Podcast appearances and mentions of brian eufinger

In this episode of the Mad Rush Podcast, host Tricia Addicks welcomes Brian Eufinger, owner of Edison Prep, to discuss the landscape of college admissions and test preparation. Brian shares the importance of a strong GPA, extracurricular activities, and strategic planning for SAT/ACTs. He emphasizes the long-term impact of these scores on internships and job applications. Throughout the conversation, Brian provides valuable tips on creating effective college essays, the significance of early preparation, and debunks myths about the 'test-optional' policy. Additionally, he introduces helpful resources such as free mock tests and merit aid grids for financial planning. This episode is a deep dive into optimizing the college prep process to achieve the best possible outcomes for students. 00:00 Introduction to the Mad Rush Podcast 00:03 The Importance of Test Scores Beyond College 01:35 Meet Brian Eufinger of Edison Prep 02:17 The Journey and Success of Edison Prep 02:49 The Value of Hard Work and Test Prep 03:19 Real-Life Stories of Test Prep Success 04:05 The Role of Parents in Test Prep 04:43 Financial Benefits of High Test Scores 06:10 The Impact of GPA on College Admissions 16:40 Understanding Yield Protection in College Admissions 21:55 The Importance of Early Decision and Application Strategies 34:04 Final Tips for College Admissions Success 36:14 Designing a Summer Plan for SAT/ACT Prep 37:15 Understanding the Costs of SAT/ACT 37:38 State and District Funded Testing 41:12 The Importance of Super Scoring 46:51 Test Optional Misconceptions 54:15 The Long-Term Value of Test Scores 56:47 The Role of Essays in College Admissions 01:01:18 The Importance of College Counselors 01:04:27 Edison Prep Services and Resources 01:07:56 Conclusion and Contact Information Brian's Info:

I recently spoke with Brian Eufinger of Edison Prep. Brian graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2004 and a Healthcare MBA in 2006. He serves as a founding board member of the National Test Prep Association and is an Associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. More recently, he represents Edison Prep in a consortium of four tutoring companies that created Assessiv, an online digital SAT practice platform that Edison Prep students and students nationwide use. In our conversation, Brian and I discussed: Why, in many situations, “Test-Optional” is a lie How test scores can result in tens of thousands of dollars in merit aid How Brian supplemented merit aid with private scholarships The opportunity cost of failing to prepare for standardized tests and applying for scholarships Why GPA is ‘sacred' Merit Aid Grids - the easy-to-use, free website to find out how much your student can receive in scholarships based on their GPA and test score And much more… To connect with Brian and learn about their approach to SAT and ACT Prep, and to get a special discount, click here: https://edisonprep.com/scholarshipgps/ ---------- If your child is turning 18, whether they are going away to college or remaining at home, please consider getting a Power of Attorney in place. You can use my discount code, ScholarshipCoach, to take 20% off the total price at Mama Bear Legal Forms: https://www.mamabearlegalforms.com/youngadult?oid=1&affid=44 ---------- Start your scholarship journey this summer with the Scholarship Summer Camp. Your student will learn the skills needed for scholarship success by applying for real scholarships, including a $35,000 scholarship capstone project! Every Monday through Thursday, a new, pre-recorded lesson will be released. On Thursday evenings, we will be live (but recorded for future viewing), discussing the week's lessons and taking Q&A. This online program provides both on-demand and live learning opportunities. Best of all your student will apply for real scholarships during the course of the camp! In fact, your student will apply for scholarships offering more than $40,000 in potential winnings! The Scholarship Summer Camp starts June 2, 2025, and runs for 6 weeks. Here's an overview of what will be covered each week: Week 1: The Basics: The tools, documents, and resources you need for scholarship success. Week 2: Your Personal Narrative: Learn how to build your Personal Narrative, a key component for scholarship success. Week 3: Finding The Right Scholarships For You: Learn where to look and how to determine which scholarships are the best ones to apply for. Week 4: Why Do You Deserve To Win This Scholarship? (Apply for a Real Scholarship This Week!) Week 5: Topical Scholarships (Apply for Another Real Scholarship This Week!) Week 6: $35,000 Capstone Scholarship Project! The Scholarship Summer Camp is for high school students in the Classes of 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029. Click here to register today: https://www.scholarshipgps.com/summercamp ---------- This Week's Featured Scholarships: Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contests $10,000 Maude and Alexander Hadden Scholarship Scholarship $1000 Stand Up to Distracted Driving Scholarship $1000 Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest Weekender: $1000 No Essay Scholarship ---------- Subscribe to our free newsletter, Your Daily Scholarship, here: https://nodebtcollege.substack.com/  

