113. Navigating An IEP Or 504 Plan
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Release Date: 07/31/2020
659. HOW MUCH AI IS JUST RIGHT IN THE COLLEGE ESSAY?
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
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...
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658. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: June 2025
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
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...
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657. DOES IT MATTER IF YOU TAKE CALCULUS IN HIGH SCHOOL?
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
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...
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656. HOW TO PLAN A GAP YEAR
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
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...
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655. TEST PREP PROFILE: Kristen Lefebvre
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
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....
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654. TEST PREP PROFILE: Allen Tsao
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
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...
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653. TEST PREP PROFILE: Margaret Duden
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
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...
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652. TEST PREP PROFILE: Ren Abraham
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
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 , 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...
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651. GAME PLAN FOR THE ENHANCED ACT
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
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...
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650. HOW CAN PAST POOR DECISIONS AFFECT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS?
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
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...
info_outlineIndividualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans provide paths to procure formal help for K-12 students who struggle in school. However, pursuing these plans can be an education in themselves. Amy and Mike invited parent advocate Mary Jo O’Neill to explain the intricacies of navigating an IEP or 504 plan.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
- What is the role of a parent advocate?
- What is the difference between a 504 and an IEP?
- How do you start the process to apply for a 504 and an IEP?
- Who qualifies and who doesn't for a 504 or an IEP?
- What happens if a student is denied a 504 or IEP?
MEET OUR GUEST
Special Education Advocate Mary Jo O’Neill, M.Ed., has a broad background in education. She began her career as a teacher in public and private schools, including Julie Billiart School. She was also an Advocate with Lawrence School. In addition to her time in the classroom, Mary Jo created a division within the Academic Support Center at Notre Dame College to provide quality educational opportunities and support services to students. Mary Jo most recently created her own consulting practice, in which she served as an Intervention Specialist and Parent Advocate for over ten years. She joined Hickman & Lowder in 2018.
Mary Jo serves on the national board of the International Dyslexia Association and is an advisor for the local branch and is also a member of the Julie Billiart Network Board. She authored the Forward of Expect a Miracle by Sandy and David Petrovic, Infinity Publishing (2014). Mary Jo graduated cum laude from Vermont College of Norwich University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. She received her Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Cleveland State University. She is a Licensed Intervention Specialist: Mild to Moderate Learning Disabilities.
Find Mary Jo at Hickman & Lowder at 216-861-0360.
LINKS
The Difference Between IEPs and 504 Plans
What do all these special education acronyms mean?
Using an ETR When Drafting an IEP
How do I apply for testing accommodations?
RELATED EPISODES
TRANSITIONING YOUR IEP OR 504 PLAN TO COLLEGE
TEST PREP FOR STUDENTS WITH ACCOMMODATIONS
INCREASED COLLEGE COSTS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.