Podcasts about test optional

The college admissions process can be incredibly competitive and stressful―intense strategizing is required. The lack of clarity around the role that standardized admissions tests such as the SAT and ACT play in the process doesn't help. College admissions coach Nancy Steenson joins podcast host John Bryson on how best to navigate the evolving college admissions environment.

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/  

The American Bar Association will soon allow law schools to admit more students without standardized test scores. Is that good for applicants? This week, Nathan and Ben discuss why test-optional admissions might not benefit students (and why you should probably still take the LSAT). The guys also outline the qualities of a successful law student, share tips on how to get faster, and investigate a well-regarded law school in New York City. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 484 on YouTube 9:21 - Law School Is for Nerds - Listener Steve struggles to shake off his underperformance on the November LSAT. Ben and Nathan question whether Steve is cut out for law school. 20:58 - When Should I Take the LSAT? - The guys double down on their advice not to register for the LSAT until you're happy with your practice test scores. 31:29 - Test-Optional Admissions - Some law schools might soon bypass the ABA's admission test requirement, allowing them to admit more students without LSAT scores. Nathan and Ben have doubts about whether this is good for law school applicants. 40:30 - Getting Faster - An anonymous LSAT Demon student asks how to get faster while maintaining high accuracy. Ben and Nathan advise Anonymous to pursue even greater accuracy and to dismiss wrong answers more confidently. 51:01 - There Can Be Only One - Fifty-fifty guesses aren't good enough. The guys explain why the best LSAT students eliminate all five answers more often than they debate multiple answers. 56:40 - What's the Deal With…? - Nathan and Ben examine the admissions numbers and employment outcomes at Fordham Law School, which has a reputation as a non-T14 pathway to NYC big law. 1:13:58 - Tips from a Departing Demon - LSAT Demon student Caleb writes: “To anyone that is beginning their LSAT journey or their time with the Demon, learn to love it. Make it a game.” 1:16:58 - Word of the Week - Not all law schools are located in cities with salubrious climates.

https://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2024/11/interview-with-akil-bello-and-pearson.htmlCNN, Linda McMahon, Trump's Education pick, was sued for allegedly enabling sexual abuse of children https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/21/business/linda-mcmahon-abuse-wwe-trump-education/index.htmlAdvocates for Children, Student Homelessness in New York City, 2023–24. https://advocatesforchildren.org/policy-resource/student-homelessness-data-2024/Daily News, Push to digitize NYC entrance exam for specialized high schools reignites equity debate, https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/11/23/push-to-digitize-nyc-entrance-exam-for-specialized-high-schools-reignites-equity-debate/?share=tcoohytentooicndwciuDOE's proposed contract with Pearson for the SHSAT, https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/data/contracts-agendac5e42b19-b471-4be6-aac5-6985c414342d.pdf?sfvrsn=2cdf075e_1Akil Bello, SHSAT testimony for NYC Council https://akilbello.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/city-council-written-testimony-shsat-.pdfNational Academy of Science, High Stakes Testing for Tracking, Promotion, and Graduation, https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/6336/high-stakes-testing-for-tracking-promotion-and-graduationFairtest, NACAC Panels Emphasize the Benefits of Test Optional/Free Policies, https://fairtest.org/a-review-of-panels-at-the-nacac-conference-which-discussed-test-optional-policies/Chalkbeat, NYC specialized high school offers to Black and Latino students inch up but remain stubbornly low, https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2024/06/18/specialized-high-school-offers-to-black-and-latino-students-increase-but-remain-low/Hechinger Report, The problem with high-stakes testing and women in STEM, https://hechingerreport.org/the-problem-with-high-stakes-testing-and-women-in-stem/Jonathan Taylor, Fairness To Gifted Girls: Admissions To New York City's Elite Public High Schools, Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 25(1): 75–91 (2019).https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/00551c876cc2f027,294b56436594090b,2e036b8a364ae7df.htmlCNN, State plan calls for dropping Regents requirement by 2028, https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/education/2024/11/04/state-plan-calls-for-dropping-regents-requirement-by-2028FairTest, Massachusetts & New York Reject Graduation Exam Requirements; Only Six States Maintain Mandatory Exit Tests For Diploma, https://fairtest.org/massachusetts-only-six-states-maintain-mandatory-exit-tests-for-diploma-voters-and-policy-makers-see-education-and-equity-benefits-from-multiple-measur/WBUR, Question 2 wins: Mass. voters end MCAS high school graduation requirement, https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/11/06/massachusetts-ballot-question-2-approved-mcas-test-measure-resultWBUR, Billionaire Mike Bloomberg funnels $2.5M toward opposing MCAS ballot measure, https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/10/28/bloomberg-massachusetts-election-mcasEdReform Now, Tracking the Impact of the SFFA Decision on College Admissions, https://edreformnow.org/2024/09/09/tracking-the-impact-of-the-sffa-decision-on-college-admissions/Yale Daily News, Applicants, admissions officers navigate first test-flexible application process, https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2024/11/18/applicants-admissions-officers-navigate-first-test-flexible-application-process/Akil Bello, The NY Times Doesn't Cover College, https://akilbello.com/2024/05/06/the-ny-times-doesnt-cover-college/Akil Bello, The Misguided War on Test Optional, https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/02/05/misguided-war-test-optional-opinionNY Times, He Worked for Years to Overturn Affirmative Action and Finally Won. He's Not Done. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/08/us/edward-blum-affirmative-action-race.htmlWashington Post, Fearless Fund settles with DEI foes, ends grant program for Black women, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/09/11/fearless-fund-edward-blum-settlement/

Host Beth Heaton is so pleased to be welcome Harry Feder, the Executive Director of Fair Test, the organization that has been advocating for test optional admissions for students for many years. Feder will be talking about the organization itself as well as the state of testing in undergraduate admissions today. In addition, seniors will soon be receiving decisions from many colleges if they applied early decision or early action. College Coach admissions consultant Christine Kenyon will discuss how to be intentional when you open your admission decision. It's important to consider how to be kind to others when doing so! Last, did you know that November 18 through the 24th is National Apprenticeship week? College Coach finance expert Jan Combs will be joining Beth to discuss how to earn while you learn through an apprenticeship.

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

With undergrad institutions including Harvard, Stanford, and MIT re-instating testing requirements for undergrad, should graduate schools follow? Linda Abraham is the founder of Accepted, which has advised college and graduate admissions since 1994. In this episode, Linda walks you through the test-optional landscape as it is today, and shares her advice for what you should do when applying to a test-optional graduate program. Accepted has a new graduate school admissions guide: Fitting In and Standing Out. Access it here for free - https://accepted.com/FISO Achievable's GRE prep course uses AI-powered adaptive learning to target your weak areas and boost your score - visit https://achievable.me/exams/gre/overview/#s=podcast to try it for free.