Podcast 280 - What Dunwoody Parents Must Know About College Admissions - Brian Eufinger - Edison Prep   Back by popular demand, Brian Eufinger from Edison Prep joins me to break down everything Dunwoody parents need to know about college admissions—especially if (like me) your child is still in middle school. I wanted this conversation now, not later, because I know how confusing the process can be. Brian shares exactly when to start, what most families get wrong, and how to plan for scholarships and success. If you're looking for real answers, local insight, and expert advice you can trust, this episode delivers.

In this episode, Lisa and Brian discuss:Strategies for maximizing college scholarships given by the institutionsThe difference in merit vs. need-based financial aidThe role of GPA and standardized testing, ACT and SAT, in scholarship awardsColleges with merit scholarship grids where students can know the amount they can earn for good grades and scoresTransparency of college financial aid policiesKey Takeaways: Merit aid is often more predictable than need-based aid because many colleges offer fixed scholarships based on GPA and ACT and SAT scores, making it easier to estimate college costs.Skipping standardized tests can cost students thousands in scholarships, as many schools that are “test-optional” for admission still require test scores for merit aid or reduce the award if applying test optional.At some universities, it is possible to calculate the number of additional correct answers on the ACT a student needs to raise their merit aid award, making test prep a highly valuable investment.Over 90% of scholarship money comes directly from colleges rather than private sources, meaning that researching a school's financial aid policies is more effective than chasing small external scholarships.“When the airplane is going down, you put the mask on yourself first—you first, your kids second. The merit aid from the school is the 'putting your mask on yourself'… after that, if a kid has free time, definitely apply to some of the outside scholarships.” – Brian EufingerAbout Brian Eufinger: Brian Eufinger is the President of Atlanta-based Edison Prep and has tutored over 14,000 students for a combined 35,000+ hours on the SAT, PSAT, and ACT over the past two decades. A founding board member of the National Test Prep Association, he is frequently invited by school districts across the Southeast to lead out-of-state ACT boot camps. Brian is passionate about tracking test-optional admissions data and sharing strategies for reducing college costs through merit aid and scholarships. He regularly speaks on test prep, college admissions, and scholarships at PTSA meetings, webinars, and education podcasts.Episode References:Merit Aid Grids: https://meritaidgrids.com/Student Email Template: How to Get Clear Answers About College Merit Aid https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/merit #042 Will grade inflation hurt your teen with Brian Eufinger?  https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/042Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). flourishcoachingco.com/video Connect with Brian Eufinger:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edisonpreptutoring/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edisonprepWebsite: https://www.edisonprep.com/Email: brian@edisonprep.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eufinger/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EdisonPrepTutoringConnect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

We all know that getting into and paying for college represent two very different challenges. But what if you could focus on factors that improve your odds of accomplishing both at the same time? For a surprising number of schools, you can! Amy and Mike invited educator Brian Eufinger to explain the role of test scores in college merit aid. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What's the difference between need-based aid and merit aid? Can people with incomes too high for need-based aid still qualify?  What are merit aid grids? How have they evolved over the last 20 years? How much merit aid can students earn based on ACT, SAT, or PSAT scores? Does every college offer merit aid based on test scores? How can students maximize the chances of merit aid?  MEET OUR GUEST Brian Eufinger graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2004. While an undergrad, he enjoyed working as a teaching assistant for Political Science 101, a resident advisor (RA) and as a volunteer paramedic with WashU's Emergency Support Team. Brian is frequently invited to speak about test prep, college admissions, and scholarships at PTSA meetings at Atlanta-area high schools as well as Edison Prep's free parent meetings. Brian serves on the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. He is an active member of Washington University's Young Alumni chapter in Atlanta, as well as the WashU Alumni Admissions Interviewer Program. Brian was our guest to discuss THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION (#28), SELF-PREP FOR THE SAT & ACT (#131), and SHOULD I TAKE THE ACT WRITING TEST? (#271) TESTING GAMEPLAN FOR THE CLASS OF 2025 (#432) and STATE OF TEST OPTIONAL ADMISSIONS IN 2024 (#550). He hosted the show CELEBRATING OUR 500TH EPISODE and facilitated our 2019-20 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW (#100). Find Brian at https://www.edisonprep.com. LINKS meritaidgrids.com RELATED EPISODES PSAT AND THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FOUR SCHOLARSHIP MYTHS FLORIDA BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLARSHIPS 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.  

