Podcasts about national test prep association

In this episode, Lisa and David discuss:Evolving expectations in college admissionsChallenges in assessing academic readiness amid grade inflation, and how some colleges are respondingIncreased reliance on standardized, verifiable academic indicatorsStrategic adjustments needed for competitive application successKey takeaways:Colleges increasingly expect students to submit AP exam scores for each AP class listed on transcripts to verify true academic mastery beyond inflated grades.Objective academic benchmarks—like AP exams, competitions, and certifications from Schoolhouse.world—are filling the gap left by discontinued SAT Subject Tests.Students without AP access, including those in under-resourced schools or homeschooling, can use Schoolhouse.world or CLEP exams to demonstrate subject proficiency.The selectivity of a student's intended major—not just the college—can significantly affect how much weight objective academic data carries in admissions. “Now, when you take an [AP] class in high school, an A in that course does not necessarily reflect content mastery anymore, and college admissions officers will even say this.” – David BlobaumAbout David Blobaum: David Blobaum is a nationally recognized expert on standardized exams and college admissions. He graduated from the University of Chicago with honors from both the college and his major. He is the managing partner at Summit Prep, a supplemental education company specializing in SAT and ACT tutoring. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Test Prep Association and is its Director of Outreach. In that role, he has helped educate families on testing and admissions through over seventy TV interviews, podcast appearances, and published op-eds. Episode References:#072 Summer is the Key to Academic Success https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/072#100 Can You Really Trust What Colleges Say Matters in Admission? https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/100#142 SAT, ACT, and Test-Optional Admissions https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/142#057 College Admission by Major with Andy Borst https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/057#149 Boosting STEM Student Success Through Math Contests with Vida John https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/149#042 Will grade inflation hurt your teen? https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/042#018 How to Get Freshman Year Free https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/018Schoolhouse.world: https://schoolhouse.world/Modern States: https://modernstates.org/The Nation's Report Card | NAEP: https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). flourishcoachingco.com/video Connect with David:Website: http://summitprep.us/Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCUAS5Ayzj6evxDqoNieGkqgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-blobaum/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/summit-prep-llcConnect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

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

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

David Blobaum: College Admissions, Test Scores, and the National Test Prep Association. This is episode 720 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. David Blobaum is a nationally recognized expert on standardized exams and college admissions. Since graduating from the University of Chicago, he has devoted himself to helping students reach their potential on the SAT and ACT and, more broadly, to help them succeed through education. In addition to leading Summit Prep, he is on the Board of Directors for the National Test Prep Association and serves as its Director of Outreach to help advocate for the appropriate use of standardized testing in college admissions.  Lots to learn. Awesome conversation. Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee. This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.  Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you! You are AWESOME! Connect & Learn More: https://nationaltestprep.org/ https://x.com/TruthAndTests https://www.instagram.com/nationaltestprepassociation/ https://www.facebook.com/NTPAssociation/ https://www.youtube.com/@NationalTestPrepAssociation https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-test-preparation-association david@summitprep.us https://davidblobaum.com/ Length - 50:25

After 599 episodes devoted to amazing conversations about testing, admissions, education, and learning, it's time for something completely different. Amy and Mike invited educator Susan Powers to help celebrate our 600th episode. Get ready to hear from the ghosts of podcasts past, present, and future along with a modified Colbert questionnaire!  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the biggest things Amy and Mike learned since the beginning of the podcast? What were some of our favorite episodes? What will our podcast tombstones say? What are Mike, Amy, and Susan's favorite test passages? What does the future hold for testing, learning, and this podcast? MEET OUR GUEST Susan Powers is the founder and CEO of Woodlands Test Prep, a tutoring company based in the Houston area that improves students' scores, supports students' academic success, and helps families navigate the college admissions testing process with much less stress. Susan started teaching SAT and GMAT classes for Kaplan in 1994 as a hobby while an executive for a large oil and gas equipment company, doing strategy and acquisitions. The arrival of children put hobbies on hiatus, and she was able to return to tutoring in 2011, founding Woodlands Test Prep. The company has grown from a solopreneur to a larger company with multiple tutors. Susan delights in all aspects of the business from tutoring to curriculum and resource development to process improvement to hiring those few rare gems and teaching them how to help students too! Susan was a National Merit Scholar and has a B.A. in French and a B.B.A. in Finance from Southern Methodist University and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, focusing on entrepreneurship. She lives in the country with her partner, Joe, and three dogs, a cat, and a parrot named Monkey. Her two children now live adventurous lives in the mountainous West. She loves to travel around the world, play day-long board games, sing, write poetry, garden, and read a couple of books at a time. Susan is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. She first appeared on the podcast in episode 231 in a Test Prep Profile and in episode 534 Choosing Between the Digital SAT and the ACT. Susan can be reached at www.woodlandstestprep.com. LINKS The Highlands Ability Battery: What Are Mike and Amy's Results? RELATED EPISODES CELEBRATING OUR 500TH EPISODE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF TEST PREP: AMY SEELEY'S ORIGIN STORY SAT & ACT TESTING TIMELINES: MIKE BERGIN'S ORIGIN STORY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

