Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

While the math sections of the SAT and ACT both challenge conceptual understanding and problem-solving across a broad range of similar topics, a closer look shows differing priorities between the two tests. Amy and Mike invited educator Mike McGibbon to explore the obvious and subtle differences between the SAT and ACT math sections. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are th...

Very few people truly love academic standardized testing, but animosity over assessments seems to increase in intensity every year. But are the exams themselves the problem or what their scores reveal? Amy and Mike invited education writer Natalie Wexler to explain why we should listen to what testing tells us.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Do college admissions tests merel...

Almost every conversation about college admissions and choice eventually turns to major. Should teenagers even be expected to know what they want to study for the next four to six years? Amy and Mike invited admissions expert V. Peter Pitts to consider if and when college majors matter.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Should students know what they want to major in when apply...

Course selection heavily influences both a student's high school experience and college prospects, yet definitive answers on how to make these choices are often lacking. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Phil Black to analyze high school course selection and academic rigor.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What factors are important when thinking about class selectio...

When the global pandemic hit, many families were reluctant to abandon face-to-face tutoring for remote platforms. Are their good reasons to be equally hesitant to completely return to old models of instruction?  Amy and Mike invited educator Christopher Sanderson to review key strategies to make online tutoring matter more.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why is creating enga...

Pre-COVID, visiting a college campus was an important way to both learn about a school and signal interest. Today and likely going forward, more and more families will conduct that due diligence online, but they have to do it right. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Jodi Rosenshein Atkin to highlight ways to demonstrate interest during virtual college tours.  What are five things you wil...

While standardized tests assess only part of a full high school math curriculum, assessing priorities has historically been difficult. Fortunately, ACT has quantified and clarified many elements of its flagship exam. Amy and Mike invited educator Adam Snoza to explain what can be learned from ACT Math Reporting Categories.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the main ACT...

The premise of holistic admissions suggests that admissions officers consider the whole applicant. But how can intangibles like character or compassion be judged alongside empirical data like grades or test scores? Amy and Mike invited Glenn Manning and Brennan E. Barnard to describe how this challenge is being addressed by the Making Caring Common Project. What are five things you will learn in t...

According to former Secretary of Education Rod Paige, "There is no more powerful advocate than a parent armed with information and options." But does that still apply to parents of teens? Amy and Mike invited parent coach and podcaster Punam Saxena to explain the importance of advocacy for parents of high schoolers.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why should high school paren...

While a college admissions process depends on a myriad of large and small moving parts, the great challenge in applying to schools lies not in the number of criteria but in accurately guessing which ones matter most. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Steven Mercer to analyze issues in transparency in college admissions.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does trans...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Rob Pollak , 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 go...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Kenny Tan , who has been working in test prep since 2010. Kenny founded Kenny Tan Test Prep to empower students with the grit, resilience, and curiosity necessary for a successful academic and professional career. He specializes in the SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, SAT, and ACT.  Kenny, the son...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Paul Pscolka , the founder of Ivy Masters, an organization based out of New Jersey devoted to helping students improve their SAT and ACT scores and get accepted to their first-choice university.  Paul teaches SAT and ACT full time (since 2003). His students have scored perfectly on t...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Claudia Chesler , a visionary educational specialist at Potomac Education Center with a proven record of achieving exceptional results. Claudia has 15+ years of experience tutoring, coaching, and mentoring students to reach their fullest potential and elevate their PSAT, SAT, ACT, GR...

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Edward Antoine , the founder and president of Antoine Education, a Brooklyn, NY based provider of test preparation tutoring and classes for the SAT, SHSAT and academic tutoring in math. Ed is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association . A graduate o...

Every version of school presents students with rules, restrictions, and indicators of success. Well, so do games!  Amy and Mike invited educational entrepreneur Steve Hargadon to explore the opportunities and implications of winning the game of school.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? In what ways is the current "story" of K-12 education flawed? What is the concept behind the...

No matter how difficult a given ACT exam seems, the process of creating that test and every other equivalent form is exponentially more complex, precise, and demanding.  Amy and Mike invited ACT Lead Psychometrician Jeffrey Steedle to definitively explain how the ACT is actually scored. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How is an ACT form crafted? How does ACT assess item diffic...

The codependent relationship American higher education has cultivated with international students seems to be on the rocks due to COVID and other crises. What happens next? Amy and Mike invited college admissions expert Parke Muth to explain the international student problem. Stop making $en$e! What are five things you will learn in this episode? How has college admissions in the U.S. changed over...

The only thing tougher than filling out the perfect college application is being willing to submit it. How can applicants feel comfortable that they presented the most complete, authentic, and polished presentation of their fit? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Ben Marley to review what to check before submitting that college application.  What are five things you will learn in this epi...

If you weren't keenly aware of the differences between spoken and written English, you probably haven't taken the ACT! Amy and Mike invited educator Jason Derby to discuss both the details and implications of ACT English reporting categories. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the main ACT English Reporting Categories? What can students and educators learn from English R...

Author Orison Swett Marden stated, "All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible." That quote applies perfectly to the current state of selective high school and college admissions, but will it still in the near future? Amy and Mike invited educator Frances Kweller to explain why selective special...

We all imagine that one purpose of a K-12 education is to prepare students for life after high school. But how do we know which students are--or are not--ready? Amy and Mike invited researchers Lynne Graziano and Chad Aldeman to describe different methods of tracking college and career readiness. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why should high schools care about college and ca...

When NACAC revised its guidelines for college admissions conduct, the repercussions were expected to shake the foundations of higher education. Then COVID came along, doing all that and more! Amy and Mike invited past president of NACAC Patrick O'Connor to analyze the impact and predict the consequences of 2020 changes in admissions rules. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How d...

Webb's Depth of Knowledge levels provide a clear system for categorizing the complexity of thought different tasks--and test questions--require. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Erik Francis to explain depth of knowledge levels on the SAT and ACT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are depth of knowledge (DOK) levels? How are depth of knowledge levels tested on th...

The old saying "What gets measured gets managed" can definitely be applied to testing data. But what exactly should be measured and why? Amy and Mike invited test prep wizard Vinny Madera to analyze opportunities and imperatives in tracking test score data.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What data matters in the context of standardized tests? What can a great educator do wit...