In the wake of the 2020 global pandemic, every U.S college and university announced test-optional or test-blind admissions, leading some pundits to predict that the influence of standardized test scores in admissions decisions was over. Based on recent announcements from a suite of public and private schools, nothing could be further from the truth. Amy and Mike invited educator Brian Eufinger to share the state of test-optional admissions in 2024. What are five things you will learn in this episode? As of early 2024, what is the state of test-optional admissions? What is the interplay between grade inflation and post-pandemic admissions policies? How do students know whether to submit scores or not? What does the term 'miswithholding' mean? Will more schools follow Dartmouth and MIT to test mandatory admissions? MEET OUR HOST Brian Eufinger graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2004. While an undergrad, he enjoyed working as a teaching assistant for Political Science 101, a resident advisor (RA) and as a volunteer paramedic with WashU's Emergency Support Team. Brian is frequently invited to speak about test prep, college admissions, and scholarships at PTSA meetings at Atlanta-area high schools as well as Edison Prep's free parent meetings. Brian serves on the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. He is an active member of Washington University's Young Alumni chapter in Atlanta, as well as the WashU Alumni Admissions Interviewer Program. Brian was our guest to discuss THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION (#28), SELF-PREP FOR THE SAT & ACT (#131), SHOULD I TAKE THE ACT WRITING TEST? (#271), TESTING GAMEPLAN FOR THE CLASS OF 2025 (#432), and CELEBRATING OUR 500TH EPISODE (#500). He also facilitated our 2019-20 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW (#100). Find Brian at https://www.edisonprep.com. LINKS Truth About Test Optional What Does Test-Optional Mean? RELATED EPISODES TEST SCORES: TO SUBMIT OR NOT DO TEST OPTIONAL POLICIES DRIVE EQUITY? WHAT DO TRULY TEST-OPTIONAL COLLEGES FOCUS ON? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

In this episode: financial aid, college planning, standardized tests, tests optional, need meeting, and preparation. This week we are re-joined by Brian Eufinger to discuss ways to best prepare your children for college admissions, navigating the new changes to FAFSA and the CSS profile, and how you can maximize when prepping for your child's higher education. While college prep can be stressful for students, from maintaining their GPA to taking multiple standardized tests, it can be just as stressful for parents to figure out financial aid and how to best set up their child for success before and after graduation. However, knowing the factors to consider early on and having the knowledge in advance can make this process far less daunting! While stressful as it may be, remember that there are many different resources available to you and your child that give you the knowledge that may alleviate the pressures that come with college prep and financial aid!  Brian Eufinger: Free diagnostic mock SAT and ACT tests (each weekend): www.edisonprep.com/mocks/ Free information sessions on college admissions (6-7x / year, including one on 11/14 @ 7pm EST): www.edisonprep.com/infosession/ How to self-prep for the SAT/ACT: www.gettestbright.com/self-prep-for-the-sat-act/ Edison Prep Bios: www.edisonprep.com/bio/ Timestamps: 1:06 - Introduction 4:53 - The Impact of Merit Aid 11:49 - When, Where, and How to Think About Standardized Tests 18:33 - The Intersection of The School, Price, Opportunity, and Comfort 25:20 - Standardized Tests and The Reality of Preparation 31:08 - Tests (Not) Optional 37:32 - Governmental Forms and Financial Aid 46:43 - The Variance of Need Meeting and Aid Changes 51:13 - Preparation and Knowledge With College Planning 55:23 - Non-Academic Path to Savings 58:14 - Conclusion Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: Demystify College Scholarships | Brian Eufinger | Edison Prep | ChooseFI Ep 114 Hacking The FAFSA | Brian Eufinger And Seonwoo Lee | ChooseFI Ep. 154 Major Financial Aid Changes Coming: What Families Need to Know FAFSA Changes Are Coming: What You Need To Know Big J's Very Brief Guide to the FAFSA and CSS Profile How the FAFSA Simplification Can Impact Your Financial Aid Summary of Changes to the 2024-2025 FAFSA The $100K Glorified Sleepaway Camp | Millionaire Educator | ChooseFI Ep 386 Subscribe to The FI Weekly! More Helpful Links and FI Resources: Earn $1,050 or More With These 3 Cash Back Cards Share FI by sending a friend ChooseFI: Your Blueprint to Financial Independence Find a new side hustle with one of our Educational Courses Commission-Free Investing with M1 Finance