In this episode, Lisa and David discuss:Understanding how colleges use ACT and SAT scores in admissions.Breaking down common myths about test scores and test-optional admissions.How grade inflation impacts your teen's GPA and admissions chances.The latest policies for ACT, SAT, AP, and IB exams. How much focus and time your teen should commit to test preparation. Key Takeaways: ACT scores are at a historical low. Currently, a score of 18 is the 50th percentile.Test scores are more predictive of success in college than the high school grades.In the absence of SAT Subject Tests, and especially when a school wants to be test-flexible, they're using AP exam scores more in admissions. For example, the University of California (UC) schools call themselves ACT and SAT test-free, but they do use AP and IB exam scores in their admissions process. In general, if admissions officers see an AP class on your teen's transcript, they will want to see an AP exam score to go with it.  “My best advice would be to try and learn the topics and skills that are most useful for succeeding in high school, in college, and beyond. And SAT and ACT scores are honestly a very good measure of how prepared a student is on that content.” – David BlobaumAbout David Blobaum: David Blobaum is a nationally recognized expert on standardizedexams and college admissions. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago and has devoted himself to helping students reach their potential on the SAT and ACT and, more broadly, to help them succeed through education. In addition to leading Summit Prep, he is on the Board of Directors for the National Test Prep Association and serves as its Director of Outreach to help highlight how academic standards can help students, schools, and society.Episode References:Common Data Set Video: https://flourishcoachingco.com/cds #060 Say Goodbye to the Paper SAT Test#072 Summer is the Key to Academic Success with David Blobaum#100 Can You Really Trust What Colleges Say Matters in Admission? with Rebecca Stuart-Orlowski, David Blobaum, and Becky PriestGet Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). flourishcoachingco.com/video  Connect with David:Website: https://summitprep.com/ Website: https://davidblobaum.com/ Twitter: https://x.com/SummitPrep_ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/summit_prep/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.comConnect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

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

This week, I'm joined by Mike Bergin, who has 30 years of intensive experience in every aspect of standardized test preparation. Mike is the founder of Chariot Learning, which delivers on the promise of what truly transformative, individualized education can and should be. Mike is also the founding President of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association, the creator of the TestBright SAT & ACT curriculum system and Roots2Words vocabulary program, and the co-host of the college admissions industry podcast Tests and the Rest. In our light-hearted interview, Mike shares the 7 steps to a terrible college essay—a fun way to drive home what NOT to do and the flip side of his article, 7 Steps To An Amazing College Essay. ------- I am a strong advocate for the work of Lisa Marker-Robbins and Flourish Coaching. For over a decade, Lisa has helped over 3,600 high school students and young adults gain the insight, experiences, and confidence they need to embark on their post-high school path. Along the way, however, she noticed an alarming trend: Teens struggled to find their true purpose–and the fallout wasn't pretty. There was a lot of uncertainty around college majors and future careers. As a result, students weren't graduating college on time, and even when they did, they often left college underemployed or unemployed altogether. From my perspective, gaining college and career clarity not only sets up the student to thrive in college and puts them on the path to future career success, but it's also beneficial for finding and winning scholarships. More than half of the private scholarships my son won, both in high school and while in college, were directly related to his college major. The other scholarships, while open to students of all majors, were still won due to his compelling Personal Narrative - his story of his future plans, with the ability to point to past achievements related to those plans. Whether your child is in high school or college, if they are unclear about their future career or even their college major, I can think of no better investment than to look into the programs that Lisa and Flourish Coaching offer. To learn more, go to http://www.FlourishCoachingCo.com/NoDebtMajors ------- Scholarship GPS is an online course that serves as your guide to the world of scholarships. This comprehensive course is packed with insightful and concise video lessons, each ranging from approximately three to ten minutes, offering the flexibility to seamlessly fit into your busy schedule. As a loyal Scholarship GPS Podcast listener, you have exclusive early access to the course, allowing you to dive into over 40 available lessons while new content is consistently being added. This is your opportunity to gain a competitive edge in your scholarship journey. What sets Scholarship GPS apart is the inclusion of BONUS LESSONS from trusted professionals in college admissions, test prep, and other crucial areas related to college readiness. These bonus lessons offer invaluable introductory knowledge from experts in their fields. To express my gratitude, I'm excited to offer you LIFETIME ACCESS to Scholarship GPS at a significantly discounted pre-launch rate of just $57 when you use coupon code AUGUST24 at checkout. This exclusive offer is a token of appreciation for Scholrship GPS Podcast listeners and is available as the course continues to evolve. Don't miss out on this opportunity to embark on your scholarship journey today. Remember, coupon code AUGUST24 expires on August 15, 2024. Go to www.ScholarshipGPS.com to sign up today. ------- Links to the articles for this week's featured scholarships: CollegeXpress Back-to-School Scholarship: You will Simply fill out the registration form based on your year in high school: 9th Graders: Apply with this link. 10th Graders: Apply with this link. 11th Graders: Apply with this link. 12th Graders: Apply with this link. $2500 Justice Solutions Group Future Mentors Scholarship $1000 Excellence in Academics and Performing Arts Scholarship $1000 Safety On The Road Scholarship $30,000 Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship $2500 SoFi Scholarship Giveaway  If you are not yet a member of SoFi you will need to register before participating in the Sweepstakes. (If you are looking for a new account to save your scholarship winnings, use this link to open an account with SoFi to get an extra $25! Opening an account is NOT a requirement for entering the scholarship sweepstakes.)

California is the most populous American state with a veritable cornucopia of exceptional and reasonably well-funded high schools. Why, then, do Californian teens need to travel hundreds–and sometimes thousands–of miles to sit for the SAT or ACT? Amy and Mike invited student Sebastian Gillmore and educator David Blobaum to discuss the need for testing sites in California. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the problem with SAT & ACT testing locations in California? Why are testing locations so scarce? Why is access to testing so critically important for students? What has been done so far to address this problem? What else can and should be done to expand testing access in California? MEET OUR GUEST David Blobaum is the director of outreach for the National Test Prep Association, which works to support the appropriate use of testing in admissions. He is a co-founder of Summit Prep, which opened its doors in 2013 to help empower students through education to succeed in life. Sebastian Gillmore is a rising Senior at Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, California just North of San Francisco. He's a hardworking student with a passion for mathematics, and he's on a mission to make college entrance exams, like the SAT and ACT, more accessible for California high school students. He recently authored an Op-Ed in the LA Times titled, “I live in Northern California. Why do I have to travel hundreds of miles to take the SAT?” David first appeared on the podcast in episode 79 to discuss Why The SAT And ACT Are Awesome and in episode 421 for a Sponsor Spotlight. David can be reached at www.summitprep.com. LINKS I live in Northern California. Why do I have to travel hundreds of miles to take the SAT?  It Shouldn't Be This Hard to Take the SAT and ACT https://testaccess.org/ RELATED EPISODES TESTING POLICIES AND EDUCATIONAL EQUITY REVISITED WHY UC WAS WRONG TO STOP USING THE SAT WHO LOSES WHEN WE ABOLISH ENTRANCE EXAMS? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

