Podcasts about kaplan test prep

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.

This Day in Legal History: The Trial of GalileoOn April 12, 1633, a pivotal moment in the annals of legal and scientific history unfolded as Galileo Galilei faced the Roman Catholic Church's formal inquisition on charges of heresy. This trial was not merely a religious condemnation but a significant clash between emerging scientific ideas and established ecclesiastical doctrine. Galileo, by advocating the heliocentric theory that posited the sun at the center of the universe—a view first propagated by Copernicus—directly challenged the Church's geocentric model, which placed Earth and, by extension, humanity, at the cosmos' core.The inquisition's core accusation was that Galileo held "as true the false doctrine taught by some that the sun is the center of the world," in stark contradiction to the theological view that emphasized Earth's central position. This confrontation was not just about celestial mechanics; it was fundamentally about the authority to define truth. The trial, therefore, was as much a legal battle over doctrinal correctness as it was a referendum on intellectual freedom and the role of evidence in shaping belief.Found "vehemently suspect of heresy," Galileo's conviction was a foregone conclusion given the Church's powerful influence over societal norms and scientific discourse at the time. His sentence to life imprisonment was a stark message to the intellectual community about the limits of inquiry. However, perhaps recognizing the harshness of this penalty or the potential for backlash, his punishment was later commuted to house arrest.During his house arrest, Galileo continued his scientific work, demonstrating a resilience and commitment to knowledge that would posthumously vindicate his theories. It wasn't until centuries later, however, that the Church would formally acknowledge the error in its judgment against Galileo. In 1992, Pope John Paul II officially conceded that the Church had erred in condemning Galileo's support for heliocentric theories.This episode serves as a critical reflection point on the interplay between law, power, and knowledge. Galileo's trial underscores the dangers of legal systems enmeshed with doctrinal control and highlights the enduring struggle between innovation and orthodoxy. It remains a poignant example of the need for legal frameworks that protect and promote intellectual freedom, emphasizing that the pursuit of truth should guide both scientific inquiry and legal principles.The $20 billion allocated from the White House to fight climate change through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund aims to enhance the nation's clean financing capabilities while managing financial risks carefully. This fund is intended to catalyze up to $150 billion in private investments for clean energy projects and other initiatives to decarbonize the economy, prioritizing both greenhouse gas reduction and benefits to disadvantaged communities. However, these investments carry inherent risks, which have garnered scrutiny from congressional Republicans, who are vigilant for any signs of failure or financial missteps to politicize the issue.Sophie Purdom from Planeteer Capital notes the low threshold for political controversy, even if only a few investments do not perform as expected. Meanwhile, Beth Bafford of the Climate United Fund, which received the largest grant, emphasizes her organization's long-standing expertise in distinguishing between real and perceived risks and structuring financial transactions accordingly. This approach is aimed at enabling aggressive action towards achieving net zero emissions without jeopardizing financial sustainability.The discussion extends beyond financial returns, highlighting the potential for broader economic benefits, especially in underserved communities. For instance, investments are planned in areas like on-site solar, building decarbonization, and bringing electric vehicles to disadvantaged areas. The Climate United Fund alone plans to deploy significant capital towards these ends, leveraging their extensive experience in financing similar projects.Comparisons are drawn with other federal initiatives like the Paycheck Protection Program, where community development financial institutions played a crucial role with minimal risk of loss, suggesting a blueprint for successful deployment of the climate funds. Despite concerns about fraud which affected previous federal programs, advocates like Jessie Buendia from Dream.org suggest bolstering EPA staffing and education on using blended capital to mitigate risks and maximize the impact of investments.The political landscape remains contentious, with Republicans actively opposing the fund, citing concerns over waste and the influence of foreign supply chains. Yet, there is a call for bipartisan support to foster clean, thriving communities across all states, pointing towards a need for collaborative efforts between the government and the private sector for transformative market changes.Climate Lenders With $20 Billion in Grants Weigh Risk and RewardWinston & Strawn emerged as the top legal biller for the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), which significantly reduced its legal expenses to $1.7 million in 2023 after finalizing a new collective bargaining agreement. This figure marks a substantial decrease from the $3.7 million spent in the previous year during intense negotiations following a three-month league lockout. The legal fees covered a range of services, with Winston earning approximately $264,000 for salary arbitration work, signaling its longstanding role as a key advisor to the MLBPA.Following Winston in billing were several other prominent firms, including Latham & Watkins and Boston-based Hemenway & Barnes, with respective payments of $176,000 and $147,000. Additional significant contributions came from Weil, Gotshal & Manges and Sidley Austin, highlighting the diverse array of legal expertise enlisted by the MLBPA.The reduction in legal costs coincided with a major expansion of the MLBPA, which saw its membership grow from 1,200 to about 6,000 as minor league players were incorporated. This expansion suggests a broadening of the union's scope and responsibilities, potentially influencing its legal and operational strategies.Internally, the MLBPA faced discontent from some players critical of the union's direction and leadership under Executive Director Tony Clark and Chief Labor Negotiator Bruce Meyer. Clark's compensation nearly doubled over the past year, which, coupled with the union's strategic decisions, has fueled some unrest among members.The legal team at the MLBPA also saw changes, with significant salaries for roles such as the new general counsel and other senior positions, reflecting the union's complex legal and operational environment. Moreover, the MLBPA engaged other legal and advisory services, including risk analysis and lobbying efforts, to support its broadening agenda.Overall, the MLBPA's legal expenditures reflect its strategic navigation through labor negotiations, membership expansion, and internal challenges. The focus on managing both high-profile and routine legal matters underscores the critical role of legal counsel in supporting the union's evolving needs and ambitions in the dynamic landscape of professional sports.Winston, Latham Top Big Law Billers for Fractious Baseball UnionThe influence of U.S. News & World Report's law school rankings appears to be diminishing, evidenced by a significant decrease in web traffic for leaks of the rankings and a widespread boycott by law schools. Mike Spivey, a law school admissions consultant, noted a 50% drop in traffic when he published the top 25 law schools a week ahead of U.S. News' official release. This decline in interest is linked to recent controversies, including data errors in the previous year's rankings and a boycott that started in 2022, with 53 out of 197 American Bar Association-accredited schools refusing to submit data.Despite these challenges, the rankings still generate considerable attention, as noted by Staci Zaretsky from Above the Law, although the level of interest has waned compared to past years. A survey conducted by Kaplan Test Prep revealed mixed sentiments among law school admissions officers regarding the prestige of the rankings, with a majority acknowledging a loss in prestige over recent years.U.S. News has responded by adjusting its ranking methodology to de-emphasize LSAT scores and grades in favor of employment outcomes and bar pass rates. This change reflects broader concerns within the legal academy about the impact of ranking methodologies on financial aid distribution and academic priorities.The discussion around the rankings highlights a shift in priorities among law school applicants, with more emphasis being placed on employment outcomes rather than ranking positions. Spivey's own firm, which conducts rankings analysis, benefits from the ongoing relevance of the rankings, yet he advocates for greater transparency and meaningfulness in how the rankings are formulated and presented. This evolving perspective among stakeholders suggests that while the U.S. News rankings continue to influence applicant decisions to some extent, their dominance and credibility are increasingly being questioned within the legal education community.After setbacks, U.S. News law school rankings show signs of waning influence | ReutersEpic Games has called for significant reforms to Google's Play Store, following a jury's decision that Google had abused its dominant position in the Android app market. In a recent court filing, Epic suggested that the Play Store should allow third-party app stores and limit Google's agreements with device makers that prevent the preloading of alternative stores. These recommendations were part of a proposed injunction submitted to U.S. District Judge James Donato in San Francisco, who oversaw the antitrust trial concluding with a verdict against Google in December.Epic's proposal does not seek monetary damages but aims to alter Google's practices to foster greater competition. Specifically, Epic wants to prohibit Google from restricting how apps inform users about purchasing options outside of the Google Play Store. This move is part of a broader challenge against major tech companies' control over app distribution and transaction processes.While Google has denied any wrongdoing and defended its app store policies, it has been compelled to make concessions in the face of legal pressures. In December, alongside the jury verdict, Google agreed to a $700 million settlement addressing allegations related to its Play Store restrictions. Moreover, Google introduced "choice billing" as an alternative for in-app purchases in the U.S., allowing developers more flexibility.The case against Google could extend for years, especially as Google plans to appeal the December verdict and potentially challenge any reforms mandated by Judge Donato. This legal battle mirrors a similar ongoing dispute between Epic Games and Apple, emphasizing Epic's broader strategy to challenge the app distribution monopolies held by tech giants. The outcomes of these cases could have significant implications for the app development industry and consumer choice in digital marketplaces.Epic Games proposes Google app store reforms after antitrust win | ReutersThis week's closing theme is by Ludwig van Beethoven.Ludwig van Beethoven, born in 1770 in Bonn, Germany, stands as a monumental figure in the history of Western music. His works span the transition from the Classical period to the Romantic era in music and continue to be revered for their depth and innovative qualities. Beethoven was a virtuosic pianist and composer who was known for his profound ability to convey emotion and intellectual depth through his compositions. Despite suffering from progressive hearing loss that eventually led to complete deafness, Beethoven's relentless dedication to music allowed him to compose some of the most celebrated pieces of all time.Among his extensive body of works, Beethoven's symphonies particularly stand out, with each contributing uniquely to the evolution of the genre. His Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68, known as the "Pastoral Symphony," is an exemplary piece that depicts the composer's love for nature. Unlike many of his other symphonies, which are driven by dramatic heroism, the Pastoral Symphony is filled with warmth and expressions of the joy and peace Beethoven found in the countryside. This symphony is programmatic, meaning it intentionally evokes scenes or nature images, showcasing Beethoven's deep reverence for the natural world.The "Pastoral Symphony" is divided into five movements, each describing a different element of rural life. Of particular note is the first movement, marked "Allegro ma non troppo," which translates to "Lively, but not too much." This movement, titled "Awakening of cheerful feelings on arrival in the countryside," beautifully sets the stage for a symphonic expression of a day in the countryside. It starts with a leisurely pace that suggests the gentle unfolding of a landscape bathed in the rejuvenating light of spring. The melody is simple yet expressive, with flowing lines that mimic the tranquility of nature, perfectly capturing the essence of spring's awakening.In this movement, Beethoven uses a sonata form to explore musical themes that suggest the freshness of the season, the rustling of leaves, and the bubbling of streams. The development section weaves these elements together, creating a rich tapestry of sound that feels both vivid and idyllic. This movement not only sets the tone for the entire symphony but also offers listeners a sonic escape into the peacefulness and renewal that characterizes spring. Through the "Pastoral Symphony," particularly in the allegro of the first movement, Beethoven invites us to share in his reverence for nature and experience the restorative powers of the natural world.Without further ado, Ludwig van Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony, Allegro movement. Get full access to Minimum Competence - Daily Legal News Podcast at www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Show Summary Would you like to hear insight based on decades of experience, both advising applicants to a variety of healthcare programs and working in admissions offices for, again, many different healthcare programs? Well, today's episode is the ticket for you. Dr. Emil Chuck, Director of Advising Services for the Health Professional Student Association is our guest. He discusses the admissions process for healthcare programs. He shares his recommendation for networking, shadowing, and journaling as ways for applicants to gain insight into the healthcare field and develop critical thinking skills. He advises applicants to consider the mission and values of each school they apply to and to choose schools that align with their own goals and values. Dr. Chuck also emphasizes the importance of submitting applications early and being mindful of deadlines. He provides information about the Health Professional Student Association (HPSA) and Student Doctor Network (SDN) resources for applicants. Show Notes Welcome to the 561st episode of Admissions Straight Talk. Thanks for joining me. Do you know how to get accepted to medical school? Accepted does, and we share that knowledge and insight in our free guide, Med School Admissions: What You Need to Know to Get Accepted. Download your free copy at accepted.com/561download.  I'm thrilled to introduce our guest, Dr. Emil Chuck. He is the Director of Advising Services for the Health Professional Student Association, which among other services and assets host the Student Doctor Network, a major resource for applicants to and students in the healthcare fields. Dr. Chuck earned his Bachelor's of Science in Engineering in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University and his PhD in Cell Biology from Case Western Reserve University. He began his career in research, but then moved into higher ed and admissions. Serving at different times student advisor and test prep teacher for Kaplan Test Prep, founding health Professionals Student Advisor for 5 years at George Mason University, Director of Admissions at Case Western's School of Dental Medicine, admissions consultant for the ADEA, Director of Admissions and Recruitment at Rosalind Franklin University, and for the last two years as Director of Advising Services at the Health Professional Student Association or HPSA. On SDN's forums he is known as the prolific, helpful, and extremely knowledgeable Mr.Smile12. In addition, he has also served in numerous volunteer roles for professional organizations. Dr. Chuck, welcome to Admissions Straight Talk. [2:29] Linda, it's a great pleasure to be part of your podcast and thank you so much for inviting me. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Let's start with some really easy questions: your background, where you grew up, and how on earth you got interested in admissions from biomedical engineering. [2:39] I guess the stuff that's not on LinkedIn certainly is the earlier background about me. I'm proud to say that I'm a first-generation student. My parents immigrated from Hong Kong a couple of years before I was born. And so of all the places in the entire world where I guess in the United States where I would be born and raised for about 17 of my years before going to Duke was Shreveport, Louisiana, that's northwest Louisiana, not anywhere near New Orleans to just make sure people know. And basically I grew up in that city, that little small town in northwest Louisiana and now apparently the home district to our current speaker of the house. It's a little bit of a trivia note. I don't know him. That's one of the little known facts in terms of how it shaped my worldview one way or another.  Obviously at the period of time when I was growing up, I was involved in a lot of research type projects and did science fairs, was involved in medical research at the medical school over there at LSU Shreveport before moving on to ultimately apply to all the various scho...

An employee upskilling strategy is imperative if you want to attract and retain top talent. Just ask the Fortune 1000 companies - they're realizing that connecting their employees with opportunities to learn new skills and advance their careers should be part of their recruiting, retention and talent pipeline strategies. However, there are several challenges to consider. That's why we've called in Megan O'Connor, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Chegg Skills. Highlights [1:29] Skilling, reskilling and upskilling [5:05] Education as a retention strategy [8:14] Getting started with a skilling strategy [10:36] Managers' roles in skilling strategy [18:12] DEI, skilling and upskilling [20:02] Attracting diverse talent [22:14] Certificate programs vs. college degrees [27:34] Biggest challenges to learning and development today [31:29] Initiating skilling and upskilling [35:40] Things to be mindful of when rolling out a training program Guest Bio Megan O'Connor, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Chegg Skills The head of strategic partnerships at Chegg Skills, Megan O'Connor is focused on expanding Chegg's footprint in the skills education and professional certification space. Prior to Chegg, Megan was an entrepreneur-in-residence at Kaplan Test Prep and the founder and CEO of Clark. Prior to its acquisition by Noodle, Clark was funded by leading venture investors, including Lightspeed Venture Partners.  Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganmoconnor/ https://www.chegg.com/skills/ https://www.jff.org/ https://www.hrmorning.com/news/how-ai-is-threatening-new-grads/ https://www.hrmorning.com/articles/5-reasons-lms-platforms/ https://www.hrmorning.com/articles/6-key-features-learning-development/ Berta Aldrich's best selling book, Winning the Talent Shift, is available on Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/iS7MuPJ⁠⁠⁠⁠ We want to hear from you. Leave a review (5-Star would be nice!) on Apple Podcasts and add your question in the comment. We read every review and use them to choose topics, guests, and interview questions for the podcast. You can also reach out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@hrmorning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you love this show, please share your favorite episodes with colleagues and on social media. We greatly appreciate your support. Thank you for listening. Remember to subscribe and follow us so you never miss an episode!  Voices of HR is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HRMorning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The United States Navy is the largest and most powerful navy in the world. The U.S. Navy trains and organizes to supply combat ready Naval forces to win wars when necessary, and also maintain security and restriction to protect our country.  If you have ever wondered whether it is possible to be in the navy and remain an orthodox person, you will get the answers from today's guest.  Baila Sebrow, producer and host of The Definitive Rap sat down with Eric Gutman, a military veteran. Eric began his scientific career as a research assistant for NASA at the age of 17. By age 21, he was a research scholar at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a nuclear weapons lab in northern California, and subsequently he received his undergraduate degree in Applied Physics from Columbia University with concentrations in optics/lasers and nuclear physics. After working as a geophysicist in the oil industry, Eric received his graduate degree in Physics from the University of Chicago, where he specialized in relativity and cosmology, and as a graduate researcher at the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, theoretically predicted interactions between ordinary and dark matter.
Upon receiving his honorable discharge from the United States Navy, Eric joined the faculty of Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, and soon became one of the company's most popular instructors in Chicago. Kaplan students would later rank Eric higher than any other GRE/SAT faculty member in the entire New York-Washington, D.C. region, a position he would hold until leaving the company to found The Best Test Prep. Eric was the lead writer of a GRE course for one of the country's largest test preparation companies, recently authored a second GRE course for The Best Test Prep, and continues to provide instruction for the SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. Around his busy schedule of serving as The Best Test Prep's chief executive officer, Eric is an active member of Mensa and the Columbia University Alumni Representative Committee, for which he interviews students (not his own) for admission to Columbia. Eric talked about why he joined the navy, and the most contributing factor in that decision.  He spoke about domestic terrorism, and how long did he served, as well as what was going on during that time in the world.  Eric talked about his family, and the qualifications to join the navy, and the best part of being in the navy.  He discussed his experience being orthodox, kosher food, davening, etc. while serving, and how his training in the U.S, Navy influenced his current career with both adolescents and adults. Eric shed some light on why he thinks we are seeing an increase in adolescent and young adult crime, particularly school shootings.  *Listen To This Interview

