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Smart college applicants know not to let artificial intelligence agents write their entire personal statement but might shudder at the idea of ignoring these tools entirely. How much is too much? Amy and Mike invited educator Razi Hecker to explore how much AI is just right in the college essay.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
Should students avoid AI entirely when writing their college application essays?
At what points in the writing process can AI be most helpful?
What tasks can be AI-assisted and which ones should never be?
Is there a danger that use of AI might be detected by essay readers?
Why is a main thesis so critical for effective college essays?
MEET OUR GUEST
Razi Hecker is a Harvard graduate (Cum Laude, B.A. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations) and a creative writer whose work appears in literary journals, news outlets, and the most recent edition of 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays.
With over 2,000 hours of college essay coaching and 10+ years in education and creative writing, Razi helps students transform personal experiences into powerful, memorable admissions narratives. His students have been accepted to every Ivy League school, as well as Stanford, MIT, and Caltech. This past year alone, over 70% of Razi’s top retainer students were admitted to at least one Ivy. Those who didn’t landed spots at other elite institutions such as Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, UC Berkeley, and Washington University.
Find Razi at League Bound Consulting.
LINKS
Common App Fraud Policy
Can prospective students use generative AI to help with their application to Cornell?
AI Is Taking Over College Admissions
RELATED EPISODES
COLLEGE ESSAYS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
MAKING YOUR COLLEGE ESSAYS COUNT
WRITING RHETORICALLY IN ADMISSIONS ESSAYS
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.
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The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. Catch up with us in the latest episode of EXTEMP with Amy & Mike.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
How was the NTPA Conference in Minneapolis?
Where did Mike go after Minneapolis?
What projects are Mike and Amy working on?
What does the next month hold for Amy and Mike?
What special milestone has TATR hit?
We definitely want to respond to listener questions in our next EXTEMP episode, so reach out to us on social media or get in touch through our contact page. Let’s get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling!
LINKS
Tutor: The Stuff of Growth
RELATED EPISODES
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: May 2025
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: April 2025
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: March 2025
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: February 2025
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2025
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.
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Eksik bölüm mü var?
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If you’re applying as a STEM major or looking at selective colleges, there’s no question that you should consider taking advanced or accelerated math courses at the secondary level. The question instead revolves around which course to take. Amy and Mike invited researcher Adam Tyner to review whether taking calculus in high school is absolutely necessary.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What are the typical pathways for showing math rigor in high school?
Does the choice between calculus or statistics matter?
In what cases would one of these choices be more advantageous to an applicant?
Do students who have taken calculus in high school outperform their peers?
Are their equity issues wrapped up in this decision?
MEET OUR GUEST
Adam Tyner is the national research director of research at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, where he helps develop and manage Fordham’s research projects. Prior to joining Fordham, he served as senior education analyst at Hanover Research, where he executed data analysis projects and worked with school districts and other education stakeholders to design custom studies.
Adam has also spent several years leading classrooms, teaching English as a second language in both China and California and teaching courses at the University of California, San Diego. His work has appeared and been cited in national and international media such as The Economist, The New York Times, Forbes, Education Week, Education Next, and The Diplomat, as well as in numerous local outlets. Adam holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, San Diego, where he completed his doctoral dissertation on the integration of rural-to-urban migrant workers in China’s cities. He also holds a bachelor of arts in international studies from the University of Oklahoma.
Adam first appeared on the podcast in episode 140 to discuss Social Studies Instruction and Reading Comprehension and in episode 295 to discuss Would Eliminating Tests Make Education More Equitable.
Find Adam at fordhaminstitute.org.
LINKS
Calculus or Statistics: Does it Matter?
RELATED EPISODES
CHOOSING HIGH SCHOOL MATH COURSES STRATEGICALLY
MATHEMATICAL MATURITY AND TEST SUCCESS
GETTING READY FOR THE AP CALCULUS AB OR BC EXAM
GETTING READY FOR AP PRECALCULUS
GETTING READY FOR THE AP STATISTICS EXAM
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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Most students matriculate directly from high school to college. But what if you’re not like most students? Amy and Mike invited education consultant Julia Rogers to explore how to plan a gap year.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
Is there a typical profile of "who" takes a gap year?
What are the biggest benefits of taking a gap year to this particular sub-generation of students?
How does a student get started with planning a gap year?
What steps should students and families take to ensure the gap year is structured and meaningful?