In this insightful episode of the College Knowledge Podcast, sponsored by the College Planning Network and Paradigm Financial Group, host Joe Kerins is joined by David Blobaum, the director of Outreach at the National Test Prep Association. The discussion is rich with expert analysis and trends in SAT preparation and the broader implications of standardized testing changes. Here are the key highlights:- Introduction to SAT Changes: The episode opens with a discussion about recent shifts in SAT scores and test-taking statistics, noting a significant drop in average scores since the pandemic. Joe Kerins shares that in 2023, 1.9 million SATs were taken with an average score of 1028, down from previous years.- Expert Return Guest: David Blobaum returns to the podcast to delve deeper into the evolving landscape of the SAT, especially the shift towards digital formats. The conversation explores whether these changes have made the test easier and what that means for students and educational institutions.- Impact of Digital Transition: Blobaum breaks down the new digital aspects of the SAT and addresses common concerns about the test's difficulty and the integrity of scores. The discussion highlights how the digital format might affect students' performance and the broader testing strategy.- Insights on Educational Trends: The episode features a broader discussion on the role of standardized testing in college admissions and how recent trends might influence future policies. The dialogue includes perspectives on how socioeconomic factors and summer learning can impact SAT scores.- Advice and Future Outlook: Looking forward, the conversation touches on the potential future of standardized testing, including how colleges might adjust their admissions strategies in response to new data and testing formats. Practical advice is given to parents and students navigating the increasingly complex landscape of college admissions.This episode of the College Knowledge Podcast provides a comprehensive exploration of the SAT's transformation, offering valuable insights for students, parents, and educators navigating the college preparation process in today's changing educational environment. Video Version of Podcast YouTube:The College Knowledge PodcastFollow us on social media:InstagramFacebookLinkedInVisit us online:The College Knowledge Podcast WebsiteElite Collegiate Planning

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

In this episode, Lisa, Rebecca, David, and Becky discuss:A critique of the information and misinformation of the latest NACAC Annual Survey of Colleges. The role of ACT and SAT scores even beyond the admissions process. The impact of Institutional Priorities in the admission of students.Colleges have differing expectations for various majors, including highly competitive majors. Whether the ability to pay affects students' admission rates.Key Takeaways: To understand what schools seek for admissions, the common data set is more important than the NACAC survey for the colleges your student is considering.The survey does not reflect admission by major but is critical for your student to understand.College is more than just getting in; it is also about affording college. Test-optional admissions help the most wealthy students and the least wealthy students. It hurts those in the middle class the most. Institutional priorities, like the ability to pay, influence admission but are not covered in the survey. “We always have to take these surveys with a grain of salt. I encourage families to do their homework, to work with professionals, or to work closely with their school counselor to really understand the nuances of college admissions because until things change, it continues to be very opaque.” – Rebecca Stuart-OrlowskiAbout Becky Priest: Becky Priest is the College Counselor at The Cambridge School, where she has overseen the design and build-out of their college counseling program. She also has over 20 years of college financial aid experience at all levels. She is currently serving on the Classic Learning Test's Board of Academic Advisors.About David Blobaum: David Blobaum is a nationally recognized expert on standardized exams and college admissions. He graduated from the University of Chicago with honors. He co-founded and runs 1Summit Prep and he is the Director of Outreach for the National Test Prep Association. About Rebecca Stuart-Orlowski: Rebecca Stuart-Orlowski has been an educational consultant specializing in profoundly gifted, 2E, advanced STEM, and homeschooled students for 11 years. She has a Specialized Certificate in College Counseling, a BA in Communicative Disorders, and 2 teaching credentials, Multiple Subjects w/ a Multicultural Emphasis & Communicatively Handicapped. She taught deaf, deaf/blind, LD, and 2E students for 4 years. She's a member of IECA, cochair of the IECA Homeschool Affinity Group, and a member of NACAC and WACAC. Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). flourishcoachingco.com/videoConnect with Rebecca:Facebook: facebook.com/OrlowskiCollegeConsulting LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rebeccastuartorlowskiEmail: r.orlowski.consulting@gmail.com Connect with David:Website: davidblobaum.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/david-blobaum/X: twitter.com/David_Blobaum Connect with Becky:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/becky-priest-458b204b Website: cambridgeclassical.org Connect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