This Episode is Sponsored by: Dandy | The Fully Digital, US-based Dental Lab‍For a completely FREE 3Shape Trios 3 scanner & $250 in lab credit click here: https://www.meetdandy.com/affiliate/tdm !‍‍Guest: Mary PhamPractice Name: Lollipop DentalCheck out Mary's Media:‍Website: https://lollipopdental.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lollipop-pediatric-dentistryLollipop Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lollipopdental/?hl=enSweet Smiles Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetsmilesortho/?hl=enWomen Dentist Entrepreneur (WDE) Facebook Page: https://m.facebook.com/groups/379332796353702/Email: drmary@lollipopdental.com‍‍Other Mentions and Links:HootersKaplan Test PrepDAT - Dental Admission TestDentistry of USCDr. Gardner BealeUniversity of ChicagoLake Forest Lollipop DentalIn-N-Out BurgerBill GatesYelpDEO Mastermind GroupDenti-Cal‍‍Host: Michael Arias‍Website: The Dental Marketer Join my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/‍Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer Society‍‍My Key Takeaways:Your goals and vision may shift over time! Take this into account when making decisions.Your first 2 practices may get by without systematization, but this is essential when jumping to 3+ practices!You do not have to be a boutique fee for service practice to be profitable.When talking to patients, never come across as judgmental or condescending. Always talk to them like you would your bestie.If the teammate you let go is surprised, you may need to improve your performance checkup process.One person can manage five to seven people effectively. Much more than that and you need to hire!‍Please don't forget to share with us on Instagram when you are listening to the podcast AND if you are really wanting to show us love, then please leave a 5 star review on iTunes! [Click here to leave a review on iTunes]‍p.s. Some links are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. Please understand that we have experience with these products/ company, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make if you decide to buy something. Please do not spend any money unless you feel you need them or that they will help you with your goals.This Episode is Sponsored by: Dandy | The Fully Digital, US-based Dental Lab‍For a completely FREE 3Shape Trios 3 scanner & $250 in lab credit click here: https://www.meetdandy.com/affiliate/tdm !‍Thank you for supporting the podcast by checking out our sponsors!‍Episode Transcript (Auto-Generated - Please Excuse Errors)Michael: Mary, how's it going? Mary: Everything is going great, Michael. Thank you for having Michael: me. No, thank you for being on. If you don't mind me asking, I know you told me before we started recording, but where are you located? Mary: We are in Orange County, California.Our offices are in Orange County and Los Angeles County. Actually, we're we're expanding a little bit. Michael: Really? Why Los Angeles? Mary: It's still within driving distance to Orange County. So currently with our offices, we still like to be really present in them, at least visit them once a month or so, and mm-hmm.Now we just wanna drive, make it like a 30, 45 minute drive and, um, and we have patients that live in LA County that want us there. So we decided to serve our patients. Michael: What, how many practices do you Mary: could have? So we have seven currently. And, um, I think we're gonna just keep going. We're having fun doing it.So, Michael: uh, you make it sound like so, so funny, like, you know, let's just keep going and build. And so before we dive into that, tell us a little bit about your past, present. How'd you get to where you are today? Mary: Initially, I actually didn't think I was gonna be a dentist. Mm-hmm. I, I wanted to be an ob gyn.My parents were like the typical Asian tiger parents and wanted everyone to be a doctor. So I applied to med school. I was a med school reject, and um, I moved to Houston, Texas against my parents' wishes and became a Hooters girl. So I loved, so I worked there and then I met a dentist actually at the end of my shift.And she came in, she had some chicken wings and we were just chatting and she was like, you should really consider dental school. And then I was like, nah, I don't wanna be a dentist. I don't wanna be in people's mouth all day. But then she, she was like, all you have to do is take the d a t, see how you do and it'll just open more doors for you, so you should try it out.Mm-hmm. So I took the, I decided to focus, I took this KAPLAN course and I took the d a t and I did acceptable enough to get into U S C dental school, and I guess that paved the way for me and dentistry. And so, um, went to dental school not knowing much about dentistry at. And, um, I did pretty well in dental school, to where one of my mentors, Dr.Gardner Beal, um, he encouraged me to pursue pediatric dentistry because he saw during my pediatric rotation that he's like, oh, Mary, you're really, really good with kids. You should consider pe. And I was like, nah, I'm ready to start working. Make some money. So, you know, start my career. And he is like, well, let's just, you know, pr be a part of the pediatric selective and just, you know, you'll have fun.You, um, you really seem like you like it. And he encouraged me to apply to pediatrics. And then I got into pediatrics at the University of Illinois and Chicago and I finished my residency. me and my husband got married. He's an orthodontist and he decided to, Settle in Orange County, and that's how we ended up here.and of course, because he's an orthodontist, he's like, I want my pediatric dentist wife to refer me all the patients, so I never have to do any marketing ever again. So, within the year I just opened a startup. and it was just like, luck, you know, we, we thought we were gonna open in this city. It didn't work out.At the time, you're very discouraged because you're looking at all of these locations that you think you wanna work in. However, everything doesn't align the way that you, thought that it would. And so, um, we ended up finding our first location in placenta. The contractor was, you know, who we're still there today and he owns the building and he's like, you know what, Mary?Like this is the last suite in this building. I'll pay for everything. I'll pay for to build it out. I'll pay for whatever you need. So you just put the equipment in and it's yours. And so I. And I didn't have much of a startup cost there except for the equipment and a little bit of upgrades and it costs.But besides that, I was really fortunate in that I found them. And so, um, from there, we, I would say within the first three years we became busy, you know, um, our model is, Give everyone a reason to smile. And what we mean by that is everyone, no matter what type of insurance you have, no matter what your socioeconomic status is, we think that every child deserves quality, specialty, dental care, if the parents choose that, so, You know, we're not picky with being like a fee for service or a PPL only.We cater to everyone with the best technology and with specialty care. And so that has just been our business model. And when we realized that we're able to become profitable while seeing all different types of payers, It really became something that we loved. You know, like I didn't wanna just serve fee for service patients.You know, like, how could I develop this business model that can be profitable, but, and also doing what I love, so, That was really fulfilling. and then we started growing really fast to where we decided to open in different locations where our patients were asking us. So we just opened our Lake Forest location a couple of months ago, and I would say 80% of the patients that come through are, were our patients that visited another location.Moved to South Orange County to where they're like, oh my gosh, we're so glad you're here. And I'm like, you spoke, we listened. You said you guys need an open one in South Orange County. So here we are. so that's kind of where we are today. and it's still a really fun ride. You know, I think when people start to scale by the second or third location, they.Start to get stressed out. Like what worked at one location doesn't always work with two, and what works at two doesn't always work with three. But once you get to three or four and you've systemized a lot of things, it really helps with scaling. And so, um, and so yeah, it's a, it's a fun time for us and, and it also scaling allows your team to have growth opportunities.You know, like if you're in a single location, then you might just be a dental assistant, maybe like a lead. But then where is it? Where else can you go right from there if you stay there? So, My goal has changed from opening one practice to how many more lives can I change? Not only patients, but my team.How can I continue allowing them to grow as we grow because they have been with me for so long. Right? And you just wanna see people succeed. So it's fun. I love it. Michael: Nice. That's a a lot. Uh, you going? That was a little, it's fantastic. It's fantastic. Real quick, where in Houston were. Mary: I was, I lived in Pasadena, but the Hooters that I worked at was off the, off of Kirby.Michael: Okay. Okay. Nice. Yeah. Pasadena over there is different than Pasadena in here, right? Yes. It's very different. Yeah. That's nice. Okay, so then it's interesting you said no twice, right? You're like not a dental school and then NAD to pediatrics, but you went that way, right? Why? Why do you think that? Mary: I think part of it was one, it would make my parents proud that even though I wasn't a doctor, I was some sort of professional.so that was one. And then two, I think that I wanted to push myself into a better opportunity, right? Like I, I actually used to do nails. My parents owned several nail shops growing up, and one thing my mom always told me was, no matter what the skill. You can always learn more, and that'll just make you a better person, you know?Mm-hmm. So like I still have my manicuring license, even though I don't use it, I still renew it every year. Yeah. And it's like, it's fun, right? It's like you, it's a skill that you've acquired, that you've learned, and you're licensed to do it, and it's only good for you to learn to do a lot of different things.So, Dentistry. I don't practice behind the chair as much. Maybe once or twice a month when I'm filling in for my doctors who are on vacation. But, um, but I did it for 12 years, you know, and I really loved it. I feel like I became very good at not only clinical dentistry, but catering to patients needs. And now I have my second calling, which is developing people.Mm-hmm. And continuing to build my company. Uh, you know, affect as many lives as I can in a positive way. Yeah. Michael: No, that's, that's fantastic. Now, I know you kind of said like, now you accept anybody, right? Like, or not now, but like you've always accepted any kind of patient. Does that mean like Medi-Cal, any type of insurance?That doesn't matter. Mary: Exactly. So we are in network with almost every payer. The only ones that we are out of network with are the HMOs that require certain criteria that we think are unreasonable. Like for example, there's certain HMOs that say you have to try at the general dentist three times with failed appointments before we will pay for you to see a specialist, which I think is wrong because the general.Knows if the patient is able to tolerate treatment at a general dentist or if they need specialty care, why make them go three times before you'll refer them? Because by the time they get to us after the third time, they're so scared, you know? So those are the only insurance plans that we don't take are the ones that I just ag I don't agree with.They're pro protocol or their, their philosophy. Michael: Gotcha. Okay. And then you also mentioned that the, then the first three years, Of your startup, you became busy. Mm-hmm. So break it down to us. What were you doing? What didn't work? What worked? Mary: So initially I thought I wanted to be this boutique fee for service practice.Mm-hmm. I think that's the, picture that people paint, right? Mm-hmm. And so whenever I was a resident, we saw every payer type, mainly Medicaid. As a resident, and then when I went into private practice, I thought that I wanted to be this boutique p p O practice, but then I realized I wasn't fulfilled, I didn't see as many cavities or much extensive treatment.It was a slower pace. Um, which is okay, but I like being busy. You know, I worked at a nail shop for 15 years, right? So, I mean, you're seeing, you have a lot more interaction with people and so it, it, it's just a different type of practice. It's not right or wrong, but I think it's just like different dental practices in general, right?Some people like to sit and talk with their patients for a really long time, and some people thrive in a fast-paced environment where I like saying hi to five different people and. With kids in particular, they're very impatient. And when the kids are impatient, the parents are more impatient. Mm-hmm. So I like the fast paced type of environment.when I first started practicing, I worked out in Riverside County where it was like a hundred percent Medicaid. And so when I left that practice to open my own, a lot of the patients would come and see me at Lollipop, where our practice was in placenta and, um, At that time I didn't take Denal because I was like, well, you know, I don't know if I wanna open that door, but I'll still see them for free.So the social worker would bring them and I would still see them. And, um, I just wouldn't bill or wouldn't charge or anything like that. So then the social worker was like, Dr. Fam, like, we can help you. Why don't you just sign up so then you'll get paid for seeing. These patients that, that are driving an hour to two hours to come see you.And I'm like, all right, we can do that. So I called Medi-Cal and they said, you can, you can choose to see whichever patients you want, whether it's just kids under five special needs kids or whoever you can, you don't have to take every single person, right? You can just selectively decide like which patients you wanna see.And then I was like, yeah, I just wanna only see my patients. I don't wanna take any new patients, just the patients that I've followed for many. And so, um, so then we. Got slammed with patients cuz I couldn't say no to anyone. Mm-hmm. I mean, I had this, this thing where I'm only gonna see my patients and then hey, but I have a friend and then I, I'm telling everyone to come here and we love it here.And I was like, yes, yes. We'll see them, don't worry. Like, we'll take care of everybody. We can save the world. And so, um, so that's kind of how we got busy was because we were like, you know what, we're not gonna say no to any children that need specialty care. And we know we're the best, We're not gonna close our doors to anyone at all.You know, if we can help them, we will. Mm-hmm. And that's how we got from like, kind of like a boutique P p O type practice to where we are today. Michael: Gotcha. You're right, a hundred percent. So many times we're like, I wanna be a boutique then I only wanna have like work one to two clinical days. Right. Maybe good, good days.And then from that point on, have an associate be fee for service. Where does that come from? Why did you have that? Mary: You know, I can't, I can't put my finger on like one particular thing, but I just think people always Put Medicaid in like a negative connotation. Mm-hmm. Like, oh, it's like low reimbursement people cancel, the socioeconomic status and it's gonna run the fee for service patients out.You know? And then, so actually what I said was, you know what, like we're gonna be the in and out of pediatric dentistry no matter what your socioeconomic status is, whether. Bill Gates, if you like Inn out, you'll be there. Or whether you're a homeless person, you can still eat Inn Out or someone will buy you Inn out, right?And so, but there's no selectivity of who goes there. It's more of like, okay, if you like a good fresh burger, like it's affordable to everyone. So mm-hmm. That's, that's where I felt like, I don't know. I think just my heart is with children and I feel like I didn't go into pediatric dentistry to just. A fee for service type population.I went into pediatric dentistry to, to help the kids with the best level of care that need it the most. And if we could find a way to make it into a profitable business, then why? Why won't, why wouldn't you do that, right? Mm-hmm. Michael: Mary, when did that change then, for you, when you were like, okay, I, I did my startup, I wanted to be boutique, and then you.All right, now we're gonna be in and out. Like it felt like there was some part in your, in this moment, maybe it was before, I don't know. You honed in, you hyper-focused on exactly what you wanted to be do and things like that. when did that happen? The Mary: moment that I can think of is when I had a family actually that had like two or three adopted children that were under Medicaid, and then they had a couple biological children that were like ppo.And so, um, parents told me that they would always have to take the Dental Cal or the Medi-Cal kids somewhere else because there wasn't like a quality dental office that took everybody that was a specialist. And so at that time I was like, well, I don't want you to have to split up or like, feel like you're not getting that quality care.And, and that's the comments that we get is like, Oh, I've, I've never seen a Medicaid office look like this or provide this level of care. So I think there's a stigma with like Medicaid offices. Mm-hmm. Is that they're a rundown, or the technology's not there, or you're not getting the quality of care that you would get.But I think that we've changed that. You know, we're like, you know, no matter who you are, you're still gonna get the same level of quality. No matter if you're a Dcal patient or you're a cash patient, you're gonna get the same level of quality. There's no difference in. Service or procedure or products or materials that you get recommended, um, because of your payer status.And so I think knowing that you can serve everyone, um, and like I said, that one family was that one moment where I was like, oh man, I didn't realize that, you know, you had to kind of split up your family just because there wasn't one place that you could go that you were comfortable with. Michael: Mm-hmm. That's true.And I'm sure it means a lot for the child too, you know what I mean? And when looking back, maybe not in that moment, but like looking back, they're gonna, you know what I mean? Think about it and say, oh, we always had to go to like another practice that like real, they heard us, they did all this. Right. And my brother and sister, they went to the nice one, right?And things like that. And I wanted to go, but looking back, they'll, they'll realize that. But So then when it came to the Medi-Cal, do you feel like sometimes people, or Dentca, do you think sometimes people. Like, you know what Mary? Like, I, I wanna accept it. I do accept it in Medicare, but I just, I either have to see a ton of patience in order to make something and pay my team, and then I don't even have time to get, you know what I mean?What's the latest technology? Let's do an admin day. Let's figure things out. Let's make our mission, you know what I mean? Or is it the. Kind of the other way where it's like, Hey look, I don't wanna do that because I'm not gonna have the time for and the money to do what I wanna do with my practice. Mary: Right.I think everyone's goals are different. Right. like we talked about before, some doctors just like to sit and chat with their patients and for quite some time. I'm the type that delegates very well. So what I mean by that is, is my assistants are trained to do a lot of the anticipatory guidance in nutritional counseling.The oral hygiene instructions. Um, they spend 95% of the time with the patient. And so I'm just going in to diagnose, verify, and make treatment recommendations. So I allow my team to. Really develop that bond with the patient and be the main educator because they can tell them exactly the same thing that I tell them and it doesn't make a difference if it comes from me or from the assistant.And I feel like doing it that way empowers them too. Um, because I've hired some assistants who have worked for 10, 15 years, but they've never passed an instrument to the. Because they said that the doctor likes everything on their tray. Kind of like in dental school, we are the only, like, we are our own assistant, so you're used to working a certain way.And so I've had assistants that only hold the suction for doctor, and they've done that for 10 years. But when it comes to pre-op, post-op instructions, You know, getting everything ready, you know, informing the patient of all of these things. They've never done that because the doctor does all of that.So, you know, I think for us, we, the quality of the care that you're providing, but also the patient experience is very important. And so do I feel like the patient experience with my dental assistant doing a lot of the talking, communicating education, Am I still able to provide that with the same level of care as if I were to do it myself?And I do. You know, and I think that we, we have, we call like a Lollipop Dental Training Academy, where we actually go through training for every single person. And like their first week they're, it's customer service training. So they're learning how to talk, what type of energy they're gonna bring, and then they're learning all the verbiage when they come. Michael: Break that down to me. How does the Lollipop Dental Academy work? So the first week is customer service, and then every day you like, welcome, come on to the team. And how does it. Mary: Yeah, so after they do onboarding, the first week is, like I said, customer service training. It could be anything from learning all the education.There's a lot of role playing, so I'll just use a baby exam as an example. Like if you have a child and you bring the baby in for the first visit, there's a series of questions and recommendations. That are asked such as, does your child have any habits? What type of water are you drinking? And then depending on what the parent says, we make a recommendation on that.So we do a lot of role playing. So that way every assistant is trained on not only the guidelines, but also what to recommend and even how to respond if a patient says I wouldn't say the wrong thing, but let's just say if it's a, it's a bad habit. how to say that in a way that's not judgmental, you know?So like, Kind of like when you go to the dentist, right? And they say, are you flossing? And they just say, yeah, but they're not really flossing like they're supposed to, but they know that if they say no, there's gonna be a lecture. Mm-hmm. So there's never a lecture, there's never any judgment zone. Um, the way that we teach our team is, you know, treat them as if they're your bestie, bringing you their baby and you just wanna help them, right?So. Mm-hmm. Um, so yeah, customer service training, week two, we go into, I think certifications, um, expectations on quality. Hmm. So a lot of, you know, not every dental assistant, um, Corona Polish is the same, you know, some of them don't do it as thoroughly. So we do have like clinical excellence, expectations and it's graded, so then they'll get graded on the quality of each thing.And then I think each week they just progress in clinical skill. And then there are expectations of customer service each week as well. Meaning, did you