Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Paul Pscolka , the founder of Ivy Masters, an organization based out of New Jersey devoted to helping students improve their SAT and ACT scores and get accepted to their first-choice university. Paul teaches SAT and ACT full time (since 2003). His students have scored perfectly on the SAT and ACT as well as countless others who have scored within 100 points of perfect on SAT and wi...
Dec 30, 2020•18 min•Season 1Ep. 153
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Claudia Chesler , a visionary educational specialist at Potomac Education Center with a proven record of achieving exceptional results. Claudia has 15+ years of experience tutoring, coaching, and mentoring students to reach their fullest potential and elevate their PSAT, SAT, ACT, GRE, and LSAT scores to the greatest degree. Claudia graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsy...
Dec 29, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 152
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? Meet Edward Antoine , the founder and president of Antoine Education, a Brooklyn, NY based provider of test preparation tutoring and classes for the SAT, SHSAT and academic tutoring in math. Ed is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Test Prep Association . A graduate of Princeton University with a B.S.E. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Ed Antoine has persona...
Dec 28, 2020•18 min•Season 1Ep. 151
Every version of school presents students with rules, restrictions, and indicators of success. Well, so do games! Amy and Mike invited educational entrepreneur Steve Hargadon to explore the opportunities and implications of winning the game of school. What are five things you will learn in this episode? In what ways is the current “story” of K-12 education flawed? What is the concept behind the Game of School? How do students benefit from seeing school as a game? If school is a game, what are th...
Dec 22, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 150
No matter how difficult a given ACT exam seems, the process of creating that test and every other equivalent form is exponentially more complex, precise, and demanding. Amy and Mike invited ACT Lead Psychometrician Jeffrey Steedle to definitively explain how the ACT is actually scored. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How is an ACT form crafted? How does ACT assess item difficulty, and what is the role of the fifth section? Are the score scales determined before or after a te...
Dec 15, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 149
The codependent relationship American higher education has cultivated with international students seems to be on the rocks due to COVID and other crises. What happens next? Amy and Mike invited college admissions expert Parke Muth to explain the international student problem. Stop making $en$e! What are five things you will learn in this episode? How has college admissions in the U.S. changed over the last year? How has the global pandemic impacted the flow of international students? What other ...
Dec 08, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 148
The only thing tougher than filling out the perfect college application is being willing to submit it. How can applicants feel comfortable that they presented the most complete, authentic, and polished presentation of their fit? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Ben Marley to review what to check before submitting that college application. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What admissions and scholarship deadlines are critical? How do you manage the sharing of test s...
Dec 01, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 147
If you weren’t keenly aware of the differences between spoken and written English, you probably haven’t taken the ACT! Amy and Mike invited educator Jason Derby to discuss both the details and implications of ACT English reporting categories. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the main ACT English Reporting Categories? What can students and educators learn from English Reporting Categories? Why are rules more important than your ears? Does being a great writer guarante...
Nov 24, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 146
Author Orison Swett Marden stated, “All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible.” That quote applies perfectly to the current state of selective high school and college admissions, but will it still in the near future? Amy and Mike invited educator Frances Kweller to explain why selective specialized schools matter. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What kinds of schools are ...
Nov 20, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 145
We all imagine that one purpose of a K-12 education is to prepare students for life after high school. But how do we know which students are--or are not--ready? Amy and Mike invited researchers Lynne Graziano and Chad Aldeman to describe different methods of tracking college and career readiness. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why should high schools care about college and career readiness? What are the current challenges and opportunities in tracking college and career rea...
Nov 17, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 144
When NACAC revised its guidelines for college admissions conduct, the repercussions were expected to shake the foundations of higher education. Then COVID came along, doing all that and more! Amy and Mike invited past president of NACAC Patrick O’Connor to analyze the impact and predict the consequences of 2020 changes in admissions rules. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How did NACAC change their Code of Ethics in 2019? In what ways were those changes expected to impact col...
Nov 13, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 143
Webb’s Depth of Knowledge levels provide a clear system for categorizing the complexity of thought different tasks--and test questions--require. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Erik Francis to explain depth of knowledge levels on the SAT and ACT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are depth of knowledge (DOK) levels? How are depth of knowledge levels tested on the SAT and ACT? Why can’t all DOK levels be tested on standardized exams? Do higher DOK levels correl...
Nov 10, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 142
The old saying “What gets measured gets managed” can definitely be applied to testing data. But what exactly should be measured and why? Amy and Mike invited test prep wizard Vinny Madera to analyze opportunities and imperatives in tracking test score data. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What data matters in the context of standardized tests? What can a great educator do with student data? Why is the human element still essential to truly understand score data? How does a t...
Nov 06, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 141
We may all agree that reading is fundamental, but is there consensus on how best to teach reading and increase literacy? You’d be surprised at what we are still learning about such a basic yet critical responsibility. Amy and Mike invited researcher Adam Tyner to share new findings about the links between social studies instruction and reading comprehension. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How much does literacy depend on skill vs. knowledge? What subjects do elementary scho...
Nov 03, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 140
Everyone knows that extracurricular activities matter in college admissions. But do you know which aspects of participation and achievement really make a difference? Amy and Mike invited admissions expert Judi Robinovitz to outline the essentials of building an A+ extracurricular resume. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Are extracurriculars as important as people say? Do colleges want students who are well-rounded or angular? Do community service and work count as extracurric...
