Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

The PSAT/NMSQT may not influence college admissions decisions, but the test matters in more ways than you might think. Amy and Mike invited educator and author Brian Stewart to discuss how and why to perform your best on the PSAT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What role does the PSAT play compared to the SAT or ACT? What are some of the most common mistakes students make with the PSAT and how can they avoid them? What study strategies or prep resources are most effective for the PSAT? What are some ways students can effectively use the embedded Bluebook tools to do well on the PSAT?   What kind of students should focus on the SAT and PSAT at the same time? MEET OUR GUEST At the end of his first year teaching Social Studies at Dublin Jerome High School, company founder Brian Stewart thought it would make sense to do some part-time tutoring work over the summer. After all, he had done quite well on standardized tests when he was in high school and really enjoyed coming up with creative ways to explain challenging concepts to students. Other companies charged a fortune and didn’t seem to have a high-quality product. As Brian worked with more students, word spread about the quality of his tutoring services. He started to offer ACT and SAT test prep group classes, and worked with students from all over Central Ohio. In 2011, Brian left his day job to run BWS Education Consulting full time with his wife Caitlin. Applying the expertise from her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, Caitlin has ensured that our teaching materials and methods make high-quality test preparation accessible to students of all backgrounds and ability levels. In 2012, Barron’s Educational Series contacted Brian about submitting samples of his writing as they conducted a national search for their next ACT book author. Brian was chosen to write Barron's ACT, and has gone on to write several ACT, SAT, and PSAT books with Barron's Educational Series. His books have sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide. In 2014, BWS Education expanded to have associate tutors who teach not only the ACT and SAT, but tutor students in math, science, and writing. Brian and Caitlin personally interview and train every tutor on our staff to ensure they are the best in the business. BWS is a team of committed educators who relentlessly look for the best way to deliver educational enrichment to our clients, whether it’s test prep, academic help, or college admission counseling. Brian appeared on the podcast in episode #33 to discuss PSAT and the National Merit Scholarship, in episode #383 to discuss Should You Prepare for the PSAT, in episode #507 to discuss The New Digital PSAT, and in episode #590 to discuss How To Prep For The Digital PSAT. Find Brian at https://www.bwseducationconsulting.com. LINKS Brian’s PSAT Book: Barron's PSAT/NMSQT 1520 Why take the PSAT? PSAT and Scholarships Colleges that offer Full-Rides for National Merit Information on the New Digital PSAT RELATED EPISODES RESOURCES FOR THE DIGITAL SAT ALL ABOUT DIGITAL SAT READING & WRITING ALL ABOUT DIGITAL SAT MATH 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, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.  

Someone once said that interviewing is tough, especially if you don't know what you're looking for. Another complicating factor is having no answer to predictable questions–a regrettably common occurrence for higher ed applicants. Amy and Mike invited educator Alison Slater to explore the importance of preparing for a college admissions interview. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why is it important to prepare before an interview? Are interviews impactful considering that many schools don’t offer them? Should students who are offered interviews take them? Who should prep for interviews and when? How can students prepare for all the interviews they are likely to have coming up?  What are some questions applicants should be prepared for? MEET OUR GUEST Alison Slater graduated from Bucknell University and worked in selective college admission for fifteen years. Interviews were her favorite part of the college application process, but she found they were often missed opportunities when students arrived nervous or unprepared. They were checking a box, not maximizing an opportunity. Alison founded Interview Prep to help students make strong impressions by preparing thoughtfully and approaching each interview with confidence and a plan. Alison can be reached at interviewprepllc.com. LINKS Interview Tips for Students Common interview questions RELATED EPISODES THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLEGE INTERVIEWS HOW TO PREPARE FOR A COLLEGE ADMISSIONS INTERVIEW HOW TO SPEAK TO A COLLEGE ADMISSIONS REP 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, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.  

