Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

As much as every student anticipates four or more years of perfect health during their undergraduate studies, life happens. Luckily, illness or injuries don't need to mean an end to your academic journey, especially if you know the right way to take a pause. Amy and Mike invited college advisors Jennifer Stephan and Karen Flood to explain the process of taking a medical leave of absence from college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is a medical leave of absence (MLOA), and how do colleges actually use medical leaves? What is the typical timeline for a leave request? How do you know when a medical leave is the right decision versus trying to push through? How do students return from a medical leave, and what are colleges really looking for in that process? What does a medical leave mean for a student's future? MEET OUR GUESTS Dr. Jennifer Stephan has held a variety of roles at top colleges and universities, including professor, academic dean, and board of admissions member, in addition to serving as a private college counselor, an alumni interviewer for Johns Hopkins University, and a 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 College's Board of Admissions, reading and evaluating approximately one hundred transfer applications each year. Jennifer is also the founder of Lantern College Counseling, a robust college counseling practice where she regularly draws on insights from her experience 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 appeared on the podcast in episode 620 to discuss ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS AN UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, in episode 541 to discuss NAVIGATING THE COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ADMISSIONS, and in episode 559 for an IEC Profile. Find Jennifer at jennifer@lanterncollege.com or https://www.lanterncollegecounseling.com. Dr. Karen Flood is the founder of Riverside College Coaching, LLC, which provides one-on-one support to help students thrive in college. With deep insider knowledge of universities, Karen supports students in their transition to college-level academics, helping them develop organizational and time-management skills and a stronger sense of self-efficacy. Before founding Riverside College Coaching, Karen spent three decades at Harvard University as Associate Dean of the Harvard Summer School, a Resident Dean of Harvard College, Director of Undergraduate Studies, First-Year Adviser, and Lecturer. In these roles, she counseled hundreds of students navigating academic and personal difficulties. Karen has a BA from Yale University and a PhD from Harvard University and has received multiple teaching distinctions at Harvard, including the Jan Thaddeus Teaching Prize. Karen can be reached at karen@riversidecollegecoaching.com. LINKS Medical Leave of Absence in College: What Families Need to Know About Readiness, Documentation, and Return Know Your Rights: Leave of Absence Policies in Higher Education RELATED EPISODES HOW TO PERSIST TO COLLEGE GRADUATION COLLEGE...

How often does a thorough college search process involving hours of research and weeks of onsite college visits take an unexpected last minute twist because of fuzzy criteria and gut feelings? Shouldn't certain statistics inform better choices? Amy and Mike invited ed tech entrepreneurs Braden and Cooper Weissman to explore how data is transforming the way students navigate college decisions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does the college admissions process feel more complicated today? How can counselors help students think about choosing a college beyond rankings and prestige? What are the risks of relying on guesswork or outdated information during the admissions process? Where do students tend to struggle most when applying to colleges and making school decisions, and how can counselors help address those gaps? How might data and technology improve the college search process? MEET OUR GUEST Braden Weissman is the co-founder and Co-CEO of Nerd Apply. A competitive athlete and team builder at heart, Braden brings a performance-driven mindset to everything he works on. He was named Arizona's Student and Athlete of the Year in 2021 and carried that same discipline and leadership to the University of Michigan, where he co-founded multiple ventures alongside his brother, including Dorm Doctor AI, Dynamic Purchasing Solutions, and WEIDEV. Braden was later accepted into the University of Miami's four-year MD/MBA program, but chose to defer to fully commit to building Nerd Apply. He is passionate about creating tools that reward collaboration, integrity, and real-world outcomes. Braden lives in New York City, where he enjoys staying active and spending time with close friends. Cooper Weissman is the co-founder and Co-CEO of Nerd Apply. A lifelong builder, Cooper began teaching himself to code at a young age and launched businesses while still in high school, some of which had to be registered in his older brother's name because he was not old enough to open a bank account himself. At Dartmouth College, Cooper immersed himself in entrepreneurship and leadership, serving as a student leader at the Magnuson Center and winning the Global Venture Capital Investment Competition. His curiosity and systems-oriented thinking continue to shape Nerd Apply's product vision today. Cooper lives in New York City and is driven by experimentation, thoughtful problem-solving, and building communities around shared ideas. Find Braden and Cooper at nerdapply.com. LINKS Nerd Apply RELATED EPISODES FINDING YOUR COLLEGE FIT USING THE COMMON DATA SET SELECTING YOUR FOREVER SCHOOL WHAT DOES UNHOOKED MEAN IN 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.