Welcome back to THE IAS COMPANION. Follow us on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IASCompanion. Today's lecture delves into Validity in psychological testing. Validity refers to the accuracy with which a test measures what it is intended to measure. Unlike reliability, which focuses on consistency, validity involves correlating test scores with a criterion considered the best measure of the target attribute. Validity is a matter of degree and an ongoing process, ensuring that tests remain relevant and accurate over time. Key types of validity include content validity, face validity, criterion-related validity, and construct validity. Understanding and ensuring the validity of psychological tests is crucial for their credibility and effectiveness. #UPSC #IASprep #civilserviceexam #IASexamination #IASaspirants #UPSCjourney #IASexam #civilservice #IASgoals #UPSC2024 #IAS2024 #civilservant #IAScoaching #aUPSCmotivation #IASmotivation #UPSCpreparation #IASpreparation #UPSCguide #IASguide #UPSCtips #IAStips #UPSCbooks #IASbooks #UPSCexamstrategy #IASexamstrategy #UPSCmentorship #IASmentorship #UPSCcommunity #IAScommunity #UPSCpreparation #IASpreparation #UPSCguide #IASguide #UPSCtips #IAStips #UPSCbooks #IASbooks #UPSCexamstrategy #IASexamstrategy #UPSCmentorship #IASmentorship #UPSCcommunity #IAScommunity

Welcome back to THE IAS COMPANION. Follow us on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IASCompanion. Today's lecture is on Reliability in psychological testing. Reliability is the measure of a test's consistency and reproducibility of results. A reliable test yields similar outcomes under consistent conditions, ensuring accurate and stable measurements over time, which is crucial for the test's validity and utility. Ensuring the reliability of psychological tests is vital for their validity and effectiveness. Using various methods to estimate reliability and considering both intrinsic and extrinsic factors ensures consistent and dependable test results, enhancing the credibility of psychological assessments. #UPSC #IASprep #civilserviceexam #IASexamination #IASaspirants #UPSCjourney #IASexam #civilservice #IASgoals #UPSC2024 #IAS2024 #civilservant #IAScoaching #aUPSCmotivation #IASmotivation #UPSCpreparation #IASpreparation #UPSCguide #IASguide #UPSCtips #IAStips #UPSCbooks #IASbooks #UPSCexamstrategy #IASexamstrategy #UPSCmentorship #IASmentorship #UPSCcommunity #IAScommunity #UPSCpreparation #IASpreparation #UPSCguide #IASguide #UPSCtips #IAStips #UPSCbooks #IASbooks #UPSCexamstrategy #IASexamstrategy #UPSCmentorship #IASmentorship #UPSCcommunity #IAScommunity

Ben and Nathan discuss GW Law's recently announced limited test-optional admissions process for JD admissions. Read more on our website!Email daily@lsatdemon.com with questions or comments.Watch this episode on YouTube.

Today's episode concludes our 9-part “What Colleges Want” series, where we've been walking through the results of the report released by the National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC) regarding the factors that colleges deem important. Ethan is joined by Jay Rosner (Executive Director of The Princeton Review Foundation) to talk about standardized testing.  In this episode they get into:  What are the origins of the SAT? What's changed in the testing landscape in the last year or two?  Does test optional really mean test optional? How much standardized tests matter for colleges? How do students figure out their preparation timeline and which test to take?  Why might testing be considered problematic? As the Executive Director of The Princeton Review Foundation, Jay Rosner has developed programs jointly with such organizations as the NAACP, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, College and Graduate Horizons (serving Native American students) and the Asian Pacific Fund. Jay's career has combined education and law, with an emphasis on student advocacy. He has testified before state legislative committees in California, Texas, Illinois and New Jersey, and as an expert witness in cases involving testing. Before attending law school, Jay was a public high school math teacher. Jay holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, a JD from Widener University, and is the proud father of two grown daughters.   Hope you enjoy!    Play-by-play 2:16 - How does Jay know so much about standardized tests?  4:23 - What are the origins of the SAT? 6:40 - How has standardized testing changed in recent years? 11:25 - Is test-optional really optional?  13:26 - How much do standardized tests matter in the application review? 14:49 - Who should take standardized tests? 20:24 - Is it better to take the SAT or the ACT? 23:30 - What are the benefits of quality test prep?  27:10 - How can students reach their best score?  33:54 - How do students know if they should submit their scores or not?  38:40 - Advice for counselors working with students in marginalized populations   42:05 - Why do some folks find standardized testing to be problematic? 45:00 - Closing advice for students and counselors    Resources List of test-optional and test-free schools CEG's Crash Course to Standardized Testing Add'l Info Sample on Testing   

Have you ever wondered if standardized tests like the SAT or ACT are still relevant, especially when colleges offer test-optional admissions? The debate around standardized testing has become more nuanced than ever.  With the rise of test-optional college admissions, many students and parents grapple with the question: Is taking the SAT or ACT still necessary? I wanted to speak with Dr. Shaan Patel, the founder and CEO of Prep Expert, a leading test preparation company, to shed light on this topic.  Dr. Patel's expertise offers invaluable insights into why standardized tests still matter, even in a test-optional era. Drawing from his experience of conquering standardized tests and securing scholarships, he highlights the pivotal role of motivation and resilience in achieving academic and professional goals. From navigating the pressures of Shark Tank to finding harmony between a career in dermatology and entrepreneurship, Dr. Patel's story offers practical advice for families and valuable lessons in pursuing passions and seizing opportunities. Please enjoy my conversation with Dr. Shaan Patel. Connect with Paul Contact Paul here or schedule a time to meet with Paul here. For resources discussed in this episode, visit tammacapital.com/podcast. Follow Paul on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. And feel free to email Paul at pfenner@tammacapital.com with any feedback, questions, or ideas for future guests and topics.

IvyWise Premier Counselor, Chris (formerly Wesleyan University), and our host, Principal Counselor, Tasha, (formerly Boston University and USC), discuss data and test-optional admissions policies. 

College Coffee Talk, April 24, 2024. (Live 10am EST, Facebook.com/lockwoodcollegeprep): Another blow to test-optional, the latest on student loan "forgiveness" developments. See LockwoodCollegePrep.com for more information on our college advisory, financial aid consulting, test prep and other programs.

