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 recommendation great? What role does a student play in securing great letters of recommendation? What is the ...
May 29, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 93
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 timelines shifted? Since practices, games/competitions, showcases, and camps are cancelled, what should st...
May 26, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 92
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 school, and why do they choose this form of education? How is college admissions different for homescho...
May 22, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 91
While the general public tends to rank colleges mainly on the basis of exclusivity and Division I sports success, applicants should consider so many other factors. Two data points are particularly valuable. Amy and Mike invited college admissions expert Michelle Kretzschmar to explain her concept of 50-50 colleges and the perfect list. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is a 50-50 college? What makes graduation rate such an informative metric? Should a high acceptance rate...
May 19, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 90
Test prep differs from various other forms of academic instruction in that progress can be measured quantitatively. How many ways can this data be evaluated, and is that process even worth the effort? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Evan Jones to review different ways to look at score increases? What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does tracking student score improvement matter? What difficulties do educators encounter in setting reliable baselines? What are some ...
May 15, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 89
If you think the college admissions process is an intricate and delicate dance involving numerous complex steps to be executed at precise intervals, take a look at the college financial aid process! Amy and Mike invited financial aid consultant Kevin Angney to clarify what you need to know about the FAFSA and CSS Profile. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Should everyone fill out the FAFSA? What information is required to fill out the FAFSA? How does a global economic crisis l...
May 12, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 88
Obviously, high schoolers put a lot of work into preparing for test day, as do teachers, tutors, coaches, and parents. But don’t forget those unsung heroes who labor behind the scenes to ensure a smooth, crisis-free testing experience. Amy and Mike invited school counselor and test center supervisor Tom Carey to share his observations of a test site supervisor. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the job of a test site supervisor? How challenging is the task of test day ...
May 08, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 87
The SAT and ACT may be more similar than ever, but they are definitely not the same. Picking the right exam to showcase your particular strengths can make a massive difference in admissions. Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Heather Krey back to help further explore the relevant criteria in deciding between the SAT and ACT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How have your thoughts about the differences between the tests evolved over the last year? Should students comm...
May 05, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 86
Many high schoolers benefit from academic accommodations intended to give a student with a disability an equal opportunity to benefit from the educational process. But how easy or even possible is it to receive these accommodations at the college level? You’d be surprised! Amy and Mike invited academic support professionals Mary Jo Levand and Julie Szwejkowski to demystify transitioning your IEP or 504 to college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How do legal requirements to ...
May 01, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 85
The world seems to be cleanly divided into two groups: people who aren’t good at math and those who miraculously are. Yet that belief that a person is inherently bad at math is simplistic, self-defeating, and--most important--reversible. Amy and Mike invited author and educator Allison Dillard to share high impact strategies to help students succeed in math. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is it possible to "just not be a math person" or be irreparably bad at math? How does ...
Apr 28, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 84
Media reports would have us believe that all colleges and universities will eventually eliminate all testing requirements from admissions decisions for the betterment of humanity. The test optional reality, however, only advantages certain schools and applicants. Amy and Mike invited college counselor Stacey Cunitz to clarify who benefits most from test optional policies What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does test optional really mean? How do colleges benefit from announc...
Apr 24, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 83
According to author Timothy Gallwey, every game is composed of two parts, an outer game and an inner game. We play the outer game against an external opponent or obstacle, but the inner game takes place in the mind of the player. This insight has as much to do with testing as it does with tennis. Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Brett Ethridge to explain the relevance of the inner game of testing. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does the “inner game” refer to...
Apr 21, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 82
You may have heard the saying, "Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them being made." Does that advice apply to admissions decisions as well? Amy and Mike invited college admissions expert Parke Muth to reveal the real secrets of college admissions. Can you handle the truth? What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the truth about diversity in college admissions? Why are many colleges concerned about their institutional viability? Do full pay candidates have an adv...
Apr 17, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 81
The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the locus of education from schools to homes. But should parents serve as proxy teachers or take different roles to further their children’s development? Amy and Mike invited educator and author Ned Johnson to discuss creating a homeschool plan during a crisis. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How does understanding of stress response inform the best approach to homeschooling during a crisis? Why is a plan needed when a situation is N.U.T.S. ...
Apr 14, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 80
If you ask your average high schooler (or parent) for some adjectives describing the SAT and ACT, the extensive vocabulary list will likely skew negative. But do those who know the tests best feel the same way? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional David Blobaum to effusively explicate why the SAT and ACT are awesome. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is awesome about the math tested on the SAT and ACT? What is awesome about the grammar tested on the SAT and ACT? Wh...
Apr 10, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 79
Year after year, countless teens stress over a perceived need to attend a “good” college. But what does that even mean and how does reality differ from perception? Amy and Mike invited admissions advisor Stuart Nachbar to shed light on what exactly is a good college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What makes a college good? How much does national ranking or selectivity matter? What should you expect a college to do for a student? What numbers highlight how good a college re...