get a Yelp review? Like week two? You should have two. Week three, you should have three Week four, you should have four that week. So they have those expectations.Two. Michael: Wow. Has it ever happened where it's like, Hey, it's week four. I I, I didn't get a Yelp four. You know what I mean? Like, are they just asking or how are they getting these? Mary: Yeah, they're just asking, you know, like there's ways that we ask and um, And their lead or their trainer will help them, because sometimes people are shy.But, but then you have to get them into that habit of, okay, this is the expectation that you have is you have to get four, but if you got one week one, then you know how to do it. Now you just gotta keep doing it. Um, so yeah, they ask. Michael: Gotcha. Uh, you mentioned that you have a way to ask how. Mary: I don't wanna tell you all my secrets, but, Michael: but we get it.You got, you got you, got you. Okay. No worries. Okay. That's interesting though. So then how long is that? When is the training process done? Mary: Normally it's week seven or week eight. All of the basics have been taught. then it's just repetition, right? Like if you're practicing, uh, space maintainers, then you.Have a certain level, um, before you get that signed off. And then once you, once clinically, you, the trainer feels like you are competent. It's like a competency in dental school. Like you keep doing it until you pass. Mm-hmm. And then once they. Are competent and our leadership team feels like they're ready for the next step.And then they're, you know, we kind of see where each team member is and what, how they think they can contribute past just clinical skill. And everyone's different. You know, some people wanna train, some people wanna lead the team. Some people like KPIs and metrics. You know, um, everyone's a little bit different.Michael: Nice. So then has anybody. Not like, maybe like week four you're just like, all right. You know, taking, taking you out, you know what I mean? Kind of thing. Oh Mary: yeah. I mean, there's a certain level of expectation. You know, some people interview very well, but then are really shy mm-hmm. On the floor. Um, and if they don't kind of break out of their shell and meet the expectation, then we do have those conversations.Mm. Like maybe you're not meant to work with kids, you know, even though you think you are because of x, Y. Mm-hmm. Michael: Does that normally go good, those conversations? Mary: Um, I always say we never let someone go as a surprise, you know, so we do, um, you know, verbal conversations, um, written warnings, uh, everything. So we, we set expectations, um, to make sure that they understand what the benchmarks are and, you know, and I.If they meet our core values. And, and I think that's the main thing. If you meet our core values, but it takes you a little bit longer to get where we want you to be, but we can see that there's progression, then that's more important. And, and maybe not, this role's not for you. Maybe we need to make a lateral move and put you in another department because you're struggling with this.Mm-hmm. You know? So, um, so I think. You know, we, we follow traction with like our, our, um, meeting cadence and systems and we do what they call the people analyzer, where if we don't have clarity on whether or not we should keep someone, we just put it across our core values and see if, okay, are you kind, are you dedicated?Do you have a growth mindset? Do you show leadership quality? Um, are you, you know, team player? And then if they do seem like they have all of our core values, then we say, okay, maybe they're just struggling with this. Maybe they'll do better in billing, or maybe they'll do better in this role, um, because we do feel like they fit our culture, but they're just a slower learner.Or maybe they're not that detailed in this, but they're super customer service oriented. So maybe we can put them in a people operations role or so. Michael: Gotcha. Okay. That's interesting. And so when that happens, let's just say for example, you're, they don't meet one or two core values, but you're kind of dry on that role.You know what I mean? Like where you're, or has that ever happen? I know that's happening a lot to a lot of us out here right now where we're struggling looking for team members. Right. Um, but it comes to you where you're like, okay, we need this. They're not the best fit, but we can do for now, does, do you do that or.Mary: So if someone's a straight no. So we do it like a plus, plus minus, and then a minus. Mm-hmm. So if they're like, let's just, I'll just use proactive, right? So if they're like kind of proactive sometimes, but then sometimes they're not, they'll get a plus minus, and that means we can work on it. But if they're our, one of our core values is dedication, and they're like, no, because they're late every single day and they call out.Then we say, okay, this needs to change right away. And if they're late for the next, 30 to 90 days I think is what they do if they're late one time in the next 90 days. And that could be grounds for immediate termination. So we, we really do stick to the core values when it comes to. If you're not dedicated, you're not dedicated because you call out or you come in late every day.That's disrespectful to everybody that comes on time, and it's showing that we as a company tolerate that and it goes against who we are. So we have let very good skilled people go. Due to not fitting our core values. And it, and it always ends up being that the team appreciates that. Mm-hmm. They're like, oh, they were late every day.Like, why should I come on time every day if they're allowing that? So we do, um, we do do the people analyzer and like I said, it does give you clarity on whether or not someone fits who we. Michael: Gotcha. Okay. That's interesting. Now, you also mentioned that once you open the first practice second, right, you systematized.Mm-hmm. I know a lot of the times we think when we open a practice, number one, we're like, got it. I know the blueprint. I can do the same thing for the second one. Is that true? Mary: No. You always have to pivot and change. Because they're, you know, like, I'll use one perfect example. When you have one location, everyone, you can probably verify all your own insurance, right?You don't really need help, you're not that busy. Mm-hmm. Or you've come up with the way that works. But then as you well in that one location, if as you grow, it's gonna put a lot of stress on your team. what we do is we say, okay guys, what is it we could automate and what is it that that's causing you a lot of stress right now that we can help?And from there we come up with a solution to help with that. But I think as you're growing more locations, um, it's not gonna be the same, you know, like you have more team members, you need more managers, um, you centralize a lot of your services. You know, because you don't need a biller for each office.Now you can have a bill. For four offices, you know, for me it's kind of fun building out different parts of our organization. Um, but you know, there's so many things that change that I couldn't even put my finger on one thing. But I think the main thing is, people, you know, like the larger that your organization.You know, you're and I, and this example I love to use is like, when it's just you and five people, your influence is really strong. You see them every day. You work with them every day. It's like a wifi signal, right? Like you're there and they like, you're really in tune. But as you grow, your wifi signal gets weaker and weaker.So then you need people. In place that's gonna keep that signal strong. And so they say one person can effectively manage up to five to seven people. And I do believe that like once you get to like 10, 12, 13 people, then you're not as effective in leading those people. But, but yeah, there's, there's so many things that change.It's hard to just say one thing, but I think just keeping up with what your needs are and knowing that you need leadership in place to make sure that. Each of the team members still feel loved and cared for and, and engaged. And it doesn't necessarily have to be you, the doctor, it could just be whoever it is that their manager mm-hmm.Um, is. Michael: Yeah, I like that. It's, it's true. The wifi, you know what I mean? Didn't they say it's like, um, you can test it out with like a pizza party or something like that, like get a pizza and then however much, you know what I mean? If you're like, I need to order two pizzas, and that means you have too many people on your team or so.Yeah. In the room. Yeah, something like that. But, uh, that's awesome. I really appreciate that, um, analogy and at the same time, I know it's kind of, um, difficult for a lot of people to try to systematize right. When it comes to this. So how did you come up with it? Did you seek help? I know you said you read traction, things like that, but like how did you nail.Mary: So I think the one thing that really helped me the most was joining a mastermind of people who were very like-minded or better than me, right? Or like better meaning, um, have grown their organization a lot larger. And we're still sane. Mm-hmm. They didn't feel like, crazy yet. So, um, so yeah, surrounding yourself with the people that have that same mindset and that are, that have achieved more than you is so inspiring.You know, you know how they say you never wanna be the smartest person in the, cuz then you're in the wrong room. Right. So I love to surround myself with really growth, like growth mindset. Uh, people who really challenge me, um, to be better. And so, and, and I joined, um, The D E o I think maybe like few years ago.It's a mastermind group for dental organizations that are starting off. Um, and then I've joined other groups as well. Uh, and I think everyone's tea is different, right? They just mm-hmm. Some people, um, like different groups. But I would say anything that challenges you, that makes you grow is something that, that is priceless, Michael: Yeah, I like that. Okay. And then right now with your practices e even if you could recall with like year one or your first practice, what were you doing for marketing and advertising and what'd you stick with throughout this whole time? Um, so Mary: as far as marketing, we, um, we did a lot of just grassroots, you know, so we would go out in the community, set up tables, um, we would visit pediatricians.I mean, we would. To events where our patient avatar would be. Mm-hmm. Which is anywhere with children. Right. Or moms. And, and we still do that. I mean, we do a lot of preschool presentations. We do a lot of health fairs where moms are. and then, you know, as far as like, spend on online marketing, we don't really do any of that.Most of it is just, I think, um, You know, asking for reviews and more grassroots. And we do a lot of, um, like internal promotions for our current patients. Um, but you know, to be honest, we don't spend a lot on actual, like marketing. Mm-hmm. Michael: No, I think that's, that's brilliant. Like the ground marketing, the grassroots marketing.when you went to these events, Well, two questions. How did you get inside of like the, the preschools and things like that? Like what would you say? But the second thing is like, did you have an incentive that you would offer them for them to sign up or, Mary: or. No, we just called and asked. I mean, I think there's a power in asking, you know, like I said, asking for reviews, asking for like, Hey, can we come to your school and do a preschool presentation?We'd give them little goodies like, like, you know, postcards and toothbrush and some branded stuff. Um, but you know, most of it was just being bold. Putting yourself out there. You know, like when we go to now, we have tools, two full-time marketing people, which we didn't have before. Marketing department when I first opened was me, but which I still go sometimes, but they have more, they, they have a lot more energy than I do now.Mm-hmm. But, um, but yeah, so as we've grown, you know, we have one, um, social media person who goes, gets content and posts everything, and, and then we have one person who does just pr. Um, community events and like website. So, as we've grown, we just wanted someone just strictly focused on social media, engaging with the families, doing contests, um, and yeah, it's been good.Michael: It's been good. Cool, cool. So then you don't, like when it comes to the health fairs, right, you don't really give out any, I guess, incentives or anything like that for people to. Mary: Oh yeah. So we do put them in a drawing. I think. Like if you book an appointment on the spot at the event, um, I think your name goes into a drawing for like a basket full of like dental stuff.I think like a toothbrush and all of that. But um, and I think we have like one of those wheels mm-hmm. That you spin that gives away. So we do like little fun things like that, but, um, but we don't have, I don't think like a coupon or, or anything. Yeah. It's just more, um, our biggest goal is to book the appointment.Mm-hmm. So then when we have our marketing team out there, you know, their key performance indicator is how many appointments did you book? Mm-hmm. You know, and that's how we know Michael: how they do. And they normally show up or is it like a no show or like what's the percentage? Um, Mary: I think they come, I mean, I don't know exactly the metrics, but I mean, I don't think that there has been an issue with the no-shows.I mean, our cancellation rate is pretty low cuz we do like a pretty good job of making sure we have a confirmed schedule. Of course people get sick, you know, and kids get sick in, in that just happens. But, um, but this is part of like your systems, right? And processes, like how firm is your confirmation? schedule D being done, right.And then if a few days before you have all these holes in the schedule, how are you gonna fill it, you know? Mm-hmm. So we have people in place that really make sure that we have, a productive schedule, like different avenues. Gotcha. Okay. Michael: Interesting. So then if you could, from the moment, let's talk about from the moment you decided to open your startup Right.Till today. Right. What's been some of your biggest struggles or pitfalls?Mary: I wouldn't really call them struggles cause I look at every, like, I feel like I am super growth mindset where I really don't stay down wi on something that bothers me because, I think being an entrepreneur, you know, things are gonna happen. Maybe the first time, like, so I'll use this as an example.The first time I had to let someone go, I couldn't sleep the night before at all. Mm-hmm. Like I was nervous, I was like crying. I wrote this long letter about how much I love this person and how I'm just so heartbroken. And then I remember when I let her go, I said, oh, you know, I'm so sorry. I have to let you go.And she was just like, okay. And she walked out the door. And I was, I was heartbroken that she wasn't as emotional as I was. I spent way too much time over this breakup. Then she did. Right. So going back to that and thinking of like where I am today, I've realized that in order to be successful, you have to just.That things are not always gonna go as planned, and that it's gonna be like a rollercoaster. No matter you're in business for five years or 25 years, there's always gonna be things that happen that are not going to be the way that you anticipated, but it's, that shouldn't predict. where you go, right?Like, that should just be a part of the journey. Say, okay, this is, there's gonna be something that happens. Like everything is smooth sailing right now, but I know in the next three months it could be completely different. How am I as a leader of my organization gonna respond to any of these, obstacles that come along the way?And so I never dwell on anything, like if somebody leaves or if something happens, I always say, well, nobody died. Right. Knock on wood. Yeah. Okay. How are we gonna fix this moving forward so that we don't make the same mistake again? What, like how do we drop the ball on this patient that they're not happy with us?How do we put that into our system so that way we make sure that we. got that eye or crossed that T and so we problem solve quickly and then move on. You know, we don't really dwell on anything becau um, anything that happened in the past, because the more time you spend doing that, the more you kind of just bring yourself down and you're not able to focus on your future.And then there's so many people that rely on you to be in that right mindset, you know, like, yeah. Michael: I like that. Okay. Problem solve quickly, right? Yes. And that's, I think, uh, I know for me sometimes, um, same thing like where you're like, oh my God, you dwell and dwell and then you're, you know what I mean? But you grew out of it, you know, so that's great.Oh, yeah. Fast. Yeah. No, that's fantastic. When it comes to you feeling personally burnt out How do you cope with that Mary: de. there's this one exercise that I do at least quarterly. I try to do it monthly, but it's really simple and it helps keep me in a right mindset. But basically I write down everything I do from morning until night, like generally speaking.So like pack my kids lunch, check my email, check my slack. Uh, check in with people and my leadership team. And then I, I go through this whole list and I'm like, what is it that I don't like to do on this list? Like, what is it that I could delegate? So then, you know, for example, I wrote, right now what's on my list is interviewing doctors because I love, I loved doing it, but now I get so many resumes, it's like very time consuming.But I know that, I mean, it's not something that I don't like to do, don't get me wrong, but It's not my favorite thing. It's kind of like a, you know. Yeah. Okay. And so then I put on here the name of the person who I'm gonna delegate that to, and then I start making sure that I have another doctor on my team sit with me on the interview, start training for that position, so then I could take that off my plate.So, I do get asked that a a lot like, oh, Mary, how do you do all of this? You know, like, you're a mom, you open practices, you do a mastermind group. So as a hobby, I do a mastermind group too at night, a couple a week, just to help other women who are having a hard time with, um, practice ownership.Right. But then I, it's because I delegate a lot, you know? Mm-hmm. Like I have a few personal assistants. I have a lot of leadership team that helps run the operations of the business to where I really don't have to be here. you know, I could go for a few weeks and everything be fine, and it'll probably be even better than what I'm here because I have a lot to say and I take a lot of their time.But when I'm here is when the business is, you know, you know that people are happy and they're doing what, doing their job, what they're supposed to do, and your business is doing well. So it allows me to focus on the things that I really like to do because if you don't like doing something, you, you're taking away from things.Things that you could be doing that ultimately are probably, more beneficial to not only like your company, but to your family, right? Because you're doing things that really, that you really enjoy. And so that's how I do it. I delegate very well and I have a weekly focus and the focus is always who I need to hire that week to help me with something that I need to delegate off my.Michael: So are you always hiring? Mary: Um, right now it's a nanny Uhhuh. No. Cause it could change, right? Not the nanny and I, I actually just filled the other position. Another assistant, like personal assistant? Yeah. Michael: Yeah. Wow. Okay. So then it's interesting you say that you have a mastermind, right? You have an organization, multiple practices, right?Teams, all that stuff you have to deal with. what was the other thing you said? So Mary: I, oh, I'm a mom. You know, Michael: you're a mom. I'm my husband. Ok. You, you, your husband's another, he's listening to this. He is like, yeah, yeah. No, but, uh, so you do it a lot. I mean, do you ever, I guess, and I know you do, I mean a lot of us do, but have that like dad guilt or mom guilt kind of thing, and then, or do you not?Mary: I think I used to. But I think that every per parent, right, whether they're mom or dad, has a different level of time and attention with their children that works for them. You know? So I have friends that spend, that are stay-at-home moms, and they spend their entire day with their children. And they love it.And then I have some that spend all the days with their kids and they're screaming at them all day and they're like, it's so stressful. I don't know why I'm doing this. I need to go back to work. And so for me, my kids come home from after school care or sports or whatever it is, at 5:00 PM and so 5 36 sometimes, and I only have like two or three hours with them a day.But during that two or three hours, it's like quality time. Hmm. You know, so, My take on that is, is the time that you spend with your kids, that's quality time, that's good for them and good for you. means that you have that nice balance, you know? But if you say, oh, well this person is spending like from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM and you know, on social media, they're going to all the games and they're, Doing all this stuff, you compare yourself to other people, then you're never gonna feel like you're enough.I mean, there's always gonna be someone who's, more, has more practices, who's, more attractive or who is better than you, right? Or like that you feel like, um, you wanna be like, but if you compare yourself to other people, you're always gonna feel like you are not doing enough. So I just try to say, Hey, you know, Everybody has their level of work that works for them.And for the normal person, probably how much I work is gonna be way too much, you know? But for me, I love it and I think it keeps, like, I've always worked like I do since I was a little girl. And I, and I love what I do, so I don't feel like it's work. I really enjoy it. But when it comes to being a mom, if I were to spend morning to night with my kids, I really think that I would go crazy.You know I do. Yeah. Yeah. Like when my husband's not home and I'm with them for the weekend by myself, I'm like, this is not fair. You're working and I'm at home with Michael: these, these kids. No, I get you. Mary: Yeah. So I think it's just different. You can't compare. Michael: No. Yeah. Okay. I, I love that. I love that. I feel like sometimes we get boggled down into, like what you said, that comparison mode where you're looking on social media, you start comparing and you're like, huh, I should, but then in reality, you're like, if I do it more than three hours, It's not gonna be quality time with 'em, you know?It's just gonna be, they're gonna be like, what Mary: are you doing? Get down. Michael: You're just watching them watch YouTube the whole time, and you're like, all right, yeah, just watch YouTube right now, you know, kind of thing. Awesome, Mary, I appreciate that. If anybody had any questions or concerns or anything like that, where can they reach out to you?Mary: Um, you can find me instagram@drmaryfam.com or dr mary fam.com, Dr. Mary fam. That's, that's where I met you, Michael, or my email, dr mary lollipop dental.com. Happy to help Michael: awesome. So guys, that's all gonna be in the show notes below, so definitely reach out to Mary and Mary.Thank you for being with us. It was a pleasure, and we'll hear from you soon. Of course. Mary: All right, thank you.‍‍‍