The success of the Tests and the Rest podcast can be credited to our focus on fascinating guests with specific expertise and insight into admissions, testing, education, and learning. To celebrate our 500th episode, we're throwing all that away to focus on ourselves! Amy and Mike invited educator Brian Eufinger to guest host our first show devoted to listener questions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What were Mike and Amy's favorite topics, most famous guests, and most popular episodes? How spontaneous are podcast conversations, and do we record the podcast intro every time?  What is the connection between Tests and the Rest, Test Prep Tribe, and the NTPA? What are Mike and Amy's tips for anyone starting a new podcast? What fascinating information came out during the speed round? MEET OUR HOST Brian Eufinger graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2004. While an undergrad, he enjoyed working as a teaching assistant for Political Science 101, a resident advisor (RA), and as a volunteer paramedic with WashU's Emergency Support Team. Brian is frequently invited to speak about test prep, college admissions, and scholarships at PTSA meetings at Atlanta-area high schools as well as Edison Prep's free parent meetings. Brian serves on the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. He is an active member of Washington University's Young Alumni chapter in Atlanta, as well as the WashU Alumni Admissions Interviewer Program. Brian was our guest to discuss THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION (#28), SELF-PREP FOR THE SAT & ACT (#131), and SHOULD I TAKE THE ACT WRITING TEST? (#271) and TESTING GAMEPLAN FOR THE CLASS OF 2025 (#432). He also facilitated our 2019-20 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW (#100). Find Brian at https://www.edisonprep.com. LINKS Meet Amy Seeley Meet Mike Bergin Test Prep Tribe National Test Prep Association New Tutor Podcast Playlist RELATED EPISODES SAT & ACT TESTING TIMELINES + Mike Bergin's origin story PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF TESTING + Amy Seeley's origin story INTRODUCING THE NATIONAL TEST PREP ASSOCIATION ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

Major transitions often result in major confusion for the unprepared. If you are–or support–a teen in the high school graduating class of 2025, the time to consider taking or skipping the new digital SAT is now! Amy and Mike invited educator Brian Eufinger to strategize a testing game plan for the class of 2025. What are five things you will learn in this episode? When will the digital PSAT and SAT be available in the United States? Should students worry about being among the first wave of digital test takers? How should high schoolers plan for the digital SAT? Will the ACT be changing at the same as the SAT? How can students try out the new digital SAT? MEET OUR GUEST Brian Eufinger graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2004. While an undergrad, he enjoyed working as a teaching assistant for Political Science 101, a resident advisor (RA) and as a volunteer paramedic with WashU's Emergency Support Team. Brian is frequently invited to speak about test prep, college admissions, and scholarships at PTSA meetings at Atlanta-area high schools as well as Edison Prep's free parent meetings. Brian serves on the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. He is an active member of Washington University's Young Alumni chapter in Atlanta, as well as the WashU Alumni Admissions Interviewer Program. Brian was our guest to discuss THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION (#28), SELF-PREP FOR THE SAT & ACT (#131), and SHOULD I TAKE THE ACT WRITING TEST? (#271). He also facilitated our 2019-20 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW (#100). Find Brian at https://www.edisonprep.com. LINKS When To Take The SAT or ACT A New Digital SAT Is Coming! Bluebook | College Board RELATED EPISODES NEW SAT TEST SPECIFICATIONS FIRST THOUGHTS ABOUT THE NEW DIGITAL SAT SUCCESS IN COMPUTER-BASED TESTING ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