Like a time capsule to our future selves, from time to time, we check in on the enduring hot topics in our profession. This week, at the suggestion of our influencer guest, we're discussing the state of test-optional admissions in 2024. Moira McKinnon, Director of College Counseling at Berwick Academy in South Berwick, Maine, helps us understand how students today are interpreting the myriad of test-optional admissions policies they have to navigate. Jim Gibbons, Director of Admissions at Wagner College, in Staten Island, New York, brings the college perspective to help current admissions directors navigate and clarify their policies for students. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adlunchcast/message

On today's show: -President Biden visits Baltimore and gives warning to Israel w/ ABC's Perry Rossum. -Strong jobs report for the month of March -Summerfest announces their final headliner for this summer. -TMJ4 Meteorologist Brendan Johnson forecasts the weekend and solar eclipse ahead -Week in Review -Avant Technologies President & CEO Timothy Lantz -No ACT or SAT necessary for UW applicants -Earthquake in New Jersey -Why Gen Z is becoming the "Toolbelt Generation" w/ President & Chief Career Strategist at The Bauke Group Julie Bauke. -Final Four Tickets for Men and Women's Tournaments -All things solar eclipse -Stories of the Strange

This episode of The Higher Ed Pulse dives deep into the evolving landscape of standardized testing in higher education, sparked by recent policy reversals at institutions like Dartmouth and Yale. Mallory and Seth discuss the implications of these changes, not just for admissions but also for marketing and recruitment strategies. The conversation covers the potential impact on student diversity, list buying challenges for marketers, and how institutions are navigating these uncertain waters.Key Takeaways:Dartmouth's reversal on test-optional policies raises questions about the role of standardized testing in admissions, particularly for marginalized students.The shift towards test-optional and test-flexible policies among elite institutions might signal a broader trend, with significant implications for admissions strategies across higher education.The decline in SAT participation and the changing landscape of list buying present new challenges for higher ed marketers, necessitating innovative approaches to student recruitment.The importance of clear communication with prospective students about admissions requirements and the use of test scores in the decision-making process.The discussion extends to the broader impacts on marketing strategies, including the shift away from list buying towards digital marketing efforts and the need for institutions to adapt to these changes.Related Links:https://home.dartmouth.edu/sites/home/files/2024-02/sat-undergrad-admissions.pdfhttps://admissions.yale.edu/test-flexiblehttps://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/dartmouth-and-yale-are-backtracking-on-test-optional-admissions-why-that-matters/2024/02https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2024/02/26/no-emerging-consensus-standardized-test-policieshttps://podcasts.enrollify.org/talking-tactics/ep-1-maximize-your-prospect-data-with-a-two-step-rfi-processDayana Kibild's Viral LinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7166088254771965953/ - - - -Connect With Our Co-Hosts:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaSeth Odell https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethodell/https://twitter.com/sethodellAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com. Connect with Us at the Engage Summit:Exciting news — Mallory will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we'd love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI. Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $99! This early bird pricing lasts until March 31. Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can't wait to see you there!

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.  

Subscribe to Receive Venkat's Weekly Newsletter Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: The Dartmouth Decision  [] What Should Students Do? [] How Colleges Use Test Scores[] Closing Thoughts [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade, College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California. Resources referred to in this episode: Curated News at Alma Matters [0:11] The Hill [] The New York Times [] Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode Transcript. Calls-to-action: Follow us on Instagram. Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify.  For Podcast Transcripts, visit almamatters.io/podcasts.

College Coffee Talk is back! College advisors Pearl and Andy Lockwood pull out this weekly college news show from the vault and dust it off to cover the latest developments on test-optional trends, FAFSA delays, more. Live every Monday 10am EST on https://www.Facebook.com/lockwoodcollegeprep

In this episode you will hear:   o   Mark tells listeners how to access the sign-up form for the first YCBK in-person gathering on Saturday, March 23rd at 7 pm in Durham, NC o   Mark and Julia answer a question from Michelle from Washington state, she wants to know, are colleges secretly using imputed test scores when a student requested to be a test-optional applicant o   Mark interviews Andy Strickler, the Dean of Admissions at Connecticut College and they discuss, How is admissions file reading different when a college gets an usually large number of strong applications from the same high school-Part 1 of 3   You can also send in questions for our interviews by using speakpipe.com/YCBK. Our interviews are confirmed for 2024 with the following leaders at the following schools:     To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our free quarterly admissions deep-dive, delivered directly to your email four times a year, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign up on the right side of the page under “the Listen to our podcast icons”   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   Don't forget to send your recommended resources and articles by recording your message at speakpipe.com/YCBK   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 to express your interest. All they ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session. Their counseling website is:   Note, the purpose of the free session to review their services and not to pick their brains and get free information. You can schedule a paid session if you want answers to some questions you have. The free session to only for the purpose of discussing the one on one services they offer.

The ongoing battle over standardized tests, the 2024 entertainment outlook, and New York Governor promises to crack down on retail theft. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.American Home Shield: Save $50 when you join American Home Shield. Visit http://www.ahs.com/MorningWire

Admissions factors in college applications often boil down to grades plus tests and then the rest. What happens when the influence of standardized scores is minimized or entirely excluded? Amy and Mike asked U of R Vice Provost and Dean of Enrollment Management Robert Alexander and educational consultant Aly Beaumont the million-dollar question: what do truly test-optional colleges focus on?  What are five things you will learn in this episode? How do you know if a school is truly test-optional? What are the components of the application review process? What aspects of high school grades are most important? How can applicants communicate character through their applications? What is the benefit of submitting test scores to a truly test-optional school? MEET OUR GUESTS Dr. Robert J. Alexander serves as the vice provost and university dean of enrollment at the University of Rochester, with responsibility for more than 90 staff members across the offices of admissions, financial aid, and enrollment management, an operating budget of $9.4 million, and distribution of over $330 million in student aid. As a first-generation college graduate, his twenty-year professional career is animated by a passion for higher education's transformational impact on a diverse array of students. Alexander received his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, conducting dissertation research focused on higher education leadership and governance. He previously graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Paul Tulane College and an M.B.A. in Marketing and Management from Tulane's A.B. Freeman School of Business and served on the Tulane Alumni Association Board of Directors. Originally from New York, Alexander serves as class fund chairman for his alma mater, Regis High School. Alexander is active with the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the American Association of College Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO), the College Board, the Association of Governing Boards (AGB), and the American Marketing Association (AMA), speaking at national meetings regarding enrollment management and marketing strategies. His work has been published in national publications, including the Association of Governing Board's Trusteeship Magazine. Before the University of Rochester, Alexander held senior administrative and teaching roles at various institutions across the United States. As vice president for enrollment and communications at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, his work increased undergraduate net revenue per student, doubled the representation of domestic students of color and the proportion of international students. As an academic leader and instructor of management, Alexander helped develop Millsaps' nonprofit management program, and taught courses combining Liberal Arts and Business concepts to provide skills for graduates to positively impact their communities. While serving as the associate provost for enrollment at University of the Pacific in northern California, Dr. Alexander coordinated strategic plans that dramatically increased prospective student interest, increased university-wide enrollment to record levels, while simultaneously improving academic quality and financial metrics. As assistant vice president for enrollment management at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, Alexander's efforts during and following Hurricane Katrina successfully restored enrollment and improved the institution's reputation and impact on its surrounding community. Find Robert at ralexander@rochester.ed Aly Beaumont is the founder of Admissions Village, a family focused, affordable, one-on-one college guidance consultancy. Aly is deeply committed to making the college admissions process less stressful, and her success with this objective can be measured by both the growing number of referrals she receives as well as the repeat business of family siblings. Aly is also a founder and advisor to The College T, a website connecting high school students with college students and recent graduates so that first-hand information and experiences can be shared. Aly is a graduate of Tufts University where she majored in History with a concentration in Modern Women and African American History, and was captain of the Equestrian Team. She lives in Wilton, CT with her husband Perry, their two dogs Buddy and Buzz and their three sons. Two of their sons are currently in college at The University of St. Andrews in Scotland and Keyon College in Ohio, and one graduated from Santa Clara University. Aly is an Associate member of IECA and she has her certificate as an Independent Educational Consultant from the University of California Irvine. Aly previously appeared on this podcast in episode 406 to discuss WHAT DOES UNHOOKED MEAN IN ADMISSIONS, in episode 341 to discuss COURSE SELECTION FOR HIGHLY SELECTIVE ADMISSIONS, in episode 212 to discuss PREPARATION FOR HIGHLY SELECTIVE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS and was the subject of an IEC PROFILE in episode 264. Find Aly at https://www.admissionsvillage.com. LINKS University of Rochester Testing Policies Character Collaborative RELATED EPISODES TEST SCORES: TO SUBMIT OR NOT THE MAKING CARING COMMON PROJECT WHO BENEFITS FROM TEST-OPTIONAL POLICIES? 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.

