Afleveringen
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A new year brings new excitement. 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 own 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 were Amy and Mikeâs holidays?
What are our one word mantras for 2025?
How are Amy and Mike starting the new year?
What trips do Amy and Mike have coming up?
Why is Mike so excited about his newest Substack?
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. Letâs get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling!
LINKS
College Road Newsletter
RELATED EPISODES
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: December 2024
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: November 2024
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: October 2024
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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Considering how prevalent the topic of AI has become in business, leisure, and education, it was only a matter of time before college students would choose to focus on its study. Amy and Mike invited college dean Jennifer Stephan to explore what you need to know about artificial intelligence as an undergraduate major.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What do students study when they major in AI? What are some focus areas within an AI degree?
Is an AI major a replacement or improvement over a CS major?
Are there non-technical pathways to contribute to AI?
What majors besides AI and CS can prepare you for a career in AI?
What important questions should students interested in studying AI be able to answer?
MEET OUR GUEST
Dr. Jennifer Stephan has held a variety of roles across top colleges and universities, including professor, academic dean, and board of admissions member, in addition to serving as a private college counselor, alumni interviewer for Johns Hopkins University, and parent of three. She holds a BS degree in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, as well as an MS and a PhD in electrical and computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
Jennifer is currently the Dean of Academic Advising and Undergraduate Studies for the School of Engineering at Tufts University. Prior to joining Tufts in 2016, she spent over two decades serving as a dean and a professor of Computer Science at Wellesley College, where she collaborated with colleagues at MIT, Olin College of Engineering, and Babson College to support students pursuing engineering. While at Wellesley, Jennifer served on the Collegeâs Board of Admissions, reading and evaluating approximately one hundred transfer applications each year.
Jennifer also is the founder of Lantern College Counseling, a robust college counseling practice where she regularly employs insights from her experiences leading in higher education to help students develop their college lists and shape competitive, authentic applications. Jennifer specializes in STEM, computer science, engineering, undecided and transfer students
She is a member of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) and a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).
Jennifer first appeared on our podcast in episode 541 to discuss NAVIGATING THE COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ADMISSIONS and in episode 559 for a Test Prep Profile.
Find Jennifer at [email protected] or https://www.lanterncollegecounseling.com.
LINKS
Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an Undergraduate Major: What You Need to Know
Navigating the Competitive Landscape of Computer Science Admissions: An Expertâs Approach â Lantern College Counseling
RELATED EPISODES
STRATEGIES FOR SELECTING A COLLEGE MAJOR ON TIME
COMPARING MOST POPULAR AND MOST LUCRATIVE COLLEGE MAJORS
CHOOSING HIGH SCHOOL MATH COURSES STRATEGICALLY
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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The global onset of the coronavirus shut down schools, which interrupted the educational process for millions of students. The expectation was that deficits in fundamental areas would be made up once the world opened up again. Did that happen though? Amy and Mike invited education professional Nancy Weinstein to explore post-pandemic learning loss.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
Are students really performing differently since the pandemic?
Does learning loss differ based on age or gender?
Were students in all parts of the United States equally impacted by the pandemic?
How can students begin to repair pandemic learning gaps?
What can parents, educators, and coaches do to repair pandemic learning loss?
MEET OUR GUEST
Nancy Weinstein founded Mindprint Learning with the perspectives of both a parent and an innovator. Realizing a need to address a common challenge for parents and educators, she drew upon her background in science and business to create Mindprint, the first ever valid at-home cognitive assessment supported with next-step strategies for growth. Nancy has an extensive background in business, including work at Goldman Sachs, The Walt Disney Company Corporate Strategic Planning, Bristol Myers Squibb, and several smaller Internet companies. Nancy has an MBA from Harvard Business School with first year honors and a BS/BSE summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and Wharton School of Management and Technology Program, Bioengineering and Finance. As a mother of two, Nancy recognizes the challenges parents face today, from helping with homework, to navigating the ever-changing pace of education and technology.
Nancy previously appeared on this podcast in episode 132 to discuss The Science of Memory.
Find Nancy at https://mindprintlearning.com/.
