Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

Community colleges have always served students and their surrounding municipalities and counties in ways that other educational institutions do not, and crisis conditions only amplify their impact. Amy and Mike invited Cuyahoga Community College Director Heidi Nicholas to highlight the crucial role of community colleges in the time of COVID-19.  What are five things you will learn in this episode?...

While we tend to focus on how much of an academic and social education college can offer, we tend to look past the professional skills students learn. To be fair, that's because they are rarely taught in the classroom! Amy and Mike invited student advocate and podcaster Justin Dzuy Nguyen to explain what high schoolers should know about the next level.  What are five things you will learn in this...

Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans provide paths to procure formal help for K-12 students who struggle in school. However, pursuing these plans can be an education in themselves. Amy and Mike  invited parent advocate Mary Jo O'Neill to explain the intricacies of navigating an IEP or 504 plan.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the role of a parent adv...

The COVID-19 continues to upend all of our assumptions about education, particularly in regard to advancing directly from high school to college. What other options exist when even traditional "pause" activities aren't viable?  Amy and Mike  invited entrepreneur Megan O'Connor to discuss gap year alternatives during COVID.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why might a student b...

Advocates of abolishing admissions tests claim that exams like the SAT and ACT discriminate against some populations while serving as proxy wealth tests. But do data or evidence support these positions? Amy and Mike  invited student advocate Dr. Yoon S. Choi to analyze whether test optional policies drive equity.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? If the test scores correlate hi...

Teaching, tutoring, training, and coaching all describe ways we give of ourselves to help others become better in one way or another. But how can we support others if we don't support ourselves? Amy and Mike invited three nationally recognized educators--Michael Jordan, Ben Sexton, and Bara Sapir--to sit on our Summer 2020 Summit panel on the importance of self-care for tutors and test prep profes...

How can educators ensure that students and their families understand not just important instructions and policies but also professionalism and a clear commitment to their success? Nothing beats clear communication early and often. Amy and Mike invited three nationally recognized test prep professionals--Laura Link, Andrea Kay McFarland, and Andre Kiss--to sit on our Summer 2020 Summit panel on the...

Independent educational consultants and test prep professionals are natural partners, at least in theory. What are the keys to uncovering the kinds of productive synergies that benefit students, families, and everyone else involved? Amy and Mike invited three nationally recognized educational consultants--Judi Robinovitz, Lt. Col. Lisa Hillhouse, and Stacey Cunitz--to sit on our Summer 2020 Summit...

With so many components of the college application designated as optional these days, you have to wonder what that term even means. For context, Amy and Mike invited Tulane admissions director Jeff Schiffman to clarify why optional statements aren't optional.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Do all colleges ask a "Why College X?" question? How should students respond to such a...

The ACT and SAT are, at least for the moment, always offered at schools. But what happens when the exams are offered DURING school? Amy and Mike  invited school counselor Larry Mandernach to describe the benefits of school day testing.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What underserved populations benefit from school day testing?  What logistical challenges does school day test...

The SAT and ACT have always been the ultimate paper-and-pencil exams, but that era is approaching its end. But how secure can the digital tests of the future be without proctors watching test takers in person? Amy and Mike invited ProctorU executive Ashley Norris to illuminate the reality of how remote proctoring actually works.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? How does remote...

U.S. military service academies are among the most respected and rigorous colleges in the nation. Unsurprisingly, they are also among the toughest to get into. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Lisa Hillhouse to share detailed steps and timelines for applying to a military service academy.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is a military service academy, and who i...

We sometimes look to educators like oracles who can predict a student's academic future based on faint and inscrutable hints. But why guess in the dark when all the answers are right in front of you? Amy and Mike invited test prep expert Phil McCaffrey to describe how to use student self-analysis to improve instruction..  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does self-reflectio...

Nurse practitioners are among the host of medical professionals we rely on every day for life saving health care. Does it surprise you to learn that they need to pass certain tests to show that they are up to the challenge?  Amy and Mike invited educator and nurse practitioner Latrina Walden to share a unique perspective in the debate on why testing standards matter.  What are five things you will...

We probably won't know until September what the Fall 2020 college experience will truly be like, but students need to make momentous decisions about their semester plans NOW. Amy and Mike invited college counselor Tim Lear to offer insights into the upside of a semester online.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why would students hesitate to attend traditional colleges remotely...

The 2019-20 academic year will live on in infamy as one of the craziest years to rock secondary and higher education. Is it a coincidence that we started the Tests and the Rest podcast right when it began? Amy and Mike invited our friend Brian Eufinger to host our 2019-20 academic year in review.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What topics were expected to be a big deal durin...

The multiple-choice reading sections of the SAT and ACT have never been more similar, but closer analysis proves they are hardly the same. Amy and Mike invited best-selling author Erica Meltzer to explore the subtle differences between the SAT and ACT reading sections.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? How similar are the reading sections of the SAT and ACT? Which section is mo...

These days, every teacher, tutor, and college consultant has moved business online. Why does it seem, though, that some professionals are engaging with potential clients on social media platforms far more effectively than everyone else? Amy and Mike invited marketing expert Mario Ronci to share insights into delivering education and admissions messaging online.  What are five things you will learn...

Almost every test taker finds the SAT and ACT challenging. However, learning and testing disabilities add a whole new level of difficulty, which demands thoughtful approaches to practice and preparation. Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Scott Clyburn to discuss best practices in test prep for students with accommodations.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What kind o...

You may have never heard the term "twice-exceptional," but you've likely met 2E learners and recognized the distinctive challenges they faced. Amy and Mike invited professional counselor Emily Kircher-Morris to explore specific challenges and opportunities around college admissions for twice-exceptional students.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does twice-exceptional (2E...

Heading into 2020, various market stresses already threatened the viability of some of America's colleges and universities. Then came COVID-19! Amy and Mike invited consultant and author Susan Baldridge to explain the implications of the ultimate college stress test.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? How does a stress test work, and what should it reveal? What tend to be the gr...

When managed properly, the college admissions process is very much a team effort, and an applicant's family can be the most critical members of that team. Amy and Mike invited author and admissions professional Rick Clark to describe the importance of family conversations about college admissions.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Should parents decide which schools their teens...

Despite their role as essential components of college applications, letters of recommendation--specifically how to elicit great ones--receive far too little attention. Amy and Mike invited college admissions counselor Benjamin Caldarelli to clarify the differences between good and great letters of recommendation.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What makes a letter of recommen...

The annual rhythms of sports seasons and college recruiting cycles have always been comfortably familiar. Then came COVID-19. Amy and Mike invited college consultants David Stoeckel and Katie Andersen to share the state of sports recruiting in the time of COVID.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What athletic recruiting rules have been changed since COVID-19? How have the timel...

Homeschooling offers a distinctive choice for families seeking a flexible, specialized K-12 education for their children. Full immersion into higher education, however, cannot be experienced at home.  Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Barbara Hettle to explain the nuances of college admissions for homeschoolers.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Who homeschools high s...