What are the financial implications of gap years?
MEET OUR GUEST
Julia Rogers is a traveler, business owner, and experiential education expert who has spent the last 16 years as a professional gap year counselor. As the founder of EnRoute Consulting, Julia oversees a social enterprise dedicated to fueling the gap year movement and developing a generation of compassionate, driven and resourceful global citizens. She partners with educators, service-learning organizations, non-profits, government entities and families around the world to develop creative educational pathways that result in young adults being better prepared to succeed in life and work. Julia is a TEDx speaker, a podcast host, and President Emeritus of the Gap Year Association, a US-based nonprofit dedicated to the intentional growth of the gap year option through research, standards-setting, and advocacy efforts.
Find Julia at https://enroutegapyear.com/.
LINKS
Gap Year to Freshman Year - En Route Consulting
Gap Year Radio
Gap Year Association
Academic Outcomes – Gap Year Research Consortium at Colorado College
Global Gap Year Fellowship
RELATED EPISODES
WHY TAKE A GAP YEAR?
GAP YEAR ALTERNATIVES DURING COVID
BUILDING AN A+ EXTRACURRICULAR RESUME
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry?
MEET OUR GUEST
Meet Kristen Lefebvre, the National Director of Education at StudyPoint, an educational services company that supports students across the U.S. on their journey to college by providing one-on-one academic and test prep tutoring services and college admissions coaching. Kristen graduated from Bates College and earned her master’s degree at Tufts University. Always interested in education, she joined StudyPoint in 2002 as a program manager for the Greater Boston area. In addition to her responsibilities working with families and tutors, Kristen began tutoring as well, working with students preparing to take the SSAT, ISEE, PSAT, SAT, and ACT. She loved helping students learn the ins-and-outs of the tests and reach their score goals. More than twenty years later, she’s still at it! In her role as National Director of Education, Kristen oversees StudyPoint’s curriculum and program development, as well as tutor hiring and training.
In her free time, Kristen enjoys spending time with her husband, three daughters, and their dog. They are a big soccer family, so Kristen spends an unreasonable amount of time on the sidelines of soccer fields, either coaching or watching her daughters and their teams play, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. When not at the fields or work, she enjoys reading, traveling, running, and hot yoga.
Find Kristen at https://www.studypoint.com.
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry?
MEET OUR GUEST
Meet Allen Tsao, who started out as an Electrical Engineer (BS at UC Berkeley, and MS at Stanford University), and worked as a full-time engineer for 11 years before switching to tutoring full-time. He loves helping students improve their problem-solving ability, especially in difficult classes. His business (Bothell STEM Coach) specializes in AP Physics, with around 150 students studying with him each academic year, along with about 30 AP Calculus students each year.
His goal is to make physics a lot more accessible to students and easier to understand, which is why he also releases a ton of free materials on his YouTube channel as well.
He has a wonderful wife, 3 kids, and a dream job that he loves doing day in and day out.
Find Allen at [email protected].
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.
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Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry?
MEET OUR GUEST
Meet Margaret Duden, Founder of Twin Cities Test Prep Tutor, is a full-time test prep and writing tutor who specializes in helping highly motivated students hone their writing skills, achieve their score goals on the ACT and SAT, and gain acceptance at their top choice colleges. Margaret conducts all tutoring sessions herself and prides herself on customizing lessons to meet each student’s unique needs and goals. She is a member of the National Test Prep Association (NTPA), the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and Phi Beta Kappa.
Before starting her tutoring business, Margaret's career centered around writing, editing, outreach, and research in the educational and nonprofit sectors. She has worked for the University of Maryland, Georgetown University, Stanford University, Concordia Language Villages, the Smithsonian Institution, and Twin Cities Public Television.
Margaret graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Anthropology. In her free time, she loves practicing yoga, learning about sustainable food production, and reading fantasy novels. She lives in Minneapolis.
Find Margaret at twincitiestestpreptutor.com.
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.
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Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry?
MEET OUR GUEST
Meet Ren Abraham, the founder of Telos Tutors, a test prep and academic tutoring company serving students in the Philadelphia suburbs and beyond. With nearly two decades of teaching experience across both the humanities and STEM, Ren brings an interdisciplinary approach to SAT and ACT prep.