Test optional colleges give students the choice of whether or not they want to submit their results from a standardized test like the SAT or ACT. But that doesn't mean you should skip the exams. The post What Are Test Optional Colleges? appeared first on The College Investor.

Test optional colleges give students the choice of whether or not they want to submit their results from a standardized test like the SAT or ACT. But that doesn't mean you should skip the exams. 

Augustana College became test-optional in 2007. Northern Illinois University announced in January of 2020 that it would start “test-blind” admissions.

If you have a teen who is preparing for or thinking about applying to college, you are likely aware that some colleges and universities are test optional or even test blind when it comes to ACTs and SATs. But what does that mean? Should students with learning differences, test anxiety, or struggles with test-taking in general take these tests? Annika Guy is the Director of Independent Study/Homeschool and SAT/ACT programming at Hayutin Education and a valued ChildNEXUS member. And while they know so much about test-optional and test-blind colleges and universities, they are here to tell us that it is a constantly changing landscape. We've definitely entered a new era of college acceptance processes and even the tests themselves have gone through some evolution over the last several years. So if you and your teen are considering colleges, we now need to answer the question: to test or not to test?   Show Notes: [2:42] - So much has changed in the last few years and it continues to evolve very quickly. [3:49] - There is a lot of conflicting information and opinions when it comes to testing and college prep. This makes the decision to test that much harder. [4:59] - It can be very frustrating to go through testing and then learn that the university or college doesn't require it. [5:38] - Test-optional means that schools will not require test scores to be submitted when applying, but will look them over if submitted. [7:21] - Test blind means that schools don't even look at test scores at all even if you submit them. [9:08] - A big concern for students and parents is that learning differences and test-taking difficulties result in scores that don't reflect a student's ability and potential. [11:24] - Although it can be confusing, it is ultimately a good thing that there are test-optional and test blind schools. [13:10] - Testing companies are beginning to shift their thinking around the necessity and accuracy of test scores. [14:43] - The SAT has gone through a lot of changes in the last ten years. Now it is a much shorter test and is provided digitally. [17:53] - There are some things that can be put into a test-prep plan including practice tests and test-prep tutors. [21:24] - Hayutin Education is very transparent about the murky waters of testing and test prep. They help students navigate this decision. [23:19] - Homeschooled students need to test and there are other demographics that feel more pressured to test like international students and athletes. [25:01] - Test prep should not be prioritized over keeping up a GPA. [26:36] - Hayutin Education offers a number of services including test prep services, college application guidance, and academic support.   About Our Guest: Annika Guy is the Director of Independent Study/Homeschool and SAT/ACT programming at Hayutin Education. Annika joined the Hayutin administrative team in 2021 after two years on the educator team. Annika has worked with students ranging from elementary school through college in a variety of humanities-based subjects as well as math, science, executive function coaching, independent study/homeschool, and test prep. As Director of Independent Study, Annika is passionate about custom curriculum design and developing the best program for each student's unique learning style. In their role as Director of Hayutin's SAT/ACT program, Annika consults with families about the changing landscape of college admissions in the test-optional era, and what that means for students facing the question of whether or not to test.   Connect with Annika Guy: ChildNEXUS Provider Profile Hayutin Education Website   Links and Related Resources: Episode 16: The Independent Study Option with Maya Varga Episode 126: Why Self Awareness and Self Determination are Important for College Success with Elizabeth Hamblet Episode 15: From High School to College: Steps to Success for Students with Disabilities with Elizabeth Hamblet   Connect with Us: Get on our Email List Book a Consultation Get Support and Connect with a ChildNEXUS Provider Check out some amazing schools for incredible students   The Diverse Thinking Different Learning podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are not considered treatment and do not necessarily reflect those of ChildNEXUS, Inc or the host, Dr. Karen Wilson.

IvyWise Principal Counselor, Jenny (formerly Washington University in St. Louis)  and our host, Principal Counselor, Tasha (formerly Boston University and USC) answer the question: What is the difference between Test Optional and Test Blind?

Come and join us as our agenda focuses on our parents/guardians' questions regarding college and:Test Optional does it matter yes or no?FAFSA changesFSA ID - establishing your parent and student accountsCSS Profile colleges that consider all variables impacting family's access to fundCommon App the application for 1000+ colleges and review on factors used in admissionUniversity of California Cost of AttendanceUniversity of California test free (no SAT or ACT)Cal State University test freeCollege Scorecard a college search engine for all studentsScoir a college search engine for second semester SI Sophomores, Juniors and SeniorsSI College Rep Visits why they are important (all listed on Scoir, on X and SITV)Social Media: IG - @StIgnatiusMagis X - @StIgnatiusMagis YouTube @SI College CounselingPreACT for Sophomores (all regisgtered) on October 11thNew PSAT Digital Exam for Juniors (all registered) on October 11thColleges that meet full needMyinTuition - find your net price from generous collegesScholarship search enginesCareer One StopFastwebGoing MerryRaise.meScholarship OwlSchollyScholarships.comSubscribe to get the informed so you CANT STOP WONT STOP! Learn about Charles Mason from LMU who inspired "CANT STOP WONT STOP!"