High school grade and GPA inflation has become rampant since COVID, and families can be caught off guard when they realize that when it comes to GPA, pretty good is no longer good enough. Brian Eufinger explains how we got here and gives tips on how to best navigate your family's college-bound journey in the current climate so your teen can avoid roadblocks when applying to college.EPISODE NOTESBrian Eufinger is my guest today. He is a test prep and tutoring provider for the Greater Atlanta area, and he has some shocking statistics to share with you as well as some helpful advice. While test scores are certainly important, even impressively high scores are not going to be enough for many schools if your student's grades are not up to snuff. Like it or not, grades are the most significant factor in college admissions decisions.The reality is that because of grade inflation, the GPA that got you as a parent into college decades ago may not even be considered passable for your high school student by today's standards. There are many factors that have played into this, including no zero policies high school teachers must adhere to and opportunities for second chances brought about by COVID. What this ultimately means is that the bar is much higher than it used to be for what qualifies as a remarkable GPA.But this doesn't have to be all bad news. There is a way for you to get ahead of the curve. Ideally, you should be starting early with your young teen. If your student can begin earning high school credit in the eighth grade, that is a great way to get a leg up. If you're already past that point, consider the core courses that your student is taking and how they affect unweighted GPA. And if they're enrolled in any AP courses, discuss with them that taking the exam will add more value to the course in the long run.HighlightsWhy your teen's GPA can't be compared to yoursHow grade inflation combined with AP coursework has compounded problems for GPAsWhat grade compression is and how the bottom likely isn't where you think it isAdvice that begins with students who are in 8th-gradeLinksLaunch College & Career Clarity CourseLaunch College and Career Clarity Facebook CommunityEdison Prep WebsiteInstagram: @edisonpreptutoringEpisode #037 ACT-SAT Test Optional Admission DataTimeline[3:00] What was considered a decent GPA will no longer pass in the current college climate[6:01] How no zero policies have contributed to grade inflation[8:30] AP classes offer a huge bump to GPA, even when students don't end up sitting for the test[12:43] How inflation compresses the grading scale[15:43] How a ranking percentile system to communicate to parents where grade inflation is affecting the individual school profile would be helpful[17:46] Phenomenal test scores are often not enough to balance out a less-than-stellar GPA[20:39] Students should always test, even for test-optional programs[23:10] Covid learning loss has led to significantly lower average ACT & SAT scores

Nearly 20 years ago, colleges asked for standardized essay sections on admissions tests because applicants arrived on campus with deficient writing skills. Yet today, when very few schools want to see essay scores, do those test sections still have value? Amy and Mike invited educator Brian Eufinger to explore potential advantages and opportunities in the ACT Writing Test. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the framework of the ACT Writing Test? What is the current state and usage of the ACT essay?  Why did the College Board eliminate their essay, but ACT kept theirs?  What might the future hold for the ACT Writing Test?  Can students benefit from strong ACT Writing scores? MEET OUR GUEST Brian Eufinger graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2004. While an undergrad, he enjoyed working as a teaching assistant for Political Science 101, a resident advisor (RA) and as a volunteer paramedic with WashU's Emergency Support Team. Brian is frequently invited to speak about test prep, college admissions, and scholarships at PTSA meetings at Atlanta-area high schools as well as Edison Prep's free parent meetings. Brian serves on the Board of the National Test Prep Association. He is an active member of Washington University's Young Alumni chapter in Atlanta, as well as the WashU Alumni Admissions Interviewer Program. Brian was our guest to discuss THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION (#28) and SELF-PREP FOR THE SAT & ACT (#131). He also facilitated our 2019-20 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW (#100). Find Brian at https://www.edisonprep.com/ LINKS Ebbing Interest in Test Essays Should I Take The ACT With Writing? ACT Profile Report - National Preparing For The ACT Writing RELATED EPISODES WHAT SAT & ACT DIAGNOSTIC TESTS CAN TELL YOU HOW COLLEGE BOARD AND ACT ARE CHANGING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAT AND ACT GRAMMAR ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

In this rewind episode we ask the all important question: is frugality your Achilles heel? Specifically, are we not paying enough attention to the top line and trying to save our way to wealth? Brian Eufinger, Amanda Abella, And Veena Jetti join us to discuss the importance of making more money when it comes to your financial trajectory.