Now that college admissions is moving back into a test-preferred environment, students don't have to struggle with the choice of whether or not to take a college entrance exam but rather which one. Amy and Mike invited educator Susan Powers to weigh the important factors in choosing between the digital SAT and the ACT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why should students give thought to which test they want to take? How are the ACT and digital SAT different? How does the ACT Science section play into a decision about which test to take? Should you prepare for both the ACT and digital SAT? Are there any general rules for what types of students are better suited to either test? MEET OUR GUEST Susan Powers is the founder and CEO of Woodlands Test Prep, a tutoring company based in the Houston area that improves students' scores, supports students' academic success, and helps families navigate the college admissions testing process with much less stress. Susan started teaching SAT and GMAT classes for Kaplan in 1994 as a hobby while an executive for a large oil and gas equipment company, doing strategy and acquisitions. The arrival of children put hobbies on hiatus, and she was able to return to tutoring in 2011, founding Woodlands Test Prep. The company has grown from a solopreneur to a larger company with multiple tutors. Susan delights in all aspects of the business from tutoring to curriculum and resource development to process improvement to hiring those few rare gems and teaching them how to help students too! Susan was a National Merit Scholar and has a B.A. in French and a B.B.A. in Finance from Southern Methodist University and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, focusing on entrepreneurship. She lives in the country with her partner, Joe, and three dogs, a cat, and a parrot named Monkey. Her two children now live adventurous lives in the mountainous West. She loves to travel around the world, play day-long board games, sing, write poetry, garden, and read a couple of books at a time. Susan is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. She first appeared on the podcast in episode 231 in a Test Prep Profile. Susan can be reached at www.woodlandstestprep.com. LINKS Meet the Digital SAT RELATED EPISODES WHY PRACTICE TESTS MATTER SO MUCH NEW SAT TEST SPECIFICATIONS THE NEW DIGITAL SAT EXPERIENCE: A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

In this episode, Lisa and Wendy discuss:Accommodation strategies for your student - both no-brainers and more unique options.Why documentation of accommodations (official and unofficial) is critical.How the new VP of Accommodations for ACT made it easier to get accommodations.What the accommodation application process looks like. Key Takeaways: In notes from teachers, ask them to leave off the flattery and stick purely to the facts of what accommodations were given. If your school counselor is referencing their ten-plus years of experience, that's great, but gently remind them the process changed for the positive in 2020.For the ACT, registering your student for the exam is going to kick off the accommodation application process. Lack of documentation is the biggest reason for denial of accommodation. There should also be an underlying story connecting those documents.  “Start getting letters from the teachers or making sure that you're saving the notes from your teacher meetings because all of that documentation is showing a history of struggle, even if it's not officially notated on a 504, IEP, or learning plan.” – Wendy RaynorAbout Wendy Raynor: Wendy has been tutoring college admissions exams for over 13 years. Her tutoring journey began unexpectedly but changed her life forever. She has helped hundreds (if not thousands) of neurodiverse students become successful on these exams. In 2016, she began WRH College Prep which focuses on preparing neurodiverse students for the ACT. In 2019, she became a founding member of the National Test Prep Association and quickly became recognized as the industry leader in standardized test accommodations. Wendy lives outside of Atlanta with her dog, She-Ra, and cat, Cringer.Episode References:ACT Test Dates: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.htmlAccommodations Simplified: A Guide to Understanding SAT® and ACT® Accommodations: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLNJBT29?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_XVX2PYNJGNG4N5G5VZBB Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). https://flourishcoachingco.com/videoConnect with Wendy:Website: https://wrhcollegeprep.com/ Website: https://accommodations-simplified.com/ Upcoming Book: Accommodations, Simplified!Connect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this comprehensive episode of the College Knowledge Podcast, hosts Dave and Joe delve into the multifaceted world of college admissions, standardized testing, and the impact on student success. Joined by David Blobaum, the Director of Outreach from the National Test Prep Association, they navigate through a variety of pivotal topics. Explore the recent changes in the SAT format transitioning from paper to digital, and the shortening of reading passages aimed at enhancing test quality. Uncover the alarming trends of declining education standards and the rise of grade inflation, alongside a deep dive into the controversial move towards test-optional admissions. The conversation further extends to the complex relationship between GPA, SAT scores, and the financial aspect of college admissions, shedding light on the reality of wealth overshadowing academic merit. Delve into the history and evolution of the SAT and ACT exams, debunking myths and gaining insights from admissions officers on the true essence of these tests. The episode also uncovers the origins and impacts of holistic admissions, discussing its ripple effects on meritocracy and discriminatory practices. As the discussion unfolds, the hosts also touch on the critical aspects of teaching to the test, grade inflation, and the importance of grit and resilience for achieving success. Tune in to this enlightening discussion that aims to equip students, educators, and parents with valuable insights to better navigate the college admissions landscape. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insightful discussions on higher education.Watch Episode Here:Is The SAT Becoming Easier? Colleges Are In Trouble... Video Version of Podcast YouTube:The College Knowledge PodcastFollow us on social media:InstagramFacebookLinkedInVisit us online:The College Knowledge Podcast WebsiteElite Collegiate Planning

What does test optional really mean? In today's episode your host Thomas Caleel interviews David Blobaum from National Test Prep Association. They discuss important issues around test prep, test-optional schools, and other helpful insights into standardized testing.  About David   David Blobaum is a nationally recognized expert in the entrance exam and college admissions industry and is the Director of Outreach for the National Test Prep Association, which works to support the appropriate use of testing in admissions. He graduated from the University of Chicago with honors both from the college and in his major, and he received his Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology. In college, he took seriously the University of Chicago's aim of a “Renaissance” or well-rounded education and took courses in 17 different disciplines, ranging from Statistics and Economics to Philosophy and Art History. Since then, he has devoted himself to helping students reach their potential through education and, more broadly, to help empower them to succeed in life. To do so, he co-founded the education company Summit Prep in 2013 with a classmate from college, Eva Addae. When David is not teaching the next generation of students, he enjoys reading and hiking. His favorite travel spot is Brazil -- his wife's home country. Find him HERE  NTPA Social Website: https://nationaltestprep.org/    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NTPAssociation  Twitter: https://twitter.com/TruthAndTests  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-test-preparation-association/  David's Social Twitter: https://twitter.com/David_Blobaum  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-blobaum000/  About Thomas Caleel Thomas is an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania. After earning his MBA at the Wharton School of Business in 2003, he moved to Silicon Valley. For three years, he was Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid at Wharton. He worked closely with admissions professionals, students, alumni, and professors to curate the best possible MBA class. Thomas has been an entrepreneur his entire life in the fields of finance, agriculture, wellness, and sporting goods. As the founder of Global Education Opportunities LLC, he works as a high level admissions advisor to help families and students achieve their education goals. Thomas started the podcast Admittedly because he is passionate about demystifying the application process for all parents and applicants. Make sure to follow @admittedlypodcast on instagram and @admittedlypodcast on TikTok. Please subscribe to our newsletter for important updates and subscriber only content. 