Bruce Eckfeldt, the Founder and CEO of Eckfeldt & Associates, is a consultant, coach, author, and speaker. He started his career as an architect and later transitioned to digital product development. He is also an expert in business and operational growth strategy, talent planning, performance coaching, and using Agile/Lean to achieve operational excellence. In 2003, Bruce founded Cyrus Innovation, one of the first Agile/Lean consulting firms, and worked with companies such as Boeing, Kaplan Test Prep, Simon & Schuster, Eze Software, and The New York Times. The company was an Inc. 5000 honoree for five years in a row.  After more than a decade of developing products and coaching companies to adopt Agile/Lean practices, Bruce sold Cyrus Innovation in 2014 to focus on broader organizational development initiatives. He has served as interim CEO, COO, and other executive roles across different high-tech and professional service companies, leading them through periods of high growth and leadership transition. He has also been a member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) since 2007. Bruce Eckfeldt, the Founder and CEO of Eckfeldt & Associates, joins John Corcoran in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast to talk about business coaching and strategies for scaling a company to the Inc. 5000 list. They also discuss how to overcome imposter syndrome, the value of structured business frameworks, and challenges in the cannabis and psychedelics industries.

About the Guest Kyle has a passion for teaching. He discovered this passion while working for Kaplan Test Prep as he finished his Political Science degree at Texas A&M University. He has carried this passion throughout his legal career, teaching clients as he helps them to find and understand legal pathways out of labor bottlenecks. His […]

Mike Mullane is a NASA astronaut who has written several award-winning and popular books detailing his space exploration experience. Years later, his son, Patrick Mullane, would also write a popular book about his own unique experience watching his father become an astronaut. Both accomplished veterans, Mike and Patrick sit down with Beth on Veteran's Day to share some of their (hilarious) stories and (sincere) reflections, and even make a few predictions about the future of space exploration (Dad jokes in space?) on this episode of Casual Space. Don't miss this one- Mike and Patrick are some of the best storytellers you've ever heard!    About Mike Mullane: https://mikemullane.com/ Colonel Mullane was born September 10, 1945 in Wichita Falls, Texas but spent much of his youth in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he currently resides.  He was a child of the space race and in the late 1950's embarked on his own rocket experiments in the deserts near his home. Upon his graduation from West Point in 1967, he was commissioned in the United States Air Force. As a Weapon Systems Operator aboard RF-4C Phantom aircraft, he completed 134 combat missions in Vietnam. He holds a Master's of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and is also a graduate of the Air Force Flight Test Engineer School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Mullane was selected as a Mission Specialist in 1978 in the first group of Space Shuttle Astronauts. He completed three space missions aboard the Shuttles Discovery (STS-41D) and Atlantis (STS-27 & 36) before retiring from NASA and the Air Force in 1990. Mullane has been inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame and is the recipient of many awards, including the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit and the NASA Space Flight Medal. Since his retirement from NASA, Colonel Mullane has written an award-winning children's book, Liftoff! An Astronaut's Dream, and a popular space-fact book, Do Your Ears Pop In Space?  His memoir, Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut, has been reviewed in the New York Times and on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. It has also been featured on Barnes and Noble's recommended summer reading list.   About Patrick Mullane: https://www.pjmullane.com/ Patrick Mullane is the Executive Director of Harvard Business School Online. He brings over 20 years of management experience across several industries to the position. As Executive Director, he is responsible for managing HBS Online's growth, expansion in global markets, and long-term success. HBS Online leverages Harvard Business School's reputation for excellence and impact in business education and the broader business community, as well as the vast intellectual property, academic pedagogy, and faculty talent of the School to be the premier provider of high-quality digital business education. Prior to joining HBS Online, Patrick was the CEO of Fabrico, Inc., an industrial manufacturing company that was purchased by Technetics, Inc. in 2014. Subsequent to the sale of Fabrico, he served as vice president and general manager in Technetics' industrial turbine portfolio. Before earning his MBA, Patrick served as a captain in a U.S. Air Force intelligence organization. He has also been an early employee of a technology startup, managed Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions' Washington DC market, and worked for a telecommunications equipment company.

According to the Brennan Center, 47 states have enacted restrictive voting laws since the 2020 election  even though there is very little evidence of widespread voter fraud. In my adopted state of Georgia, the state legislator recently passed SB 202. During and after the vote, outside parties poured millions of dollars into the state with positive messages about this legislation. I reached out to Evan Malbrough, a young activist and aspiring attorney, to talk to us about SB 202 and his work to get young people involved in the voting process. He is the founder of the Georgia Youth Poll Worker Project and has published several recent articles about voting rights.I know you will find our conversation as inspiring as I did. Connect with Evan on LinkedIn Evan's Bio:Evan Malbrough is a native of Smyrna, Georgia. He is a 2020 graduate of Georgia State University with a degree in Public Policy and a minor in cello performance. At GSU, Evan was a founding member of Vote Everywhere GSU and served as an ambassador for Amazon Prime Student, Kaplan Test Prep & GoPuff. Evan also served as a Summer Research Fellow at the United States Department of Defense at the Pentagon. Upon graduating, even became a 2020 Puffin Fellow with the Andrew Goodman Foundation as well as a brand ambassador for Mars-Wriggly and Instagram. Evan is the founder of the Georgia Youth Poll Worker Project where He recruited 1000 poll workers to work the 2020 general election and 2021 run off. Finally, Evan is a writer who has published in publications such as Forbes, Blavity, Teen Vogue, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Links mentioned in this episode:The Georgia Youth Poll Worker's ProjectGeorgia State Bill 202Kate Couric's interview with David Becker, founder of the Center for Election Innovation and Research about SB 202 and other state voting lawsThe Brennan Center for JusticeLike what you heard? Please like and share wherever you get your podcasts! Connect with Ann: Community Evaluation Solutions How Ann can help: · Support the evaluation capacity of your coalition or community-based organization. · Help you create a strategic plan that doesn't stress you and your group out, doesn't take all year to design, and is actionable. · Engage your group in equitable discussions about difficult conversations. · Facilitate a workshop to plan for action and get your group moving. · Create a workshop that energizes and excites your group for action. · Speak at your conference or event. Have a question or want to know more? Book a call with Ann .Be sure and check out our updated resource page! Let us know what was helpful. Community Possibilities is Produced by Zach Price Music by Zach Price: Zachpricet@gmail.com

"Your test prep begins when you take courses that cover topics assessed in the admissions tests." Petros Minasi and Jessica Peterson from Kaplan Test Prep walk us through how the DAT and MCAT create questions using the "languages from your science courses." While the advice to prepare early and being ready for your test are covered, we discuss larger issues like building your stamina for your test and establishing good habits to support your preparation (and the marathon of your application!).  Links Discussed: Get Started on MCAT (AAMC): https://students-residents.aamc.org/app.../taking-mcat-exam/ Get Started on DAT (ADA): https://www.ada.org/.../education.../dental-admission-test TMDSAS Dental Stats: https://www.tmdsas.com/.../Final-Statistics-Report-Dental... TMDSAS Medical Stats: https://www.tmdsas.com/.../Final-Statistics-Report... Kaplan's DAT Page: https://www.kaptest.com/dat Kaplan's MCAT Page: https://www.kaptest.com/mcat ---------- Join our online communities to receive early access to the podcasts, ask questions about preparing for professional school, and receive information directly from TMDSAS/TXHES, professional schools and advisors. The TMDSAS Hub is open to all applicants.  The TMDSAS Non-Traditional Applicants group is open to all applicants who identify themselves as non-traditional. If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, reach us at podcast@tmdsas.com. Inside Health Education is a proud affiliate of the MededMedia network.

In this guest episode, Dinur and Adam are talking with Megan O’Connor, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Kaplan Test Prep, about the importance of experiential learning and how college students can actually be prepared for the modern workforce. SHOW NOTES Find Megan on Twitter at @MeganMOConnor The post Episode 80: An Interview with Megan O’Connor of Kaplan Test Prep appeared first on Go From Stress To Success!.

Joe and Kathryn talk with Executive Director of Admissions Programs for Kaplan Test Prep, Jeff Thomas, about a new Kaplan survey of law schools nationwide that shows the impact the coronavirus is having on the law school admissions landscape.   Highlights Law schools admissions impacted by COVID-19 - 0:27 Kaplan survey of law schools admissions during the pandemic - 1:01 Issues related to COVID - 2:18 Looking at the survey results - 2:52 An increase of applications - 4:04 What they found out from the survey - 5:00 One of the most challenging things for law schools - 6:22 The impact of COVID - 10:15 The short-term for legal education - 19:26   Episode Resources Connect with Kathryn Rubino and Joe Patrice kathryn@abovethelaw.com  joepatrice@abovethelaw.com  Connect with Jeff Thomas jeffrey.thomas@kaplan.com  https://www.kaptest.com/about/meet-our-experts

Are you the type of leader that YOU would follow? Dawn Marie Bornheimer posed this question during episode #62 of The 30 Minute Hour Podcast! Dawn is a published author and industry leader with a unique combination of interpersonal communication skills and partnership development with a focus on education and social impact. In her 18 years of professional experience she has worked at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in their Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program, she taught for five years in the Baltimore City Public School System, and facilitated business development initiatives for Kaplan Test Prep, Capella University, and NYU Langone Health Joining the Kognito Team in March of 2019, Dawn serves as the Regional Director of Education Partnerships overseeing clients in both PK12 and Higher Education. What she shared will inspire you to become the type of the leader that you would follow!

On this episode of Bold Leaders in Learning, Brandon is joined by Megan O'Connor, Entrepreneur in Residence at Kaplan Test Prep. The two discuss gap years and how they should be reimagined amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discuss Kaplan's new Boost Year™ program, an innovative online pre-college booster program to accelerate college and career readiness.

College admissions in a post-Covid-19 world have changed, and many universities have stopped requiring SAT and ACT scores, at least for 2020-2021. We discuss testing and test prep with Mike Bergin and Amy Seeley, who help students prepare for testing and understand how it works. They are the hosts of the Tests and the Rest podcast, and are guests on episode 61 of Mind Matters. About the guests - Mike Bergin is an education industry expert who has designed, developed, or delivered instruction to countless students over the last 25 years. Mike started as a test prep teacher for Kaplan Test Prep, and became Center Director overseeing seven New York counties. Since then he’s worked for Huntington Learning Center, revising its test prep curriculum and systems, and in 2009, Mike founded Chariot Learning. Mike is a co-host of the Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry podcast. Amy Seeley is a certified and licensed secondary-education teacher, receiving her degree from John Carroll University.  She began her career in test preparation over 26 years ago working for Princeton Review, and went on to work for Townsend Learning Centers. In 2006 Amy began Seeley Test Preparation Services in Cleveland. As demand for her services grew, she founded Seeley Test Pros in 2012. Amy is the founder and co-host of Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry podcast. You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/mindmatters. The Mind Matters podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram at Mind Matters Podcast, and on Twitter @MindMattersPod. For more information go to www.MindMattersPodcast.com. Thank you for caring about kids. Copyright © 2019 Morris Creative Services LLC. All rights reserved.

Brian noticed that his closest friend, the guy he spent the majority of his time with in four years of college, had been distant the last few weeks of their final year. When he asked about it, his friend said: "I just don't want to hang out with you anymore. You're kind of an asshole." Ouch. He didn't change overnight, of course. At first he was committed to being defensive, angry, hurt. But after a couple of years of self-reflection, Brian Miller realized he had some work to do. He wasn't always an asshole. As a matter of fact, he was so shy no one could possibly have called him that. No one knew him well enough to insult him in that way. But due to his shyness and severe social anxiety, his peers had plenty of other words to use to insult, demean, and bully him. Brian told me that magic saved his life. His father and grandfather had always been obsessed with magic and magic tricks. They took Brian to shows, learned their own tricks, and spent time enjoying everything about that form of entertainment. When Brian turned 13, he also picked up a few magic tricks. One day as he sat eating lunch at the same table as some other non-popular kids (not with them, really, just sitting at the same table), he asked a few if they wanted to see a magic trick. They did. That was it. That was the beginning of Brian's journey toward asshole behavior. Within weeks, he became "that kid who does cool magic tricks", and was suddenly someone his peers found interesting enough to spend time with. He was invited to parties, and even went out with some girls. But none of his relationships lasted very long. He started to believe his own hype. Brian said that happens, especially with younger people who suddenly find themselves shifting from invisible to famous. They fall into the trap of ego, and any criticism becomes "he's just jealous", and "she just doesn't understand." It can take decades, if it happens at all, for people like that to start to see their own role in their unhappiness and dissatisfaction in life. They don't lean into self-reflection until they've already damaged almost every relationship - if they ever lean into it. But Brian did. A couple of years out of college, he had started his own business as an entertaining magician, and slowly morphed that business into his current speaking, writing, and coaching business. He's a natural when it comes to marketing and entrepreneurial enterprise. What I found especially inspiring in our conversation was the simple acknowledgement Brian had to make in order to move forward toward healthy, satisfying relationships: I have a role in my dissatisfaction. I can change. I can find happiness. --- Brian Miller is a globetrotting magician-turned speaker who works with organizations who want to create an environment where everyone feels heard, understood, and valued. He is the author of Three New People: Make the Most of Your Daily Interactions and Stop Missing Amazing Opportunities, a personal success guide to connecting with anyone. Brian’s TEDx talk, “How to Magically Connect with Anyone,” has been viewed over 3 million times worldwide and included on many “Best of TED” lists including “Top 5 TED Talks to Watch Before an Interview” by Kaplan Test Prep.