All the world’s a stage, which means that performance anxiety can be debilitating in a variety of contexts. What does it take to silence your inner critics and do your best when only your best will do? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Christine Gangelhoff to explore what performance teaches us about test anxiety. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the core similarities between test anxiety and performance anxiety in musicians or athletes? How can students pace their test prep the way performers pace their practice to avoid last-minute panic? What breathing or physical regulation techniques used by performers could help test-takers stay grounded? How can students build “performance stamina” to sustain focus during longer exams or high-stakes testing environments? What mindset strategies from the performing arts can help students shift from fear to focus during a test? MEET OUR GUEST Dr. Christine Gangelhoff is an internationally recognized expert in performing arts college admissions and the founder of SoundPath Consulting, a specialized educational consultancy focused on guiding students through the audition-based college application process. With a background as a music professor, performer, arts administrator, and scholar, she brings a deeply informed perspective to arts education and career development. Christine first appeared on our podcast in episode 478 to discuss Admissions Considerations For Musicians. Find Christine at mysoundpath.com. LINKS Yerkes–Dodson law How to Breathe When Feeling Stressed Test anxiety: Can it be treated? RELATED EPISODES HOW STRESS AFFECTS TEST PERFORMANCE HOW TO BREATHE DURING STRESSFUL SITUATIONS OVERCOMING TEST ANXIETY 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, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.  

The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. Catch up with us in the latest episode of EXTEMP with Amy & Mike. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What have Amy and Mike been up to this month? How has the addition of the September SAT affected test prep calendars? What special call did Amy recently receive? When will the first TestBright Tutor Training sessions run? What does the next month hold for Amy and Mike? We definitely want to respond to listener questions in our next EXTEMP episode, so reach out to us on social media or get in touch through our contact page. Let’s get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling! LINKS The Case for the September SAT RELATED EPISODES EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: July 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: June 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: May 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: April 2025 ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.

It’s been said that when we set an intention, somehow the world seems to magically come to meet us. Does that apply in college admissions? You'll never find out if you don’t try. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Ann Cadwallader to outline the impact of intentionality on the road to college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does intentionality mean in the context of the high school experience? How does course selection tell a story? What really matters when choosing extracurricular activities? What does the choice to work or volunteer during high school signify? What are other facets of intentionality on the road to college? MEET OUR GUEST Ann Cadwallader, founder of My University Coach, has worked in education for 35 years and has guided students through the college admissions process as an Independent Educational Consultant for nearly two decades. She holds a BS from Stanford University and an MBA from the University of Minnesota, and in 2020 earned the Certified Educational Planner designation — an achievement that reflects her deep expertise in college advising.  Ann has personally visited 193 college campuses across the country, giving her firsthand insight into a wide range of schools and student experiences. Known for her calm, strategic approach, she is dedicated to reducing stress for both students and parents and helping families make smart, intentional choices—so students can tell their story with confidence and clarity.  Ann can be reached at ann@myuniversitycoach.com. LINKS Making Intentional Decisions: Questions to Ask Yourself. RELATED EPISODES FINDING YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF IN THE PATH TO COLLEGE  THE COLLEGE PLEASING EPIDEMIC HOW CAN PAST POOR DECISIONS AFFECT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.  

Few writing assignments loom as large or feel as significant as the application essay does to a college-bound teen. But what if the keys to a statement that makes a difference were both simple to understand and easy to implement? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Susan Knoppow to reveal valuable college essay secrets. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the real essay prompt every applicant needs to respond to? How are college essays used in the admissions process? Do they really matter? What are the biggest mistakes students make when writing college essays? How many editors are too many? How much guidance should counselors provide students on what to write? MEET OUR GUEST Susan Knoppow is CEO of Wow Writing Workshop, a college essay coaching company that teaches students and professionals a streamlined, ethical essay coaching process. The ten-step Wow Method has been used by thousands of students to get into their top choice colleges, and is the go-to system for independent educational consultants, school counselors, and other admissions professionals. A former corporate trainer and executive speechwriter, Susan can turn any task into a series of simple steps. She is a published poet and essayist with a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan and an MFA in Writing from Vermont College. When she's not running Wow, Susan likes to garden, cook, and go on adventures with her husband and their dog, Luna.  Susan can be reached at wowwritingworkshop.com or  susan@wowwritingworkshop.com. LINKS 10 Step Wow Method RELATED EPISODES MAKING YOUR COLLEGE ESSAYS COUNT COLLEGE ESSAYS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HOW MUCH AI IS JUST RIGHT IN THE COLLEGE ESSAY? TABOO ESSAY TOPICS 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, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.