Leia LeMaster Horton homeschooled for 18 years in Orlando Florida and helped her own three children earn full tuition scholarships. She's been a Test Prep Professional for eight years and is a member of the National Test Prep Association. She loves helping homeschool families take the stress out of college prep. SHOW NOTES --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/heidistjohn/message

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

In this episode Lisa and David discuss:Statistics that will change the way you look at your student's school breaks.How to use school breaks for students' success. The profound impact reading has on a student's academic success. Helping students to increase their reading speed and comprehension. Key Takeaways: Between 1st and 5th grade, roughly 24% of what wealthy students learned was during the summer. For non-wealthy students, many had a reverse slide during that same time period. Taking away the student's instant gratification and teaching them to practice delayed gratification will positively impact their education. Get your student hooked on books. It doesn't matter what they're reading as long as they are reading. It is the most essential skill to develop for academic success in all subjects. If all your teen can do is read at the library, that is an amazing advantage for their education.  “Not only does reading ability helps students in English but again, it helps them in history, it helps them in biology, it will even touch upon and improve a student's math ability.” – David BlobaumAbout David Blobaum: David Blobaum is a nationally recognized expert on the SAT and ACT. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago, and, in 2013, he and a former classmate started Summit Prep, a tutoring company with locations in Bernardsville and Summit, NJ that specializes in SAT and ACT tutoring. He is on the Board of Directors for the National Test Prep Association and serves as the organization's Director of Outreach to help highlight how academic standards can help students, schools, and society.Episode References:Get Your FREE Reading Assessment here: https://flourishcoachingco.com/read Launch College & Career Clarity CourseLaunch College and Career Clarity Facebook CommunityFreshman Year For Free with Modern States: https://modernstates.org/freshman-year-free/ Take Lisa's free quiz “Is your teen ready for coaching?” here- https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/608984a7a898980017089b21/q/1Connect with David Blobaum:Website: https://summitprep.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/summitprep_ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/summit_prep/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SummitPrepNJ/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-blobaum000/ Listen to our previous episode with David here: The Digital SAT https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/podcast/060-say-goodbye-to-the-paper-sat-test/  Connect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishcoachingcoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-marker-robbins/Connect with Lisa: Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishcoachingco LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-marker-robbins/

Jeanne Lucas was a remarkable educator and even better friend who impacted more lives than she knew. In recognition of Jeanne and her boundless love of language and literacy, the National Test Prep Association is offering a scholarship in her honor. Amy and Mike invited friends to share reminiscences and details about the Jeanne Lucas Memorial Scholarship. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the Jeanne Lucas Memorial Scholarship? Who was Jeanne Lucas? What is the prompt for the Jeanne Lucas Memorial Scholarship? Who can and should apply for this scholarship? How much is the award and how many will be awarded? MEET OUR GUEST The National Test Prep Association is proud to commemorate the life and legacy of Jeanne Lucas, a founding member who lost her battle with cancer on February 8th, 2022. Jeanne (Supa J, Word Nerd, Tough Lil' B, and every other goofy name she ever gave herself) was a gifted educator and mentor, known for her passion for literature and the English language. After teaching at Holy Name High School and the Sandusky Public School System, Jeanne became a highly sought-after tutor and mentor for students preparing for advanced prep school and college entrance examinations. She was hard-working, staunchly reliable, loved her job, and logged thousands of miles driving to the remotest locations all over Greater Cleveland to tutor. Jeanne joined the Test Prep Tribe Facebook group when COVID hit, and it became her second family. She enthusiastically made many new friends, created deep connections with individuals, and became a signature member in the group, declaring “Power of the Tribe!” when working with others. She was everyone's cheerleader, and the Tribe rallied behind her in her battle with cancer. Jeanne was the first member of the National Test Prep Association, and it became her second family. Jeanne is deeply missed by her family, friends, and countless students whose lives she touched through her teachings and mentorship. The National Test Prep Association has established the Jeanne Lucas Memorial Scholarship in memory of Jeanne's commitment to education and her love of literature and the English language. This scholarship will provide financial assistance to students pursuing higher education. Many thanks to David Blobaum, Becky Cimini, Pranoy Mohapatra, Paul Pscolka, and Kenny Tan for sharing their memories of Jeanne. To find out more or apply for the scholarship, please visit the Jeanne Lucas Memorial Scholarship page. LINKS Jeanne Lucas Memorial Scholarship Donate to the Jeanne Lucas Memorial Scholarship TEST PREP PROFILE: Jeanne Lucas RELATED EPISODES HOW TO WIN LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS COMMON MISTAKES IN SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS FOUR SCHOLARSHIP MYTHS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