What are your options for to prepare for the SAT and ACT? What are the different approaches companies take to creating their programs? What should you look for in finding a test prep partner? I sat down with two of the best test prep professionals in the country to get their perspective on the SAT, ACT, and college admissions as they are today. Brian Eufinger owns Edison Prep, based in Atlanta, GA, with his wife Silvia. Pranoy Mohaptra owns PM Tutoring, based in central New Jersey. Both also offer online tutoring. We talked about our different approaches to how we do this test prep thing and what it means for students.

Contrary to the allegations of critics, you cannot buy great test scores. In fact, a surprising number of students earn elite--and sometimes perfect--scores on their own. Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Brian Eufinger to analyze self-prep for the SAT & ACT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is it possible to self-prep and excel on the SAT and ACT? What kind of students self-prep effectively? What resources are available for students who want to prep on their own? What if a student is not capable of effective self-study? Is preparation really that important for the SAT and ACT? MEET OUR GUEST Brian Eufinger graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2004. While an undergrad, he enjoyed working as a teaching assistant for Political Science 101, a resident advisor (RA) and as a volunteer paramedic with WashU’s Emergency Support Team. Brian is frequently invited to speak about test prep, college admissions, and scholarships at PTSA meetings at Atlanta-area high schools as well as Edison Prep’s free parent meetings. He is an active member of Washington University’s Young Alumni chapter in Atlanta, as well as the WashU Alumni Admissions Interviewer Program. Brian was our guest to discuss THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION (#28) and facilitated our 2019-20 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW (#100). Find Brian at https://www.edisonprep.com/ LINKS One Secret to Seriously Strong Test Scores Historical ACT Percentiles for 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015 RELATED EPISODES WHY THE SAT AND ACT ARE AWESOME EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS AND TEST PREP THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The 2019-20 academic year will live on in infamy as one of the craziest years to rock secondary and higher education. Is it a coincidence that we started the Tests and the Rest podcast right when it began? Amy and Mike invited our friend Brian Eufinger to host our 2019-20 academic year in review.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What topics were expected to be a big deal during the 2019-20 academic year? What were the real stories? What did everyone learn over the course of the year? What does the future hold for higher education? What does the future hold for the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Brian Eufinger graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2004. While an undergrad, he enjoyed working as a teaching assistant for Political Science 101, a resident advisor (RA) and as a volunteer paramedic with WashU’s Emergency Support Team. He is an active member of Washington University’s Young Alumni chapter in Atlanta, as well as the WashU Alumni Admissions Interviewer Program. Brian is frequently invited to speak about test prep, college admissions, and scholarships at PTSA meetings at Atlanta-area high schools as well as Edison Prep’s free parent meetings. Find Brian at https://www.edisonprep.com/ LINKS Test Prep Tribe industry Facebook group Tests and the Rest Summer Summit 2020 Tests and the Rest Winter Test Prep Conference 2020 RELATED EPISODES THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION 2020 CHANGES IN ADMISSIONS RULES NEW OPTIONS FOR THE ACT ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

When do you begin to start saving for your kids' college education? Brian Eufinger, co-founder of Edison Prep, says it's sooner than you might realize. Looking for a physician mortgage loan expert in your state? Jonathan C. Brozeck of US Bank is licensed in all 50! Find him here: www.financialresidency.com/usbank

Graduating from college debt-free can accelerate the path to FI dramatically. Brian Eufinger and Seonwoo Lee share their best tips on hacking the FAFSA on today's episode. For more information, visit the show notes at https://choosefi.com/154

Panel Members: Amanda Abella, Veena Jetti, and Brian Eufinger. 