LINKS
MindPrint Research Brief - Post Pandemic Brain Changes: Results from 35K Students
Study Finds COVID Harmed Cognitive Skills of Students â and Teachers â The 74
RELATED EPISODES
COVID LEARNING LOSS
THE GROWING IMPACT OF CHEATING DURING COVID
HOW TESTS AID MEMORY
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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Finding your best fit school requires a lot of smart research, so donât overlook one of the best sources of institutional information available. Amy and Mike invited independent counselor Jane Gabin to discuss how the common data set can help interpret what colleges tell you.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What is the Common Data Set?
How can studying the CDS help with judging the value of a school?
What does a schoolâs graduation rate tell us about the school?
How can the CDS be accessed and can anyone look at it?
Are there schools that try to hide their data?
MEET OUR GUEST
Jane S. Gabin has been publishing articles on collegesâ over-hiring of adjunct faculty since 2015, when she wrote about the problem in âAsk the College Counselor,â her regular column for InsideSchools.com. Her writing on this subject has also appeared in Inside Higher Ed (June 24, 2019), the Academe Blog (July 2, 2019 and May 21, 2020), and The College Prep Guide (college-prep-guide.com).
A member of NACAC, SACAC, and the International ACAC, as well as the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), she currently works as an independent counselor, addressing groups such as the local NAACP Youth Council about educational opportunities, and speaking to parents and students at local public libraries.
Dr. Gabin has over 20 years in the college admissions profession. She worked for 10 years for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she was in charge of all international admissions and counselor relations. She followed this with 11 years in college advising at independent schools in the NYC area, primarily at the United Nations International School (UNIS).
She gave a talk at the SACAC 2020 conference on âAnother Way of Looking at What Makes a College âGoodââ when she addressed this issue (in addition to suggesting a close look at collegesâ admission rate, retention rate, class size, and graduation rate).
Additionally, she has given or led sessions (primarily on the essay process) at the New Jersey ACAC, the New York State ACAC, NACAC, and for KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) in NYC.
She received a Ph.D. in English at UNC-Chapel Hill and has published one novel and is working on another. As an independent scholar, she is currently researching the lives of women artists in the 19th century.
Jane previously appeared on this podcast in episode 328 to discuss Concerns About College Staffing Trends.
Find Jane at [email protected].
LINKS
Common Data Set
The Shortest Guide to College Admissions
RELATED EPISODES
USING THE COMMON DATA SET
POWER DYNAMICS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
HOW IMPORTANT IS GPA IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS?
HOW ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR MORALE IS CHANGING ADMISSIONS
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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Wanting to pursue higher education is not exactly the same as being ready for higher education and all that its pursuit entails, as too many students learn to their detriment. Amy and Mike invited educator Carey Dukes to explore just how prepared and ready most teens are for college.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
Are students typically prepared for both the academic and emotional challenges of college?
What critical skills should students develop to enhance their readiness for college life and beyond?
Why does approaching college in terms of semesters make sense?
Why should student persistence be a priority for colleges?
What role do parents and educators play in fostering college readiness among teens?
MEET OUR GUEST
Carey Dukes brings a unique blend of expertise in business management and academic leadership, honed over three decades in both the corporate and educational sectors. Currently an Assistant Professor of Management at North Greenville University, Carey has a distinguished career that spans from managing large-scale transportation operations to pioneering new approaches in student retention and academic success.
With a Doctorate in Business Administration and extensive experience as a CEO in multiple companies, Carey has a deep understanding of business process improvement, change management, and organizational development. His work in the trucking and logistics industry, where he specialized in fixing broken processes and leading innovation, has equipped him with practical insights into managing complex systems and driving efficiency.
In academia, Careyâs focus has shifted towards addressing one of higher education's most pressing challenges: student retention. Drawing from his own experiences as a first-generation college student, Carey authored a book and developed a model aimed at improving student readiness and retention, particularly in the critical first year of college. His research identifies key variable components that predict student success, offering actionable strategies for institutions to retain more students and reduce the high dropout rates that plague universities.
Find Carey at [email protected].
LINKS
The Readiness for Change Institute
https://www.youtube.com/@HigherEdReady
College Readiness Benchmarks
RELATED EPISODES
HOW TO PERSIST TO COLLEGE GRADUATION
WHY COLLEGE READINESS MATTERS
COLLEGE READINESS ADVICE FROM A COLLEGE PROFESSOR
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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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. Once in a while, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own 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 Winter Workshop?