The Tests and the Rest podcast consistently focuses 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? What have Amy and Mike been up to this month? Where did Amy travel? What are Amy and Mike's time-sensitive tasks this month? What's one principle you try to live by every day? What's coming up in the next month 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 Wild & Wonderful Ramp Chowder {with Dairy-Free & Vegan Options) RELATED EPISODES EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: March 2026 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: February 2026 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2026 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: December 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.

Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Leann Westin to share valuable strategies, insights, and resources for getting ready for the AP Biology exam. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is tested on the AP Biology exam? How is the AP Biology exam structured and scored? What are the highest priority topics on the tests? How should students prepare for the AP Biology exam? What are the best prep materials for AP Biology? MEET OUR GUEST Leann Westin is a Master Tutor at Open Door Education in Massachusetts, where she also serves as the Tutor Success Coordinator. Leann earned a BS in biology with a minor in Spanish from Wake Forest University, and she specializes in biology, environmental science, statistics, SAT/ACT prep, and organizational coaching. Leann has over a decade of full-time experience helping students prepare for the AP Biology exam through both one-on-one tutoring and small group classes. Her favorite AP Biology topics to teach are evolution and ecology. Outside of her work at Open Door, Leann has been an education volunteer at her local zoo for almost a decade, and she enjoys helping people better understand the natural world. Leann can be reached at https://opendoor.education. LINKS AP Biology Exam AP Biology Exam – AP Students AP Biology (Pearson Education AP) by Fred W. Holtzclaw; Theresa Knapp Holtzclaw AP Biology — bozemanscience RELATED EPISODES BIG CHANGES TO AP TESTS IN 2025 THE RISE IN AP TESTING CHOOSING BETWEEN AP AND IB PROGRAMS 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.