After experiencing the limitations of one-size-fits-all SAT prep as a high school student, Ren resolved to craft more responsive, student-centered experiences—grounded in the belief that anyone can learn anything with enough time and the right support. Since founding Telos Tutors in 2016, he has helped students consistently reach their goals on the SAT.
Ren lives with his wife and four children. When he's not working with students, he enjoys reading, TV, singing, and cooking.
Find Ren at [email protected].
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.
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The unfolding changes to the ACT take effect everywhere in September. Are you ready? Let two nationally recognized experts in education–your hosts of the Tests and the Rest podcast–help you understand both the ACT enhancements and how students should navigate them. This free Game Plan for the Enhanced ACT webinar was presented live as part of the Tests and the Rest Seminar Series.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
How is the ACT changing?
How does the Enhanced ACT compare to the Legacy test?
What is the difference between the ACT and SAT?
Which tests should students take?
When should students test?
LINKS
Game Plan for the Enhanced ACT Video
2025 ACT Enhancements–First Looks
ACT Enhancement Content Rebalancing
Enhanced ACT English Prompts
RELATED EPISODES
ALL ABOUT THE ACT TEST ENHANCEMENTS
A TEST TAKER’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENHANCED ACT
THE PREDICTIVE VALIDITY OF TEST SCORES IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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To err is human, which makes adolescence a particularly intense expression of the human condition. Yes, we all make mistakes, but some are more glaring and likely to impact acceptance than others. But which ones? Amy and Mike invited student advocates Susan Stone and Kristina Supler to clarify how past poor decisions can affect college admissions.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What kinds of past poor decisions might hurt admissions chances?
Can criminal charges prevent someone from getting into college?
How can social misconduct impact college acceptance?
What steps can applicants take to address past disciplinary actions or lapses in judgment?
Should a student speak to past poor decisions in the college essay?
MEET OUR GUESTS
Susan Stone is co-chair of KJK’s Student & Athlete Defense/Title IX Practice Group, dedicated to supporting students in crisis and addressing their legal needs. Recognizing the importance of legal advocacy for students, professors, and individuals with disabilities, she handles a wide range of matters, including special education issues, student disciplinary cases, and Title IX investigations. With extensive experience in due process complaints, 504 Plans, and Individualized Education Programs, Susan is well-equipped to navigate complex educational and legal challenges. She also represents students in cases involving hazing, bullying, and social media issues.
Kristina Supler is co-chair of KJK’s Student & Athlete Defense/Title IX Practice Group. She has extensive experience handling complex cases involving allegations of sexual assault and has served on national defense teams representing students and executives facing prosecution both in the United States and internationally. Additionally, Kristina is extremely adept at working with families and defending juveniles, particularly those with physical or mental disabilities, who are facing legal challenges. Kristina has achieved great success protecting students and professors in campus Title IX proceedings, which has garnered her a national reputation.
Find Kristina and Susan at https://studentdefense.kjk.com/.
LINKS
CHADD: Helping College Students With ADHD Avoid Risky Behaviors
RELATED EPISODES
ADMISSIONS LESSONS FROM ADMISSIONS REPS
BUILD A WINNING BRAND TO ACE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
COLLEGE ADVISING FOR B STUDENTS
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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In a process with as many steps as choosing, applying to, and being accepted at a target higher education institution, small improvements in efficiency at any point can compound dramatically for both applicants and admissions offices. Amy and Mike invited ed tech entrepreneur Sam Bernstein to explore the current state of AI and the college admissions process.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
How is AI changing the way students search for colleges and navigate the application process?
How should students and parents be using AI in the college process—and where should they draw the line?
What AI-powered tools should parents, counselors, and IECs be aware of?
How can counselors use AI to manage caseloads more efficiently while maintaining a personal touch?
What does a student-first future look like in an AI-driven college admissions landscape?
MEET OUR GUEST
Sam Bernstein is the co-founder of Loper, a free mobile app designed to help students explore and discover their best educational opportunities after high school. The inspiration for Loper came out of the pandemic, where “life on pause” led to two college friends (Sam and his co-founder Eric) spending long nights discussing their shared passion: education. Fast forward two years, and they quit their jobs to launch Loper, which has now helped nearly 200,000 students find best-fit opportunities after high school.
Since founding Loper, Sam has spoken at nearly a dozen industry conferences, and he always loves the opportunity to present to both students and parents on college and career readiness. Sam lives in Chicago, loves to bike, and (so far) has kept up with his 2025 resolution to read more fiction. His favorite podcast is “Revolutions” by Mike Duncan.