In this episode you will hear:   o   Mark gives updates from Emory, Wash U, Cornell, Rice and Pomona on Affirmative Action, the future of test-optional admissions, and paying for college. o   Lisa interviews Brian Bertges, the Executive Director of Theta Delta Chi, a major national fraternity, they talk about fraternity life on college campuses.   Preview of Part 1 Ø  Brian gives his backstory. Ø  Brian shares his own experience with joining a fraternity as a freshman, and it is quite a story indeed. Ø  Brian explains the value a fraternity brings to the college student experience. Ø  Brian answers the question, do fraternities have a drinking problem. Ø  Lisa asks Brian, how often do fraternities go rogue and not follow the values.         If you do not want to verbally leave a message for us by using speakpipe.com/YCBK you can send in your questions either on Twitter at @YCBKpodcast using the Messages tab  or via email at .   You can also send in questions for our interviews by using speakpipe.com/YCBK. Our interviews are confirmed for 2023 and 2024 with the following leaders at the following schools: Confirmed interviews not yet completed Bard-Mackie Siebens Rice University-Tamara Siler American University-Andrea Felder Pitzer College-Yvonne Berumen Chapman University-Marcela Meija-Martinez Connecticut College-Andy Strickler* Trinity College-Anthony Berry* College of the Atlantic-Heather Albert* Spelman College-Chelsea Holley* Scripps College-Victoria Romero* Saint Louis University-Daniel Wood-(Interview is about transfer admissions, Daniel is a transfer counselor) Colby College-Randi Arsenault* University of Georgia-David Graves* University of Minnesota-Keri Risic Cornell University-Jonathon Burdick Fabrizio D'Aloisio-University of Tennessee-Knoxville Oberlin College-Manuel Carballo Carleton College-Art Rodriguez Swarthmore-Jim Bok Joy St. Johns-Harvard Duke-Christoph Guttentag Florida State-John Barnhill Southern Methodist University-Elena Hicks Johns Hopkins-Calvin Wise Cornell University-Shawn Felton Haverford College-Jess Lord UAspire-Brendan Williams Yale University-Moira Poe Bard College- Baylor University Butler University California Institute of Technology Colorado School of Mines Creighton University Dartmouth College-Lee Coffin Chris Cage-Belmont University     To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our free quarterly admissions deep-dive, delivered directly to your email four times a year, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign up on the right side of the page under “the Listen to our podcast icons”   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   Don't forget to send your questions related to any and every facet of the college process to: questions@yourcollegeboundkid.com.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All they ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session. Their counseling website is: https://schoolmatch4u.com/ o  

Hosted by SportsForce CEO - Andrew Beinbrink @beinbrink28 Key Topics Covered in this Podcast Interview:- How Competitive High Academic Recruiting Is Today?- How Ivy League Coaches Offer Academic Spots?- How to Evaluate Academic Showcases & Camps?- How to Avoid Costly Recruiting Mistakes that Families Make?- Test Optional vs. SAT / ACT- What type of video, metrics, and more do college coaches want to see?- Open Q&AAbout SportsForce Baseball: SportsForce Baseball is a nationally recognized college recruiting advisory group with over 30 former college coaches, players, and MLB scouts in 17 states. Our staff is passionate about helping players and families find the best all-around college fit. View Our Team.During the last 13+ years, we've helped over 1,500 players make their college commitments, helping families save over $50 Million in college financial packages. Unlike most recruiting companies, we DO NOT just partner with anyone. Instead, we only partner with qualified student-athletes who meet our Five academic, athletic, and coachability selection factors. Our staff personally evaluates well over 10,000 players each year at top tournaments, camps, and showcases. However, we selectively advise and advocate for only a few hundred players each year.We carefully maintain a trusted nationwide network of hundreds of NCAA DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, and junior college coaches that we regularly communicate with in order to give our select group of players a competitive recruiting advantage to maximize potential offers. We give our players and families a competitive edge in the recruiting process, help maximize their recruiting offers, and make the best all-around college decision. We have numerous recruiting case studies and parent-written success stories to prove it. Read Some of Our Case StudiesVisit website: https://www.sportsforceonline.com/baseballTwitter: https://twitter.com/SportsForceBBInstagram: https://instagram.com/SportsForceBB About Five Tool Baseball: Five Tool Showcases was established in January 2013. The foundation was a joint effort between college coaches and select clubs to develop events that provide quality competition at quality venues. The goal is to provide events that allow the players to showcase their abilities and do so in a manner that is friendly to the college recruiters and professional scouts while allowing the clubs to maintain fiscal responsibility to their members.Our goal is to host local teams seeking exposure for their players while accommodating out-of-town clubs in a manner that minimizes travel and the expenses associated with select baseball. The mix of local and regional clubs provides great competition in a central location that is convenient for college recruiters and professional scouts in the central, Midwest, Northwest, Southeast, Texas, and West regions.Visit website: https://fivetool.orgTwitter: https://twitter.com/fivetool

Sign Up to Receive Venkat's Weekly Newsletter Kate fell into College Counseling due to what she calls “a happy accident”. Kate just followed her first year roommate into an interview to be a campus tour guide. She wasn't interested in doing the interview. But an aggressive future Dean persuaded her to do the interview. Many happy accidents later, Kate is the Director of Counseling at The Overlake School. On our podcast, Kate talks about her background, The Overlake School, counseling approach and challenges, managing expectations, and her advice for high school students. In particular, we discuss the following with her: Kate Asgari's Background Approach to College Counseling Challenges & Managing Expectations Advice for High Schoolers Topics discussed in this episode: Introducing Kate Asgari, Overlake School [] Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights [] Professional Background [] Overlake School [] Approach to College Counseling [] Challenges [] Dream & Fit [] Managing Expectations [] Test Optional [] Advice for High Schoolers [] Our Guest: Kate Asgari is the Director of College Counseling and Associate Dean for Grades 11 & 12 at Overlake School, Redmond WA. Memorable Quote: “...what we witnessed in that Test Optional landscape is overwhelming choices that a student faces. And every school having its own policy and way by which those test scores get submitted.” Kate Asgari. Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode's Transcript. Recommended Episodes: College Experiences Calls-to-action: Follow us on Instagram. To Ask the Guest a question, or to comment on this episode, email podcast@almamatters.io. Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations:Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify.

In the first hour of "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, our guests discuss why a growing number of colleges and universities are going "test optional" when it comes to SATs and ACTs.

Gina, Jen, and their special guest, Lauren Gaggioli, a former tutor and course creator on taking the SAT and ACT, discuss what standardized testing means, how to decide if the ACT or SAT is right for your child, and how admissions and financial aid might use test scores to make admissions and scholarship decisions, even if they are test optional. We'll talk about what to look for in a college that says it's test optional and how to tell if sending in your scores will help you get the best financial aid package. There is so much in this episode for you to guide your students through the stress of taking a standardized test that builds on Episode 41. Lauren Gaggioli is a solopreneur, writer, and podcast host who loves, loves, loves building online businesses. Her first venture was Higher Scores Test Prep where she built innovative and affordable online ACT & SAT prep courses. After selling the company in 2021, she dove into supporting her fellow digital entrepreneurs as they share their unique gifts with the world. When she's not serving clients as a content strategy consultant or hosting her online mastermind for entrepreneurs, you can find her recording the next episode of her parenting podcast, training for a runDisney half marathon, or channeling serious Molly Weasley vibes knitting up a new sweater, puttering in her garden, homebrewing beer with her husband, or making a delicious mess of the kitchen with her kids in their home just outside of Seattle. Thank you for joining us today!Please visit us and sign up for our newsletter today! We also welcome your emails and questions at k2c@keystocollege.org.