Pressure is a privilege, according to Billie Jean King, who said it's what you do with it that matters. Millions of students, however, may beg to disagree about the privilege part, and what many of them do with it impedes rather than elevates their performance. Amy and Mike invited ed tech specialist Deanna Oliver to explore what happens when academic pressure turns into behavioral issues. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How does academic pressure typically show up in schools? Why do some students "act out" while others withdraw or disengage? What are the most common warning signs that adults miss until the situation escalates? What does a healthy system of school-based support look like? If a parent could implement just a few changes at home, what would make the biggest difference? MEET OUR GUEST Deanna Oliver is the CEO & Co-Founder of Psyflo, an AI-powered youth mental health platform that helps schools shift from reactive crisis response to proactive, early support. With a background in public health and health technology, she focuses on practical systems that fit real school constraints—supporting student wellbeing through scalable check-ins, skill-building, and clear safety workflows that reduce burden on counselors and educators. Deanna can be reached at deanna@psyflo.com or https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannaoliver/. LINKS Feelwell Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) | CDC Calling All Perfectionists: This Advice Just Might Heal You Expectation overload RELATED EPISODES BRINGING CRITICAL BALANCE TO HIGH SCHOOLERS' LIVES BUILDING HAPPIER TEENS COLLEGE TRANSITIONS AND DISTRESS TOLERANCE CULTIVATING AND RECOGNIZING ACADEMIC CURIOSITY 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 the 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 pain in life is inevitable, but we can choose whether to suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. How can we help learners make the right choice when enthusiasm or available time wanes? Amy and Mike invited educator Athena Savino to explore what motivates students in test prep. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What's the biggest misconception tutors and parents have about what motivates students to engage? What is the best way to assess student needs and sequence instruction? Why should goals and expectations set the foundation for preparation and coaching? What time frames work best to maintain enthusiasm and focus? What separates the students who hit their goals from the ones who don't, and how much of it is within a tutor's control? MEET OUR GUEST Athena Savino is the founder of Top Marks Prep, a platform that partners with tutoring centers to help students achieve better outcomes on the SAT, ACT, HSPT, SHSAT, ISEE, and PSAT through smarter practice and data-driven instruction. The daughter of immigrant parents who came to the US to expand educational opportunities for their family, Athena grew up with a deep appreciation for what access to the right tools and support can do. She earned her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She began tutoring while pursuing her MBA and discovered that what actually moved the needle for students was simple but underappreciated: repetition and the motivation to keep improving with each attempt. That observation led her to build TopMarksPrep, which now provides tutoring centers with a student-facing study platform and an admin platform that delivers actionable, insightful data — helping tutors and center directors enhance every session and personalize instruction at scale. Athena lives in Chicago with her husband and is expecting her first son in April 2026. Athena can be reached at athena@topmarksprep.com or LinkedIn. LINKS Academic buoyancy: Towards an understanding of students' everyday academic resilience Newsletter for Tutoring Center Owners & Directors RELATED EPISODES HELPING TEENS FIND MOTIVATION AND INSIGHT HOW DO I MOTIVATE MY STUDENT? TECHNIQUES TO MOTIVATE UNMOTIVATED STUDENTS 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.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Brooke Daly. Brooke is the founder and CEO of Advantage College Planning, a nationally recognized college counseling firm that has helped thousands of families navigate the admissions process with clarity and confidence. With more than 20 years of experience in college admissions and financial aid, Brooke works closely with students to develop thoughtful college lists and authentic applications that reflect their strengths and goals. Brooke is an instructor in the College Counseling Certificate Program at the University of California, Berkeley, a past president of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), and the co-founder (along with her husband) of CollegePlannerPro, a widely used software platform for independent college counselors. She currently serves as Vice President of Education and Training for the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). Through her work with families, counselors, and national organizations, Brooke is passionate about helping students find colleges where they will thrive! Find Brooke at advcp.com or on LinkedIn. 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.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Sarah Abaza. Cairo-based Sarah Abaza founded Quest Consulting to help international students find their path to universities across the U.S. and beyond. Before discovering her calling in education, she spent years as an entrepreneur, where she learned the value of curiosity, communication, and resilience — lessons she now brings to her students. With a background in political science and a lifelong love of writing, Sarah blends structure with storytelling in her advising approach. A mother of three, she guides each student's journey with empathy and strategy. Sarah is a certified IEC (Independent Educational Consultant), and holds a certificate from UCLA. She is a member of IECA ( Independent Educational Consultants Association), NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling), and HECA (Higher Education Consultants Association). Find Sarah at Sarah@questconsulting.org. 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.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Ingrid Latham. Ingrid has been advising students on the college process since 2004. She enjoys learning about her students' activities and how those might relate to ideas for majors and careers. Navigating the college process can be more manageable with Ingrid's assistance in creating timelines for completing each task. In addition to college applications and essays, Ingrid also helps with high school and college course selection, which can be an excellent opportunity for students to explore different interests. Many of her students return for Ingrid's advice on preparing their LinkedIn profiles and practicing for internship interviews. Ingrid has a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Northwestern University, during which time she worked as a math and chemistry tutor. After working in engineering for seven years, Ingrid decided to follow her true calling of helping young adults to fulfill their dreams. Having lived and worked in a variety of settings, Ingrid has an extensive network of former colleagues and students who serve as great connections when her current clients want to learn firsthand information about a college or career. Originally from Ohio, Ingrid was the captain of her high school's swim team, a newspaper editor, and a baton twirler. Ingrid now lives in Wisconsin, where she enjoys nature, walking her dog, reading, rollerblading, and singing in a local chorus. A fun fact about Ingrid is that she was an announcer for her son's high school and college lacrosse teams! Find Ingrid at leaprogram.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, 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.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Steve Tapper, who serves clients nationwide through Tapper College Counseling. Steve obtained his College Counseling Certificate with Distinction from UCLA and then served as a seasonal reader with the Emory University admissions office, where he analyzed students' curriculum rigor and grades and assessed applications as a partner in the Committee-Based Evaluation process. Steve then worked as an essay specialist for College Essay Guy and with another college counseling firm before founding Tapper College Counseling. Steve received a B.A. with Honors from Brown University, where he was on the swimming team, and a J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School. He also served as an alumni admissions interviewer for Brown. As an independent college counselor, Steve loves helping students position themselves for success (including taking the right classes and finding meaningful extracurricular activities), find great-fit colleges, and tell their stories in college applications. Steve is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) and the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC). He also attended HECA's Professional Development Institute and is certified by the Myers-Briggs Company to administer the Strong Interest Inventory and Strong Interest Inventory 244 assessments. Steve lives in Atlanta with his wife. They have two children, a recent college graduate and a rising college senior, and a standard poodle named Zeke. Find Steve at https://www.tappercollegecounseling.com or steve@tappercollegecounseling.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, 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.

