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591. ADMISSIONS NOTES FOR THE HS GRADUATING CLASS OF 2025

Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

Release Date: 09/10/2024

630. THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS PROFILE show art 630. THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS PROFILE

Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

So much of the college search and application process looks forward, focusing on the destination. Where a student is coming from matters quite a bit though. Amy and Mike invited educational consultants Aly Beaumont and Meg Joyce to explain the significance of the high school class profile. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the high school class profile? What information do school profiles contain and why does it matter? Do all high schools have a school profile?  What can be done to overcome the deficiencies of a school profile or the lack of one?  ...

info_outline THE DIGITAL SAT: HOW IT STARTED AND HOW IT’S GOING show art THE DIGITAL SAT: HOW IT STARTED AND HOW IT’S GOING

Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

A year ago, an innovative new digital adaptive SAT came to the United States–a year after its first appearance internationally. This is the perfect time to find out how College Board feels about both the obstacles and opportunities encountered over this historic transition. Amy and Mike invited Vice President of SAT Suite Program Maureen Forman to talk all about the digital SAT: how it started and how it’s going. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Looking back, what were the most substantial challenges in transforming the SAT to a digital adaptive test? What were the...

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Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

While we generally profess to celebrate all interests and contributions, the clubs and activities that mean the most to some high schoolers fail to earn the respect that other extracurriculars do, even when students receive recognition on a state or national level. Do colleges at least care? Amy and Mike invited educator Vida John to explore the admissions implications of academic competitions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are academic competitions, and what are some examples? Why should students consider participating in academic competitions?   ...

info_outline 627. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: February 2025 show art 627. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: February 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 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? Where did Amy and Mike go last month? What is keeping Mike and Amy busy professionally these days? How does Amy like...

info_outline 626. THE RISE IN AP TESTING show art 626. THE RISE IN AP TESTING

Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

During a period of American education history where most standardized tests fell at least momentarily out of favor, one series of exams seems to be growing in popularity with no end in sight. Amy and Mike invited educator Rob Franek to explore the explosive rise of Advanced Placement testing. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What has inspired the recent increase in AP tests and testing? What is College Board’s strategy with the Advanced Placement program? Will AP tests replace the need for SAT and ACT in admission considerations? Where do these developments leave...

info_outline 625. COLLEGE TRANSITIONS AND DISTRESS TOLERANCE show art 625. COLLEGE TRANSITIONS AND DISTRESS TOLERANCE

Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

Big life changes hit all of us differently, which is to say that not every teen is equally prepared for the dramatic academic, social, and emotional shift that comes with moving away from home. Amy and Mike invited counselor Katie Burchenal to discuss college transitions and distress tolerance. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is Distress Tolerance?  What issues elevate Distress Tolerance?  What are some strategies to manage Distress Tolerance and what is DBT? How can parents, educators, and counselors support students through big life changes?  ...

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Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

The entire edifice of higher education and industry depends on a steady flow of students coming in and qualified graduates flowing out. What happens to the system when the crucial input of applicants drops dramatically? Amy and Mike invited journalist Jon Marcus to answer that very question, because the dreaded demographic cliff is here. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What exactly is a demographic cliff? What have colleges done to prepare for a decline in applicants?  Which schools are most and least threatened by the demographic cliff? How does the...

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Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

A widely held belief about brain function is that very little is truly understood in modern science. Unfortunately, most people probably know even less than they think! Amy and Mike invited education professional Gretchen Wegner to explore and debunk the most common neuromyths.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? 1. What exactly is a neuromyth?  2. Is there one neuromyth that stands out over all the others? 3. What are some other common neuromyths?  4. Why is it so destructive to believe and teach neuromyths?  5. How do we eliminate neuromyths in education...

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Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

The opacity and complexity of elements of the college application process inspire endless speculation about what really matters. In many cases, though, the best place to find answers is with the colleges themselves. Amy and Mike invited educator John Durante to review admissions lessons learned from admissions representatives.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What can admissions reps share about the college admissions process that you won't find elsewhere? What are some of the things you do control in the college admissions process?   What aspects of...

info_outline 621. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2025 show art 621. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2025

Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

A new year brings new excitement. 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 were Amy and Mike’s holidays? What are our one word mantras for 2025? How are...

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More Episodes

Every year, the conventional wisdom about getting into college gives way to painful, new truths and exciting, new opportunities. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Rebecca Stuart-Orlowski to return to the show with admissions notes for the HS graduating class of 2025.

What are five things you will learn in this episode?

  1. How are colleges and students using AI and AI detectors in college admissions and college essays?

  2. Are more colleges requiring test scores this application cycle? If so, why?

  3. Why is there a dearth of SAT centers despite more colleges requiring tests, and what can students do about it? 

  4. How will AP’s recalibration of scores influence admissions decisions?

  5. Will the FAFSA be a disaster like it was for the Class of 2024?

MEET OUR GUEST

Rebecca Stuart-Orlowski, founder of Orlowski College Consulting, has worked in education for 35 years and has worked as an Independent Educational Consultant for 10+ years. She has a specialized Certificate in College Counseling from UCSD, a BA in Communicative Disorders from San Diego State, and two active teaching credentials. She taught deaf, LD, and 2E students for four years and was a college counselor at a small private school for 3 years. Rebecca specializes in gifted/2E, STEM, creative, homeschooled, and transfer students.

Rebecca first appeared on the podcast in episode 369 to discuss ADMISSIONS NOTES FOR THE CLASS OF 2023 and in episode 526 to discuss ADMISSIONS NOTES FOR THE HS GRADUATING CLASS OF 2024.

Rebecca can be reached at [email protected].

LINKS

U.S. Department of Education Announces Schedule and New Process to Launch 2025-26 FAFSA Form

Is next year’s FAFSA already off the rails?

Incorporating AI into the Admissions Process

Testing Policies in the Spotlight

I live in Northern California. Why do I have to travel hundreds of miles to take the SAT?

Colleges are using AI in admissions. How can they do it right?

RELATED EPISODES

HOW STUDENTS USE GENERATIVE AI

WHAT DO TRULY TEST OPTIONAL COLLEGES FOCUS ON?

BIG CHANGES TO AP TESTS IN 2025

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE BETTER FAFSA

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.