Venture capital continues to sideline diverse entrepreneurs and investors. Women and people of color are starting businesses at some of the highest rates across the United States and world but are receiving the least amount of investment compared to their white peers. How do we close the venture capital gap? Heather Matranga, Senior Director of Innovation at Village Capital, Melissa Bradley, Managing Director of 1863 Ventures, and Megan O’Connor, Entrepreneur in Residence at Kaplan Test Prep pinpoint the factors that cause inequality in capital allocation and find solutions to fixing the gender financing gap.

This weeks co-host is William Brochinsky, 63, 2018 POZ Magazine - “The POZ 100 - Celebrating People over 50.” Nursing Educator for Kaplan Test Prep, dismantles myths around HIV and long-term survival. Writer, Actor, Director. Long term survivor and thriver. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

ABOUT Bruce Eckfeldt is a consultant, coach, author, and speaker on organizational development and performance management. Originally an architect, he was a pioneer in the use of computer-aided design and 3D modeling. He later transitioned to software design and development, converting his spatial problem-solving skills to informational architecture and user experience design of digital software products. Seeing the need for a more fast-paced and innovative approach to technology development, Bruce was an early adopter of Extreme Programming (an early Agile/Lean software methodology). He advanced the field as an early contributor to the Agile Conference and as the founder of Cyrus Innovation in 2003, one of the first Agile/Lean development consulting firms. After more than a decade of developing products and coaching companies adopting Agile/Lean practices such as Extreme Programming, Scrum, Kanban, and other Lean methodologies, Bruce sold Cyrus in 2014 to focus on broader organizational development initiatives and served as interim CEO, COO, and other executive roles across a number of different high-tech and professional service companies leading these companies through periods of high growth and leadership transition. Today, Bruce uses his experience as an entrepreneur and Inc 500 CEO to help high-growth companies scale more quickly with less drama. He is an expert in business and operational growth strategy, talent planning, performance coaching, and using Lean/Agile to achieve operational excellence.   PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS Graduating from McGill University in Montreal with two degrees in Architecture, Bruce transitioned to digital product development early in his career where he worked as a product strategy consultant for companies such as WebMD, Prada, the Department of Defense, and Motorola. In 2003, he founded Cyrus Innovation, one of the first Lean/Agile consulting firms, and worked with companies such as Boeing, Kaplan Test Prep, Simon & Schuster, Eze Software, and The New York Times on product development and Lean/Agile transformation initiatives. Cyrus was an Inc 5000 honoree for five years in a row and placed #241 on the Inc 500 in 2009. Bruce has been a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization since 2007 and has served in many chapter and regional leadership positions including Learning, Forum, and Accelerator. Bruce has served as the US East Regional Forum Expert and the US East Regional Accelerator Expert. Since 2016, Bruce has been a contributing author to Inc.com where he writes a weekly column on business and leadership. He also hosts to two successful podcasts: Scaling Up Services provides insights and strategies for how to successfully scale service-based businesses and Thinking Outside The Bud explores innovation in the business of cannabis.   PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS Born in Philadelphia, Bruce and his family moved to Minnesota when he was four. Growing up in Minnesota fueled his love for nature and the outdoors. As an athlete throughout high school and college, Bruce competed in rowing, cross country skiing, biathlon (shooting and skiing), and triathlon. He completed his first marathon cross country ski race at 18, first of four marathons at age 19, and completed an Ironman triathlon in 2003. Outside of competitive sports, Bruce has climbed to the top of Kilimanjaro, dove the Coral Sea off Australia, and hiked the Tour du Mont Blanc. He’s traveled extensively and has visited six of the seven continents. Bruce is also an avid freshwater and saltwater fly fisherman. He is a father of four young children and lives in New York City. Website: http://www.eckfeldt.com

In this episode, guest Jay Thomas, Senior Assessment Designer at ACT, discusses how eye-tracking can go beyond psychometrics to evaluate and validate assessment and testing. There are several parts to eye-tracking. The first is saccades, the rapid eye movements made during reading that don't always follow left-to-right. It's estimated that humans make over 100,000 saccades daily, including during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycles when we're dreaming. Other obvious parts are fixations, which are fixed moments when the eyes are concentrated on a particular location, and blinking. An important piece of eye-tracking that has been around for decades but has only recently become easier to study is pupillometry, the measurement of pupil dilation. Dilation can be interpreted to measure thinking and cognitive effort, in particular the size changes and acceleration of dilation. Pupil dilation is also an autonomic bodily response. Unlike breathing or heart rates, which can be modified to trick lie detectors you cannot fake or consciously control dilating your pupils. Thomas says that eye-tracking goes beyond psychometrics to validate tests and give insight into cognitive thought processes. With Langenfeld, Zhu, and Morris, he created a formula to measure Total Cognitive Effort (TCE) for test items. Jay walks us through the TCE formula in the podcast. Mr. Thomas was a science teacher for 19 years and also worked for Kaplan Test Prep before coming to ACT.

Today’s episode is the third and final episode in our series with Dr. Chris Cimino, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Kaplan Medical, who discusses the USMLE/COMLEX exam writing process and science behind it.  This final in the trilogy with Chris Cimino of Kaplan Test Prep covers the questions medical students ask most involving the USMLE board exam. Students often hear that the USMLE will be a deciding vote in their potential residency applications, what specialties are more likely to accept them, and how competitive the residency spot will be. In this episode, we clarify the ultimate Goal of the USMLE and how it relates to later academic and clinical life. Our practice question dissection comes from Kaplan's Step 2 CK Integrated Plan. Click the link below to sign up for a free trial. 1:08 - Question Dissection for Today A 2 year old girl is brought to the E.D. by her parents because of a severe cough with sputum, fever, and rapid breathing.  7:17 - Interview  Topics covered in the interview include:  Medical Societies, Guidelines, and Ethics in the Media Should All Medical Students Learn Specialized Medical Topics? Is the USMLE or COMLEX Relevant to Becoming a Doctor? What is the Goal of the USMLE and other Board Exams? How Does the USMLE Score Relate to Residency Selection Processes and Where are the Incentives? Does the USMLE or COMLEX Exam Score Correlate to Physician Success?   New Book from ITB's Chase DiMarco  Read This Before Med School  Will medical school make or break you? Whether you’ve just gotten your acceptance or are already in the cadaver lab, you can get through (relatively) unscathed by learning from those who’ve already survived and thrived. Herein, we provide you with the hard-won tips, tools, and insights that helped us to excel during those four grueling years. Beyond providing study tips, we draw on inspiration from fields like psychology, neuroscience, education, business, and even self-help to assemble a complete guide to accelerate your development as a medical student and future physician. Check it out now on Amazon (affiliate link)     New Podcast: The 1-Minute Preceptor Podcast  Brought to you by the host of the Medical Mnemonist Podcast, co-host to the InsideTheBoards Podcast, and co-author of Read This Before Medical School: How to Study Smarter and Live Better While Excelling in Class and on your USMLE or COMLEX Board Exams, this show will bring you interviews from medical educators in the clinical sciences. Wondering how to ask for Letters of Recommendation or how to best prepare for an upcoming clinical experience? This show will prepare you for your upcoming clinical rotations and make sure your externship experiences are fulfilling. Following the 1-Minute Preceptor Model, we explore how different preceptors in different clinical scenarios approach students and their education. Stay tuned for the many great physicians we have interviewed and be sure to share this with your friends and Subscribe anywhere you listen to podcasts.  ITB Audio Qbank and iOS Beta App The Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app has both free and premium features and is available on both Android and iOS.  To get started, first, create a Boardsinsider Account on our website insidetheboards.com Free Features  All of our podcasts in one place organized into playlists for easy studying (also with less ads and exclusive content)  Mindfulness meditations designed specifically for medical students  A monthly offering of high yield content (questions dissections, audio qbank samples) available only on our mobile app.  Premium Features Subscribe to an ITB premium account and get additional features  Access to 500+ audio optimized board style practice questions in our Audio Qbank. The Step 1 version is powered by Exam Circle and the Step 2 Version is powered by OnlineMedEd. New questions added each month.  High Yield Pharmacology (powered by Lecturio) with 100 of the top pharm questions you need to know for both Step 1 and Step 2  Audio Flashcards (coming soon)  Our audio qbank is THE PERFECT companion for studying for the boards on the go. And we're adding content and improving it all the time.   Learn more about the Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app here Check out all of ITB's Podcasts on our BRAND NEW Website InsideTheBoards is not affiliated with the NBME, USMLE, COMLEX, NBOME or any professional licensing body. InsideTheBoards and its partners fully adhere to the policies on irregular conduct outlined by the aforementioned credentialing bodies.

This is part 2 in our series with Dr. Chris Cimino, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Kaplan Medical, who discusses the USMLE/COMLEX exam writing process and science behind it.  USMLE and COMLEX board questions are frequently being altered, added, or retired. However, most students do not understand the reasons or the process of such changes. In this episode, Dr. Chris Cimino, Vice President of Medical Academics for Kaplan Test Prep and a former NBME test writer, will help uncover some of the misconceptions students may have about the process of vetting and retiring board-exam questions. He also discusses why some of the medical societies and guidelines conflict each other in clinical practice and how test-writers respond to these differences when creating questions. Our practice question dissection comes from Kaplan's Step 2 CK Integrated Plan. Click the link below to sign up for a free trial. Question Dissection for Today 1:49 - A 26 year old woman comes to the physician because of a one year history of amenorrhea Interview  4:55 Question Stem Length & Changes in Question Design Over Time 10:00 Pros and Cons of PhDs Teaching in Medical Education & How New Material is Assimilated into the USMLE or COMLEX Exams Get a discount on any Kaplan Course  Remember, ITB listeners can take up to 40% off any Kaplan Medical product (when combined with an American Medical Association membership discount) by going to kaptest.com and using the offer code "ITB15" to take advantage of this offer. Even if you're not an AMA member, you can still get 15% off any Kaplan Medical product.   New Book from ITB's Chase DiMarco- Read This Before Med School  Will medical school make or break you? Whether you’ve just gotten your acceptance or are already in the cadaver lab, you can get through (relatively) unscathed by learning from those who’ve already survived and thrived. Herein, we provide you with the hard-won tips, tools, and insights that helped us to excel during those four grueling years. Beyond providing study tips, we draw on inspiration from fields like psychology, neuroscience, education, business, and even self-help to assemble a complete guide to accelerate your development as a medical student and future physician. Check it out now on Amazon (affiliate link)     New Podcast: The 1-Minute Preceptor Podcast  Brought to you by the host of the Medical Mnemonist Podcast, co-host to the InsideTheBoards Podcast, and co-author of Read This Before Medical School: How to Study Smarter and Live Better While Excelling in Class and on your USMLE or COMLEX Board Exams, this show will bring you interviews from medical educators in the clinical sciences.  Wondering how to ask for Letters of Recommendation or how to best prepare for an upcoming clinical experience? This show will prepare you for your upcoming clinical rotations and make sure your externship experiences are fulfilling. Following the 1-Minute Preceptor Model, we explore how different preceptors in different clinical scenarios approach students and their education. Stay tuned for the many great physicians we have interviewed and be sure to share this with your friends and Subscribe anywhere you listen to podcasts.  Check out all of ITB's Podcasts on our BRAND NEW Website ITB Audio Qbank and iOS Beta App The Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app has both free and premium features and is available on both Android and iOS.  To get started, first, create a Boardsinsider Account on our website insidetheboards.com Free Features  All of our podcasts in one place organized into playlists for easy studying (also with less ads and exclusive content)  Mindfulness meditations designed specifically for medical students  A monthly offering of high yield content (questions dissections, audio qbank samples) available only on our mobile app.  Premium Features Subscribe to an ITB premium account and get additional features  Access to 500+ audio optimized board style practice questions in our Audio Qbank. The Step 1 version is powered by Exam Circle and the Step 2 Version is powered by OnlineMedEd. New questions added each month.  High Yield Pharmacology (powered by Lecturio) with 100 of the top pharm questions you need to know for both Step 1 and Step 2  Audio Flashcards (coming soon)  Our audio qbank is THE PERFECT companion for studying for the boards on the go. And we're adding content and improving it all the time.   Learn more about the Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app here Legal Stuff and Credits InsideTheBoards is not affiliated with the NBME, USMLE, COMLEX, NBOME or any professional licensing body. InsideTheBoards and its partners fully adhere to the policies on irregular conduct outlined by the aforementioned credentialing bodies.

You probably already know that you can’t master the LSAT without preparing. You must study. And this is a standardized test that requires that you start early. Just how much time should you plan to devote to LSAT prep? What must you include in your action plan? On this show, our experts help you map out a study plan that gives you enough time to assess where you are at the beginning, set goals, learn the mechanics of the different sections, develop strategies for different question types and take practice tests – all so you can rock the LSAT on test day! Guests: Noah Teitelbaum, Manhattan LSAT, Executive Director, Academics Glen Stohr, Kaplan Test Prep, Senior Manager for Content Development Cathrina Altimari-Brown: LSAT Student, Legal Assistant, Google

We hear these questions again and again: Should I cancel my LSAT score? Should I reschedule my test? Should I retake the LSAT? What if I’m unhappy with my LSAT score? How do law schools view multiple LSAT scores? How do I know what the best score is for me? You’re not alone in trying to figure this stuff out. In this segment, we talk with deans of admission from top law schools and with the premier test prep experts to get you the answers you need. Guests: William Hoye, Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs, Duke University School of Law Sarah Zearfoss, Senior Assistant Dean for Admissions, Financial Planning, and Career Planning, University of Michigan Law School Noah Teitelbaum, Executive Director of Academics, Manhattan Prep Jeff Thomas, Director of Prelaw Programs, Kaplan Test Prep

Timing can be everything – especially on the LSAT. Running out of time to answer questions is one of the most frustrating – and universal – problems test-takers face. The test is designed to challenge your ability to pace yourself and allocate time efficiently. If you find the clock is wreaking havoc with your ability to answer all the questions and answer them accurately, then listen in as our guests outline a plan to put you on pace to get everything done within the allotted time and give you the tools you’ll need to maximize the number of points you earn. Guests: Noah Teitelbaum, Manhattan LSAT, Executive Director, Academics Glen Stohr, Kaplan Test Prep, Senior Manager for Content Development Steve Schwartz, LSAT Tutor, Editor LSAT Blog John Fowler, LSAT test-taker and Columbia Law School student

It’s no exaggeration to say that the logical reasoning section is the most important part of the LSAT. Since two of the four scored sections consist of logical reasoning questions, it accounts for half your scaled score on the test. So, mastering the questions in these sections is twice as important to as any other single portion of the test. With that in mind, we asked our experts to break down the types of questions you’ll encounter, how best to prepare yourself and what you need to know on test day to achieve your highest possible score. Guests: Noah Teitelbaum, Manhattan LSAT, Managing Director Glen Stohr, Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions, Senior Product Developer Matt Riley, Blueprint Test Prep, Founder & Instructor Ranika Morales, LSAT test-taker and student

You probably think you’re a pretty good “reader,” but the reading comprehension section of the LSAT catches many test-takers by surprise. It’s easy to feel rushed when reading long passages on dry material and to struggle with answering complex questions with the correct answers. And while these passages and question-types are similar to what you’ve seen and done before with other standardized tests, this familiarity may not translate into success on LSAT test day. Our guests caution students who overlook this section in test prep that they may be leaving valuable points on the table. Listen as our guests give you tips to help you maximize your speed and accuracy and increase your score. Guests: Noah Teitelbaum, Manhattan LSAT, Managing Director Glen Stohr, Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions, Senior Product Developer Matt Riley, Blueprint Test Prep, Founder & Instructor Ranika Morales, LSAT test-taker and student

You’ve walked out of the LSAT feeling it was a particularly bad day for you, or you’ve just learned that your score is lower than you had hoped. Your initial instinct might be to just take the test again, but before you register for the next administration of the test, listen to our experts tell you what you need to know to plan your next steps. When should you cancel your score? When should you retake the exam? Should you explain a low score in an addendum? Also find out how law school admissions committees view multiple LSAT scores and how to make your application shine despite a low score. Guests: Noah Teitelbaum, Managing Director, Manhattan LSAT Brad McIlquham, Director of Academics, Knewton LSAT Glen Stohr, Sr , Manager of Content Development for Grad Programs, Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions Richard Geiger, Dean of Admissions, Cornell Law School Sarah Streit, LSAT student