Starting in September 2025, the ACT will be administered nationally both on paper and on digital devices. Should you take the ACT on a computer? If so, what do you need to know in advance? Amy and Mike invited educator Adam Snoza to review Strategies For The Computer-Based ACT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What should test takers know about the digital interfaces? What are the differences in platforms between the in-school and national digital ACT? Even with the majority of test prep providers recommending the paper test, what are unique benefits to the digital test? What strategies can test takers employ to make digital testing easier? Can a student prepare a digital test if they are using paper tests in school or at home? MEET OUR GUEST Adam Snoza graduated from Creighton University and was a high school English teacher for 9 years in both public and private schools. He has spent 16 years in ACT test prep with Aim High Test Prep in Omaha, NE, where he is the president, lead instructor, and curriculum developer, authoring his own 350-page instructional manual. Adam is also an ACT Instructional Mastery trainer (AIM) in all 6 certification areas: Basics, English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing. Now, he is a trainer of the AIM program and works with teachers and tutors across the country on how to effectively teach the ACT test. In addition, Adam co-authored the 2021 update to The Official ACT Mathematics Guide. Though every student he helps gain a life-changing scholarship or entry into an elite college gives him great satisfaction, his greatest pride comes from working with multiple local charities to bring test prep to underserved populations in an effort to bridge the education gap. Adam previously appeared on this podcast in episode 159 to discuss ACT Math Reporting Categories and episode 249 for a Test Prep Profile and in episode 298 to discuss Why Remote Tutoring Is Here To Stay. Find Adam at aimhightestprep.com. LINKS Sample Questions - ACT Online Testing | The ACT Test ACT Test Enhancements The Upcoming Changes to the Enhanced ACT RELATED EPISODES RELATED EPISODES A TEST TAKER’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENHANCED ACT SUCCESS IN COMPUTER-BASED TESTING COMPARING PAPER- AND COMPUTER-BASED TESTING ALL ABOUT THE ACT TEST ENHANCEMENTS 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, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.  

Imagine two models of education, one of which reserves opportunities for college credit for college students and another which allows high schoolers to also earn college credit. Which do you think most college-bound students would prefer? Amy and Mike invited admissions professional Audrey Moreno to explore the impact of dual enrollment programs. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is an early college high school? Are there different models of dual enrollment offerings? Why is access to dual enrollment programs so important? What makes dual enrollment such a powerful tool for increasing college access—especially for underserved students? What advice would you give to families or school counselors who are considering dual enrollment as an option? MEET OUR GUEST Dr. Audrey Delfina Moreno is a first-generation college student and Mexican American. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Psychology from Northern Arizona University and completed her Ed.D. at Arizona State University in 2013. For the past 19 years, Audrey has worked in secondary and postsecondary education, focusing on credit recovery and Early College student populations. She began her career as a counselor in Title 1 charter schools in downtown and central Phoenix before transitioning to Director of Early College at Paradise Valley Community College, where she expanded dual credit opportunities and supported college planning programs for high school students. Now serving as Senior Director of National Bridge Partnerships within ASU’s Learning Enterprise, Audrey leads Accelerate ASU, overseeing partnerships with school districts, high schools, and community organizations to expand access to college credit through ASU’s Universal Learner Courses. She also spearheads Accelerate ASU: College Now, an initiative aimed at strengthening dual enrollment pipelines in collaboration with community colleges nationwide. Additionally, Audrey serves on the board of Home Schooling for College Credit, where she helps shape policies and strategies to increase access to early college opportunities for homeschooling families. She specializes in designing college credit pathways and is deeply committed to fostering equitable opportunities for high school students who aspire to earn college credit. Audrey can be reached at moreno.audrey@asu.edu or on LinkedIn. LINKS Dual Enrollment Meaning & Benefits Accelerate ASU Fast-tracking futures with ASU’s dual enrollment program RELATED EPISODES WHEN IS DUAL ENROLLMENT A GOOD OPTION? ADVANTAGES OF DUAL ENROLLMENT EARNING ADVANCE COLLEGE CREDIT HIGH SCHOOL COURSE SELECTION AND ACADEMIC RIGOR 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, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.  