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Beth Kraemer. Beth is the co-founder of In College Consulting and has spent more than a decade helping families navigate the increasingly complex world of college admissions. With a background in journalism, education, and law, she brings both storytelling expertise and strategic thinking to her work with students. Beth earned a journalism degree from Northwestern University, a master's degree from The Ohio State University, and a J.D. from the UCLA School of Law. She first became involved in admissions as a Northwestern alumni interviewer. She is a Professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association and regularly visits campuses to stay current on admissions trends. In addition to her consulting work, Beth serves on the board of the Pinpoint Scholars Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access and leadership in STEM education. Find Beth at incollegeconsulting.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, 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 consistently focuses 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? What have Amy and Mike been up to this month? Where did Amy travel? What big project was completed for Mike? What did Amy and Mike think they would be when they were younger? What's coming up in the next month 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! RELATED EPISODES EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: February 2026 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2026 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: December 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: November 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.

While the pain divorce can cause everyone involved is well known, less understood are the problems that only pop up when the FAFSA is due. Amy and Mike invited college financial prep expert Vicki Vollweiler to explain the impact of divorce on college admissions and financial aid. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why is college planning actually more complicated after divorce? What mistakes do divorced parents make before senior year that end up costing them later? How do financial aid rules treat divorced families differently... and why is there so much confusion? What are strategies that can save families significant money? How should parents navigate co-parent communication when college planning becomes emotional or contentious? MEET OUR GUEST Vicki Vollweiler is the founder of College Financial Prep and an expert in divorce and college planning strategy. She helps parents, especially separated, divorced, and blended families, navigate financial aid, build financially smart college lists, and avoid costly mistakes. With a warm, practical approach, Vicki's mission is to reduce stress, increase clarity, and help families save as much as possible on the cost of college. Vicki is the author of College Planning For Divorced and Widowed Parents: Reduce Stress, Save Thousands and Make Smart Decisions For Your Child's Future. Vicki can be reached at www.collegefinancialprep.com. LINKS College Planning For Divorced and Widowed Parents: Reduce Stress, Save Thousands and Make Smart Decisions For Your Child's Future RELATED EPISODES WHAT IS THE CSS PROFILE? THE BETTER FAFSA FOR NEW AND PREVIOUS FILERS WHAT DO FEDERAL POLICY CHANGES MEAN FOR FINANCIAL AID? 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.

College admissions is serious business, doubly so if you want to study business at a selective institution. Fortunately, the very traits that presage corporate or entrepreneurial success contribute mightily to the application process. Amy and Mike invited independent education consultant Evan Green to explore how business-minded students can stand out in college admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? When a high school student is interested in business, how should they approach college applications? What are good extracurricular activities that high school students interested in business can pursue? How can high school students interested in business position themselves to stand out in the college admissions process? Should applicants address business school or program-specific essays differently? How can business-minded students maximize their opportunities once they get to college? MEET OUR GUEST Evan Green is co-founder of Green College Consulting, an IECA-member college admissions consulting firm, and founder of Corporate Liberation, an entrepreneurship consultancy that helps corporate employees become entrepreneurs. In his prior career, he spent 17 years as an enterprise sales executive at several large technology companies. He has a particular focus on helping business-minded college students get into the right schools and pave the way for a successful business career. Evan holds a BSBA in New & Small Business Management from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and a JD from the University of San Francisco School of Law. Evan can be reached at https://greencollegeconsulting.com/home. LINKS The 10 most in-demand bachelor's degrees—No. 1 isn't engineering DECA Liberation Day: Quit Your Job and Escape the Corporate Trap RELATED EPISODES BUILD A WINNING BRAND TO ACE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS COMPARING MOST POPULAR AND MOST LUCRATIVE COLLEGE MAJORS WHY THIS COLLEGE, WHY THIS MAJOR? SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Golisano Institute 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.