What’s the toughest part of the LSAT? While each test-taker has his or her own strengths and weaknesses, there’s a general concensus that most people find the Logic Games section the most intimidating part of the test. The good news? It’s also the section where, with preparation, test-takers also see the biggest score increase. We’ve gathered our test prep experts to offer you their strategies to helping you beat this challenging section and achieve your highest score possible. Guests: Noah Teitelbaum, Managing Director, Manhattan LSAT Test Prep Brad McIlquham, Director of Academics, Knewton LSAT Prep Glen Stohr, Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions Sarah Streit, LSAT-test taker

Law school applicants have had to face the LSAT since 1948. Now, it’s your turn. To help you prepare, we have interviewed the various test preparation companies to hear what they have to offer. They will discuss the different types of courses they offer, from traditional classroom courses, private tutoring and online courses. Each company will have the opportunity to explain how they are unique and what makes them stand out. Listen and learn what option is best for you. Guests include: Andrew Brody, National Content Director for LSAT Programs, The Princeton Review Kristen Kennedy, Lead LSAT Instructor, Knewton Dave Killoran, CEO and Director of Course Development, PowerScore Test Preparation Noah Teitelbaum, Managing Director, Atlas LSAT Test Prep Trent Teti, Co-Founder and LSAT Instructor, Blueprint LSAT Preparation® Jeff Thomas, Director of Pre-Law Programs, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions

Test preparation might be the least understood or explored multibillion dollar industry in the world. How has test prep--particularly in the realm of college admissions testing--changed, and how is the industry still changing? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Kevin Organisciak to explore the state of the test prep industry in 2019. What are five things you will learn in this episode? In what ways is the test prep industry growing? What forms of test prep are students currently looking for? What new trends are emerging in test prep? Is local test prep going away? What might the future hold for the SAT and ACT? Learn more about this episode and our guest in the show notes at testsandtherest.com. MEET OUR GUEST Kevin Organisciak has been guiding educational service firms for over a decade.  He was an executive at Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions where he earned company wide distinction in profitability AND student outcomes. While at Kaplan, Kevin created the industry’s  first Higher Score Guarantee (still in use). In 2009 Kevin founded The Association for Test Prep, Admissions, and Private Tutoring (TPAPT);  since then TPAPT has helped over 1000 schools, learning franchises, and college prep firms scale, accelerate, or turn around their business. Kevin holds Master’s degrees in Organizational Behavior and Educational Psychology.  He is married with four kids and a dog. Find Kevin Organisciak at the TPAPT website: https://testprepprofessionals.com/. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Mike and Dan sit down with Dr. Susan Sanders, Vice President of Nursing at Kaplan Test Prep, to discuss health and nursing education and what’s new and emerging in the space. Susan brings a wealth of experience in the nursing field and recent work with the healthcare simulations like Kaplan iHuman product to the discussion. How do nurse educators tackle topics like the importance of self-care and burnout / compassion fatigue? Can students get as much out of simulations as they can real life interactions? Where can this sort of technology bring us in the future? Join us as we cover these and other important questions.  

This podcast episode is from Smart Social Week: An Online Parent Conference To Get Your Kids Off Their Screens. Learn the 70+ apps your kids might use: https://smartsocial.com/social-media-webinar/ Learn from 70+ safety experts in our Smart Social Week Conference: https://smartsocial.com/smart-social-week/ Unlock 70+ videos your kids watch to learn how to shine online in Parent University: https://smartsocial.com/parent-university/ Read this episode on our blog Subscribe to our podcast on: iTunes – Google Play – Stitcher Radio – Spotify – Web Player Hire Josh Ochs to speak at your organization. Next Steps for Podcast Listeners: --> Register for our new free social media safety webinar. Join Parent University to get videos to watch with your kids so they can better understand WHY they need to be smart online. Please share this episode with a friend and subscribe so we can help more parents. Thanks for all your support. Join our next webinar to learn the 30 worst apps your students should never use: https://smartsocial.com/social-media-webinar/ Join Parent University to get videos to watch with your kids so they can better understand WHY they need to be smart online. View the top 70+ good and bad teen apps in our Popular App Guide page for Parents and Educators. This week, we sat down with Caroline Leach who helps people tell their stories and embrace the future. Caroline writes, researches, and speaks about why professionals need a social media strategy for their career and how to use social media to build a career. She posts weekly to her blog and LinkedIn, in marketing and communications for Fortune 500 companies. The opinions she expresses on our podcast are her own and are not those of her employer. Key Takeaways from The Power of LinkedIn: Why Every High School Student Needs to be on LinkedIn with Caroline Leach Whether you actively define your personal brand and live by it or not, you have a brand (from The 3-Word Exercise By Dorie Clark) How you live your life and what you post on social media can reshape your personal brand. On LinkedIn, students can post about accomplishments and areas of interest in the “3 A’s” – academics, athletics, and activities. You don’t know if colleges and employers will actually look at your LinkedIn profile or not, but students should assume that they will. 1. Why is LinkedIn important to include in your digital footprint? More than 560 million people are on LinkedIn For students, that includes college admissions officers, college application readers, and internship recruiters. That makes LinkedIn the perfect place for a high school student to tell their unique story. LinkedIn is the home base for your professional network in your career. LinkedIn is for professionals where people post work-related content. It’s more positive than other social networks. You don’t see trolling or much political commentary. It’s a great place to establish your personal brand. What is a personal brand? Amazon founder Jeff Bezos says it’s what people say about you when you aren’t in the room. Whether you actively define your personal brand and live by it or not, you have a brand. Here’s an easy way to discover what your personal brand is today: Ask friends and teachers for 3 words that describe you. Look for patterns in what they say. Is that what you want to be known for or not? If you want to change it, how you live your life and what you post on social media can reshape your personal brand. On LinkedIn, you can … Connect with fellow professionals: Students can connect with teachers, professors, college officers, other students, and people at companies of interest. Access news and information about your career field, your company, and your industry: Students can access information about their dream schools and companies of interest for internships. Share your knowledge and become a thought leader: Students can post about accomplishments and areas of interest in the “3 A’s” – academics, athletics, and activities. Even when you finish high school and college, your education is never complete: The world is changing so quickly that we all have to learn something new every day. LinkedIn is a great place for lifelong learning. Your “home” feed shows you content from your network about the working world. “What people are talking about now” has the 10 current hot topics on LinkedIn. With a paid subscription, you can access thousands of online classes, webinars, and videos on almost any topic to build your skills. 2. Why should students start a LinkedIn profile? Among those 560 million people on LinkedIn are college admissions officers, college application readers, and recruiters for internships and jobs. By establishing a presence on LinkedIn, you make it easier for people to find you and learn more about you online when you apply to college, internships, and jobs. You make it easier for people who want to learn more about you online when you apply to college, internships, and jobs. Kaplan Test Prep does a survey every year of college admissions officers. This year, more than two-thirds (68%) of colleges say it’s “fair game” for them to visit applicants’ social media profiles to help them decide who gets in. And in last year’s Kaplan survey, more said that social media had helped a student’s admission chances. In fact, 47% said “what they found had a positive impact on prospective students.” That was more than the 42% who said “what they found had a negative impact.” Another group, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars Admissions Officers, says more than 75% of colleges are looking at social media. Now, you don’t know if they’ll actually look at your profiles or not but students should assume that they will. And why not make it easy for them? Students can put a link to their LinkedIn profile in their college application. This expands the 650-word limit to your essays in the Common Application for colleges. You can think of a LinkedIn profile as your online portfolio of work and everything you’d want a college admissions officer to know about unlimited by any word count. Of course, you want to make your LinkedIn profile easy to navigate, visually appealing, and easy to read. Include lots of work samples including photos, videos, and links that are appropriate. Students should personalize their LinkedIn URL. That way, you have a personally branded link with your name, rather than a jumble of automated letters and numbers. It will appear as linkedin.com/in/yourname You can format your name the same as your handles on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. You can include your LinkedIn URL in things like an email signature, a bio, or a resume if you have a separate one from LinkedIn. 3. At what age should students get started? At this time, anyone 16 or older can establish a LinkedIn profile. As soon as you’re 16, you should start your profile. Before that, when students are 14 or 15, they can: Keep a digital file of accomplishments in academics, athletics, and activities. Take pictures and videos of a Model UN competition, a science fair, your sports team in action, or while you’re volunteering for your favorite charity. Josh encourages younger students to be active on Facebook and Instagram, which you can join at 13. Your activity on these platforms can help when you’re old enough to join LinkedIn. When students turn 16, they already have a record of items to start their LinkedIn profile. Speaking of age, I know it’s hard for students to look far into the future, but here’s an interesting stat: more than half of babies born in developed nations in the 2000s can expect to live to 100 or beyond, according to the medical journal The Lancet. That means a lot of years will be spent working. For younger workers, it could mean 12 or 15 different jobs over a lifetime, according to Forrester Research. To transition from job to job, your reputation is important to recruiters and hiring managers. Your reputation builds over time, and it’s something you can shape. As Josh speaks about so compellingly, you can influence those transitions by a strong and positive presence on social media, including LinkedIn. 4. What should students do on LinkedIn? Start with completing your profile – complete each field until LinkedIn says you’re an “All Star” (from Be Bold In Your LinkedIn Profile). You don’t have to do it all at once. Work on it over a series of days or weeks. Your profile is always a work in progress. As you do new things, you add them to your profile. Here are some tips from Catherine Fisher at LinkedIn from a conference I attended: Include a professional photo. Your profile is 14 times more likely to be viewed if you have a photo. It should be a close up of you, and it should look professional. Your senior portrait might work. If you don’t have a high-quality recent headshot, get one done. There are even photo analyzers out there that will tell you how your headshot portrays you. While you’re at it, customize the background photo. Rather than the default blue with dots and lines, choose a picture that tells your story. Personalize your headline. Don’t use the default, which is your current job title. Show what you do and what makes you unique. Look at headlines for other students and young professionals to find inspiration and see what catches your eye. Add visuals. There are more than 20 million pieces of content on member profiles. Is your content among those? Post videos and pictures of your best work. Upload relevant presentations that are appropriate for sharing with the public. Science fair project? Sports team playoffs? Community service event? Think about what you’re doing that you can share on LinkedIn. Post a compelling summary. Make it 40 words or more. Include “keywords” for your interests, so people can find you in a search. Read other summaries by students and young professionals to see what appeals to you. Writing in first person is stronger and bolder than using third person. Try to show at least 2 “positions.” You can include any paid work. Maybe you’ve started an online business. Small jobs you may have done for neighbors count, like dog walking, babysitting, or house sitting. Include volunteer experience and causes. This information increases profile views by 6 times. If your community service interests and activities happen to align with those of your top colleges of interest, be sure to highlight those. Check out LinkedIn Learning. We all get to be lifelong learners, and this feature offers hundreds of online courses. It’s a great reason to become a premium subscriber as a young professional. You also get access to analytics, or data about your activity on LinkedIn. This is super helpful for insights about your profile views and how your network engages with your content. Share your contact information, as appropriate. Include your email address and, if you have them, your blog and/or your Twitter handle. For privacy and safety, there’s no need to share your mobile number. Customize your public URL. For consistent branding, use your name in the URL the same way you use it in other social profiles. Put it on your email signature and your resume. Add skills and get endorsements. Be deliberate about skills you list. What do you want to be known for? Your top 3 skill endorsements display in mobile search, so reorder them to show the ones that best tell your story. Give back to your network by endorsing others’ skills. Follow and engage with University pages for colleges of interest Beyond visiting a college campus, being active on a University Page shows your interest in a school. Students can engage in content on a university page by liking and commenting on posts, as well as asking questions. Leave thoughtful comments that give your point of view and add to the dialogue. Keep Josh’s Light, Bright and Polite™ mantra in mind. Just don’t overdo it. Once a week maximum. Take cues from how often others are posting and what they are posting, both the good and the bad. Look for people from the college who are active on the page and consider following them or inviting them to join your network with a personalized invitation about why you’d like to connect. Again, keep your messaging Light, Bright and Polite™. Here’s what LinkedIn says about University Pages (also, the LinkedIn Help Center is a great resource with lots of valuable info): University Pages can help you connect with a school’s administrators and student community, explore what alumni are doing now, and join conversations with those who can inspire your career. Here’s a list of University Page sections and how you can interact with them to get the information you want: Explore the careers of alumni – Find out what students and graduates from your school are doing now. Click the bar graphs to select filters and see what they’ve studied, where they work, and what they do. Find inspiration from the career paths of your peers to help shape your own. Activity feed – You can share updates and join conversations on your University Page feed. Reach out to students, alumni, and school leaders to find out what schools are really like and get valuable insights to help guide your career. Be sure to follow the university pages you’re interested in to receive updates on your homepage. Notable alumni – See which alumni have achieved something particularly noteworthy and get a sense of what’s possible for you in the Notable alumni module and on the Notables tab. Click the person’s picture to learn more about their background. General Information – Expand the General Information section to find key facts about the school such as the student population, community information, location of the campus, and more. Students & Alumni – The Students & Alumni tab allows you to see your current LinkedIn connections who attended the school. You can also grow your network by connecting with peers with similar interests. Recommendations – Post a recommendation on your University Page to share your college experiences with future students and school administration. Have conversations about your academic program, professors, and campus life. Build your network (from Be Bold in Growing Your LinkedIn Network) This can include friends, friends’ parents, community leaders from activities like scouting and athletics, and many more. Be aware that sometimes teachers must wait until a student is 18 before they can connect with them on social media. Every time you meet someone new, you can add them to your LinkedIn network. You can follow and/or connect with speakers who come to your school and college reps who visit your school. Tip – always personalize your invitation. In a few short sentences, say why you’d like to connect. This will make you more memorable and increase the likelihood that your invitation will be accepted. Take advantage of the “People You May Know” algorithm in LinkedIn for other ideas. For colleges of interest, you could connect with alumni whom your parents know. Share content (from How to Get Started with LinkedIn Updates and 11 Engaging Topics for LinkedIn Updates) Share your interests, passions, and accomplishments in words, images, videos, and links. Choose topics that are appropriate for a professional network. Focus on leadership, teams, and how you’re making the world a better place. That can include sports teams, school clubs, and community service. What are you doing in academics, athletics, and activities that would be good to share? Are you attending interesting events? Going to cultural destinations like museums? Traveling and being exposed to different parts of the world? Share your experiences and what you’re learning. Add a relevant hashtag or two to your posts. This makes it easier for people to find your content. You may want to use a consistent group of hashtags that are unique to your areas of interest, whether it’s science or the arts. Social media is all about reciprocity, so “like” others’ content that fits with your interests and leave thoughtful comments. Remember to always read links before liking, comment on, or sharing them. Make sure you agree with the content and that you’re comfortable with how that content reflects on you. In other words, “look before you like,” and “look before you link”. 5. What are the positive aspects of LinkedIn? You can virtually “meet” people you might not be able to meet easily in real life. Think of college admissions officers, hiring managers, and people who are thought leaders in your area of interest. You can influence people’s perceptions of you. You can actively shape your personal brand by what you post and who you connect with. You can be found by people you might want to know by posting good content on your LinkedIn with hashtags and keywords that make you easy to find. 6. Who should you trust to give you feedback on your LinkedIn activity? Your mom or dad. A friend or colleague of your mom or dad who is active and well-connected on LinkedIn. The may know someone who is a college admissions officer, a corporate recruiter, or a hiring manager who would be willing to give feedback on your LinkedIn. A trusted teacher. You could ask an English teacherl while the class is working on college essays. A community leader, like your sports team coach, or your Girl Scout or Boy Scout leader. Register today for Smart Social Week: An Online Parent Conference To Get Your Kids Off Their Screens.

Dan and Mike are joined by Kristen Smith, who leads a team of Student Brand Ambassadors at Kaplan Test Prep, to talk about the concept of "ghosting" and how it relates to the hiring lifecycle. We discuss the evolution of the term and how hiring managers are encountering it as a growing trend. Along similar generational lines, the trio takes a look at a recent New York Times article on how higher education is shifting to meet the changing needs of Generation Z (or iGen).