This podcast episode talks about the ramification of a majority of colleges going test-optional, which colleges have changed their minds and is requiring SAT or ACT scores for 2023 applications, as well as some of the benefits that students gain when submitting their scores and who should consider studying for these tests. We also talk about the unintended benefits that students can gain from preparing for the SAT or ACT test that impacts their lives far beyond just a score they can submit to college We interview our former student and podcast host, Lily, about her experience increasing her ACT test score from the low 20's to 32 and how that impacted her ability to be admitted into a prestigious college (and what kind of timeline did it really take to get that kind of score growth).

This week, Ryan talks about complicated matters as to just how “optional” a test-optional college admissions process truly is. Sarah talks about an approach in prolonging phonics-based instruction with optional literacy training for educators to help students apply literacy concepts in all subjects. Tune in!Don't just listen, join the conversation! Tweet us at @AcademicaMedia or with the hashtag #BigIdeasinEducation with questions or new topics you want to see discussed. Articles: https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/60002/colleges-that-ditched-test-scores-for-admissions-still-struggle-with-biashttps://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/25/us/reading-literacy-memphis-tennessee.htmlHosts: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair); Sarah Boulos Fye (@readwithfye)Producer: Ross Ulysse

Covid brought about the rapid growth of SAT and ACT test-optional for college admissions, which has been great for some students. As we move past Covid, should your teen be taking the tests now? My friend Brooke Hanson from Supertutor Media Inc and SupertutorTV says in most cases yes! In this episode she shares the data to demonstrate that among top selective colleges they are accepting more students who took a test, even when those schools loudly claim to be test-optional. Listen to the episode for the inside scoop on why this once test optional supporter has reconsidered the value of testing. Her students will be taking the test and you may just discover your teen should too. EPISODE NOTESSupertutorTV's Brooke Hanson has been a supporter of test-optional for many years, but recently changed her mind based on data discovered from school admissions reports and her own belief in the positive mindset shift that comes from test prep and testing. There are some high school students for whom testing will always be difficult, but she still encourages taking the tests for a number of reasons. Many teens were off the hook during the pandemic because testing centers were closed, yet a growing number of schools are requiring tests again.First there are also data-driven reasons for testing. Did you know even some test-blind schools, those which wouldn't normally look at anyone's results, will factor in scores if you were in the top 50% of applicants? Many colleges that say they are test-optional are providing an admission advantage to those with test scores. I had a  previous student who unscientifically surveyed her peers in her Honors College and couldn't find a single admitted student who applied without ACT or SAT scores at her test optional college.Brooke gives a good reminder to consider your teen's mindset. I think of testing like the clubs and activities from high school. They may be optional, but you wouldn't go to school and skip the activities. Students want to show they can actually do the work of college and graduate. Maybe testing has become a circus, but with Brooke's test prep and my college and career coaching, we want to set your student up to make informed decisions about their future so they don't go in blindly or leave things to chance.Highlights What made Brooke stop being in favor of test optionalACT-SAT admission data from the top 200 schoolsWho might benefit from test optionalHow ACT-SAT testing and prep create a positive mindset shift Links mentioned in this episodeSupertutor Media Inc. YoutubeFlourish Coaching on YouTubeCollege Data: Best and Worst Best for Test OptionalSupertutor Media on Insta/Twitter/Tiktok: @supertutortv National Test Prep Association Member DirectoryLaunch College & Career Clarity CourseLaunch College and Career Clarity Facebook Community

In this episode you will hear:   (07:15) Mark and Dave discuss an article, “One state offers lessons in how to cope with the college enrollment crisis”. The article is by Jon Marcus of the Hechinger Report and it was written on 8/28/2022. Mark and Dave discuss all of the steps the University of Maine took to turn around their bleak enrollment situation. Dave and Mark discuss what other colleges can learn from the actions that the University of Maine took.   (35:06) Mark and Lisa discuss 8 signs to look at when trying to determine if a college values test scores, even if they purport to be test-optional. Part 2 of 2     (01:06:35) Mark continues his interview with Milyon Truelove, the  Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Reed College. Milyon explains why Reed College made the decision to not contribute to the US News and World Report's college rankings (Part 2 of 2) Preview of Part 2   How much would movement in the rankings impact Reed Does Reed uniquely benefit because they flouted US News Ranking Milyon comments on the new book by former Reed President, Colin Driver, Breaking Ranks: How the Rankings Industry Rules Higher Education and What to Do about It Milyon explains why he likes “test-blind” Milyon talks about whether the rankings are helpful in any way Mark and Milyon discuss the downside of putting too much emphasis on the number of Pell recipients in your recruitment   (01:13:52) Our Recommended Resource is PAYE (Pay as you Earn) video that Melissa Ford of the Damsel of Success YouTube channel produced. The video does an excellent job explaining when it makes sense for a student use the PAYE plan for loan repayment and how it may be able to save you tens of thousands of dollar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5454IKZ49k     Please send in your questions either on Twitter at @YCBKpodcast using the Messages tab (this is our preference) or via email at for the 25 admissions interviews we are doing in the summer and fall. Our interviews are with the following people at the following schools: Confirmed interviews not yet completed Bard-Mackie Siebens Mercer-Kelly Holloway Rice University-Tamara Siler American University-Andrea Felder Pitzer College-Yvonne Berumen Chapman University-Marcela Meija-Martinez Connecticut College-Andy Strickler* Trinity College-Anthony Berry* College of the Atlantic-Heather Albert* Spelman College-Chelsea Holley* Scripps College-Victoria Romero* Saint Louis University-Daniel Wood-(Interview is about transfer admissions, Daniel is a transfer counselor) Colby College-Randi Arsenault* University of Georgia-David Graves* Washington University St Louis-Ronne Turner University of Wisconsin-Andre Phillips University of Illinois-Brian Hodges Purdue University-Mitch Warren University of Minnesota-Keri Risic Cornell University-Jonathon Burdick Oberlin College-Manuel Carballo UW-Madison-Andre Phillips Carleton College-Art Rodriguez Swarthmore-Jim Bok Joy St. Johns-Harvard Duke-Christoph Guttentag Florida State-John Barnhill Southern Methodist University-Elena Hicks Johns Hopkins-Calvin Wise Cornell University-Shawn Felton Haverford College-Jess Lord UAspire-Brendan Williams Yale University-Moira Poe Akil Bello of Akilbello.com Bard College Baylor University Butler University California Institute of Technology Colorado School of Mines Creighton University   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our free quarterly admissions deep-dive, delivered directly to your email four times a year, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign up on the right side of the page under “the Listen to our podcast icons”   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news,  and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer them on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   Don't forget to send your questions related to any and every facet of the college process to: questions@yourcollegeboundkid.com.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at lisa@schoolmatch4u.com. All they ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session. Their counseling website is: https://schoolmatch4u.com/

