepreneurship. She lives in the country with her partner, Joe, and three dogs, a cat, and a parrot named Monkey. Her two children now live adventurous lives in the mountainous West. She loves to travel around the world, play day-long board games, sing, write poetry, garden, and read a couple of books at a time. Susan is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. She first appeared on the podcast in episode 231 in a Test Prep Profile and in episode 534 Choosing Between the Digital SAT and the ACT. Susan can be reached at www.woodlandstestprep.com. LINKS The Highlands Ability Battery: What Are Mike and Amy's Results? RELATED EPISODES CELEBRATING OUR 500TH EPISODE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF TEST PREP: AMY SEELEY'S ORIGIN STORY SAT & ACT TESTING TIMELINES: MIKE BERGIN'S ORIGIN STORY 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 and LEAP. 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 Sara Kohn, who was raised in South Florida and attended Florida State University, where she obtained a degree in marketing. She later pursued a master's degree in exercise science. About two decades ago, She began tutoring about 20 years ago and eventually established her own company, Ready Set Prep - now called Advanced Test Prep, focusing on high level preparation, particularly for National Merit and the PSAT/NMSQT. She has conducted successful programs across South Florida, contributing to around 10% of all semifinalists in the state annually. Expanding on her passion for education and helping students achieve their academic goals, Sara's journey in the field of tutoring and test preparation has been both fulfilling and rewarding. Through her company, Advanced Test Prep, she has been able to make a significant impact on the educational landscape of South Florida.  Sara has had the privilege of assisting educators and school districts nationwide in establishing their test preparation programs, aiding them in seamlessly incorporating test preparation into their existing curriculum. Additionally, she has collaborated with organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, the Salvation Army, and the FIU Upward Bound Program. This enables her to offer elite private school services to individuals who may not have access to them otherwise. Find Sara at www.advancedtestprep.com. 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 and LEAP. 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 Reema Chitalia, a dedicated test prep expert passionate about shaping the futures of students pursuing education abroad. After earning her Master's degree in the United States and working as a consultant at Deloitte, she recognized gaps in global education systems and utilized technology to tackle these challenges. Before long, she established Edufit, an innovative online test prep platform that offers bite-sized lessons designed for Gen Z, ensuring thorough understanding and lasting retention. Having trained over 5,000 students, she is committed to transforming the way we approach standardized testing. As an international educator, she specializes in SAT and ACT preparation, while also having extensive experience with AP exams, Olympiads, GRE, GMAT, IBDP Bridge Courses, extended essays, and much more. Currently, she is in an exciting phase of expansion, actively seeking collaborations with international schools around the world for mutually beneficial partnerships. In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, she is a TEDx speaker and motivational speaker, engaging with teenagers on essential topics such as success, character building, and resilience. Find Reema at rchitalia@edufittestprep.com. 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 and LEAP. 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 Dan Cozzens. Dan has worked at Bespoke Education for almost twenty years: first as a Tutoring Associate, then Operations Director and now COO and Head of Tutoring. Building on individual subject tutoring mastery (including the standardized tests, Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Humanities, Executive Function Coaching and Homework Help), his experience now extends to most facets of the tutoring world: hiring, training and managing tutors; building relationships with families and schools; developing curriculum and materials; practice testing; and spokesmanship: sharing Bespoke's institutional expertise both internally and externally to support our tutors, families, and other partners in their educational goals. At Philadelphia's Germantown Friends School, Dan won a National Merit Scholarship and the Senior Award. At Harvard he received his B.A. cum laude in Biological Anthropology, served as President of the Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club, and won the Louise Donovan Award for outstanding contributions in the arts. He is a proud resident of Brooklyn and even prouder father of two great kids. Find Dan at dan@bespokeeducation.com. 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 and LEAP. 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 Mary Bassey, a multi-passionate professional whose education and experience has spanned multiple subjects and standardized test types in the tutoring industry, in traditional education, in presenting literature from neuroscience spaces, and in music. After 15 years as a tutor, she founded Tutoring With Mary in 2022, a business that offers academic support in STEM and English-Language Arts school subjects, test prep support, college essay coaching, and scholarship essay coaching. When she is not tutoring, you can find her playing the flute and piccolo with the Los Angeles Symphonic Winds, the LLS Orchestra, and other music groups throughout Southern California. Mary loves to curl up with a good book, dance, sing, write, and snuggle with her cats Bo and Persephone. Find Mary at tutoringwithmaryonline@gmail.com. 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 and LEAP. 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 Kate Fisher, who grew up in Englewood, NJ, and graduated cum laude from Horace Mann School, where she remains an active part of the community and is a member of the Alumni Council. Private tutoring is not Kate's side hustle; rather, she deliberately chose to pursue it as a full-time career because she loves teaching and values cultivating genuine and impactful relationships with her students and their families beyond the boundaries so often required by traditional academic and classroom environments. Kate is an energetic and patient tutor (and cheerleader!) who is able to quickly and effectively accommodate her students' needs. Her tutoring is creative and adaptive, providing her students with the support and skills they need to achieve their goals. Kate has worked with thousands of students during her career as a full-time tutor, which she began as an undergraduate in 2008. As a part-time teacher at Kaplan Test Prep, she taught ACT, SAT, and SHSAT in both in-person and online classrooms. By 2010, Kate expanded her tutoring repertoire to include both the ISEE and SSAT, as well as various AP exams, SAT Subject Tests, and high school and college admissions consulting. She spent 2013 as a full-time instructor, teaching classes and tutoring students throughout the tristate area. In addition to training part-time tutors and developing teaching materials, Kate taught and tutored low-income students through her involvement in partnerships with the NYC Department of Education. In 2014, Kate was promoted to manager of content and curriculum, spearheading product and course revisions for the 2015 PSAT and 2016 SAT test changes. After returning to tutoring full-time, Kate joined an elite, boutique firm in 2016 and quickly became one of their most requested tutors. From 2020 to 2022, Kate joined the company full-time and was not only the top-grossing tutor but also served as Director of School Partnerships and trained other tutors to work with neurodiverse students. Kate also singlehandedly wrote the company's e-book on Executive Function during this period.  Kate is well positioned to help students with a wide variety of learning differences. In addition to her extensive experience as a tutor, she is a lifelong activist for the Autism community, and has been volunteering with children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder since her childhood. Kate holds a Professional Certificate in Learning Differences (LD) and Neurodiversity with a Specialization in Executive Function through the Landmark College Institute for Research & Training. In early 2023, Kate recruited an elite team of like minded tutors and founded Kate Fisher Tutoring (KFT) because she believes that one-on-one tutoring can transform students' lives and their relationships with learning. KFT focuses on effectively connecting families to top private educators who help their children efficiently meet—and exceed—their goals. KFT prides itself on organic growth generated through word-of-mouth referrals based on the success of the work Kate and her team do whether EF coaching, test prep, or academic support and enrichment. Find Kate at katefishertutoring.com. 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 and LEAP. 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.