Apr 07, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 78
Policies that allow students to apply to the colleges and universities of their choice ahead of the rest of the pack seem to offer tremendous advantages. But who really benefits and are there any disadvantages? Amy and Mike invited retired college president and author Michael T. Nietzel to offer an expert analysis of Early Decision and Early Action. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA) policies? What advantages and disadvantages ...
Apr 03, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 77
When everything in the present is turned upside-down, how can students manage current challenges while working towards long-term goals like college admissions? What will colleges even want from next year’s high school graduates? Amy and Mike invited author and college counselor Brennan E. Barnard to share insight into college admissions during a global pandemic. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What reassurance can be found in the global nature of a worldwide crisis? What ele...
Mar 31, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 76
ACT, Inc. didn’t always endorse the practice of superscoring for admissions, but the test maker has changed its institutional stance on the basis of compelling evidence. What did ACT researchers uncover that everyone should know? Amy and Mike invited ACT Senior Director in Research Krista Mattern to share the newest findings regarding ACT superscoring and section retesting. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why was ACT historically against superscoring and what changed? How pr...
Mar 27, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 75
Learning doesn’t have to stop just because schools are closed, does it? The future arrives whether we are ready or not, which means counselors, educators, and consultants need to continue to provide support even when they can’t meet students face-to-face. Amy and Mike invited admissions consultant Jona Jacobson to share key insights into college advising and prep by videoconference. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Can advising or instruction ever be as effective over video? ...
Mar 24, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 74
The traditional college selection process usually includes plenty of live campus visits. But what happens when logistics, expenses, or unexpected pandemics get in the way? Amy and Mike invited CampusReel cofounders Nick Freud and Rob Carroll to share the magic of virtual college tours. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How does a virtual college tour differ from visiting in person? What makes school visits important for students in terms of both fit and admissions? What should...
Mar 20, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 73
Taking high quality practice tests at deliberate intervals is an indispensable part of any true test preparation regimen. But what makes mocks or diagnostics so important? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional David Phelps to explain specifically what SAT & ACT diagnostic tests can tell you. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why do diagnostic tests matter for students taking the SAT and ACT? At what point in the prep process should students take practice tests? What ...
Mar 17, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 72
While many Americans have either personally attended or know alumni of all-boys or all-girls high schools, very few have met graduates of women’s colleges. Is a single-gendered college experience an outdated concept or a reflection of modern sensibilities? Amy and Mike invited Director of US Admission at Mount Holyoke College Catarina Costa to describe the many benefits of attending a women's college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the history of women’s colleges, a...
Mar 13, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 71
Admissions essays, more than any other piece of the college application process, allow applicants to communicate distinctive and personal aspects of their lives. But can essays be too personal? Absolutely! Amy and Mike invited college admissions expert Sally Rubenstone to share both warnings and guidance about taboo essay topics. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Are there REALLY essay topics that are “taboo”? What does the “Jerry Springerization” of college essays refer to? W...
Mar 10, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 70
Everyone knows that you have to graduate medical school to become a medical doctor. Less obvious are the actual steps required to get into medical school. Amy and Mike invited author and med school student Elisabeth Fassas to clarify what every pre-med major should know. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What classes and majors should pre-med students consider? Why should pre-med students do as much job shadowing as possible? What is the optimal plan for taking the MCAT? What ...
Mar 06, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 69
The gap between a test taker’s potential best and actual best depends entirely on delivering an error-free performance when it counts. But how easy is that in the face of tricky test questions, challenging content, and human fallibility? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Michael Jordan to identify the common testing mistakes and how to avoid them. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What types of errors do test takers think they make? What types of errors do test taker...
Mar 03, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 68
Every college applicant seems to dream of attending an elite academic or athletic institution. But does the difficulty in getting into a school predict the value of its education? Amy and Mike invited lecturer and author Denise Pope to explain why college engagement matters more than selectivity. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How expectations and stress impact engagement? Does college selectivity matter to learning or well-being in the long run? What does engagement mean i...
Feb 28, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 67
When it comes to paying for college, we could all use a bit of help. Why, then, do so many families ignore easily accessible sources of college funding right in their own backyards? Amy and Mike invited author Monica Matthews to explain how to win local scholarship awards. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are some key strategies to find scholarships? Why are local scholarships so important? What mistakes to scholarship seekers often make? How much is available in local s...
Feb 25, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 66
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? What are the attributes of an effective accountability test and where do the SAT & ACT fit in? Ar...
Feb 21, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 65
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 will learn in this episode? What exactly is a gap year, and how does one work? How does “radical jux...
Feb 18, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 64