There have been a number of important changes to testing regulations for college admissions in the last few years, and it is vital that families know what is expected of applicants with regard to SAT and ACT scores. With the increase in the number of schools that no longer require test scores to be submitted, how valuable is it to test at all? In this episode, we delve into the particulars of this question, as we consider how to maximize your child's resources and avoid any potential penalization. The conversation also covers different strategies for preparing for tests, and some of the best practices for improving scores if you do decide to take the tests. We cover some differences between SATs and ACTs and even consider some of the tutoring services that are available for students for upping their numbers. So to get clear on all of these questions, and make sure your child's application is the strongest it can be, press play!   Key Points From This Episode:   [0:03:05] Defining the terms 'test optional' and 'test free' as they relate to college applications. [0:06:17] Common questions about tests and which ones to take. [0:07:35] Weighing the possibility of being penalized for not submitting test scores. [0:10:15] Choosing between SATs and ACTs, and making the most of time and energy. [0:14:13] Balancing the value of testing and other worthwhile uses of a child's resources. [0:16:46] When to start preparing for tests and carving out time in a busy schedule. [0:20:03] Matching the preparation strategy and duration to the child's needs and strengths. [0:23:48] How a regular reading habit can positively impact test scores. [0:25:11] Different types of prep and finding something that best suits your child. [0:30:45] Practical advice for setting aside time for practice tests. [0:34:28] Diminishing returns after a certain amount of repeated tests. [0:36:42] The dangers of guarantees from test tutors.  [0:40:50] Schools that still require testing from their applicants. Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: Sh*t Your Teenagers Won't Tell You Sh*t Your Teenagers Won't Tell You on Instagram

Covid brought about the rapid growth of SAT and ACT test-optional for college admissions, which has been great for some students. As we move past Covid, should your teen be taking the tests now? My friend Brooke Hanson from Supertutor Media Inc and SupertutorTV says in most cases yes! In this episode she shares the data to demonstrate that among top selective colleges they are accepting more students who took a test, even when those schools loudly claim to be test-optional. Listen to the episode for the inside scoop on why this once test optional supporter has reconsidered the value of testing. Her students will be taking the test and you may just discover your teen should too. EPISODE NOTESSupertutorTV's Brooke Hanson has been a supporter of test-optional for many years, but recently changed her mind based on data discovered from school admissions reports and her own belief in the positive mindset shift that comes from test prep and testing. There are some high school students for whom testing will always be difficult, but she still encourages taking the tests for a number of reasons. Many teens were off the hook during the pandemic because testing centers were closed, yet a growing number of schools are requiring tests again.First there are also data-driven reasons for testing. Did you know even some test-blind schools, those which wouldn't normally look at anyone's results, will factor in scores if you were in the top 50% of applicants? Many colleges that say they are test-optional are providing an admission advantage to those with test scores. I had a  previous student who unscientifically surveyed her peers in her Honors College and couldn't find a single admitted student who applied without ACT or SAT scores at her test optional college.Brooke gives a good reminder to consider your teen's mindset. I think of testing like the clubs and activities from high school. They may be optional, but you wouldn't go to school and skip the activities. Students want to show they can actually do the work of college and graduate. Maybe testing has become a circus, but with Brooke's test prep and my college and career coaching, we want to set your student up to make informed decisions about their future so they don't go in blindly or leave things to chance.Highlights What made Brooke stop being in favor of test optionalACT-SAT admission data from the top 200 schoolsWho might benefit from test optionalHow ACT-SAT testing and prep create a positive mindset shift Links mentioned in this episodeSupertutor Media Inc. YoutubeFlourish Coaching on YouTubeCollege Data: Best and Worst Best for Test OptionalSupertutor Media on Insta/Twitter/Tiktok: @supertutortv National Test Prep Association Member DirectoryLaunch College & Career Clarity CourseLaunch College and Career Clarity Facebook CommunityTimeline[01:52] Introducing my guest and good friend, Brooke Hanson from SupertutorTV[02:52] Brook shares testing data from the top 200 US schools[06:14] Do students want test-optional? Should they take the tests anyway?[09:57] Many students are facing challenges taking the tests at all[11:38] Families want to game the system, whether test-required or test-optional[13:03] Why most of her students will still take the test[18:51] Colleges are also playing games and trying many different strategies[23:50] What changed Bro

Admissions Counselors Maria Finan and Zach Klonsinski are back for another season to help you navigate the college application process. They kick off season 5 with this episode, where they cover the extension of Notre Dame's test-optional pilot program and how they evaluate test-optional applications. 

What Does The ABA Allowing Law Schools To Go Test-Optional REALLY Mean? An ABA committee has recommended allowing law schools to stop requiring standardized tests like the LSAT and GRE for admission. Check the last page containing the ABA committee's proposed revision to Standard 503): https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/legal_education_and_admissions_to_the_bar/council_reports_and_resolutions/may22/22-may-memo-revisions-501-503.pdf Free Easy LSAT Cheat Sheet: https://bit.ly/easylsat *** On the ABA committee proposal to stop requiring standardized tests for law school admissions: The proposed revision must be still approved by the ABA. It would then be up to individual schools whether they require the LSAT (or another exam) or not. Equivalent accrediting bodies for med school and business school don't require them to use standardized tests for admission, but many require tests such as the MCAT/GMAT/GRE. So it's unclear whether many law schools would stop requiring the LSAT even if they could. (My guess is that it'd be mostly lower-ranked schools who typically have a harder time getting applicants.) The impact of removing a standardized test requirement is somewhat mixed. At first glance, it may  seem to level the playing field. But whether it actually does, or to what extent, is not entirely clear. On the one hand, removing that barrier allows people who wouldn't do well on the LSAT a better shot at getting into law school. A 2-hour multiple-choice exam is obviously very different from what you'll do in the legal profession. On the other, people with resources will likely spend that test prep money on developing their resumes and polishing their applications. A LOT of money gets spent in the admission consulting world for undergraduate admissions. The amount devoted to law school admissions consulting would likely grow substantially. Additionally, GPA would carry much more weight than it currently does. Those who took easy majors with lots of grade inflation would have a significant advantage over those who struggled in college. The latter group might include those who worked through college, those with family obligations, and those who had personal matters/emergencies that took their focus away from school, leading to lower grades than they otherwise might have gotten. Most schools will likely take a wait-and-see approach -- they're risk-averse (especially when it comes to jeopardizing their US News rankings) and will look to see the results for first-movers. (The schools that drop requirements first, if/when the ABA approves the committee's recommendation.) Bottom-line: none of this is directly relevant to anyone applying now or in the near future. Bureaucracies typically move slowly, and I expect that no schools are likely to change their admission policies for anyone applying to law school this fall, even if they could. So if you're applying to law school this fall - keep studying! :) *** Free Easy LSAT Cheat Sheet: https://bit.ly/easylsat LSAT Courses: http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/p/lsat-course-packages.html LSAT Schedules: http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/p/month-lsat-study-schedules-plans.html LSAT Blog Free Stuff: http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/p/lsat-prep-tips.html Best LSAT Prep Books: https://lsatblog.blogspot.com/p/best-lsat-prep-books.html LSAT Unplugged Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lsat-unplugged/id1450308309?mt=2 LSAT Unplugged Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lsatunplugged/ LSAT Coaching YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgOHAiSs08EbD-kfDFqIEoMC_hzQrH-J5 Law School Admissions Coaching YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgOHAiSs08EbsqveKs_RZEy2sqqbz3HUL LSAT Unplugged Facebook Group (community and free livestream classes):  https://www.facebook.com/groups/LSATUnplugged LSAT Blog: http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/LSATBlog/?sub_confirmation=1