Sam has previously appeared on the podcast in episode 360 to discuss FINDING YOUR COLLEGE FIT.
The best place to connect with Sam is on LinkedIn. If you have questions about Loper or are interested in either a virtual or live presentation to your students, you can reach him at [email protected].
LINKS
AI Is Taking Over College Admissions
Incorporating AI into the Admissions Process
Loper
ESAI
CollegeCraft.Ai
TurboLearn AI
RELATED EPISODES
COLLEGE ESSAYS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
ADMISSIONS LESSONS FROM ADMISSIONS REPS
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. Catch up with us in the latest episode of EXTEMP with Amy & Mike.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
How was the IECA Conference in Detroit?
Was our presentation on Scaling Your Practice well received?
What projects are Mike and Amy working on?
Who should attend the Game Plan for the Enhanced ACT seminar?
What does the next month hold for Amy and Mike?
We definitely want to respond to listener questions in our next EXTEMP episode, so reach out to us on social media or get in touch through our contact page. Let’s get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling!
LINKS
2025 NTPA National Conference
RELATED EPISODES
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: April 2025
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: March 2025
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: February 2025
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2025
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: December 2024
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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The last thing anybody wants to do is sit for a meaningless test. Entrance exams like the SAT & ACT should be able to inform both test takers and target institutions about the likelihood of success at the next level. So do they? Amy and Mike invited educator David Blobaum to explore the predictive validity of test scores in college admissions.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
Research says that SAT/ACT scores are better predictors of success at Ivy-plus colleges than are high school grades–why?
Have any other colleges beyond the Ivy-plus colleges made similar statements?
Why have colleges not gone back to requiring test scores then if they're so predictive?
Do test-optional colleges value SAT/ACT scores?
Are test-blind colleges blind to all tests?
MEET OUR GUEST
David Blobaum graduated from the University of Chicago with honors both from the college and in his major. In college, he took seriously the University of Chicago’s aim of a “Renaissance” or well-rounded education and took courses in 17 different disciplines, ranging from Statistics and Economics to Philosophy and Art History. Since then, he has devoted himself to helping students reach their potential on the SAT and ACT and, more broadly, to help them succeed through education.
To that end, in 2013, he founded Summit Prep with a former UChicago classmate. They now have two tutoring centers in New Jersey, and their team of SAT/ACT experts privately tutors over 500 students per year. David is a consultant to schools on SAT/ACT best practices, personally trains each Summit Prep tutor one-on-one, and tutors a select few students himself. David not only teaches students the necessary subject matter but also motivates them to continually strive towards their potential.
David first appeared on the podcast in episode 79 to discuss Why The SAT And ACT Are Awesome, in episode 582 to discuss The Need For Testing Sites In California, and in episode 421 for a Sponsor Spotlight.
Find David at https://summitprep.com/.
LINKS
Common Data Set
AP Exam Scores Are Important For College Admissions
The Rumors Are... True. Testing is Coming Back.
SAT And ACT Scores Are More Predictive Than Grades?
RELATED EPISODES
HOW GRADING POLICIES INFLUENCE GRADE INFLATION
WHO LOSES WHEN WE ABOLISH ENTRANCE EXAMS?
WHY TESTS MATTER: STUDENT PERSPECTIVES
WHY UC WAS WRONG TO STOP USING THE SAT
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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Not everyone assumes that life after high school automatically entails immediate enrollment in college. Many teens graduate ready to pursue a more practical education. Amy and Mike invited education market researcher Brady Colby to explain the implications of enrolling in a trade school.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What exactly is a trade school?
What are recent trends for trade schools?
Why might trade schools be getting more popular?
How should parents or guidance advisors incorporate trades into post-high school planning?
Are the rise of trade schools a threat to so-called traditional higher ed schools and opportunities?
MEET OUR GUEST
Brady Colby is the head of market research at Validated Insights, which is a higher education marketing firm. Brady was the founder of Thirty Two EDU, which was acquired by Validated Insights in 2023.
Brady and his team of higher education experts publish monthly reports on different sectors affecting higher education including quarterly OPM market reports, and quarterly trade school market reports. They have also recently published reports on the MBA Market.
Brady can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradycolby/.