Earning straight A’s once signified levels of academic excellence and diligence unattainable by most students. Do these grades still mean as much when 40% or more of the class carries the same perfect average? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Brian Eufinger to explore the reality of grade inflation.   What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does it mean when more than half of students at a school have A averages? How common are C-level grades at public and private schools?  How can high school grade inflation harm a student’s college admissions process? What role do parents play in driving grade inflation? Why are standardized test scores essential in identifying grade inflation? MEET OUR GUEST Brian Eufinger graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2004. While an undergrad, he enjoyed working as a teaching assistant for Political Science 101, a resident advisor (RA) and as a volunteer paramedic with WashU's Emergency Support Team.  He is an active member of Washington University's Young Alumni chapter in Atlanta, as well as the WashU Alumni Admissions Interviewer Program. Brian is frequently invited to speak about test prep, college admissions, and scholarships at PTSA meetings at Atlanta-area high schools as well as Edison Prep's free parent meetings. Find Brian at https://www.edisonprep.com/ LINKS When your GPA doesn't equal your GPA Does an “A” mean anything anymore? Investigating the School-Level Relationship Between ACT Scores and High School GPA Do No-Zero Policies Help or Hurt Students? Why we need norm-referenced tests ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

In this episode, the guys talk with Brian Eufinger, the co-founder of Edison Prep, a test prep and tutoring firm. 

  Brian Eufinger, co-founder of Edison Prep talks about the college admissions process and financial implications involved in the college selection process. He explains how students should approach the process to give themselves the best financial and career situations both in the near term and long term.    Take away: Have conversations about the cost and choice of college.   Action step: Parents of sophomores should have their kids take a timed test at the end of the school year. For younger kids make sure they are on the right math track.   Money Learnings: Brian didn't have a formal financial education. He was told take a great financial class in college that helped him get on a good financial track. Brian had a entrepreneurial spirit as young kid.   Bio: Brian and Silvia Eufinger run a two-person ACT tutoring company in Georgia called Edison Prep. They teach full-time and have tutored over 13,000 students and over 40,000 hours. They still take both SATs and ACTs each year to stay current. Brian has the only back-to-back-to-back perfect scores in the history of the ACT test.   Highlights from this episode: Episode Page   Brian's goal was to have financial success without having to give up all his time.  "No purchase feels as good as early retirement."  The significance of a higher standardized college test score. Picking the right person to help you improve.  Picking the right test for your student.  When to start studying for the test. Why Brian chooses not to scale his business.   How to find a good test tutor. Do you need a college councilor? Does the college you are applying to, know who you are? Is early decision a good choice? Are the scholarships stack able? The importance of GPA and test scores. The power of a good essay.  https://apply.jhu.edu/application-process/essays-that-worked/ Make friends with the admission councilor. Google: "college name" common data  Importance of GPA, and grade inflation. University of Alabama merit aid:  https://scholarships.ua.edu/types/in-state.php Listen to your kids! How important is sports for college? http://www.thecollegesolution.com/ The importance to taking ACT / SAT at the end of sophomore year.   Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/edisonprep Website: www.edisonprep.com Blog: www.edisonprep.com/pages/blog.html Instagram: www.instagram.com/edisonpreptutoring/   Richer Soul Life Beyond Money. You got rich, now what? Let's talk about your journey to more a purposeful, intentional, amazing life. Where are you going to go and how are you going to get there? Let's figure that out together. At the core is the financial well being to be able to do what you want, when you want, how you want. It's about personal freedom! Thanks for listening! If you like the show please leave a review on iTunes: http://bit.do/richersoul https://www.facebook.com/richersoul http://richersoul.com/ rocky@richersoul.com Any financial advice is for educational purposes only and you should consult with an expert for your specific needs.

