Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Dr. Kuni Michael Beasley has a BS from Texas Christian University (GO Frogs!), an MBA from Oklahoma City University, a Doctor of Ministry in Greek and Hebrew from Tyndale Seminary, and a Ph. D. from the University of Texas at Arlington.  He has been helping students prepare...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Jeff Eisenberg , the founder of Long Island Test Prep, has been working as a test prep professional since 1991. He's a lifelong resident of Long Island. Having just retired from the classroom after a 31-year career teaching Social Studies at East Meadow High School, he's no...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Huzefa Kapadia is the founder of Scalar Learning LLC , an education services company based in Los Angeles, CA. Moreover, he is a math video curriculum developer, math musician, and a private math tutor.  His life is fully devoted to the art of teaching math, and all aspects...

Learning and innovation, it is said, go hand in hand. Unfortunately, teachers don't always see how to bring the two together. Amy and Mike invited educator Barak Moore to describe how to be an innovative educator.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What makes innovation such an important cornerstone of education? What academic theories of innovation should teachers and tutors to...

So many important factors converge in the college selection process, yet one of the most critical ones is far too often ignored. Amy and Mike invited college consultant Chris Wills to make the case for considering college financial fit first. What are five things you will learn in this episode? In what ways have the costs of college changed over the last few years? Why shouldn't students wait to c...

Discussions about education tend to focus on those who do the teaching. Let's not ignore, however, the abundant opportunities for improvement possible at the point of learning. Amy and Mike invited educator Patrice Bain to explain the importance of feedback-driven metacognition. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why doesn't study time always equate to commensurate learning? How...

Test takers have more ways than ever to prepare for important exams. However, if the way you are learning doesn't involve actually taking practice tests, does it even count as prep? Amy and Mike invited educator Paul Pscolka to explain why practice tests matter so much. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is it really test preparation if you don't take practice tests?  What can be...

Helping Tutoring Companies Grow Their Businesses with educator Matt McCorkle What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind Clear Choice Prep? What makes Clear Choice Prep the clear choice? What kinds of organizations work best with Clear Choice Prep?  What kinds of outcomes do Clear Choice Prep clients experience?  What should someone curious about Clear Choice Prep...

Most new college students say they don't want a reprise of high school, but rather a brand new world of educational immersion and independent living. So why are so many teens not only unprepared for exactly that but unable to locate the resources put in place for their benefit? Amy and Mike invited educator Perry LaRoque to share strategies for making the most of college support systems. What are...

Most of us understand the meaning of the term "hook" in the context of a catchy song or piece of writing, but when did we start using it for college applicants? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Aly Beaumont to explain what "unhooked" means in admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What exactly is a "hook" in college admissions parlance? Why do institutional pri...

We all value physicians, which means we all, by extension, value medical school. Like it or not, that must mean we all value that really challenging admissions exam all future doctors in the U.S. must excel on. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Shirag Shemmassian, Ph. D. to tell us all about the MCAT.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is tested on the MCAT? How i...

While college applicants are often offered all different sorts of financial aid, one type of aid stands head and shoulders above the rest. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Nancy Paul to answer the most common questions about merit aid. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is merit aid, and why is it more desirable than other forms of financial aid? What are the most...

Generations of applicants have turned to the same metrics and authorities time and again to compare institutions of higher education. Should they? Amy and Mike invited professor Jed Macosko to explore which college rankings you can trust. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why are college rankings so influential? What do traditional college rankings purport to tell us? What do th...

The ability to achieve incredible things usually results from the combination of two powerful ingredients: practice plus coaching. However, nobody can follow that painstaking path to success without a third, equally essential element. Amy and Mike invited educator Sean McCormick to answer the age-old question, "How do I motivate my student?"  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Wh...

Most conversations about memory tend to focus on familiar challenges with retention and retrieval of what we've previously learned and must know now. An overlooked but equally important area of concern should be what we need to remember later. Amy and Mike invited educator Andrew Watson to explain how to improve future memory.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is prospecti...

In May 2020, the University of California Board of Regents eliminated standardized testing as part of its admissions considerations for at least five years. The move was alternately hailed or condemned, depending on your thoughts about education, standards, and opportunity. But what did the evidence suggest? Amy and Mike invited professor Donald Wittman to clarify why UC was wrong to stop using th...

Unique Insights Into College Admissions, Costs, Academics, Reputations, and Rankings with Stuart Nachbar What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind The Good College ? What experience is The Good College based on? Who was The Good College written for?  What kinds of outcomes should readers experience?  What should someone curious about The Good College know about...

With nearly 3,000 four-year schools in the United States to choose from, prospective students need ways to tell them apart. But how exactly are institutions of higher education sorted? Amy and Mike invited journalist Sarah Wood to share some of the thinking behind US News & World Report college rankings.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? 1. What are the most significant metrics...

As if taking high-stakes exams wasn't stressful enough, test takers today don't just need to contend with fantastically challenging content and rigorous time constraints. Some days, even the parts of the test experience that you take for granted work against you. Amy and Mike invited educator Rob Pollak to explore how and why to manage your proctor. What are five things you will learn in this epis...

Parents, educators, and all the other adults in children's lives focus on helping them become healthier, smarter, and better prepared for their futures. Sometimes, though, we forget about what's ultimately most important. Amy and Mike invited pediatrician Hansa Bhargava to advise on building happier teens.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why do teens seem to be facing more pr...

Colleges and graduate programs seek a broad range of attributes in applicants, only some of which are effectively measured in current entrance exams. Amy and Mike invited professor Robert Sternberg to explore advancements for improving admissions tests. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the theory of successful intelligence? How do we test for a broader range of contribu...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Erin Billy is the founder of Test Magic in San Francisco, California and the test prep forum Urch Forums . Since 1991, he has personally worked with thousands of students to help them get into great universities in the US, from the academic preparation in the early years to...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Emily Raphael is the mom in Testmom, the company she founded (she was very disappointed that the name Pro-Test was taken). She works primarily with high school students preparing for the SAT and ACT. She covers all sections of both tests. In past lives she has taught compos...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Luis Smith-Rosario, owner and founder of Hartford County Connecticut-based Just Solve It Tutoring . Luis founded Just Solve It in 2009, and he has since expanded his business to employ a range of skilled STEM tutors and to provide tutoring for students taking STEM cour...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Patricia Brown , a native of the East Coast (New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Boston) who established Team Talent for SAT and ACT and ISEE test prep in the San Diego North County town of Rancho Santa Fe over 15 years ago, serving students from eight private schools and ov...