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

After nearly 30 years of intensive experience in every aspect of test preparation, Mike Bergin knows what works in tutoring and what doesn't. A nationally recognized leader in education, Mike founded Chariot Learning in 2009 to deliver on the promise of what truly transformative individualized education can and should be. Besides overseeing Chariot Learning's national programs, Mike is an ACT Certified Educator who trains teachers across the country to implement critical skills and college and career readiness standards.Mike is proud to be the founding President of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association, a non-profit dedicated to promoting the highest ethical standards and best practices in the test prep industry while advocating for the appropriate administration and use of standardized tests for admissions and assessment purposes. Mike is also the creator of the SAT/ACT TestFlip program, founder of the free testing and admissions answer site TestBright, co-host of Tests and the Rest, the college admissions industry podcast, and publisher of Tutor: The Newsletter.Lastly, Mike is the co-author of the Amazon bestseller Crash and Learn: Lessons in Business.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Luis Smith-Rosario, owner and founder of Hartford County Connecticut-based Just Solve It Tutoring. Luis founded Just Solve It in 2009, and he has since expanded his business to employ a range of skilled STEM tutors and to provide tutoring for students taking STEM courses and standardized tests, offering coaching at all skill levels. Luis is an SAT mathematics tutor who works with middle school and high school age students to improve their SAT math scores for college applications. His students often achieve score improvements of 100+ points on the math portion of the SAT, with many students earning over 700 on this portion. Luis is also a member of the National Test Prep Association.  Luis graduated with a BS from Central Connecticut State University with a major in economics and a minor in mathematics. Luis gained his teaching certification through the Alternate Route to Certification (ARC) program and previously worked as a public high school math teacher in the Greater Hartford area for many years while tutoring privately on the side.  Although he has transitioned careers to one of a private tutor, he is still committed to his goal of improving math literacy for students and helping them find academic success. Luis has one daughter and many nieces and nephews in Connecticut who have received tutoring and achieved success in math using Just Solve It Tutoring.  Find Luis at www.justsolveittutoring.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. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

The global pandemic may be behind us, but every sector of society–including education–still struggles from its aftereffects. Amy and Mike invited educator Pranoy Mohapatra to describe the extent of COVID learning loss. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How bad, exactly, has COVID learning loss been? What has the research uncovered regarding learning loss? Were all students impacted equally during the pandemic? What are the most effective interventions for students who suffered learning loss? What roles do mental health and self-concept play in learning? MEET OUR GUEST Pranoy Mohapatra began tutoring as a high school sophomore for a local company after finding joy in helping classmates at the Academy of Allied Health and Sciences study for tests. Pranoy found he learned by teaching and explaining concepts to reinforce them, and often viewed standardized tests as puzzles. He continued to tutor through college and his first year of medical school, before leaving medical school and officially starting his tutoring company PMTutoring LLC in 2015. Pranoy's approach to test prep focuses on in depth understanding and recognition of concepts, as he found the “memorize and regurgitate” methods taught in many classes frustrating. His objective is to provide the tools necessary for any student with goals the opportunity to reach them.  Pranoy is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. He first appeared on this podcast in episode #36 to discuss Techniques to Motivate Unmotivated Students and was the subject of a TEST PREP PROFILE in episode #280. Find Pranoy at www.PMTutoring.com. LINKS Have ACT Scores Declined During the COVID-19 Pandemic? An Examination of Fall State and District Testing Data The Kids are Far, Far Behind in School The pandemic has had devastating impacts on learning. What will it take to help students catch up? RELATED EPISODES WHY COLLEGE READINESS MATTERS WHY GRADE INFLATION IS HARMFUL THE GROWING IMPACT OF CHEATING DURING COVID ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Travis Minor founded Open Door Education in 2011 with the goal of building the best and most impactful tutoring company in Massachusetts. Travis, who earned his B.S. in Secondary Education at the University of Vermont and his M.Ed. at Harvard's Graduate School of Education, began his teaching career in West Philadelphia, where he became acutely aware of the profound impact of enthusiastic, rigorous tutoring and test preparation. As a 2005 graduate of Concord-Carlisle High School, Travis understands the pressures and challenges facing students attending competitive high schools, and he also knows the life-long benefits of learning to rise to overcome these obstacles through patience, grit, and a willingness to ask for help (something he is still working on).  When he's not at Open Door, Travis serves as the chair of The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle, the Vice President of Ethics for the National Test Prep Association, and as the Education Entrepreneurship Teaching Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Travis is a founding Board Member of the National Test Prep Association. Travis first appeared on the podcast in episode #21 to discuss Implications Of An Environmental Context Dashboard. Find Travis at travis@opendoor.education. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Ashley Boggs, the owner of Problem-Solving Math, LLC located in Parkersburg, WV. She holds multiple degrees and teaching licenses in elementary education, secondary mathematics and science education, and school administration with a Master's degree in Educational Leadership. A National Test Prep Association member, Ashley is also the only ACT-Certified Educator in the region and helps students reach their test score goals to earn college admittance and scholarships.  Before opening the tutoring center in 2020, Ashley taught middle school math for several years but actually started tutoring others when she was in middle school. Currently, academic math tutoring and test prep are provided to learners of all ages through individual, small group, and virtual settings. Ashley enjoys helping students build a solid foundation and confidence in their abilities and problem-solving skills. Resource development and sharing instructional strategies that work have become additional ways for her to contribute to the educational field. The “aha” moments witnessed, scholarship offers celebrated, and referrals received are the best motivators as she continues to build a practice preparing her community's students and virtual students around the country for their next steps. Find Ashley at http://www.ProblemSolvingMath.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. 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.  