How did Amy celebrate the end of Mikeâs term as NTPA President?
How will Amy and Mike be celebrating the holidays?
Where is the newest place you can find Tests and the Rest?
What are our goals for the new year?
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. Letâs get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling!
LINKS
https://www.youtube.com/@TestsAndTheRest
RELATED EPISODESEXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: November 2024
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: October 2024
INTRODUCING THE NATIONAL TEST PREP ASSOCIATION
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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How odd is it that one of the most effective ways to learn about college applicants tends to be among the least frequent steps in the process. How valuable is direct conversation for evaluating prospective members of an educational community and what might the future hold? Amy and Mike invited college admissions expert Parke Muth to explore the importance of college interviews.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What is typically meant by a college interview?
How common and impactful are interviews in the current admissions process?
What are the best ways to prepare for college interviews?
Why should interviews be used more often?
What are some of the downsides of requiring more interviews?
MEET OUR GUEST
Parke Muth has worked in education for over 35 years. Most of the time he served as a Dean at the University of Virginia in the admission office and in the English Department. He now works with companies, schools, families, and students across the world but mostly focusing on Asia where he spends about 1/2 of the year.
While at Virginia, Parke was, among other things, Director of Selection and Recruitment of Honors Scholars, Director of Application Assessment Training, and Director of International Admission. Heâs been serving for over 25 years as a member of the Jefferson Scholars selection committee. This four-year, full scholarship is among the most elite programs in the United States. Parke also serves as an advisor for the Ron Brown Scholars Program, an elite scholars program that provides financial support and leadership training, networking, and career services for underprivileged black students.
Because of his experiences in admissions, Parke is a highly sought-after speaker He has been interviewed by the New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Bloomberg, Associated Press, NBC, etc. He has had over 6 million people read his responses on the website Quora.com. He also has a blog with over 4,000 pages of content, all free, no ads or promotions: https://onlyconnectparke.blogspot.com/
Parke previously appeared on this podcast in episode 81 to discuss You Can't Handle the Truth: Secrets of College Admissions and in episode 148 to discuss Stop Making $en$e: The International Student Problem and in episode 292 for an IEC Profile.
Find Parke at [email protected].
LINKS
Glimpse by InitialView
Can You Answer These 10 College Interview Questions?
Askwith Education Forum Details Impact of Wealth on College Admissions
RELATED EPISODES
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A COLLEGE ADMISSIONS INTERVIEW
POWER DYNAMICS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
HOW TO SPEAK TO A COLLEGE ADMISSIONS REP
WHY OPTIONAL STATEMENTS ARENâT OPTIONAL
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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Just about anyone can become an educator or coach, but can anyone become great at it? Amy and Mike invited educator Dan Lerman to enumerate the qualities of great educators and coaches.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What are the foundational qualities of a great tutor or coach?
What can be taught to tutors and how?
How do you know if you are not a great tutor or coach?
Beyond a test, what does a great tutor teach?
What is the current state of tutor training?
MEET OUR GUEST
Dan Lerman is a professor of Cognitive Science at Columbia University. He is passionate about using Cognitive Science to optimize learning, and his specialty is in creative problem-solving. Dan has previously taught at St. Paul's School in London, Saint Ann's in Brooklyn, and Oxford University, and he has founded three companies in the tutoring space. He is passionate about social skills, personal growth, and combating the loneliness epidemic, which has spawned the Backyard Comedy Series. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, daughter, and dog.
Find Dan at [email protected] or at danlerman.com.
LINKS
Advanced Tutoring Techniques | Programs | TC Academy
Rogers Three Characteristics/Attributes Needed for Client-Therapist Relationship
How to Assess Tutors and Test Prep Providers
RELATED EPISODES
THE VALUE OF EXPERIENCE IN TEACHERS
HOW TO BE AN INNOVATIVE EDUCATOR
WHY YOU WANT TO WORK WITH A CAREER TUTOR
TUTORING TREASURES: TIPS FOR TEACHING TEENS
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant?
MEET OUR GUEST
Meet Alison Merzel. Alison Merzel is the founder of AHM Advising LLC, an independent educational consulting practice focused on helping high school students and families find their best-fit post-secondary educational options. Prior to launching her business in 2019, Alison was at The Ohio State Universityâs Fisher College of Business for 15 years, most recently as the Senior Director of Graduate Recruiting and Admissions.