114R | Brian Eufinger returns to fill the gaps and address questions from the community about PSATs and National Merit Scholars, Brad and Jonathan discuss the benefits of creating a college-hacking strategy early, and the ChooseFI community responds to Monday’s episode. Financial independence is generally about knowing the rules and making decisions according to what you value in life. Many colleges use an equation to award merit aid --> a specific GPA + a specific test scores = a certain amount of merit aid. With a better strategy to studying for the SAT or ACT, even a small bump could save someone tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Is it better to get a summer job, or spend the summer studying for the SAT/ACT? With the Common Application, it’s beneficial to apply to a few extra schools because the merit aid packages available are hugely varied. Just being aware of the rules gives you the best opportunities to succeed, and to opens up as many options as possible. How has Brad’s mindset toward paying for college changed during the past two years of ChooseFI interviews? A message from Paul in the Facebook group, who appreciated that Brian presented college scholarships with a realistic perspective about the challenges. A comment from Rayanne, who shares the process her daughter is navigating as a graduating senior in California, looking for the best scholarship opportunities. Lynn is grateful for Brian’s realistic suggestion that students don’t start studying for the SAT until the end of their sophomore year; in New Jersey even sixth graders are being asked to consider future standardized tests. Julie messaged to remind parents that students should also study for the PSAT, as the PSAT is what determines a student’s National Merit standing. Brian Eufinger, from Monday’s episode, returns to talk about the PSAT and National Merit Scholars: CLEP credits and dual enrollment are good options for high school and current college students. Academic Common Market – in some states, students can pay in-state costs at an out-of-state school if they’re majoring in a subject unavailable in-state. Making a college-transfer strategy early will help students transfer from a community college to a four-year institution without any hiccups. “There’s no greater financial aid than finishing in four years.” Bringing AP credits into college gives a student more flexibility to change majors, study abroad, work internships or co-ops, or study for post-grad tests. In rural areas that don’t offer as many AP courses, many states offer online AP courses. The reward for being a National Merit Scholar varies widely between universities, but can be as much as a full ride, books, etc. PSAT is offered in sophomore and junior year. If your sophomore student scores higher than 1300 on a PSAT, it’s a disservice to not study for the PSAT in their junior year. Only 50,000 students get National Merit status: Top 16,000 students are awarded “semi-finalist” status Next 34,000 get “commended” status Many campuses offer cash for participating in graduate research projects. Being a Resident Advisor (RA) at most schools earns you free room and board, which can be as much as $20k a year. Becoming an RA is typically competitive, so start planning your application earlier. Being an RA is potentially the biggest scholarship you can get. The financial independence group in Scandinavia just surpassed 1,000 members. The Houston ChooseFI Local Group is hosting Alan Donegan from the Pop Up Business School, along with the San Diego and Los Angeles local groups. Jonathan will join the Washington, D.C., Local Group for a meet up soon.   For more information, visit the show notes at https://ChooseFI.com/114R 

114 | Brian Eufinger, co-founder of Edison Prep, dives deep into the college admissions process and explains how a student should approach grades and test scores to give themselves the best college options, and how to pay for college without collecting a huge student loan debt.   Most merit aid that students earn comes directly from the university. Brian attended Washington University in St. Louis, earning about 2/3 merit scholarship and pieced together other scholarships and on-campus jobs to pay for his education. Many states or schools give merit scholarships for students who earn high test scores and high grades. Brian is surprised by the vast differences in aid packages among schools with similar academic profiles. Many schools will offer a few high school classes in the 8th grade year. Brian’s advice for helping students get into the best college and find the best merit aid is to sign up for challenging classes, starting in middle school if you can, earn the highest GPA possible, and find a few extracurricular activities you are passionate about. A super high SAT score will not offset a bad GPA; you can repeat a test, but not a class from 9th grade. The Common Application has made it more difficult for universities to evaluate an overwhelming number of applications, which is why a students’ numbers are so important when admissions officers are making initial evaluations. Grade inflation makes it difficult to understand GPAs; your student just needs to stand out among their school peers. Earning a “C” in their junior years is one of the bigger mistakes a student can make. The No. 1 academic risk for high school students is over committing to extracurricular activities, including sports, when they should be focusing on academics. Division I schools are able to give out athletic scholarships, while Division 3 schools typically don’t offer athletic aid. However, there are still options for earning scholarships at Division 3 schools for student-athletes. Merit aid is based on evaluation of your grades, test scores, application, etc. Need-based financial aid is based on perceived financial need. Students don't need 1,000 hours to study for SAT/ACT tests; if they treated tests like a sport for one season, they would have all the hours they need. The perfect time to start studying is after sophomore year, before junior year is complete. Sophomores should make sure to take a full-length practice test, created by the actual test makers, to determine whether they’ll be more successful on the ACT or SAT. It’s better to focus on one test than to try to be good at two. Practice is crucial. The best calculator for these tests is the TI-84 Plus CE, followed by a TI-84 and TI-83. It’s best to find a local tutoring company, with a small number of employees, that hires full-time professional tutors.   For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.choosefi.com/114