Some states find innovative and generous ways to support higher education for their residents, and Florida is one of them. As the first of what will be an ongoing series on state scholarships, Mike and Amy invited educational consultant Carrie Bedard and educator Jason Robinovitz to discuss the Florida Bright Futures Scholarships. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the Florida Bright Futures Scholarships? How much can these scholarships amount to? Are these scholarships only open to Florida residents? What are the general requirements for Bright Futures? What should aspiring scholarship applicants know in advance? MEET OUR GUESTS Carrie Bedard and Jason Robinovitz are the moderators of the Bright Futures Scholarship Parent page on Facebook. Carrie Bedard of Soar 2 Success Consulting graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Hospitality and a Minor in Psychology. She has worked in education throughout her career, including teaching, tutoring and personal essay development. She has an extensive background in Marketing and Public Speaking, which she uses to help her students to become the best they can be to achieve their goals. In 2012, she decided to make helping students a full time venture, after seeing parents had no idea how to guide their students in the college guidance and admissions process and guidance counselors were over worked with hundreds of students and couldn't give the 1-1 attention necessary to properly guide students. She has traveled and met with college admissions staff, joined the Southern Association of College Admissions Counselors, and worked with over 100 families around the globe. Carrie first appeared on this podcast in episode 50 to discuss Utilizing A Reflection Journal To Prepare For Your College Essay. Find Carrie at cbedardfl@yahoo.com. Jason Robinovitz is the Chief Operating Officer of all Score At The Top Learning Centers. Jason oversees each Center's day-to-day operations, ensuring the delivery of top quality educational support and guidance services to client families. As team leader for a staff of more than 100 educators, Jason is in charge of strategic decision-making, including best practice policies, customer service, staffing, training, marketing, systems, and technology. Jason is also involved in educational consulting services for college, boarding school, and law school clients. Meeting with students, Jason specializes in directing pre-law and future law-school students toward the extracurricular activities that will help position them for success. Skillfully guiding them through the application and essay process, Jason helps students distinguish themselves from the rest of the applicant pool. He also works with families seeking therapeutic placements for their children, identifying the “best fit” schools and programs for them and interfacing with these schools and programs to ensure successful placements. Jason is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. As an active member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and the Secondary School Admission Test Board, Robinovitz is part of a professional network of admission directors, educators, psychologists and other educational consultants. Jason first appeared on this podcast in episode 20 to discuss Therapeutic Schools and Teens In Crisis. Find Jason at jason@scoreatthetop.com. LINKS Florida Financial Aid Application Florida Bright Futures Program Details RELATED EPISODES HOW TO WIN LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS WHAT IS SCHOLARSHIP DISPLACEMENT? ATTENDING A LARGE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

Standardized tests- love them or hate them, they are often an integral part of the college application process. But how do you prepare for them? How do you study for them? In this episode, Mike Bergin, the founding President of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association provides his advice and expertise on this topic. Mike explains the difference between the ACT and SAT, advises students on the timeline and testing approach, and the importance of knowing your particular learning style when choosing what test to take. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/college-scoops/support

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Pranoy Mohapatra began tutoring as a high school sophomore for a local company after finding joy in helping classmates at the Academy of Allied Health and Sciences study for tests. Pranoy found he learned by teaching and explaining concepts to reinforce them, and often viewed standardized tests as puzzles. He continued to tutor through college and his first year of medical school, before leaving medical school and officially starting his tutoring company PMTutoring LLC in 2015. Pranoy's approach to test prep focuses on in-depth understanding and recognition of concepts, as he found the “memorize and regurgitate” methods taught in many classes frustrating. His objective is to provide the tools necessary for any student with goals the opportunity to reach them.  Pranoy is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. He first appeared on this podcast in episode #36 to discuss Techniques to Motivate Unmotivated Students.  Find Pranoy at www.PMTutoring.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. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Nikki Highfield, owner of Helping Hands Educational Services. Nikki is a native of Cincinnati, OH. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and an MBA from Xavier University as well as a M.Ed in Special Education from St. Joseph's University. Nikki spent 15 years working in the financial industry before returning back to the world of education. She started Helping Hands Educational Service in 2014. She focuses on ACT/SAT test prep and academic subject tutoring for students. When Nikki is not helping students, she is spending time with her children either at a Broadway musical or a Xavier basketball game. Nikki is excited to be a member of the National Test Prep Association! She looks forward to continuing to develop relationships with other test prep professionals and growing her business. Find Nikki at nikki.helpinghands@gmail.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. 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.

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

Are you thinking about taking a standardized test for undergraduate or graduate admissions? Read on for must-know test-prep information! [Show summary] We're calling in test prep leaders and co-hosts of the Tests and the Rest podcast, Mike Bergin and Amy Seeley to discuss tips and strategies for choosing the right test prep for you as well as the best approach to test taking all the way from SATs and ACTs to GMATs and LSATs. Test-prep pros Mike Bergin and Amy Seeley share their expertise and advise [Show notes] Welcome to the 443rd episode of Admissions Straight Talk. Thanks for joining me.  Today's show is all about test prep, and I'd like to start with a one question quiz for you. What is the paradox at the heart of graduate school admissions? You have five seconds, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. I'll tell you. You have to show that you belong at your target programs and that you stand out in this applicant pool. Doing so is a paradox, and it's a challenge. Accepted's free download, Fitting In & Standing Out: The Paradox At The Heart of Admissions will show you how to do both simultaneously. Master this paradox and you are well on your way to acceptance. Download your guide at accepted.com/fiso as in fitting in, standing out.  I want to thank Alex Levenger for leaving a review on our July 20th episode. I'm going to quote excerpts from it. He wrote, "I gained some excellent bits from the July 20th episode. Number one, there really are two disparate attitudes that can make the GMAT tough: thinking you're better than the exam and freezing into paralysis." And his second point was, "The GMAT is a metaphor for a study or general work tasks. My main quibble is with the initial assessment test. I think it's faulty to gain any useful granular info into a student by using this test." Lots of people agree with you, Alex.  Our guests today are test prep experts and fellow podcasters, Mike Bergin and Amy Seeley. A word about each of them.  With over 27 years of intensive experience in every aspect of standardized test preparation, Mike Bergin knows what works in test prep and what doesn't. A nationally recognized leader in test prep, Mike founded Chariot Learning in 2009 to deliver on the promise of what truly transformative individualized education can and should be. Mike is also the founding president of the board of directors of the National Test Prep Association, a non-profit dedicated to promoting the highest ethical standards and best practices in the test prep industry, while advocating for the appropriate administration and use of standardized tests for admissions and assessment purposes. Lastly, Mike is also the co-host of Tests and the Rest, the college admissions industry podcast and creator of the Facebook industry group for test prep professionals, Test Prep Tribe. He and his podcast co-host Amy Seeley even run the nation's leading test prep conferences and online summits.  Turning to Amy. Amy Seeley began her career in test preparation over 28 years ago, working for Princeton Review after gaining valuable knowledge and experience as a part-time tutor, she turned that passion into a career with Townsend Learning Centers. She quickly assumed the role of director of test preparation services, creating, managing, and administering all aspects of Townsend's test preparation programs. After leaving Townsend in 2006, Amy began Seeley Test Preparation services, meeting the test preparation needs of several hundred students annually in the greater Cleveland area. As demand grew for Amy's assistance in improving test scores, Seeley Test Pros was born in 2012 with the addition of tutors trained and successful methods and strategies of Amy's experience. Amy's knowledge of standardized tests is unsurpassed. Amy is the founder and co-host with Mike Bergin of Tests and the Rest, college admissions industry podcast, which discusses the latest issues in testing, admissions, learning and education with experts.