Alison holds a BS from Northwestern University in Communications and Spanish and a Master of Labor and Human Resources from The Ohio State University. She has a certificate in Independent Educational Consulting from the UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education. She is a Wow Writing Workshop Certified College Essay Coach and completed the Gap Year Associationâs 2022 Counselor Institute. Alison is awaiting the results of her CEP assessment (Certified Educational Planner) and upon approval, will become just the 6th education professional in the state of Ohio to hold this designation.
Alison is a professional member of IECA, the Independent Educational Consultants Association, where she serves as co-chair of the Jewish IEC Affinity Group and as a member of the College Tour subcommittee. She is also a member of NACAC, OACAC, and OASFAA and serves as an Advisory Board Member for College Planner Pro, software that is designed exclusively for IECs.
Locally, Alison is a member of the Bexley Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Board of Trustees of Congregation Tifereth Israel where she serves as the Co-Chair of the synagogueâs Personnel Committee.
Alison and her husband, Jeff, have lived in Bexley for 17 years and have three children (17, 15, and 10) The Merzel family is not complete without mention of Marvin, an Australian Labradoodle, and Toby, a Cavapoo.
Find Alison at www.ahmadvising.com.
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant?
MEET OUR GUEST
Meet Julie Spak. Since 1985, Julie has been connecting students to their futures in her work as a College Admissions Officer, Financial Aid Officer and Honors Program Counselor at the University of New Hampshire, where she received her M.Ed in Counseling and BA in Communication and English. Julie also worked as a School Counselor, so she knows how to help students and families from "both sides of the desk." She is a Past President of New Hampshire School Counselors Association and is currently a member of the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association and National College Advocacy Group (NCAG). Julie is Birkman certified.
Julie's coaching produces a stand-out college application and also accelerates the career search during college and beyond. Working as a Career Coach & Educational Consultant combines all of her passions of helping students learn about their strengths and finding the best fit college major and institution while keeping finances in mind.
Julie lives in suburban Philadelphia with her husband and two active boys, where there is truly never a dull moment!
Julie previously appeared in episode 479 for a SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: National College Affordability Group.
Find Julie at [email protected] or https://www.juliespakconsulting.com/.
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant?
MEET OUR GUEST
Meet Stef Mauler, founder of the Mauler Instituteâą and author of The Complete Candidateâą. She began working in Ivy League admissions over 30 years ago. She met thousands of high school students and their families as they went through the mysterious Ivy League admissions process. Discovering that the majority of applicants had the academic record, but were not accepted, she set out to find patterns in what differentiated the students who were accepted from those who werenât. Stef holds a B.A. in Economics and International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a Graduate Certificate in College Counseling from the University of California, San Diego. Stef is a Certified Educational Planner and a professional member of IECA, HECA, AICEP and NACAC.
Find Stef at https://www.themaulerinstitute.com.
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant?
MEET OUR GUEST
Meet Michelle Siddons. Michelle is an Associate Member of IECA, a new member of NTPA, and has her Masters in Education from Seton Hall and undergraduate degree from Colgate University. Michelle has been helping high school students for over twenty five years with test prep and the past five years with college counseling. She completed her certificate in college counseling from UCLA. She and her husband live in Mountain Lakes New Jersey, have three young daughters and she serves as a volunteer with many local organizations including the Mountain Lakes Swim and Dive Association, the local travel soccer club and serves on the board of a program called Project Readiness which seeks to level the playing field for all of New Jerseyâs children â regardless of economic background â through school supply drives, and free counseling services for students seeking financial assistance for college. In her free time, Michelle can be found on local platform tennis courts as she is a self-professed âpaddle junkieâ.
Find Michelle at [email protected].
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant?
MEET OUR GUEST
Meet Feiyang Liu. As a naturally introverted high school student, Feiyang felt immense pressure to adopt a bubbly, inauthentic persona for my college applications. This led to a lack of fulfillment and a realization that pretending to be someone he wasnât came with significant consequences. After graduating from UCLA with a degree in Political Science and from USC with a Master's in Education (Enrollment Management and Policy), he grappled with people-pleasing while working in admissions and student services at UC Berkeley from 2019 to 2023. The burnout from constantly putting others' expectations above his own led to a pivotal moment of self-reflection.