The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. Catch up with us in the latest episode of EXTEMP with Amy & Mike. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What have Amy and Mike been up to this month? Why is summer always so busy? What’s the new college student housing crisis? What projects are Mike and Amy working on? What does the next month hold for Amy and Mike? We definitely want to respond to listener questions in our next EXTEMP episode, so reach out to us on social media or get in touch through our contact page. Let’s get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling! LINKS A Different Kind of Student Housing Crisis Testing Gameplan for the HS Class of 2027 RELATED EPISODES EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: June 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: May 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: April 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: March 2025 ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.

Procrastination does not necessarily stem from laziness or disorganization. Sometimes, we put off important tasks to cope with negative emotions associated with their outcomes–perfectly understandable but highly undesirable when it comes to complex college applications and strict deadlines. Amy and Mike invited education consultant Michelle McAnaney to understand how to manage procrastination in the admissions process. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why do students procrastinate? Are there any benefits to procrastination? How does procrastination affect the college admissions process? What are the three types of college procrastinators? What can parents do to help their procrastination-prone student manage the task of applying to college? MEET OUR GUEST Michelle McAnaney is the founder of The College Spy, a full service independent educational consulting firm that assists students and families across the US and internationally with the college selection and application process.  Prior to founding The College Spy, Michelle was a school counselor and educator for more than 15 years, including serving as the Director of Guidance at two high schools, an adjunct college professor and a GED tutor. Michelle holds a master’s degree in school counseling and a bachelor’s degree in human development. She completed UC Irvine’s certificate program in educational consulting and is a MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) Certified Practitioner and a NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Master Practitioner. Michelle visits many colleges each year so that she has first-hand knowledge of the colleges and universities her clients will be considering.  Find Michelle at https://thecollegespy.com/ LINKS 8 Tips to Avoid Procrastination Could Procrastination Actually Be Beneficial? Some Experts Say Yes. Podcast - The College Spy RELATED EPISODES HELPING TEENS FIGHT PROCRASTINATION EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IN TEENS THE THREE CORE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND TEST PREP  MAKING TIME VISIBLE 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, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.  

When tests change, so should the conventional wisdom about timelines and options. How will the Enhanced ACT factor into your admissions exam plans? Amy and Mike invited educator Brian Eufinger to review a testing gameplan for the HS class of 2027. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the main issues for students in the high school class of 2027? What are the timelines students should keep in mind? Have test score policies changed over the last year? Should ACT test takers sit for the optional Science section? Should students focus on only one test? 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) and THE ROLE OF TEST SCORES IN COLLEGE MERIT AID (#593). He hosted the show CELEBRATING OUR 500TH EPISODE and facilitated our 2019-20 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW (#100). He was featured in a SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: EDISON PREP AP HISTORY BOOT CAMPS (#635). Find Brian at https://www.edisonprep.com. LINKS ACT Test Enhancements The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board ACT Enhancement Content Rebalancing Is the ACT Science section really optional at your college of interest? Merit Aid Grids RELATED EPISODES A TEST TAKER’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENHANCED ACT THE NEW DIGITAL SAT EXPERIENCE: A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE THE DIGITAL SAT: HOW IT STARTED AND HOW IT’S GOING ALL ABOUT THE ACT TEST ENHANCEMENTS CHOOSING BETWEEN THE DIGITAL SAT AND THE ACT 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, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.  