LINKS
Trade School Market Insights
Trade School Enrollment Surges Post-Pandemic, Outpacing Traditional Universities
Gallup-Lumina State of Higher Education
Why These Gen Zers Are Ditching College Degrees For Blue-Collar Careers
RELATED EPISODES
PATHWAY PLANNING FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS
HOW TO GUARANTEE CAREER SUCCESS AFTER COLLEGE
TRACKING COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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One should not take on what is potentially the biggest expense of a lifetime lightly. Motivated students can absolutely make sure college pays off academically, socially, and emotionally; financially, though, can be a big question mark. Amy and Mike invited educator Gage Mersereau to define the concept of true college ROI.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What does ROI mean in the context of college?
What are the major factors to determine your true college investment?
Why should plans after graduation factor into college plans?
Why should ROI factors be understood before submitting college applications?
Why doesn’t net price apply to all applicants?
MEET OUR GUEST
Gage Mersereau is the CEO and Founder of GradBetter, a company focused on simplifying college planning and affordability for counselors and families. With over 15 years of experience in the field, Gage has dedicated his career to helping families find their college fit. Prior to founding GradBetter, he built ConnectSports, a youth sports recruiting platform that empowered 100,000 high school athletes to discover, connect with, and commit to their college of choice. Gage began his career on Wall Street, working as an M&A banker and in private equity.
Find Gage at https://www.gradbetter.com/.
LINKS
Free college ROI calculator
How the flawed earnings information in the College Scorecard misleads students (opinion)
Tuition Discount Rates at Private Colleges and Universities Top 50 Percent
RELATED EPISODES
RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN COLLEGE
THE PRICE YOU REALLY PAY FOR COLLEGE
CONSIDERING COLLEGE FINANCIAL FIT FIRST
WHAT IS A NET PRICE CALCULATOR?
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. Catch up with us in the latest episode of EXTEMP with Amy & Mike.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What have Amy and Mike been up to in the last month?
How is Amy using ChatGPT?
What is College Eagle?
What updates will we be making for the ACT curriculum for the enhanced ACT?
What are Mike and Amy doing at IECA in May?
We definitely want to respond to listener questions in our next EXTEMP episode, so reach out to us on social media or get in touch through our contact page. Let’s get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling!
LINKS
College Eagle
RELATED EPISODES
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: March 2025
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: February 2025
EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2025
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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The ACT has been a remarkably stable exam, administered in roughly the same way for decades. However, a new version is on the horizon, and some intrepid souls have braved the uncertainty of the field test to experience it. Amy and Mike invited someone who sat for the April 2025 Enhanced ACT to share the test taker’s perspective.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What were your general impressions about the enhanced ACT test experience in the digital format?
What did you find to be the same on the enhanced ACT?
What did you find to be different on the enhanced ACT?
What recommendations would you have for a student taking the new Enhanced ACT?
What should tutors know about tutoring for the new Enhanced ACT?
MEET OUR GUEST
Our guest today has her master's degree in higher education and has worked in multiple areas of college administration. She has been a professional SAT and ACT tutor for the last 10 years and works with students across the US for several test prep companies. She understands the preparation necessary to do well on standardized tests, especially the ACT. She prides herself on the scores she has earned on officially administered ACTs in recent years, earning consistent 36 composites. Most importantly, she recently took the first digital enhanced ACT on April 5, 2025.
LINKS
ACT Test Enhancements
ACT Enhancement Content Rebalancing
RELATED EPISODES
ALL ABOUT THE ACT TEST ENHANCEMENTS
CHOOSING BETWEEN THE DIGITAL SAT AND THE ACT
COMPARING PAPER- AND COMPUTER-BASED TESTING
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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The Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and AP Economics is no exception. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Michael Rodriguez to share valuable strategies, insights, and resources for getting ready for the AP Economics exam.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What is tested on the Macro vs Micro AP Economics exam?
How do students score points on the AP Economics exam?
What are the highest priority topics on the tests?
How should students prepare for the AP Economics exam?
What are the best prep materials for AP Economics?
MEET OUR GUEST
Michael Rodriguez is a national champion speaker and debater. While he was competing, he claimed the title of national champion in Parliamentary Debate from Phi Rho Pi in 2009. Michael completed his undergraduate degree in economics at Cal State Fullerton in 2012. While in school he helped perform research on the long term implications of training students to become financially and economically literate. After college he worked as an economic consultant to law firms.