Mike Bergin, founder and President of Chariot Learning, is a recognized leader in the field of test preparation. Among his many  endeavors, Mike is one of the founding members of the National Test Prep Association, an organization dedicated to establishing best practices and credibility for test prep professionals. He is also the co-host of a fantastic podcast called "Tests and the Rest". Chariot Learning National Test Prep Association Tests and the Rest

The various versions of high school admissions tests may be even more confusing than those for college or graduate school. For the first in a series on HS admissions tests, Amy and Mike invited educator Christine Carroll to explain the role and structure of the High School Placement Test (HSPT). What are five things you will learn in this episode? Who takes the High School Placement Test (HSPT)? What kind of high schools use the HSPT, and how do they use it? What is tested on the HSPT? What kind of students will do well on the HSPT? How does the HSPT differ from other admissions tests? MEET OUR GUEST Christine Carroll, the owner and lead instructor at Tutoring By Christine, has been teaching for over 25 years. She started her teaching career in Catholic School, which is where she began preparing students for the TACHS and SAT standardized exams. Christine moved onto teaching at a private high school and then as a public school teacher.  She designed and implemented the SHSAT prep program at her public middle school. She has also written curricula for the science department at her middle school, where she sits on the School Leadership Team. She is the recipient of the 2012 Senator Lanza Teacher of the Year Award. Christine is a lead teacher at the Staten Island Zoo for the prestigious NYC Urban Advantage program. She has also worked as an adjunct professor for a local college for 6 years teaching science and education classes.  She is a member of the National Science Teachers Association and the Learning Disabilities Association of America as well as the National Test Prep Association. Christine has been trained in the Orton-Gillingham methodology. She has always maintained ties with both the private and public communities. Christine contributes to her community by volunteering at various venues on Staten Island, most notably she leads an annual backpack drive for homeless students. Find Christine at christine@tutoringbychristine.com. LINKS STS - HSPT Parent's Page RELATED EPISODES WHY SELECTIVE SPECIALIZED SCHOOLS MATTER WHY TESTING STANDARDS MATTER HOW TESTS DRIVE LEARNING ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Laura Link, the founder of Link Private Tutoring. Laura is passionate about meeting every student where they are so they can access opportunities that fulfill their dreams.  As a sought-after test prep expert, Laura has traveled the United States training teachers how to help students raise  their ACT and SAT scores.  Now, she is both a full-time ACT Prep teacher in a Louisiana public school as well as an active tutor helping students earn the scores they deserve so they can get into the schools they dream of. Laura has also created the online course The Link Method to ACEing the ACT. Laura is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. Find Laura at www.Facebook.com/linkprivatetutoring. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

The great American football coach Vince Lombardi famously said, "Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."When it comes to preparing for your standardized test, practice is obviously an important component of your ultimate success. But how you practice matters. So what are the components of "perfect" practice and what should you be doing to ensure that your practice sessions are as effective as possible and will translate to a high score on test day?To help shed light on this important topic, we're joined in this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast by Mike Bergin, founder of Chariot Learning and founding President of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association. We discuss:The 4 Steps of Deliberate Practice;The distinction between "studying" and "practice" and the role that each should play in your test preparation;The danger of taking too many practice tests;How often you should take practice tests, and things you should do to ensure that they replicate the actual test-day experience;Why some students perform worse on the real exam than on their practice tests, and what you can do to ensure that doesn't happen for you;The important link between fun and practice, and how to inject some fun into your practice sessions;Advice for students who are reluctant (read: scared) to take full-length practice tests and feel like they need to "know it all" before giving it a go;How to know when you're ready for the real exam.Study time is precious, so you don't want to just go through the motions during your practice and then wonder why your scores aren't improving. If you take to heart and implement the mindsets and strategies we discuss in this episode, we're confident that the benefits you derive from your practice will improve -- and by extension, your results on test day will improve as well. Enjoy!RESOURCES / LINKSHere are some studies and articles with additional tips and insight into effective practice:The Power of Testing Memory: Basic Research and Implications for Educational Practice, by Henry L. Roediger, III, and Jeffrey D. KarpickePractice Testing Improves Retrieval, by Chariot LearningPractice Makes Myelinated Perfect, by Chariot LearningDeliberate Practice and 4 Not-So-Easy Steps to Success, by Chariot LearningSIMILAR EPISODESIf you enjoyed this episode, we know you'll benefit from these other similar episodes of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast:Episode 2 - 5 Proven Study Habits for a Higher Score on Test DayEpisode 15 - Overcoming Test AnxietyEpisode 38 - 3 Ways to Worry Less for Better Test-Day PerformanceWe also encourage you to check out Episode 82 of the "Tests and the rest" podcast where Mike interviewed Brett about "The Inner Game of Testing."A DOSE OF MOTIVATION“For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” — Aristotle