Every year, new calculations and complications impact the college application process. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Rebecca Stuart-Orlowski to return to the show with admissions notes for the HS graduating class of 2026. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is the enrollment cliff real, and what does it mean for the Class of 2026? Which colleges and universities are becoming more popular? With the science section in the ACT becoming optional, should students still take it? Is building a balanced college list enough?  With changing math standards and the introduction of data science in many high schools, should students still take calculus in high school? MEET OUR GUEST Rebecca Stuart-Orlowski, founder of Orlowski College Consulting, has worked in education for 35 years and has worked as an Independent Educational Consultant for 10+ years. She has a specialized Certificate in College Counseling from UCSD, a BA in Communicative Disorders from San Diego State, and two active teaching credentials. She taught deaf, LD, and 2E students for four years and was a college counselor at a small private school for 3 years. Rebecca specializes in gifted/2E, STEM, creative, homeschooled, and transfer students. Rebecca first appeared on the podcast in episode 369 to discuss ADMISSIONS NOTES FOR THE CLASS OF 2023, in episode 526 to discuss ADMISSIONS NOTES FOR THE HS GRADUATING CLASS OF 2024, and in episode 591 to discuss ADMISSIONS NOTES FOR THE HS GRADUATING CLASS OF 2025. Rebecca can be reached at r.orlowski.consulting@gmail.com. LINKS ‘You can’t create 18-year-olds’: What can colleges do amid demographic upheaval? Northeast students are heading south for college  24 years of UMich admissions: An inside look at acceptance rates and freshman profiles  Will They or Won't They? Tracking Colleges' New ACT Requirements  Admission 101: Why It’s Important to Let Us Know You’re Interested in Davidson Calculus or Statistics: Does it Matter?  Is calculus an addiction that college admissions officers can’t shake?  RELATED EPISODES THE DEMOGRAPHIC CLIFF IS HERE A TEST TAKER’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENHANCED ACT USING THE COMMON DATA SET 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, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.  

The path for high school athletes seeking to play at the next level becomes more uncertain every year. The increasing complexity of college sports recruitment is matched only by the uncertainty of every other part of the application process. Amy and Mike invited college advisor Barb Smith to share answers about college admissions for the student athlete. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the primary mistake that student-athletes make when they go through the college selection process?   What are common myths about the college selection process that trap student-athletes and their families?  What changes in college sports have affected the college selection process for student-athletes in high school? How should these be navigated?  How can families support their student-athletes in the college admissions process without adding too much pressure?   What advice do you have for student-athletes and their families just starting the admissions process?  MEET OUR GUEST Barb Smith is a former Division I college athlete, a 30-year former Division I college basketball coach, motivational speaker, author, entrepreneur, and advocate for all levels of leadership and teamwork. Having both played and coached at the college level, Barb knows that sports go beyond winning and losing.  Having experienced the highs and lows and twists and turns both in sport and in life, Barb has learned the meaning of resilience. Her story is one of extreme highs, like winning conference championships and back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances, but also extreme lows, like not winning games or losing a player to spinal meningitis. Barb has shared these stories and others as she speaks on organizational principles, leadership, inclusivity, and team-building. Barb is the founder of Courtside Leadership, an organization that promotes leadership, teamwork, and team dynamics. She has authored Beyond the Talent: Profile of a Winning Team, which details some of her research in building successful teams.  Most recently, Barb founded Find My Team, a startup company that partners with aspiring high school student-athletes, parents, and coaches and empowers them with the knowledge necessary to make the college athletic recruiting process a positive, proactive, and successful experience.  Barb majored in Health Education at The Ohio State University and earned her MBA in Organizational Behavior at Iona College in New York. She coached women’s basketball at Iona, Univ. of Colorado-Boulder, San Diego State, Univ of California-Berkeley, Univ. of Minnesota, Saint Louis University, and Illinois State. When not working, Barb enjoys family, nature, birding, cycling, traveling, attending sporting events, meeting new people, and playing with her two rescued greyhounds. Find Barb at barb@findmyteam.com or findmyteam.com. LINKS courtsideleadership.com  Beyond the Talent: Profile of a Winning Team RELATED EPISODES DIVISION III AND IVY LEAGUE ATHLETIC RECRUITMENT MYTHS ABOUT TESTING AND COLLEGE SPORTS TEST SCORES AND THE NCAA CLEARINGHOUSE 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, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.

AI-first data-driven platform to build, deploy, analyze, and personalize any course. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind VEGA AI? How does VEGA AI work? Who currently uses VEGA AI? What kinds of outcomes do users experience? What should someone curious about VEGA AI know about it? ABOUT VEGA AI VEGA AI lets educators build Duolingo-style engaging courses in minutes. It creates personalized tests, grades them, flags learning gaps, recommends next steps, and even deploys your AI-avatar to answer doubts 24/7. The smartest educators across the Globe are already using VEGA AI for high-stakes tests like SAT, ACT, APs, and many more. To learn more, please contact piyush.kumar@myvega.ai or https://www.myvega.ai. 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, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.

