Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

We all know that college costs. But how much will a semester at a given college cost for you? Will that tuition differ from what others pay? Why is college so expensive anyway?  Amy and Mike invited author and columnist Ron Lieber to explain the price you really pay for college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does college cost so much, and who is paying the full sticker p...

The global pandemic changed nearly everything about schooling and testing. One aspect of the academic experience, however, that might not have changed has been the willingness of some students to misrepresent their knowledge or understanding in order to earn better grades. Amy and Mike invited testing expert Jarret Dyer to share research regarding the growing impact of cheating during COVID.  What...

Pronounced differences in standardized test scores often manifest across racial and socioeconomic segments of districts, states, and the U.S. as a whole. Does this mean the tests are biased, or can the bias be found elsewhere?  Amy and Mike invited educator Eva Addae to explain how SAT and ACT scores highlight educational inequity. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the h...

We all know how valuable scholarship awards can be in defraying the high cost of education. But how many applicants recognize how often colleges subtract from their own aid packages the exact amounts students report in external scholarship funds?  Amy and Mike invited scholarship expert Ken Downs to shed light on the mysterious phenomenon of scholarship displacement.  What are five things you will...

When more selective schools open doors to more substantial opportunities--and compensation-- gaining admission to the right MBA programs can be serious business! Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Brett Ethridge to share the most current guidance on getting into business school. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Do college majors matter to business school? What admissio...

While teachers generally want students to be ready for the quizzes, exams, and finals associated with their curriculum, most shy away from focusing on state or national assessments. Too bad, really, when school is the perfect place to prepare for any test. Amy and Mike invited educator Laura Link to extol the virtues of incorporating test prep into the high school classroom. What are five things y...

Leaders inspire others to make things happen. Colleges want students who make things happen. Seems like a natural fit, right? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Lt. Col. Lisa Hillhouse to discuss how and why to demonstrate leadership in college applications. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does leadership matter to colleges? How is leadership defined in this conte...

The road to college ideally ends when a student arrives at a school that aligns perfectly with both fit and ambition. So why do so many parents take the wheel?  Amy and Mike invited educational planner Kristina L. Dooley to explore the role of parents in the college process. What are five things you will learn in this episode? In what ways can parents support their child's exploration of possible...

Keeping track of the newest social media platforms can be exhausting for many adults. Taking the time to figure out where teens focus their attention, though, offers a rare opportunity to deliver education they'll actually engage with. Amy and Mike invited educators Jackie Pollina and Josh Kariyev to open a window into the surprising world of test prep TikTok. What are five things you will learn i...

Every relationship depends on clear communication for success, including and especially those involving educators, students, and, when relevant, parents. Amy and Mike invited educational coach Michael Gibben to explore the concept of clarity in educational relationships. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does clarity mean in terms of educational relationships? Why is clarit...

The global pandemic made standardized testing impractical for much of 2020. Before we get used to life without high-stakes exams--as lovely as that might sound--let's consider what we lose when we abandon objective academic assessments. Amy and Mike invited author and researcher Mike Petrilli to explicate the heightened need for testing in 2021. What are five things you will learn in this episode?...

Civilization has never before known the wealth of inexpensive and accessible educational resources that we find on the modern web. However, finding a great site is only the first step in learning from it. Amy and Mike invited programmer Don Sevcik to clarify both using and creating educational websites. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are some of the best educational webs...

Why is it that so many of us know so much about APs but so little about IB? Amy and Mike invited college coach Kim Raybuck to explain not just what International Baccalaureate programs are, but where they fit in the continuum of academic rigor. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program and diploma? What are the advantages of particip...

The rhythms and rituals of college athletic recruiting have traditionally mirrored the predictability of sports seasons themselves. Then came COVID. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Chad Dorman to describe the most prevalent athletic recruiting trends in 2021. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Has recruiting for some sports been impacted more than others? What is the...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Silvia Eufinger , co-founder of Edison Prep, based in Atlanta, GA. Silvia graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2007. While an undergrad, she enjoyed serving with Uncle Joe's (a peer counseling group), the Each One Teach One tutoring program, and AXE, a chemistry pre-p...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Jeanne Lucas . After over two decades of experience in education, Jeanne is no stranger to standardized testing. During her 17 years as a high school English teacher, Jeanne taught in several settings, including a suburban, Catholic high school; an urban, private, alternative high sc...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Jason Robinovitz , the Chief Operating Officer of all Score At The Top Learning Centers . Jason oversees each Center's day-to-day operations, ensuring the delivery of top-quality educational support and guidance services to client families. As team leader for a staff of more than 100...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet David Lynch , the founder of StudyLark Test Prep. He has been working with students worldwide since 1999 on the LSAT, SAT, ACT, GMAT, and GRE tests, and he's taught Chemistry and English as a Second Language.  David is the author of the StudyLark Guide to SAT Writing and Language as...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Mary Thomas , founder of Test Prep Simplified, who has implemented her 24 years of experience in education to create simple, proven, and unique ACT and SAT Prep programs. Mary has helped thousands of students from hundreds of schools via classroom, tutoring, test prep, consulting, an...

The last year represented one of the most transformational periods in the history of education. Wondering what wonders the next year holds? Amy and Mike invited research consultant John Clark to separate fads from sustainable changes in educational technology in 2021.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does technology really mean in education? What does the near future hold...

A student who is engaged is a student ready to learn. A student who is not engaged… not so much. Amy and Mike invited educator Julia Silver to explain the 4 P's of student engagement. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why is engagement so essential to learning?  How can teachers inject positive energy into instruction? In what ways does personalization lead to engagement and eff...

If sheer volume and vehemence of accusations of racism were sufficient evidence, the case against standardized tests would be closed. But what if testing tilts in a different direction entirely? Amy and Mike invited educator Ted Dorsey to explain how the SAT and ACT are classist rather than racist.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Who says the SAT and ACT are racist? What trai...

In the old days, when high school and college students struggled with classes, we focused on academic tutoring. Why did it take so long to realize how essential motivation and productivity skills are to school success? Amy and Mike invited educational coach Jothsna Kethar to highlight the importance of executive function in teens. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the e...

Nobody would argue that all students with special needs don't deserve to be supported and provided the resources they need to thrive. Why, then, do students with special talents--particularly for academics--sometimes lack access to the same consideration? Amy and Mike invited educator and author Tai Abrams to discuss the necessity of gifted and talented programs.  What are five things you will lea...

Colleges and universities struggled with challenges to profitability and program diversity before COVID-19 arrived, and the global pandemic certainly didn't help matters! Amy and Mike invited higher education expert Daan Braveman to lay out the solutions inherent in innovative partnerships in higher education. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why should colleges be looking for...