For the past 10 years, Michael has worked as a teacher at Modern Brain Academy in Irvine California and as a private tutor in AP economics. When students learn from coach Michael, they learn how to think like an economist.
Find Michael at [email protected].
LINKS
AP Microeconomics – AP Students | College Board
AP Macroeconomics – AP Students | College Board
5 Steps to a 5 500 Must-Know AP Microeconomics/Macroeconomics Questions
Jacob Clifford - YouTube
RELATED EPISODES
BIG CHANGES TO AP TESTS IN 2025
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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The Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and AP Precalculus is no exception. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Joey Lin to share valuable strategies, insights, and resources for getting ready for the AP Precalculus exam.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What is tested on the AP Precalculus exam?
How do students score points on the AP Precalculus exam?
What are the highest priority topics on the test?
How should students prepare for the AP Precalculus exam?
What are the best prep materials for AP Precalculus?
MEET OUR GUEST
Joey Lin’s journey in test preparation and college admissions began in 2005 when he landed a job with Kaplan. From that moment, he was hooked on helping students navigate the pre-college process. Over the years, he has worked with a range of institutions, including Preply, PrepExpert, Northwestern University’s Office of Admissions, and the University of California Office of Admissions.
At Thinque Prep, Joey has dedicated himself to delivering comprehensive and results-driven programs. Whether guiding students through the SAT and ACT, leading AP exam prep courses, or providing strategic college counseling, his mission remains the same: to equip students with the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
Although his career has expanded in many directions, Joey still finds joy in teaching AP content—especially math and physics, the subjects he loved most as a high schooler. Beyond test prep, Joey is deeply committed to mentorship and education reform. He frequently hosts webinars, workshops, and live sessions, providing students and parents with the knowledge they need to navigate the competitive admissions landscape successfully.
Find Joey at http://www.thinqueprep.com.
LINKS
AP Precalculus – AP Students | College Board
AP Precalculus Activities - Bryan Passwater • Collection
AP Precalculus - Mr. Sindel
RELATED EPISODES
BIG CHANGES TO AP TESTS IN 2025
GETTING READY FOR THE AP CALCULUS AB OR BC EXAM
GETTING READY FOR THE AP STATISTICS EXAM
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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The Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and the various AP World Language and Culture exams are no exception. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Milton Alan Turner to share valuable strategies, insights, and resources for getting ready for AP World Language exams.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What is tested on AP World Language and Culture exams?
How do students score points on AP Language exams?
What are the highest priority topics on AP Language exams?
How should students prepare for AP Language exams?
What are the best prep materials for AP Language exams?
MEET OUR GUEST
Milton Alan Turner has taught French, Spanish, and now AP African American Studies at Saint Ignatius High School since 1987. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in French and Linguistics from Georgetown University and master’s degrees from Cleveland State University in Educational Technology and in Global Interactions.
Alan currently serves on the Board of Directors at ACTFL as its President, on the Shaker Heights Public Library Board of Trustees, on the AATF Commission on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, is a member of La Maison Française de Cleveland’s Board of Directors and is an NAACP Silver Life member. He has participated in two Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminars Abroad in Morocco & Tunisia and Thailand & Vietnam and in three National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Seminars and Institutes studying world literature, Arabic language & culture, and US foreign policy.
Alan has served as a Reader, Table Leader, and Question Leader at the AP French Reading and is an AP Workshop consultant. He has been a member of the SAT French Development Committee, the AATF Standards Task Force, the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy Expert Advisory Group, co-chair of the Ohio World Languages Standards Revision Advisory Committee, and president of the Ohio Foreign Language Association. He was awarded a 2000 MBNA Excellence in Education Grant, named a 2011 Microsoft US Innovative Educator, chosen the 2014 Ohio World Language Teacher of the Year, listed in the 2017 Who’s Who in Black Cleveland, and won the Saint Ignatius High School Trailblazer Award in 2020. This summer, he will be one of 14 educators selected to participate in the AATF Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad to Côte d’Ivoire to study West African storytelling traditions.
Since 2021, Alan has hosted the podcast Milton Alan Turner: Worldviews.
Find Milton at [email protected].
LINKS
AP French Language and Culture
AP German Language and Culture
AP Italian Language and Culture
AP Spanish Language and Culture
RELATED EPISODES
Big Changes to AP Tests in 2025
Getting Ready For The AP Literature Exam
Getting Ready For The AP Language Exam
ABOUT THIS PODCASTTests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
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