In 2023, Feiyang relocated to New York, where he finally had the space to rethink my identity and values. This journey of self-discovery ignited a passion for genuine mentoring and ultimately led him to found Your Epic Consulting. His mission is to help students avoid the trap of "college pleasing" and instead showcase their true selves in their applications.
Feiyang combined his personal experiences and professional expertise to guide students toward holistic success. At Your Epic Consulting, they donât coach you to say what 'sounds good' for college admissions. Instead, they empower you to express your authentic self, ensuring that self-acceptance and college acceptance go hand in hand.
Find Feiyang at https://www.instagram.com/yourepic.consulting/.
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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The successful outcome of preparing for the SAT & ACT can yield a massive return on investment, but the real value lies in the process itself. Amy and Mike invited educator Rob Pollak to explore how test prep prepares you for college.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
Is test prep all about tips and tricks?
How is standardized test prep more than just preparation for one isolated exam?
In what way does test prep challenge students to think more strategically about their learning and approach to studying?
How do the skills students develop during test prep translate to real-world applications beyond college?
How can test prep be a tool for teaching students to manage stress and perform under pressure?
MEET OUR GUEST
Rob Pollak is an expert SAT and ACT tutor with a passion for helping high school students and their families navigate the standardized testing process. In 2012, Rob founded Pollak Tutors, a private tutoring company that helps students in NJ, NY, and CT prepare for and achieve their goals on college entrance exams.
Rob is a graduate of Hamilton College, Fordham University School of Law, and the ACT Certified Educator program.
Rob first appeared on the podcast in episode 155 in a Test Prep Profile and in episode 397 to discuss How And Why To Manage Your Proctor.
Find Rob at [email protected], 201-472-5050, or www.pollaktutors.com
LINKS
College Readiness Benchmarks
RELATED EPISODES
COLLEGE READINESS ADVICE FROM A COLLEGE PROFESSOR
WHY COLLEGE READINESS MATTERS
TRACKING COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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Teens on the road to college tend to encounter a variety of counselors positioned to support them on their journeys. However, not every one of these counselors has the same job. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Margaret Rothe to define the different roles of school and private counselors.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
In what ways are school and private college counselors the same?
Do you have to be a high school counselor to be a private college counselor?
What is something high school counselors do that IECs donât or canât do?
What is something an IEC does that school counselors donât or canât do?
What resources support all counselors supporting college applications?
MEET OUR GUEST
Margaret Rothe is a leading authority in higher education and student affairs policy. With over 20 years of experience, Margaret has been a driving force behind shaping institutional policies that deeply impact student communities. She was instrumental in pioneering the nationâs first live/learn communities, creating powerful connections between faculty and staff that enrich the student experience, earning both campus and national recognition for her efforts.
Her expertise spans from first-year programming to balancing enrollment goals, even stepping into public safety roles when needed. After leaving university administration, Margaret brought this extensive experience into private college counseling, where she recognized a significant gap in college readiness that contributed to student attrition. There was no standard for guiding students on how to choose the right school or how to prepare academically and personally. Moreover, no software existed that was truly counselor-centricâmost were built for government reporting or data extraction.
This realization led her to co-create CounselMore Educational Services Management Software, a platform that combines both the art and science of college counseling to reduce counselor burnout and better serve students. CounselMore now supports over 1,000 private college counselors and has earned two EdTech Digest awards for education innovation and she was honored in 2023 with the Innovation Visionary award.
Margaret can be reached at [email protected].
LINKS
The Role of the School Counselor
FAQs on the Independent Educational Consulting Profession
RELATED EPISODES
HOW SCHOOL AND PRIVATE COLLEGE COUNSELORS CAN WORK TOGETHER
OVERWORKED SCHOOL COUNSELORS
HOW TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE COUNSELOR
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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The fact that students are earning higher grades than ever without any appreciable increase in other assessments of academic ability should be well-known by now. Less understood are the root causes of this increasing phenomenon. Amy and Mike invited researchers Maia Goodman Young and Dan Goldhaber to dig into the data on how grading policies influence grade inflation.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What is the purpose of grading?
How did state policy around grading in Washington change during the pandemic?
What does the research show about changes in grades throughout the pandemic?
What is the current connection between grades and test scores?
How does weaker rigor in grading influence student interest in academic support?