Oct 30, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 139
The test prep and tutoring industry has somehow grown into a multi-billion dollar behemoth without any guiding association, credentials, or voice. But is the world ready for a non-profit industry organization ready to promote ethical education and advocate for all stakeholders in the testing process? Amy and Mike invited members of the NTPA Board of Directors to introduce the new National Test Prep Association. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the National Test Prep A...
Oct 27, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 138
While most K-12 students would love test-optional schooling, most K-12 teachers strongly disagree. Why are exams essential and inextricable components of education? Amy and Mike invited educator Travis Koutsoubos-Miles to discuss how tests drive learning. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Are tests necessary in the classroom? In what ways do testing and accountability interact? Do the SAT and ACT validly measure critical thinking? How do tests like the SAT and ACT drive instru...
Oct 23, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 137
For most families, the path from kindergarten to college seems set in stone, requiring as many years as there are grades. Yet, many students accelerate through the process. Should yours? Amy and Mike invited educator Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik to explore the impact of skipping a grade on students. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is grade acceleration? Do a lot of students skip grades? What are the benefits and potential drawbacks of grade acceleration? How do the impacts of ...
Oct 20, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 136
The admissions process for four-year schools increases in complexity in proportion to how tough a college or university is to get into. What should you know, then, for the most competitive of all? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant John Morganelli, Jr. to share admissions insights for highly selective universities. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the odds of admission at a highly selective university? How do institutional priorities impact cohort admit rate...
Oct 16, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 135
Taking the SAT and ACT with the proper accommodations can level the assessment playing field for students with learning disabilities and medical needs. But needing and getting accommodations are two very different things. Amy and Mike invited educator Wendy Hayes to outline the process for receiving testing accommodations. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the best way to apply for testing accommodations? What accommodations are available? Are school counselors helpful...
Oct 13, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 134
Depending on your background, you either know lots of people who have attended Christian colleges or can’t name more than one or two of the hundreds of institutions in the U.S. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Mark Cruver to proclaim the virtues of attending a Christian university. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How many Christian colleges are there and where can they be found? What is the hallmark of a classic Christian college education? What are the academic, ...
Oct 09, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 133
In this era of instant internet searches, you may think that memory doesn’t matter as much as it used to. Maybe you forget how much memory drives everything we do! Amy and Mike invited education professional Nancy Weinstein to explain the science of memory. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does it mean to have a “good” or “bad” memory? What are the different types of memory? What techniques can educators employ to facilitate learning and memory? How do well-designed test...
Oct 06, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 132
Contrary to the allegations of critics, you cannot buy great test scores. In fact, a surprising number of students earn elite--and sometimes perfect--scores on their own. Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Brian Eufinger to analyze self-prep for the SAT & ACT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is it possible to self-prep and excel on the SAT and ACT? What kind of students self-prep effectively? What resources are available for students who want to prep on their ow...
Oct 02, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 131
As long as school has included tests and grades, teachers have had to deal with dishonesty and plagiarism. With rapidly changing technology, however, come more and more novel and insidious ways to cheat. Amy and Mike invited education technology expert Gretchen Hanson to describe the evolving academic integrity arms race. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does academic integrity mean in the 21st century? How has cheating and plagiarism in education evolved? What tools are...
Sep 29, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 130
21st century high schools teach different subjects in different ways integrating entirely different standards, guidelines, and technology. So why do they still use a 19th century grading system? Amy and Mike invited educator and author Jonathan E. Martin to learn about models of reinventing the high school transcript. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why and how is the current HS transcript broken? Why now, why is now the time to reinvent the HS transcript, when it has been u...
Sep 25, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 129
Most families get serious about planning for life after high school during a child’s tween or teen years. If you want to pay for educational programs like college, though, you might want to plan much further in advance! Amy and Mike invited financial expert John Hupalo to demystify 529 college savings plans. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What exactly is a 529 college savings plan? What is the optimal timeline for investing in a 529? Can 529 funds be used to pay for tutorin...
Sep 22, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 128
In-school prep programs can be highly effective in terms of score increases, content mastery, and overall student satisfaction... as long as school staff and private partners are on the same page. But how often does that happen? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Rhett Barbour to describe the key steps to building and maintaining effective school partnerships. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the cornerstones of effective school partnerships? Who at a high s...
Sep 18, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 127
In a surprising number of ways, putting together a new incoming class at a college is like crafting a list for the perfect party. So how can you make sure you are invited? Amy and Mike invited author Jeff Selingo to pull back the curtain on the process of shaping an admissions class. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does “shaping” mean in admissions parlance? Do all colleges have the same priorities? What role do test scores play in shaping a class? How influential is th...
Sep 15, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 126
The SAT has attracted incalculable criticism and scorn over the last century, but would detractors feel as much loathing if they knew the test’s noble origins and purpose? Amy and Mike invited educational icon Anthony P. Carnevale to recall the historical mission of the SAT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What was the original purpose of the SAT? What was the initial role of the College Board? What did the SAT have to do with the Cold War? What are the limits of standardize...
Sep 11, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 125
The classic liberal arts and sciences education represents the prototypical college experience, yet many argue that modern times call for different kinds of programs and degrees. Is it possible, though, that a liberal arts education may be more valuable now than ever? Amy and Mike invited Kenyon admissions officer Ellen Turner to enumerate the virtues of attending a liberal arts college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is different or unique about attending a liberal ar...
Sep 08, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 124