Yes, of course college students want scholarships. Who wouldn't want their education funded in part or entirely with funds that don't need to be paid back? But an astonishingly deep well of free money seems inaccessible to most applicants. Amy and Mike invited educator Leia LeMaster Horton to explore how to win scholarships. What are five things you will learn in this episode? When should students start going after scholarships? What are the three types of scholarships? Which major private, merit-based scholarships are most strategic to target? What preparation should a student complete before seriously applying for scholarships? What are the three most common scholarship essay prompts students should prepare for? MEET OUR GUEST Leia LeMaster Horton, M.Ed., is the founder of Horton Test Prep and a nationally recognized Test Prep Professional and Scholarship Expert in the college prep industry. She is a featured speaker at homeschool conferences and college fairs across the country, including events at UC Berkeley, UT Austin, Clemson, Johns Hopkins, and Columbia University, and has been on numerous podcasts and webinars guiding families through the often stressful college preparation process. As a founding member of the National Test Prep Association, a scholarship judge, certified test prep instructor, and creator of the digital course Secrets to Earning Scholarships, Leia is passionate about helping students raise their ACT, CLT, and SAT scores, unlock scholarship opportunities, and make their dream schools a reality. Leia previously appeared on the podcast in episode 248 for a TEST PREP PROFILE. Leia can be reached at info@hortontestprep.com or on Instagram @LeiaLeMasterHorton. LINKS Secrets to Earning Scholarships The Coolidge Scholarship Jeanne Lucas Memorial Scholarship Bold.org Scholarships.com RELATED EPISODES COMMON MISTAKES IN SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS HOW TO WIN LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS LESSONS LEARNED BY OFFERING A SCHOLARSHIP 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 the 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.

Of all the subjects taught in school, mathematics is most certainly the most common source of stress. But what's so mind-numbing about numeracy? Amy and Mike invited educator Dan Roeder to unpack and explore solutions for math anxiety. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is math anxiety? What causes math anxiety? What are the major impacts of math anxiety? What are proven solutions for math anxiety? How can someone support a student or child to alleviate math anxiety? MEET OUR GUEST Dan Roeder is a math educator and researcher focused on understanding and reducing students' math anxiety. He currently serves as Math Department Coordinator at Winston Preparatory School's New York City campus. He earned his M.S. in Mathematics Education from the University of Rochester as a National Science Foundation Noyce Scholar, where his thesis examined the roots of math anxiety and practical classroom interventions. Since completing his research, he has focused on applying it in the classroom and sharing it with educators at conferences across the country. Before becoming an educator, Daniel studied Economics and Statistics at Duke University and worked in corporate development at BlackRock. Dan can be reached at roeder.dan4@gmail.com. LINKS Recognizing and Alleviating Math Anxiety The Neurodevelopmental Basis of Math Anxiety Spotlight on math anxiety. RELATED EPISODES MENTAL MATH AND AUTOMATICITY HOW STRESS AFFECTS TEST PERFORMANCE MAKING LEARNING SCIENCE WORK FOR YOU 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 consistently focuses 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? What have Amy and Mike been up to this month? Where did Amy travel? Should Mike change his intro to the podcast? What are three things Amy and Mike love? What's coming up in the next month 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! RELATED EPISODES EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2026 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: December 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: November 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: October 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.