Are there differences in grading in different subjects or socioeconomic status?
What other grading policies might impact grade inflation?
What can we make of the weaker connection between grades and test scores? Is it bad or good?
MEET OUR GUESTS
Dr. Maia Goodman Young is a researcher at the Center for Education Data and Research at the University of Washington and an instructor in the UW's secondary teacher education program where she teaches courses in English Language Arts methods and assessment. She is also a National Board Certified Teacher who taught for nine years in California and Washington. Maia's experience as a classroom teacher informs her research, as she worked to better understand questions of grading policies and practices, teacher preparation, and the teacher labor market.
Maia can be reached at [email protected].
Dr. Dan Goldhaber is the Director of the Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research (CALDER, caldercenter.org) at the American Institutes for Research and the Director of the Center for Education Data & Research (CEDR, cedr.us(link is external)) at the University of Washington. Both CALDER and CEDR are focused on using state administrative data to do research that informs decisions about policy and practice.
Danâs work focuses on issues of educational productivity and reform at the K-12 level, the broad array of human capital policies that influence the composition, distribution, and quality of teachers in the workforce, and connections between students' K-12 experiences andâšpostsecondary outcomes. Topics of published work in this area include studies of the stability of value-added measures of teachers, the effects of teacher qualifications and quality on student achievement, and the impact of teacher pay structure and licensure on the teacher labor market.
Danâs research has been regularly published in leading peer-reviewed economic and education journals such as: American Economic Review, Journal of Human Resources, Journal of Policy and Management, Economics of Education Review, Education Finance and Policy, and Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. The findings from these articles have been covered in more widely accessible media outlets such as National Public Radio, the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, and Education Week. Dan previously served as president of the Association for Education Finance and Policy (2006-2017), an elected member of the Alexandria City School Board from 1997-2002, and as co-editor of Education Finance and Policy.
Dan can be reached at [email protected].
LINKS
Every teacher grades differently, which isnât fair
Are SAT & ACT Scores More Predictive Than GPA?
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management: Vol 43, No 4
The Unintended Consequences of Academic Leniency
Grade inflation: Why it matters and how to stop it
Grading for Equity: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Can Transform Schools and Classrooms
RELATED EPISODES
THE REALITY OF GRADE INFLATION
WHY GRADE INFLATION IS HARMFUL
THE PROBLEM WITH GRADES
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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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. Once in a while, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own 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 new piece of curriculum did Mike create recently?
What is Mikeâs background in birding?
What were Amyâs big takeaways from the College Board National Forum?
What have we learned about college admissions?
When and where will the NTPA Winter Workshop be?
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. Letâs get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling!
LINKS
Roots2Words Teachers Pay Teachers Store
2024 National Test Prep Association Winter Workshop
10,000 Birds
RELATED EPISODES
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: October 2024
PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF TEST PREP: AMY SEELEYâS ORIGIN STORY
SAT & ACT TESTING TIMELINES: MIKE BERGINâS ORIGIN STORY
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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The ACT has been remarkably stable since the last time the exam was âenhancedâ in 1989. However, significant changes are coming more quickly than you might think to this influential college admissions exam. Amy and Mike invited ACT representative Catherine Hofmann to share all the details about the ACT Test Enhancements.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
How is the ACT changing?
What aspects of the ACT are staying the same?
What is the motivation for these enhancements?
Will the Enhanced ACT be linear or adaptive?
What is the timeline for the Enhanced ACT?
MEET OUR GUEST
Catherine Hofmann serves as the Senior Vice President of Government and Public Relations at ACT, where she has held a leadership role since 2014. Prior to joining ACT, she worked in Oklahoma as a teacher and assistant principal, at the Oklahoma Department of Education, and then at College Board overseeing state strategy.
Growing up in a fifth-generation rural farming family and as a first-generation college student, Catherine understands the value of a college education and strives to use her voice and professional experience to advocate for underserved students. She holds a bachelorâs degree in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and a masterâs degree in School Administration.
Catherine lives on the family farm established in 1860 outside Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband, her four children, and her beloved rescue cats and rescue dog, Cash. And the family is growingâshe regularly fosters rescue animals and engages in a range of other community volunteer services.
Learn about the coming changes and sign up for updates at the ACT Test Enhancements page.