The walls of academia have always seemed distant and distinct from the corridors of political power. But even the ivory tower isn’t safe during periods of dramatic societal change. Amy and Mike invited educator Dominique Padurano to explore how political changes are shaping higher education. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What have been some events that have catalyzed change in higher education during the past two years?   What could be the biggest changes to US colleges and universities in the coming months? What impact have these developments had on international students? What are some academic considerations that families need to think about when building college lists now? What are some social and cultural items families might want to consider when building college lists now? MEET OUR GUEST Dominique Padurano has been helping students achieve their academic dreams for 27 years.  After teaching history and Social Studies full-time at several elite New York high schools, she founded Crimson Coaching in 2014 to work one-on-one with students prepping for standardized tests like the SAT and ACT; striving to master academic content and skills in high school; and applying to college and scholarships. “Dr. P.,” as her students call her, does 98% of Crimson Coaching’s tutoring and coaching herself. She’s also an adjunct professor of Historical Studies at Empire State University, part of the State University of New York. Currently, Dominique’s at work on a how-to book tentatively titled, Writing College Essays That Work. Dominique appeared on the podcast in episode 373 to discuss Small Group Classes Vs 1-1 Tutoring for SAT & ACT Prep and in episode 513 to discuss Diversity And The College Essay. Find Dominique at Facebook, LinkedIn, and info@crimsoncoaching.com. LINKS Fulbright scholarship board resigns amid 'unlawful' federal funding rollback As Crises Grip Colleges, More Students Than Ever Are Set to Enroll Title VI of the Civil Rights Act in Light of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (PDF) Find Your Representative Contacting U.S. Senators Liam Knox | Inside Higher Ed Navigating School and College Selection in Tumultuous Political Times RELATED EPISODES THE DEMOGRAPHIC CLIFF IS HERE  STOP MAKING $EN$E: THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROBLEM TOP TIPS TO PASS YOUR STUDY VISA INTERVIEW 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, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.

Smart college applicants know not to let artificial intelligence agents write their entire personal statement but might shudder at the idea of ignoring these tools entirely. How much is too much? Amy and Mike invited educator Razi Hecker to explore how much AI is just right in the college essay. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Should students avoid AI entirely when writing their college application essays? At what points in the writing process can AI be most helpful? What tasks can be AI-assisted and which ones should never be? Is there a danger that use of AI might be detected by essay readers? Why is a main thesis so critical for effective college essays? MEET OUR GUEST Razi Hecker is a Harvard graduate (Cum Laude, B.A. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations) and a creative writer whose work appears in literary journals, news outlets, and the most recent edition of 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays. With over 2,000 hours of college essay coaching and 10+ years in education and creative writing, Razi helps students transform personal experiences into powerful, memorable admissions narratives. His students have been accepted to every Ivy League school, as well as Stanford, MIT, and Caltech. This past year alone, over 70% of Razi’s top retainer students were admitted to at least one Ivy. Those who didn’t landed spots at other elite institutions such as Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, UC Berkeley, and Washington University. Find Razi at League Bound Consulting. LINKS Common App Fraud Policy Can prospective students use generative AI to help with their application to Cornell? AI Is Taking Over College Admissions RELATED EPISODES COLLEGE ESSAYS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MAKING YOUR COLLEGE ESSAYS COUNT WRITING RHETORICALLY IN ADMISSIONS ESSAYS 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, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.  

The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. Catch up with us in the latest episode of EXTEMP with Amy & Mike. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How was the NTPA Conference in Minneapolis? Where did Mike go after Minneapolis? What projects are Mike and Amy working on? What does the next month hold for Amy and Mike? What special milestone has TATR hit? We definitely want to respond to listener questions in our next EXTEMP episode, so reach out to us on social media or get in touch through our contact page. Let’s get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling! LINKS Tutor: The Stuff of Growth RELATED EPISODES EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: May 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: April 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: March 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: February 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2025 ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. 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, get in touch through our contact page.  