Brenda Bernstein enumerates the top mistakes people make when crafting their LinkedIn profiles and what you should do instead.   You'll Learn: Two keys to crafting an eye-grabbing LinkedIn profile How to grow your LinkedIn network past 500 people quickly and easily The case for making recommendations   About Brenda: Brenda Bernstein, Founder and Senior Editor at The Essay Expert LLC, is the author of How to Write a Killer LinkedIn Profile, a book that held the #1 bestseller spot in Amazon’s business writing skills list for over two years. A sought-after speaker and award-winning businesswoman and resume writer, Brenda is a dedicated student of leadership and a trained life coach. Armed with a B.A. in English with honors from Yale and a J.D. with honors from NYU Law School, she has been partnering with job seekers and college applicants for over 15 years to create effective written application documents. Brenda practiced law for 10 years in New York City and spent a year as a J.D. Career Advisor with the University of Wisconsin Law School’s Office of Career Services. She currently works part-time as a Law School Admissions Consultant for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions.   View transcript, show notes, and links at http://AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep326

InsideTheBoards Study Smarter Series for the USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 This is a best-off episode of the ITB podcast featuring Elizabeth's conversation with friend of ITB and psych resident, Taylor Brana of The Happy Doc. They're breaking down some high-yield psychiatry questions.  Kaplan Test Prep Minute Have you ever asked yourself, why are test-questions so long? In today's Kaplan Test Prep minute with Dr. Chris Cimino, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Kaplan Medical, we discuss how the examination question writers determine the length of a question vignette.  ITB listeners can take up to 40% off any Kaplan Medical product (when combined with an American Medical Association membership discount) by going to kaptest.com and using the offer code "ITB15" to take advantage of this offer.  ITB Audio Qbank and iOS Beta App The Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app has both free and premium features and is available on both Android and iOS.  To get started, first, create a Boardsinsider Account on our website insidetheboards.com Free Features  All of our podcasts in one place organized into playlists for easy studying (also with less ads and exclusive content)  Mindfulness meditations designed specifically for medical students  A monthly offering of high yield content (questions dissections, audio qbank samples) available only on our mobile app.  Premium Features Subscribe to an ITB premium account and get additional features  Access to 500+ audio optimized board style practice questions in our Audio Qbank. The Step 1 version is powered by Exam Circle and the Step 2 Version is powered by OnlineMedEd. New questions added each month.  High Yield Pharmacology (powered by Lecturio) with 100 of the top pharm questions you need to know for both Step 1 and Step 2  Audio Flashcards (coming soon)  Our audio qbank is THE PERFECT companion for studying for the boards on the go. And we're adding content and improving it all the time.   Learn more about the Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app here Legal Stuff Music: "The Last Garrison" off The Mindsweeo by Enter Shikari (used with permission). Content courtesy of Osmosis. Original version may be found at the appropriate topic heading at https://open.osmosis.org/topics InsideTheBoards is not affiliated with the NBME, USMLE, COMLEX, NBOME or any professional licensing body. InsideTheBoards fully adheres to the policies on irregular conduct outlined by the aforementioned credentialing bodies.

InsideTheBoards Study Smarter Series for the USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 This is Part 2 of our high-yield psych episode for the 2018 series. Alex Iacono and Elizabeth Beeman dissect some questions courtesy of our friends at Osmosis.   Kaplan Test Prep Minute Find out how the examination bodies decide what should be included in an exam!  In today's Kaplan Test Prep minute with Dr. Chris Cimino, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Kaplan Medical, we discuss the eternal question: "Will this be on the test?"  ITB listeners can take up to 40% off any Kaplan Medical product (when combined with an American Medical Association membership discount) by going to kaptest.com and using the offer code "ITB15" to take advantage of this offer.  ITB Audio Qbank and iOS Beta App The Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app has both free and premium features and is available on both Android and iOS.  To get started, first, create a Boardsinsider Account on our website insidetheboards.com Free Features  All of our podcasts in one place organized into playlists for easy studying (also with less ads and exclusive content)  Mindfulness meditations designed specifically for medical students  A monthly offering of high yield content (questions dissections, audio qbank samples) available only on our mobile app.  Premium Features Subscribe to an ITB premium account and get additional features  Access to 500+ audio optimized board style practice questions in our Audio Qbank. The Step 1 version is powered by Exam Circle and the Step 2 Version is powered by OnlineMedEd. New questions added each month.  High Yield Pharmacology (powered by Lecturio) with 100 of the top pharm questions you need to know for both Step 1 and Step 2  Audio Flashcards (coming soon)  Our audio qbank is THE PERFECT companion for studying for the boards on the go. And we're adding content and improving it all the time.   Learn more about the Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app here Legal Stuff Music: "Live Outside" off The Spark by Enter Shikari (used with permission). Content courtesy of Osmosis. Original version may be found at the appropriate topic heading at https://open.osmosis.org/topics InsideTheBoards is not affiliated with the NBME, USMLE, COMLEX, NBOME or any professional licensing body. InsideTheBoards fully adheres to the policies on irregular conduct outlined by the aforementioned credentialing bodies.

InsideTheBoards Study Smarter Series for the USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 It's part 2 of Elizabeth and Stewart's high yield neurology question dissections.  Kaplan Test Prep Minute In today's Kaplan Test Prep minute with Dr. Chris Cimino, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Kaplan Medical, we discuss board exam paranoia and illegal question types. You know, that feeling students get when they do a practice question, get it wrong and think: wait a minute, am I being tricked? ITB listeners can take up to 40% off any Kaplan Medical product (when combined with an American Medical Association membership discount) by going to kaptest.com and using the offer code "ITB15" to take advantage of this offer.  ITB Audio Qbank and iOS Beta App The Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app has both free and premium features and is available on both Android and iOS.  To get started, first, create a Boardsinsider Account on our website insidetheboards.com Free Features  All of our podcasts in one place organized into playlists for easy studying (also with less ads and exclusive content)  Mindfulness meditations designed specifically for medical students  A monthly offering of high yield content (questions dissections, audio qbank samples) available only on our mobile app.  Premium Features Subscribe to an ITB premium account and get additional features  Access to 500+ audio optimized board style practice questions in our Audio Qbank. The Step 1 version is powered by Exam Circle and the Step 2 Version is powered by OnlineMedEd. New questions added each month.  High Yield Pharmacology (powered by Lecturio) with 100 of the top pharm questions you need to know for both Step 1 and Step 2  Audio Flashcards (coming soon)  Our audio qbank is THE PERFECT companion for studying for the boards on the go. And we're adding content and improving it all the time.   Learn more about the Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app here Legal Stuff Content courtesy of Osmosis. Original version may be found at the appropriate topic heading at https://open.osmosis.org/topics InsideTheBoards is not affiliated with the NBME, USMLE, COMLEX, NBOME or any professional licensing body. InsideTheBoards fully adheres to the policies on irregular conduct outlined by the aforementioned credentialing bodies.

InsideTheBoards Study Smarter Series for the USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 Elizabeth and Stewart discuss some high yield neurology questions for the USMLE Step 1. Kaplan Test Prep Minute In today's Kaplan Test Prep minute with Dr. Chris Cimino, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Kaplan Medical, we discuss the eternal question: how do I know I'm ready to take the exam? Learn about the law of diminishing returns and get up to 40% off (when combined with an American Medical Association membership discount) any Kaplan Medical product by going to kaptest.com and using the offer code "ITB15" to take advantage of this offer.  ITB Audio Qbank and iOS Beta App The Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app has both free and premium features and is available on both Android and iOS.  To get started, first, create a Boardsinsider Account on our website insidetheboards.com Free Features  All of our podcasts in one place organized into playlists for easy studying (also with less ads and exclusive content)  Mindfulness meditations designed specifically for medical students  A monthly offering of high yield content (questions dissections, audio qbank samples) available only on our mobile app.  Premium Features Subscribe to an ITB premium account and get additional features  Access to 500+ audio optimized board style practice questions in our Audio Qbank. The Step 1 version is powered by Exam Circle and the Step 2 Version is powered by OnlineMedEd. New questions added each month.  High Yield Pharmacology (powered by Lecturio) with 100 of the top pharm questions you need to know for both Step 1 and Step 2  Audio Flashcards (coming soon)  Our audio qbank is THE PERFECT companion for studying for the boards on the go. And we're adding content and improving it all the time.   Learn more about the Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app here Legal Stuff Content courtesy of Osmosis. Original version may be found at the appropriate topic heading at https://open.osmosis.org/topics InsideTheBoards is not affiliated with the NBME, USMLE, COMLEX, NBOME or any professional licensing body. InsideTheBoards fully adheres to the policies on irregular conduct outlined by the aforementioned credentialing bodies.

Mike and Dan sit down with Melissa Griffith, Vice President of Analytics and Strategy at Kaplan Test Prep, to discuss the newly released 2018 Meeker Report on Internet Trends. We dive into the growth of the internet, expansion of mobile access, the importance of data privacy and more. How does China's population view the sharing of their data in comparsion to that of the United States? What does the report have to say about life-long learning and the future workforce? How do Fortnite and Slack relate to all of this? Tune in to find out.

How to think like a question writer | Chris Cimino, Vice President of Kaplan Medical (Part 2) In the second part of our episode with Dr. Chris Cimino, vice president and chief medical officer for Kaplan Medical, a former member of multiple item-writing committees and task forces for the National Board of Medical Examiners, we learn more about Dr. Cimino's own successes and failures in examinations and dive more deeply into the processes that contribute to making a test like the USMLE or COMLEX   InsideTheBoards Study Smarter Series for the USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 Check out our high-yield, free audio resource for on-the-go boards prep at bit.ly/ITBpodcasts to help you most especially with your dedicated Step 1 preparation (but also relevant advice on test-taking strategy for senior medical students and even residents and international medical graduates who are preparing for Step 3). In upcoming shows, also look for our Kaplan Test Prep minute with Dr. Cimino, a series of brief, practical discussion on exam strategy, study tips, and more. ITB Audio Qbank and iOS Beta App The Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app has both free and premium features and is available on both Android and iOS.  To get started, first, create a Boardsinsider Account on our website insidetheboards.com Free Features  All of our podcasts in one place organized into playlists for easy studying (also with less ads and exclusive content)  Mindfulness meditations designed specifically for medical students  A monthly offering of high yield content (questions dissections, audio qbank samples) available only on our mobile app.  Premium Features Subscribe to an ITB premium account and get additional features  Access to 500+ audio optimized board style practice questions in our Audio Qbank. The Step 1 version is powered by Exam Circle and the Step 2 Version is powered by OnlineMedEd. New questions added each month.  High Yield Pharmacology (powered by Lecturio) with 100 of the top pharm questions you need to know for both Step 1 and Step 2  Audio Flashcards (coming soon)  Our audio qbank is THE PERFECT companion for studying for the boards on the go. And we're adding content and improving it all the time.   Learn more about the Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app here Legal Stuff  Music: "Out of Mind" from the album Before the Waves by Magic Man. Used with permission.  InsideTheBoards is not affiliated with the NBME, USMLE, COMLEX, NBOME or any professional licensing body. InsideTheBoards fully adheres to the policies on irregular conduct outlined by the aforementioned credentialing bodies.

How to think like a question writer | Chris Cimino, Vice President of Kaplan Medical (Part 1) In this episode, Dr. Chris Cimino, vice president and chief medical officer for Kaplan Medical, a former member of multiple item-writing committees and task forces for the National Board of Medical Examiners, breaks down the process of constructing a multiple choice question and how items get into a standardized exam like the USMLE or COMLEX. We also deconstruct, step-by-step a multiple choice question from Kaplan's Qbank to illustrate these concepts.  InsideTheBoards Study Smarter Series for the USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 Check out our high-yield, free audio resource for on-the-go boards prep at bit.ly/ITBpodcasts to help you most especially with your dedicated Step 1 preparation (but also relevant advice on test-taking strategy for senior medical students and even residents and international medical graduates who are preparing for Step 3). In upcoming shows, also look for our Kaplan Test Prep minute with Dr. Cimino, a series of brief, practical discussion on exam strategy, study tips, and more. ITB Audio Qbank and iOS Beta App The Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app has both free and premium features and is available on both Android and iOS.  To get started, first, create a Boardsinsider Account on our website insidetheboards.com Free Features  All of our podcasts in one place organized into playlists for easy studying (also with less ads and exclusive content)  Mindfulness meditations designed specifically for medical students  A monthly offering of high yield content (questions dissections, audio qbank samples) available only on our mobile app.  Premium Features Subscribe to an ITB premium account and get additional features  Access to 500+ audio optimized board style practice questions in our Audio Qbank. The Step 1 version is powered by Exam Circle and the Step 2 Version is powered by OnlineMedEd. New questions added each month.  High Yield Pharmacology (powered by Lecturio) with 100 of the top pharm questions you need to know for both Step 1 and Step 2  Audio Flashcards (coming soon)  Our audio qbank is THE PERFECT companion for studying for the boards on the go. And we're adding content and improving it all the time.   Learn more about the Audio Qbank by InsideTheBoards mobile app here Legal Stuff  Music: "Out of Mind" from the album Before the Waves by Magic Man. Used with permission.  InsideTheBoards is not affiliated with the NBME, USMLE, COMLEX, NBOME or any professional licensing body. InsideTheBoards fully adheres to the policies on irregular conduct outlined by the aforementioned credentialing bodies.

On this extra edition of Trending In Education, we celebrate International Women's Day. We welcome four inspiring women to discuss their education, careers, and experiences. We're joined by Deborah Berebichez, Chief Data Scientist at Metis, Nancy Lee Sanchez, Executive Director for the Kaplan Educational Foundation, Esther Lee, Director of Program Development for Kaplan Test Prep's Digital Media team, and Rochelle Rothstein, Executive Vice President, Innovation & Product Strategy at Kaplan Test Prep to talk about women, education, mentorship, access, and more. 00:55 - Deborah Berebichez with Mike Palmer & Brandon Jones 17:56 - Rochelle Rothstein with Dan Strafford 32:18 - Nancy Lee Sanchez & Esther Lee with Mike Palmer