What Does The ABA Allowing Law Schools To Go Test-Optional REALLY Mean? An ABA committee has recommended allowing law schools to stop requiring standardized tests like the LSAT and GRE for admission. Check the last page containing the ABA committee's proposed revision to Standard 503): https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/legal_education_and_admissions_to_the_bar/council_reports_and_resolutions/may22/22-may-memo-revisions-501-503.pdf Free Easy LSAT Cheat Sheet: https://bit.ly/easylsat *** On the ABA committee proposal to stop requiring standardized tests for law school admissions: The proposed revision must be still approved by the ABA. It would then be up to individual schools whether they require the LSAT (or another exam) or not. Equivalent accrediting bodies for med school and business school don't require them to use standardized tests for admission, but many require tests such as the MCAT/GMAT/GRE. So it's unclear whether many law schools would stop requiring the LSAT even if they could. (My guess is that it'd be mostly lower-ranked schools who typically have a harder time getting applicants.) The impact of removing a standardized test requirement is somewhat mixed. At first glance, it may  seem to level the playing field. But whether it actually does, or to what extent, is not entirely clear. On the one hand, removing that barrier allows people who wouldn't do well on the LSAT a better shot at getting into law school. A 2-hour multiple-choice exam is obviously very different from what you'll do in the legal profession. On the other, people with resources will likely spend that test prep money on developing their resumes and polishing their applications. A LOT of money gets spent in the admission consulting world for undergraduate admissions. The amount devoted to law school admissions consulting would likely grow substantially. Additionally, GPA would carry much more weight than it currently does. Those who took easy majors with lots of grade inflation would have a significant advantage over those who struggled in college. The latter group might include those who worked through college, those with family obligations, and those who had personal matters/emergencies that took their focus away from school, leading to lower grades than they otherwise might have gotten. Most schools will likely take a wait-and-see approach -- they're risk-averse (especially when it comes to jeopardizing their US News rankings) and will look to see the results for first-movers. (The schools that drop requirements first, if/when the ABA approves the committee's recommendation.) Bottom-line: none of this is directly relevant to anyone applying now or in the near future. Bureaucracies typically move slowly, and I expect that no schools are likely to change their admission policies for anyone applying to law school this fall, even if they could. So if you're applying to law school this fall - keep studying! :) *** Free Easy LSAT Cheat Sheet: https://bit.ly/easylsat LSAT Courses: http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/p/lsat-course-packages.html LSAT Schedules: http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/p/month-lsat-study-schedules-plans.html LSAT Blog Free Stuff: http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/p/lsat-prep-tips.html Best LSAT Prep Books: https://lsatblog.blogspot.com/p/best-lsat-prep-books.html LSAT Unplugged Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lsat-unplugged/id1450308309?mt=2 LSAT Unplugged Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lsatunplugged/ LSAT Coaching YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgOHAiSs08EbD-kfDFqIEoMC_hzQrH-J5 Law School Admissions Coaching YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgOHAiSs08EbsqveKs_RZEy2sqqbz3HUL LSAT Unplugged Facebook Group (community and free livestream classes):  https://www.facebook.com/groups/LSATUnplugged LSAT Blog: http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/LSATBlog/?sub_confirmation=1

It seems fitting to drop the final episode of Season 5 on Ken's last day as Vice President for Enrollment at Lawrence University with the man who brought him to Lawrence 18 years ago: Steve Syverson, Dean of Admission Emeritus at Lawrence University. Steve served as Lawrence's chief enrollment officer for 28 years before handing the reins to Ken in 2011, and the episode is as much a trip down memory lane as it is an expansive view of what still matters most in the college admission profession.Shout outs from people who have worked with Steve include: Jen England, Carin Smith, Jim Miller, Patrick O'Connor, Ray Brown, James Miller, Lynn Van Zeeland, and Nicole Schultz.We will be back in fall 2022 with Season 6.Rapid DescentWalkout song:  Stayin Alive by Bee GeesBest recent read: Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World by Fareed ZakariaEager to read next: Some beach fluffFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: Mean nachos.What he uses to take and keep notes: Pen and yellow legal pad. Memorable bit of advice: "People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel ." -Maya AngelouBucket list: Scuba diving off the Great Barrier Reef. Theme music arranged by Ryan Anselment.

We're back! After taking a few months off, Caleb and Jill are back to talk about a few updates surrounding Get Smarter Prep as well as what current Juniors should be focusing on right now. Of course, we don't want to leave out Sophomores or Seniors, so we have some guidance as to what those students can do as well. Also, Caleb is traveling to Austin for a big birthday celebration! Can you guess how old he is turning? Roadmap to CollegeFree Practice Test

Test optional policies driven by limited access to testing during the pandemic have made that part of the process more confusing, especially at colleges that rely heavily on grades and testing alone when making admissions decisions. Chris Lucier, former VP at University of Vermont and University of Delaware, joins the show to share his insight into the impact of test optional policies on applicants to public universities. In our second segment for Financial Aid Awareness month, we're sharing how financial aid eligibility is determined and helping you decipher your financial aid award. We'll also be discussing recently announced changes to the SAT.

Test optional policies driven by limited access to testing during the pandemic have made that part of the process more confusing, especially at colleges that rely heavily on grades and testing alone when making admissions decisions. Chris Lucier, former VP at University of Vermont and University of Delaware, joins the show to share his insight into the impact of test optional policies on applicants to public universities. In our second segment for Financial Aid Awareness month, we're sharing how financial aid eligibility is determined and helping you decipher your financial aid award. We'll also be discussing recently announced changes to the SAT.

For most colleges, applying for financial aid is as simple as filling out the FAFSA. But a smaller group of schools also requires the CSS Profile. We'll share what to expect if you need to complete that form as well. In the era of test optional colleges, students and parents frequently struggle to decide whether they should submit their test scores as part of their applications. We'll walk you through how to think about that. Finally, we're reviewing the additional essay prompts for University of Chicago in our fall series on supplemental essays.

For most colleges, applying for financial aid is as simple as filling out the FAFSA. But a smaller group of schools also requires the CSS Profile. We'll share what to expect if you need to complete that form as well. In the era of test optional colleges, students and parents frequently struggle to decide whether they should submit their test scores as part of their applications. We'll walk you through how to think about that. Finally, we're reviewing the additional essay prompts for University of Chicago in our fall series on supplemental essays.