Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

About 66% of American students FAIL to earn their bachelor's degrees in four years. Yet, those extra years of college come at a tremendous cost. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Edie Steele to explore the benefits and challenges around finishing a four-year degree on time.    What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does finishing a four-year degree on time matter? What...

  Far too often, we evaluate math ability in high schoolers solely on the basis of grades and level of math learned. A more accurate assessment of a student's potential on challenging math tasks--including those posed on tests like the SAT and ACT--should consider mathematical maturity.  Amy and Mike invited author and test prep professional Dr. Steve Warner to define what this means and explain t...

Most of us involved even tangentially in college admissions understand that, while earning a college degree is expensive, the investment is well worth it on a variety of levels. But college is, by any metric, expensive! Amy and Mike invited college finance and planning expert Paul Celuch to discuss ways to recognize and deal with the rampant cost of college. What are five things you will learn in...

Why is it so difficult sometimes for professionals with overlapping competencies to collaborate or communicate even when they seek the same outcomes. Amy and Mike invited Cathy Charles Szendrey, who works as both a school-based and private college counselor, to explore how school and private college counselors can work together.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why do school c...

While all teenagers are alike in certain ways, those at the very top and very bottom of the socioeconomic spectrum share some disconcerting similarities. How are these peer groups connected and what can be done to help them? Amy and Mike invited psychiatrist Anthony Villani to bring clarity to the topic of anxiety and socioeconomic status.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What...

The SAT and ACT have both been around for decades, but the two tests have never been more alike or universally accepted. How is a college-bound teen to choose? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Heather Krey to help understand the relevant criteria in deciding between the SAT and ACT.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why shouldn't students automatically default to a c...

Comprehensive college advising sets the foundation for college success, but not all students receive this guidance in equal measure. What kind of specific support do urban, rural, and first-generation students need, and who can and should provide it?. Amy and Mike invited school counselor Dr. Chris Tudico to help understand the topic of college advising for underserved populations .  What are five...

Many of today's high school students somehow appear to cram 30 hours of academic, extracurricular, work, and social commitments into each of their 24-hour days. Is that frenzy of activity sustainable or even healthy? Amy and Mike invited school counselor Eric Domroes to analyze the need for bringing critical balance to high schoolers' lives. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Wha...

Test preparation might be the least understood or explored multibillion dollar industry in the world. How has test prep--particularly in the realm of college admissions testing--changed, and how is the industry still changing? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Kevin Organisciak to explore the state of the test prep industry in 2019. What are five things you will learn in this episode? In...

Students have never had access to more or better digital SAT and ACT prep tools than they do right now. So why aren't everyone's scores skyrocketing? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Tom Ehlers to explain how to make the most of online test prep. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the different forms of online prep? What are the benefits of self-paced digital...

Is any aspect of college admissions more mystifying than the determination of financial aid? The concept of "need" and how different schools consider need in both admissions and aid decisions goes deeper than most people realize. Amy and Mike invited admissions consultant Jona Jacobson to bring clarity to the topic of need blind and need aware admissions. What are five things you will learn in thi...

In communities across the United States, libraries deliver critical services to students and families on the road to college. Why do so few people recognize the essential role libraries can play in this process? Amy and Mike invited YA Librarian Deena Viviani to elucidate the role of libraries in testing and admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? In what ways do libraries...

Security at testing centers is almost as tight as screening at American airports. Yet, some test takers still find ways to cheat on the ACT or at least raise suspicions. Amy and Mike invited school counselor Desiree Rodriguez-Gould to explore to the process of ACT score review and validation. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How does ACT, Inc. handle score review and validation...

As long as institutions have required admissions tests, applicants have sought out more efficient and effective ways to prepare for them. Amy and Mike took some time to chat about some interesting aspects of the past, present, and future of test prep. Amy also shared how she got into test prep.. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How is the test prep landscape different today? Ho...

The SAT and ACT are now offered throughout all four seasons, with tests available nearly every month of the year. That doesn't mean, however, that every test date is equally auspicious for a busy high schooler. Amy and Mike took some time to discuss all of the factors that determine when a student should sit for the big tests and when the best time to take the SAT and ACT might be. Mike also share...