Tremendous amounts of interest and anxiety are expended on answering the question of where a student might go to college. Usually, though, the focal point is the school and not the community around the school, when sometimes the setting makes all the difference. Amy and Mike invited educator Ryan Allen to explore the question of what makes a great college town. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is a college town? Why are some towns with colleges not proper college towns? What are some of the best college towns in the United States? What features or factors make or break a college town? Should more schools aim to create a full college-town experience? MEET OUR GUEST Ryan M. Allen is an Associate Professor of International and Comparative Education and Leadership at Soka University of America. His academic research centers on the internationalization of higher education, global mobility, and the intersections between education and urbanism, with a particular emphasis on the US and East Asia. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of College Towns, a Substack where urbanism meets higher education. He holds a PhD from Teachers College, Columbia University, an MA from Yonsei University (Seoul, South Korea), and a BA from the University of Central Oklahoma. Ryan can be reached at collegetowns.org. LINKS What Even is a College Town? Morrill Act (1862) | National Archives The Education and Urbanism of Breaking Away RELATED EPISODES ATTENDING A LARGE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY ATTENDING A LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE MAKING THE MOST OF COLLEGE VISITS 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 exam is designed to assess an obvious array of knowledge and skills. However, much more than the obvious is often needed to truly excel. Amy and Mike invited educator Mike Settele to review overlooked test-taking skills. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the obvious or well-known test-taking skills? What are some classic test-taking skills that influence the score? What are some overlooked test-taking skills? Are any of these skills hard or impossible to improve during the test prep timeline? What is the most important test-taking skill? MEET OUR GUEST Mike Settele is the founder of Settele Tutoring, an SAT prep company that specializes in creating user-friendly SAT resources. Mike has published thousands of hours of SAT lessons on his YouTube channel, which are watched every day by students around the world. Mike began his SAT career while an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University, where he studied political science and philosophy. He started as a Writing section tutor for Capital Educators, a test-prep company that offers courses in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. After graduating, Mike became a full-time program director for Capital Educators, but he eventually found his true passion in helping to create their curriculum for the new SAT in 2016. After the new test was released, Mike moved to Los Angeles and founded Settele Tutoring, shifting his focus to private tutoring so he could create new SAT materials. He has since published the "SAT Packets" study guides for both the Reading and Math sections of the exam, with new editions coming soon for the digital SAT. In fact, when he's not tutoring, Mike can often be found sitting on Santa Monica Beach, writing SAT questions. Mike previously appeared in episode 573 for a Test Prep Profile. Find Mike at https://setteletutoring.com/ or his YouTube SAT channel. LINKS Top 10 Overlooked SAT Skills — it's so much more than Reading and Math! RELATED EPISODES RESOURCES FOR THE DIGITAL SAT ALL ABOUT DIGITAL SAT MATH ALL ABOUT DIGITAL SAT READING & WRITING 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.

When you need expert individual support with skill, strategy, behavior, or body of knowledge, you'll probably reach out to a tutor or coach. How do those roles differ, and how can you get the most out of them? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Scott Clyburn to define coaching for academic success. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is there a difference between teaching and coaching? What are simple conversation habits that keep students in the driver's seat in learning? What is the best way to benchmark executive function skills? Why is it valuable to look at habits you want to change as experiments? What are the most common pitfalls when tutors try to shift to a coaching approach? MEET OUR GUEST Scott Clyburn holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Yale University and is the founder and director of North Avenue Education, a premier test-preparation and study-skills firm based in Portland, Oregon. Originally from Houston, Texas, Scott has taught in both secondary and higher education and has been a professional tutor since 2005. He sees tutoring as an opportunity for any student to become a better learner. Scott specializes in coaching students with LD and is motivated by seeing his students transform their potential into action. Scott is the author of the North Avenue Guide to Study Skills, which will be published this winter and licensable by tutors and orgs in 2026. Scott previously appeared on the podcast in episode 97 to discuss Test Prep for Students with Accommodations. Find Scott at scott.clyburn@northaveeducation.com or https://northaveeducation.com. LINKS The difference between tutoring and academic coaching RELATED EPISODES EFFECTIVE STUDY SKILLS FOR TEST PREPARATION HOW TO TEACH STUDENTS TO STUDY EFFECTIVELY THE THREE CORE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND TEST PREP WHY PROFESSIONALISM IN TUTORS MATTERS WHY YOU WANT TO WORK WITH A CAREER TUTOR 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.