LINKS
ACT Test Enhancements
The Upcoming Changes to the Enhanced ACT
RELATED EPISODES
WHY TESTS MATTER: STUDENT PERSPECTIVES
WHY THE SAT AND ACT ARE AWESOME
WHEN SHOULD YOU TAKE THE SAT OR ACT?
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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You donât need to be a future business major to bring some marketing acumen to your application to higher education. Amy and Mike invited marketing professional Stacey Ross Cohen to review how to build a winning brand to ace college admissions.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
How are college admissions and personal branding related?
Why is personal branding/digital leadership critical for college-bound students?
What are essential steps teens should take to build a strong personal brand?
How can college-bound students use social media to their advantage?
What other essential life skills are important for high school teens to navigate the college process?
MEET OUR GUEST
An award-winning marketing professional who earned her stripes on Madison Avenue and at major television networks, Stacey Ross Cohen excels at taking brands to market and leveraging each client's unique voice for impactful campaigns.
In 1998, Stacey founded Co-Communications, a marketing communications agency serving clients in education, healthcare, real estate, hospitality, economic development, professional services, and nonprofits. Her accolades include Forbes Enterprise, PRSA Practitioner of the Year, City & State NY/Power100, and Crain's New York Business' Notable Leader in Advertising, Marketing, and PR (2023). Stacey recently made her debut on the TED stage, is a contributor at Entrepreneur and The Huffington Post, and has been featured in Forbes, Inc, USA Today, Newsweek, and more.
She holds a BS from Syracuse University, an MBA from Fordham University, and a certificate in Media, Entertainment, & Technology from NYU Leonard Stern School of Business. Stacey is a sought-after speaker and author in the realm of PR, Marketing, and Branding and has delivered talks at Fortune 500 companies and global education institutes. She is a newly appointed adjunct marketing professor at Fordham University. An entrepreneur at heart, Stacey started her first business when she was just 14 years old and is now a member of a prominent angel investor group.
Stacey's best-selling book Brand Up: The Ultimate Playbook for College & Career Success (Post Hill Press/Simon & Schuster) is a game changer for teens to stand out and achieve success in our increasingly connected, cluttered, and competitive world. It's packed with exercises, tools, and tips essential to establish a positive narrative and social media presence that can open doors to desired colleges and coveted first jobs. Endorsed by Barbara Corcoran, who calls the book a must-read "to excel at networking, entrepreneurship, in the classroom and the boardroom," Brand Up is available at Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target, and Amazon.
Stacey can be reached at https://branduplife.com/ or LinkedIn.
LINKS
Brand Up: The Ultimate Playbook for College & Career Success
Brand Up Life
RELATED EPISODES
FITTING IN AND STANDING OUT
AVOIDING THE PAGEANT APPROACH TO COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
FINDING YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF IN THE PATH TO COLLEGE
PSYCHOGRAPHICS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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The current college admissions dynamic where selective schools routinely receive 10, 15, or even 20 times as many applications as they have available seats has been a tremendous source of stress for applicants and their families. But how are the professionals who have to manage these applications holding up? Amy and Mike invited author Teege Mettille to explore how admissions counselor morale is changing admissions.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What exactly is admissions counselor malaise?
How have changes on college campuses impacted the admissions process?
What are the implications of this malaise in admissions for applicants?
What are the implications of this malaise in admissions for educators and counselors?
What can be done in the short term to improve this situation?
Is there a world where colleges and universities shift their perspective?
MEET OUR GUEST
Teege Mettille is a nationally-recognized leader in college admissions, with a career that spans leadership roles at four different institutions, serving as President of the Wisconsin Association for College Admission Counseling, and a three-year term as a member of the President's Council for the National Association for College Admission Counseling. He recently wrote The Admissions Counselor Malaise, a thorough assessment of the changes in college and university management that has been zapping the joy out of the profession. He joins us today to discuss that concept, and how it is impacting not just admissions counselors, but school counselors, independent educational consultants, and students.
Teege can be reached at [email protected].
LINKS
The Admissions Counselor Malaise: Addressing the staff morale crisis in college admissions
Addressing The Staff Morale Crisis In Admissions
RELATED EPISODES
HOW TO SPEAK TO A COLLEGE ADMISSIONS REP
DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS AND COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
POWER DYNAMICS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
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 youâre interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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