Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

Most of us intuitively understand why testing is necessary to assess learning outcomes. What is the problem, then, with attempting to accurately assess these outcomes beyond a school or district level?  Amy and Mike invited researcher and consultant Glynn D. Ligon to rise to the defense of state tests.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why is state proficiency testing valuable?...

The typical path for a student seeking higher education is to enter college right after high school. For what possible reason, then, would--or should--a teen consider deviating from that path to pursue a period of personal growth at home or abroad? Amy and Mike invited association executive Ethan Knight to enumerate multiple answers to the question, "Why take a gap year?"  What are five things you...

There are so many decisions to be made on the path to college, including deciding which college entrance exam to take. ACT has announced new options coming for the ACT® test, starting with the September 2020 national test date, designed to give students more flexibility in their college planning.  What do we know about these changes so far? Amy and Mike invited ACT National Director of K-12 Lisa W...

Every high school athlete dreams of playing for an elite college team, ideally with tuition, room, board, and all associated expenses covered. But how closely does that fantasy match reality? Amy and Mike invited coach and author Renee Lopez to offer critical insights and advice to college applicants looking for a full ride.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Does anyone get a f...

American colleges and universities represent many of the highest ideals of an educated, democratic society, and few institutions of higher education are as quintessentially American as our historically black colleges and universities. What makes HBCUs so special? Amy and Mike invited Howard University Associate Provost Anthony Jones to expand upon the benefits of attending an historically black co...

When you work in the business of education, you are bound to receive an education in business law. Don't learn your legal lessons the hard way!  Amy and Mike invited attorney Matthew K. Seeley to the Tests and the Rest Winter Conference 2020 to speak about legal issues for educational enterprises. In the second part of his remarkably thorough and insightful presentation, Matthew addressed the lega...

When you work in the business of education, you are bound to receive an education in business law. Don't learn your legal lessons the hard way!  Amy and Mike invited attorney Matthew Seeley to the Tests and the Rest Winter Conference 2020 to speak about legal issues for educational enterprises. In the first part of his remarkably thorough and insightful presentation, Matthew addressed the legal is...

In the course of common school day activities, students share extensive personal data, completely oblivious to the many ways this information can be--and often is--exploited. Even the important college admissions tests can present certain security hazards. Amy and Mike invited student advocate Leonie Haimson to explain both the necessity and challenges of keeping student data private.  What are fi...

Colleges and universities in the United States draw international acclaim and interest. Why, then, might American students be wise to consider schooling abroad? Amy and Mike invited international educational consultant Kevin Newton to enumerate the many unexpected benefits of attending university in Europe.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What countries should American studen...

Major revisions of the major standardized college entrance exams come few, far between, and with great fanfare. Don't take this to mean, however, that the SAT and ACT don't change all the time bit by bit. Amy and Mike invited test prep expert Evan Wessler to the Tests and the Rest Winter Conference 2020 to speak about emerging trends in SAT and ACT content. The recording of this incredibly importa...

While qualifying for admission to a competitive college or university requires endless hours of study and commitment, applying to such a school should not. Is the application process as difficult as it used to be, and can it be further improved?  Amy and Mike invited author and consultant Roger Dooley to explain the importance of reducing friction in the college admissions process.  What are five...

While getting into college seems like a Herculean task requiring the collaboration and contributions of a team of experts, paying for college can--believe it or not--be even tougher. For example, nearly everyone takes out student loans, but how many applicants understand what they should focus on? Amy and Mike invited financial aid expert Elaine Rubin to break down the basics of what you need to k...

Since 2014, Gallup has investigated some of the most important outcomes of higher education through a survey of college graduates. What valuable lessons can future college students learn from the reflections of those who came before them? Amy and Mike invited research consultant John Clark to explain the significance of the Gallup Alumni Survey and the six college experiences that drive success.  ...

Many high school students dream about playing sports on the college level. However, entering the application and recruitment process with low grades and test scores can be a nightmare for even the most talented athletes. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Jennifer Henson to explain requirements for test scores and the NCAA Clearinghouse.  What are five things you will learn in this episod...

Too many students, parents, and professionals act as if high schoolers magically transform into independent, motivated, productive college students right after their graduation ceremonies, even if none of those adjectives previously applied. If only that were true! Amy and Mike invited clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Adam Zamora to offer insights into helping students prepare for the demands of col...

The college essay provides teens their single best chance to speak from the heart and share something significant that does not come through the rest of the application. But what happens when a student can't find anything significant to share? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Carrie Bedard to extol the virtues of utilizing a reflection journal to prepare for a college essay.  What are f...

Many families embark on the college search process with a magical "dream school" in mind. But what if the dream doesn't match the reality? Amy and Mike invited college consultant Lynn O'Shaughnessy to answer the burning question of whether where you go to school matters.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What makes a school a "dream college" to most students? What the relations...

We live in a society where most people hate tests with the same intensity they love sports. Would this stark dichotomy exist if the many parallels between the two challenges were more widely known? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Tony Miglio to describe how test prep and sports are similar.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why do sports analogies make so much sense...

Grade inflation often seems like a trivial offense, a somewhat victimless crime. However, evidence suggests the exact opposite, that the practice undermines students, corrodes institutions, and perpetuates privilege. Amy and Mike invited researcher and professor Seth Gershenson Ph. D to enumerate the many reasons why grade inflation is harmful.  What are five things you will learn in this episode?...

For many students, community college represents the path to academic and career success, while others only see a stop on a longer educational journey.  County by county and state by state, these institutions truly focus on community. Amy and Mike invited Cuyahoga Community College Director Heidi Nicholas to describe the experience and advantages of attending a community college.  What are five thi...

Success in tests, as in life, comes down to much more than just what you know. But where and how are students supposed to learn key skills like time management, organization, prioritization, and project management? Amy and Mike invited interdisciplinary educator Jenna Bee to explore the connections between executive functioning skills and test prep.  What are five things you will learn in this epi...

While life after high school should be one of the most important considerations for teens and the adults that support them, too many kids choose default paths because they don't know the depth and breadth of options before them. Amy and Mike invited school counselor Andrea House to discuss the vital importance of pathway planning for high schoolers.  What are five things you will learn in this epi...

Attending college as a student with special needs presents a wide variety of serious logistical challenges. Even more daunting, though, may be the extra burden of paying for extra accommodations and services on top of tuition, room, and board. Amy and Mike invited Publisher and VP of Research for Savingforcollege.com Mark Kantrowitz to outline the increased college costs for special needs students...

Humans may spend about a third of their lives asleep, but the average time at slumber dips dramatically during the teen years. Yet, the physical, mental, and emotional health of adolescents and young adults depends desperately on sufficient time to rest, recuperate, and dream. Amy and Mike invited program manager for Start School Later of Sleep 101 Kari Oakes to offer strategies for helping teens...

Techniques such as hypnosis and neuro-linguistic programming can be used to quell anxiety, sharpen focus, and boost performance. So why do so few educators know about how these skills and interventions can improve test taking outcomes?  Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Bara Sapir to share some mental techniques for peak test performance.  What are five things you will learn in this epis...