If you’re applying as a STEM major or looking at selective colleges, there’s no question that you should consider taking advanced or accelerated math courses at the secondary level. The question instead revolves around which course to take. Amy and Mike invited researcher Adam Tyner to review whether taking calculus in high school is absolutely necessary. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the typical pathways for showing math rigor in high school? Does the choice between calculus or statistics matter? In what cases would one of these choices be more advantageous to an applicant? Do students who have taken calculus in high school outperform their peers? Are their equity issues wrapped up in this decision? MEET OUR GUEST Adam Tyner is the national research director of research at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, where he helps develop and manage Fordham’s research projects. Prior to joining Fordham, he served as senior education analyst at Hanover Research, where he executed data analysis projects and worked with school districts and other education stakeholders to design custom studies.  Adam has also spent several years leading classrooms, teaching English as a second language in both China and California and teaching courses at the University of California, San Diego. His work has appeared and been cited in national and international media such as The Economist, The New York Times, Forbes, Education Week, Education Next, and The Diplomat, as well as in numerous local outlets. Adam holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, San Diego, where he completed his doctoral dissertation on the integration of rural-to-urban migrant workers in China’s cities. He also holds a bachelor of arts in international studies from the University of Oklahoma. Adam first appeared on the podcast in episode 140 to discuss Social Studies Instruction and Reading Comprehension and in episode 295 to discuss Would Eliminating Tests Make Education More Equitable. Find Adam at fordhaminstitute.org. LINKS Calculus or Statistics: Does it Matter? RELATED EPISODES CHOOSING HIGH SCHOOL MATH COURSES STRATEGICALLY MATHEMATICAL MATURITY AND TEST SUCCESS GETTING READY FOR THE AP CALCULUS AB OR BC EXAM GETTING READY FOR AP PRECALCULUS GETTING READY FOR THE AP STATISTICS EXAM ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

Most students matriculate directly from high school to college. But what if you’re not like most students? Amy and Mike invited education consultant Julia Rogers to explore how to plan a gap year. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is there a typical profile of "who" takes a gap year? What are the biggest benefits of taking a gap year to this particular sub-generation of students? How does a student get started with planning a gap year? What steps should students and families take to ensure the gap year is structured and meaningful? What are the financial implications of gap years? MEET OUR GUEST Julia Rogers is a traveler, business owner, and experiential education expert who has spent the last 16 years as a professional gap year counselor. As the founder of EnRoute Consulting, Julia oversees a social enterprise dedicated to fueling the gap year movement and developing a generation of compassionate, driven and resourceful global citizens. She partners with educators, service-learning organizations, non-profits, government entities and families around the world to develop creative educational pathways that result in young adults being better prepared to succeed in life and work. Julia is a TEDx speaker, a podcast host, and President Emeritus of the Gap Year Association, a US-based nonprofit dedicated to the intentional growth of the gap year option through research, standards-setting, and advocacy efforts. Find Julia at https://enroutegapyear.com/. LINKS Gap Year to Freshman Year - En Route Consulting Gap Year Radio Gap Year Association Academic Outcomes – Gap Year Research Consortium at Colorado College Global Gap Year Fellowship RELATED EPISODES WHY TAKE A GAP YEAR? GAP YEAR ALTERNATIVES DURING COVID BUILDING AN A+ EXTRACURRICULAR RESUME  ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Kristen Lefebvre, the National Director of Education at StudyPoint, an educational services company that supports students across the U.S. on their journey to college by providing one-on-one academic and test prep tutoring services and college admissions coaching. Kristen graduated from Bates College and earned her master’s degree at Tufts University. Always interested in education, she joined StudyPoint in 2002 as a program manager for the Greater Boston area. In addition to her responsibilities working with families and tutors, Kristen began tutoring as well, working with students preparing to take the SSAT, ISEE, PSAT, SAT, and ACT. She loved helping students learn the ins-and-outs of the tests and reach their score goals. More than twenty years later, she’s still at it! In her role as National Director of Education, Kristen oversees StudyPoint’s curriculum and program development, as well as tutor hiring and training. In her free time, Kristen enjoys spending time with her husband, three daughters, and their dog. They are a big soccer family, so Kristen spends an unreasonable amount of time on the sidelines of soccer fields, either coaching or watching her daughters and their teams play, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. When not at the fields or work, she enjoys reading, traveling, running, and hot yoga. Find Kristen at https://www.studypoint.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.