We are in the last days of October, and Early Decision and Early Action deadlines are just a handful of days or a couple of weeks away. There is still time, but not much for those of you interested in early applications (and we think that should be almost all of you, for Early Action at least). So, what is the role of parents at this critical time? Today’s episode is short and sweet, and it will hopefully affirm what you are already doing, parents, if you have been listening to USACollegeChat.  1. A New Survey In this episode, we want to talk about a new survey by Kaplan Test Prep. According to its LinkedIn profile, “Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Our job is not just teaching test material, but also giving students confidence in themselves. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry, offering preparation for more than 100 standardized tests. . .” (quoted from LinkedIn). By the way, this episode is not an endorsement of Kaplan Test Prep, or any other test prep company, because we have not done a careful study of their services or products and their results. Anyway, earlier this year, Kaplan Test Prep conducted a telephone survey of 354 admissions officers in high-ranked colleges. It seems to have focused on the admissions officers’ answer to a question something like this (I have not seen the actual survey questions, just the answers): “How involved should parents be in the college applications process?” These were the answers of the college admissions officers: Not involved at all--less than 1 percent of college admissions officers Not very involved--6 percent of college admissions officers Somewhat involved--75 percent of college admissions officers Very involved--18 percent of college admissions officers Extremely involved--1 percent of college admissions officers My personal view here is that parents need to be more than “somewhat involved”--the overwhelmingly favorite answer of those surveyed. Now, it is probably true that there were not definitions of these terms in the survey (at least, they weren’t reported if there were). So, perhaps my understanding of “somewhat involved” is not the same as the understanding of college admissions officers about that same term. Nonetheless, I would say that being in the middle point of any scale on how involved you should be about anything related to the next two or four or six years of your child’s life--and of something that could, in fact, affect your child’s entire future--is not my view. I get it: My view is quite different from the opinions of about 80 percent of college admissions officers, and I am not apologizing for it. It’s probably why we started USACollegeChat to begin with—that is, to help parents know what they need to know to be involved appropriately and effectively and to encourage parents to get involved in this life-changing decision for their kids. To be fair, the Kaplan Test Prep website quotes some crazy things that college admissions officers say that parents have done--perhaps, what a few of the “extremely involved” parents have done. All of these things are obviously terrible, and I want to make sure that you never do them, USACollegeChat listeners. So, here they are quoted, from the Kaplan Test Prep website: “I once had a parent call pretending to be the student, but I had met the student before so I knew how [her] voice sounds. I called the student’s cell phone after to suggest that her mom not pretend to be her and call other schools, because that’s fraud.” “We have plenty of ‘helicopter parents’ who are overly involved. We’ve had parents who wouldn’t let the student speak in meetings even when we tried to engage the student specifically.” “There have been parents who’ve called requesting to change their child’s major because they don’t want their child in that major.” “In some cases we’d get duplicate records due to parents and students both trying to complete parts of the application without talking to each other.” (quoted from the website) Clearly, I am not defending any of those parents or those actions. But I do believe that those parents are a long way from what reasonable and effective--but more than “somewhat”--involvement looks like.  To be fair, again, the Kaplan Test Prep website also listed some things that college admissions officers believe parents should do during the college admissions process. Here they are: “Parents should be very involved in coaching and advising in the actual decision-making, but it’s also important for students to be the ones most engaged in the process and in contact with the admissions officers.” “Parents should be there for support, but the child should be driving. Like learning to drive, you can be a back seat driver, but let kids steer.” “Parents should guide the student in thinking about certain aspects of the application and provide a sounding board for the students as they are considering their choices.” (quoted from the website) “Parents need to be most involved . . . when it comes to the financial aid process. Students are not knowledgeable in this area and need the most guidance with this.” Of course, I am good with all of those. But they are a bit vague, except for the absolutely necessary advice that kids cannot navigate financial aid by themselves. Parents can barely navigate financial aid, I believe. So, parents, don’t be afraid to get outside help, if at all possible. According to the website, Kaplan Test Prep believes that parents could reasonably be “accompanying [their children] on campus visits, making sure they meet application deadlines, or helping them fill out financial aid paperwork” (quoted from the website). I think we all would agree with that. But what else? Let’s talk about deciding where to apply. While Kaplan Test Prep would like kids to take the lead on that, we want to make sure that you do your part, parents. We would like kids to do the all-important research on the colleges on their LLCO (long list of college options) before narrowing that list down to their final “short list” of colleges. We talked about that a couple of weeks ago in Episode 139. And, of course, we hope that they will use our new workbook How To Explore Your College Options: A Workbook for High School Students to do that. But--however they do it--parents have to make sure that kids get the answers to lots of crucial questions about the colleges they are considering. It’s a lot of work to find out what you need to know about a college before deciding whether to apply. We can’t stress this enough. In fact, as we have said many times, lots of kids and parents don’t know nearly enough when those application decisions are being made. My guess is that kids will need some strong encouragement from parents in order to do the work required to get all of the information you both are going to need. Remember, we believe that you are going to need answers to 52 questions covering these important aspects of a college (see the questionnaire in our new workbook for details): History and Mission Location Enrollment Class Size Academics Schedule Housing Security Measures Activities and Sports Admission Practices Cost Talking through the answers to questions on all of these topics and weighing the advantages and disadvantages of as many as 15 or so colleges on your list is something that your kid is going to need your help with. Teachers and counselors at school just do not have the time it takes to do that for every student, for obvious reasons. Even if they did, this is your own kid we are talking about, and you both need to be happy with the decision about where to apply and, eventually, about where to enroll. That is going to take more than being “somewhat” involved.  And let’s talk about college application essays. We have talked so often about these in past episodes (Episode 98, Episode 99, Episode 106, and Episode 110) that I hate to do it again (though I probably will before the season is over). But I will say this now: You must read your kid’s college essays--all of them. Not just the main Common Application essay, but also all the supplemental ones. If you don’t feel confident in your own ability to read and suggest and edit and advise, then find an adult who can. Again, teachers and counselors at school just do not have the time it takes to do that for every student. Period. So, maybe it’s an older sibling or another relative or an internship mentor or someone at your house of worship or someone in a community program. But, whoever it is, kids need an adult to help with these essays. They just do. I am going to vote for “extremely” involved on this one.  I guess I could go on, but I hope that I have made my point. Those of you who know me know that I am speaking as a parent who has sent three kids to college (first as undergraduates and then as graduate students). But I am also speaking as someone who believes that parents want the best for each and every one of their kids and that they want to do their best to help see that their kids get it. So, don’t be afraid to be more than “somewhat” involved, whatever college admissions officers think. Find our books on Amazon! How To Find the Right College: A Workbook for Parents of High School Students (available as a Kindle ebook and in paperback) How To Explore Your College Options: A Workbook for High School Students (available in paperback) Ask your questions or share your feedback by... Leaving a comment on the show notes for this episode at http://usacollegechat.org/episode141 Calling us at (516) 900-6922 to record a question on our USACollegeChat voicemail if you want us to answer your question live on our podcast Connect with us through... Subscribing to our podcast on Google Play Music, iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn Liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter Reviewing parent materials we have available at www.policystudies.org Inquiring about our consulting services if you need individualized help Reading Regina's blog, Parent Chat with Regina

With Harvard following Arizona's lead and accepting GRE scores in the admissions process, more schools are starting to warm to the exam. But is the GRE really as good as the LSAT? Are schools just doing this as a cash grab at the expense of the profession? Elie thinks the GRE is basically filled out in crayon. Joe thinks it's a perfectly acceptable alternative test. Jeff Thomas of Kaplan Test Prep joins the show to say they're both a little right.

Today’s episode takes us into the world of technology, so that means I’m already in trouble, but fortunately not Marie. We want to highlight four ways colleges find out things about applicants, now that we live in a world of super-connectedness--which can be good and can be not so good. 1. Email Address So, let’s start with the most obvious: an applicant’s email address. Virtually all kids have email addresses these days; indeed, kids are called on to provide them as part of the Common App—under Profile, then under Contact Details. So, tell your teenager that colleges will see his or her email address. We know that college counselors have certainly talked to kids about this for quite some time, but it never fails that some kid still has an email address that sounds unprofessional, silly, or even offensive. Let me tell you a story about that--one that I have never forgotten, although it happened several years ago when I had the pleasure of hearing a very forthcoming college president speak frankly about this very topic to our juniors at the high school we co-founded. He recounted a story about how he personally had offered a kid a great scholarship to come to his college and then had to send him a follow-up email. The president of the college saw the young man’s email address--which included language that, though sadly popular among many teens, is considered by many to be a racial slur. The president immediately withdrew the scholarship. He said to the young man that his college was not looking for students who were comfortable using that sort of language to identify themselves or anyone else. Talk about learning a lesson the hard way! So, parents, look at your teenager’s email address. Double check that it is something straightforward, like his or her name @gmail.com. Make sure it is not too cute, funny, personal, weird, or offensive to anyone of any religion, race, ethnic group, nationality, or gender. No one wants to lose a scholarship because of an email address. And, by the way, make sure that your teenager actually checks his or her email every day from now through next April. We cannot tell you the number of high school kids we know who have gotten emails from various colleges about important matters and who didn’t see them in a timely manner. This totally irresponsible behavior will be even worse if your teenager makes up a new email address for college applications and really uses another one for all of his or her personal business.  2. Facebook Let’s turn to Facebook, something else that college counselors have undoubtedly been talking to kids about for some time as well. What we are sure they have said couldn’t be more obvious, at least to an adult. Simply put: Tell your teenager not to put stuff on Facebook that he or she does not want every adult he or she knows to see. Personally, I have not done the whole Facebook thing for very long, so I had no idea what my own kids posted. But, when my daughter was a teenager, I was comforted by the fact that the associate minister at our church followed Polly on Facebook. I figured that Polly would think twice before posting something that a minister would see. Today, Marie and I are Facebook friends with a number of the high school students who attended the high school we co-founded. Sometimes, I love what they have posted; other times, I wince. But, to be fair, that is also my reaction to a lot of what my adult friends post. Just say this to your teenager: Until you receive acceptances or rejections from all of the colleges you are applying to, be especially careful what you post on Facebook. Imagine that every college admissions officer might see what you are posting. For example, don’t post photos of you at parties in various stages of revelry. And, to be safe, use the most restrictive privacy setting so that only your “friends” can see what you post. It just makes sense. 3. ZeeMee Let’s turn to ZeeMee. If you have been looking at the Common App supplements for various colleges, you might have seen a question like this: Binghamton University has partnered with ZeeMee, a free service that allows students to showcase themselves using an online profile page. To submit your profile to Binghamton University, paste your ZeeMee link here. If you don’t know what we are talking about, you should go read about it on ZeeMee’s website. What you will see first is this language: “Get seen. Get connected. THE app for your college journey. Use images and videos to show your story. Colleges see the real you. Sign up. It’s free.” There is also a short video that is quite informative. And, by the way, the ZeeMee story also allows for text to be included. According to the website, over 200 colleges already ask applicants for a ZeeMee link. While not required, at least by the colleges I have seen, one has to wonder whether not having a ZeeMee link will eventually be something that hurts an applicant’s chances of getting accepted. Maybe it already does, even if only subconsciously on the part of a college admissions officer, who probably enjoys seeing what an applicant looks like and now has a mental image that must make that applicant more real than just an online or printed application. You can watch a video on the ZeeMee website of college admissions officers saying just this sort of thing. Wisely, ZeeMee has presentations and lessons for high school counselors to use to help kids get their ZeeMee stories ready for prime time. We imagine that the occasional English teacher might also be able to get some mileage out of these resources. So, how do we feel about ZeeMee? We aren’t sure, to tell you the truth. It seems clear that a good ZeeMee story could be effective in making an applicant’s case to a college. It seems unclear, at this point, whether a ZeeMee story could be the deciding factor in an admissions decision. We worry a bit that some kids will be able to get a lot more help than others in putting together a ZeeMee story--just as some kids will be able to get a lot more help than others in writing their application essays or studying for the college admissions tests. That could be because some kids can afford to buy more help or because some kids go to high schools that are better equipped to provide more help. It’s great that ZeeMee itself is free for kids, but that in itself doesn’t necessarily level the playing field for high school students. So, should your kid have a ZeeMee link to his or her personal story in images and video and text? Probably so. Hopefully, this will be one good use of technology and one that doesn’t discriminate unfairly among its users. 4. LinkedIn Finally, let’s look at LinkedIn, where many of you parents probably have your own profile. Just as with Facebook, Marie and I are connected to many of our former students on LinkedIn. I am happy to say that they seem quite mature in their LinkedIn posts. But they are college students, not high school students. Natasha Singer, in an excellent article in The New York Times about a month ago, wrote about a LinkedIn profile as “the new item on the college admission checklist.” Ms. Singer wrote this: Public schools from San Francisco to New York City are teaching online conduct skills as part of a nationwide digital citizenship push to prepare students for colleges and careers. Teenagers who set up LinkedIn profiles in the hope of enhancing their college prospects represent the vanguard of this trend. But the phenomenon of ambitious high school students on LinkedIn also demonstrates how social networks are playing a role in the escalation of the college admissions arms race. For students in high-pressure schools who already start packaging themselves for college in ninth grade, LinkedIn could add yet another burden to what might be called the careerization of childhood. (quoted from the article) We hear you, people who are concerned. “The escalation of the college admissions arms race”--we couldn’t have said it better ourselves. It’s a bit like the way we feel about ZeeMee--maybe worse. Ms. Singer continues on that topic: Professionalized teenage résumés could also further intensify disparities in college applications. "Kids from privileged families tend to do more … both offline and online--joining school clubs, writing for their school newspaper, getting tutoring so their grades go up, doing SAT preparation," says Vicky Rideout, a researcher who studies how teenagers use technology. Using LinkedIn on college applications, she says, "is yet another way for there to be a disparity between the haves and the have-nots." (quoted from the article) Honestly, we did not want one more way to “unlevel” the playing field, and we are hoping that colleges give some thought to that, though we are doubtful that they will. And here is something else Ms. Singer addresses in the article, and this takes us back to our earlier Facebook comments: For high school students, LinkedIn is partly a defense mechanism against college admissions officers who snoop on applicants’ public Facebook and Twitter activities--without disclosing how that may affect an applicant’s chance of acceptance. A recent study from Kaplan Test Prep of about 400 college admissions officers reported that 40 percent said they had visited applicants’ social media pages, a fourfold increase since 2008. Officials at Vassar College and other institutions that deliberately do not search out applicants’ social media profiles suggested that colleges disclose their admissions practices. "We prefer to evaluate a candidate based on the items that candidate has prepared and submitted to us,’ said Art D. Rodriguez, Vassar’s dean of admission and financial aid. He added, ‘While we understand that some colleges and universities do look into candidates’ online profiles, we believe those schools should be transparent about the procedure and alert applicants to it." (quoted from the article) We would like to say, “Good for you, Mr. Rodriguez and Vassar College.”  And here’s some information about LinkedIn and high school students that I didn’t know: To attract high school students, LinkedIn in 2013 dropped its minimum age requirement for members in the United States to 14 from 18. Since then, the site has had a significant increase in high school users, said Suzi Owens, a LinkedIn spokeswoman. The company declined to specify how many high school students used the network. Although LinkedIn has default privacy settings for users under 18--like automatically displaying only their first names and last initials, rather than their full names--students can change the settings. (quoted from the article) So, I know that technology is great and that it can solve many problems. But I am wondering whether there was a problem here that needed to be solved. Frankly, it’s hard for me to imagine what high school students would have to say in a LinkedIn profile--though I guess it is the same stuff they would put on a résumé, if they were looking for an internship or a part-time job. And we have certainly done our fair share of editing résumés for high school kids looking for internships. For me, the jury is still out on whether a LinkedIn profile needs to be “the new item on the college admission checklist.” But, parents, if your kid has one, you better believe that we think you should check it out. The Kindle ebook version of our book, How To Find the Right College, is on sale for $0.99 through 2016! Read it on your Kindle device or download the free Kindle app for any tablet or smartphone. The book is also available as a paperback workbook. Ask your questions or share your feedback by... Leaving a comment on the show notes for this episode at http://usacollegechat.org/episode102 Calling us at (516) 900-6922 to record a question on our USACollegeChat voicemail if you want us to answer your question live on our podcast Connect with us through... Subscribing to our podcast on Google Play Music, iTunes, Stitcher, or TuneIn Liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter Reviewing parent materials we have available at www.policystudies.org Inquiring about our consulting services if you need individualized help Reading Regina's blog, Parent Chat with Regina

This week in the Law School Insider we are bringing you Jeff Thomas, Executive Director, Pre-Law Programs for Kaplan Test Prep. It was great having Jeff Thomas on the show as he talked to us about the LSAT, Bar Preparation and many other things. 

When this series launched, I planned on doing some podcasts as part of the offerings.  Instead of the traditional "I can't stand Beach Volleyball" article, I wanted to come at it from a different angle.  I would find someone who liked beach volleyball and have a discourse about WHY I should like beach volleyball.  What is cool about it?  What drew them to it?  I thought it was a way to bring a more positive outlook to the series.  (And a great avenue for those emails you should be sending to me.  Hint Hint.)  The very first one that I wanted to do was, "Why Should I Love Baseball?"  With the historic World Series being played this very week, I WANT to like baseball.  But I can't.  Enter Arthur Ahn, one of my friends and fellow instructors at Kaplan Test Prep.  He is a huge New York Mets and baseball fan.  So take a listen as we discuss baseball, other sports, and what to eat during the playoff run.  See?  We found common ground!

Andrew Yang had built Manhattan GMAT into an $11 million business when Kaplan Test Prep, an 800-pound gorilla in the education business, threatened legal action against his company.   Rather than react defensively, Yang sought to build a relationship with Kaplan executives, who would eventually go on to buy Manhattan GMAT for more than 8 times EBITDA.   To see how Yang turned a potential crisis into a clean offer of more than 8 times EBITDA.

Ilio is the Executive Director of Agile at Kaplan Test Prep. with about 10 years agile experience.  Five years ago, Kaplan was almost entirely waterfall. Over the course of two years, he introduced agile in some pilot projects with good outcomes. These proved the case for an organization wide roll out. To date, all 12 development teams work in agile. Several non-development teams do as well - 8 total including marketing, publishing, and content. Wendy's Notes From Interview After first year of rollouts across development teams, non-tech teams started agile adoption. Introduction of agile to complete autonomy varies depending on size and culture of team. Average 3 months non-software teams. “Processes are meant to serve you and not control you.”  Identify problems and baseline to improve before adoption and measure improvements as a result.  Use of surveys to measure more subtle points such as trust and happiness. Working with team gives the best sense — watching communication, collaboration, etc.  Most important questions: is throughput increasing? is team delivering more value? Coaches focused on agile roll out and now focused on how can our practices work better to build better products for our customers.  Culture shift — upfront planning -> hypothesis and goals with experiments in the marketplace and exercises. How can we deliver most stuff to how can we deliver right stuff Less lines of code, value higher. Technical debt gets reduced incrementally so value is continually added. Shifting Culture From Waterfall to Agile Provide lightweight formal support mechanism while adopting. Weekly meetings with c-suite, 80% of time needed, solves problems team couldn’t solve on own. 3 months, 25% of time, 6 months meeting eliminated. Teams solving all problems on their own. Once in last 2 years, they thought they needed it for a problem, but ended up figuring it out. Lots of meetings — wean off naturally because teams were able to resolve issues themselves. “supporting teams until they don’t need support… goal is for teams to be able to solve problems themselves.” Opt-in approach — figure out challenges, give it a 3 month try, see how it works and then decide if they want to continue. 20 teams stayed with agile 2 teams opted out. “The ultimate goal is for teams to work well together and deliver most value you can.” Thoughts on Dogmatic Agile Openness to try working differently in different context. Schools of thought that say what works best. “I don’t really care if its ‘agile’ I care if they are able to make good decisions, able to work in an iterative and incremental manner. If there are some things like portfolio management that helps the teams, thats ok. Pick whats right for your org and the context there." Balance is key — too much rigidity is bad, no framework or support is bad.  Cynefin Framework — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynefin — being a “chef” with ingredients