700. CELEBRATING OUR 700TH EPISODE
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Release Date: 01/06/2026
712. HOW BUSINESS-MINDED STUDENTS CAN STAND OUT IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
College admissions is serious business, doubly so if you want to study business at a selective institution. Fortunately, the very traits that presage corporate or entrepreneurial success contribute mightily to the application process. Amy and Mike invited independent education consultant Evan Green to explore how business-minded students can stand out in college admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? When a high school student is interested in business, how should they approach college applications? What are good extracurricular activities that high school...
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711. HOW TO WIN SCHOLARSHIPS
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Yes, of course college students want scholarships. Who wouldn’t want their education funded in part or entirely with funds that don’t need to be paid back? But an astonishingly deep well of free money seems inaccessible to most applicants. Amy and Mike invited educator Leia LeMaster Horton to explore how to win scholarships. What are five things you will learn in this episode? When should students start going after scholarships? What are the three types of scholarships? Which major private, merit-based scholarships are most strategic to target? What preparation should a...
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710. UNPACKING AND SOLVING MATH ANXIETY
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Of all the subjects taught in school, mathematics is most certainly the most common source of stress. But what’s so mind-numbing about numeracy? Amy and Mike invited educator Dan Roeder to unpack and explore solutions for math anxiety. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is math anxiety? What causes math anxiety? What are the major impacts of math anxiety? What are proven solutions for math anxiety? How can someone support a student or child to alleviate math anxiety? MEET OUR GUEST Dan Roeder is a math educator and researcher focused on understanding and...
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709. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: February 2026
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
The Tests and the Rest podcast consistently focuses 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 this month? Where did Amy travel? Should Mike change his intro to the podcast? What are three...
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708. WHAT MAKES A GREAT COLLEGE TOWN?
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Tremendous amounts of interest and anxiety are expended on answering the question of where a student might go to college. Usually, though, the focal point is the school and not the community around the school, when sometimes the setting makes all the difference. Amy and Mike invited educator Ryan Allen to explore the question of what makes a great college town. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is a college town? Why are some towns with colleges not proper college towns? What are some of the best college towns in the United States? What features or factors...
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707. OVERLOOKED TEST TAKING SKILLS
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Every exam is designed to assess an obvious array of knowledge and skills. However, much more than the obvious is often needed to truly excel. Amy and Mike invited educator Mike Settele to review overlooked test-taking skills. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the obvious or well-known test-taking skills? What are some classic test-taking skills that influence the score? What are some overlooked test-taking skills? Are any of these skills hard or impossible to improve during the test prep timeline? What is the most important test-taking...
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706. COACHING FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
When you need expert individual support with skill, strategy, behavior, or body of knowledge, you’ll probably reach out to a tutor or coach. How do those roles differ, and how can you get the most out of them? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Scott Clyburn to define coaching for academic success. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is there a difference between teaching and coaching? What are simple conversation habits that keep students in the driver’s seat in learning? What is the best way to benchmark executive function skills? Why is it...
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705. HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED A COLLEGE CONSULTANT?
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
A DIY attitude can not only open the mind to new experiences and illuminate hidden strengths but also save a dollar or two. But we may not want to tackle every important task alone, particularly one as complex and chancy as a competitive college application. Amy and Mike invited independent educational consultant Jodi Rosenshein Atkin to help assess how to know if you need a college consultant. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Does every student need outside help in applying to college? What does a student’s high school have to do with the need for a college...
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704. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2026
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? What have Amy and Mike been up to this month? Where did Mike travel? What are Amy and Mike’s favorite family meals?...
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703. THE IMPORTANCE OF CALCULATORS ON THE SAT & ACT
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
There’s not a single question on the SAT or ACT that absolutely requires a calculator to solve. So are these powerful tools even necessary, and if so, where do they make a difference? Amy and Mike invited educators Vinny Madera and Tony Miglio to explore the importance of calculators on the SAT and ACT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How important is a calculator on the SAT and ACT? What are the best calculators to use on the tests? What skills are helpful to know for using DESMOS on the SAT and ACT? Is it better to take the digital ACT in order to be able to...
info_outlineAfter 699 episodes devoted to amazing conversations about testing, admissions, education, and learning, it’s time for something completely different. Amy and Mike invited educator Scott Greenspan to help celebrate our 700th episode.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
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How did Tests and the Rest start, and how has it changed over time?
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What impact has the podcast had so far?
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What are Amy and Mike’s theme songs, mentors, and dream vacations?
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Who else would Amy and Mike be willing to host TATR with?
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What might the future hold for the National Test Prep Association?
MEET OUR GUEST
Scott Greenspan is the founder/president of Span Test Prep in Glenview, IL, which is located in the north suburbs of Chicago. For well over 30 years, Scott has helped over 4000 students reach their goals on the ACT and SAT. He especially enjoys working with his students on motivation, mindfulness, and mastery of the content. He and his staff also do academic tutoring and college admissions coaching.
Scott is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with a BA in math, and he earned an MA in teaching from North Park University. His hobbies include tennis, skiing, and hiking.
Scott is on the Board of Directors for the National Test Prep Association.
Scott first appeared on the podcast in episode 191 in a Test Prep Profile and in episode 540 to discuss How Tennis And Test Prep Are Similar.
Scott can be reached at sgreenspan@spantestprep.com or https://www.spantestprep.com/.
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PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF TEST PREP: AMY SEELEY’S ORIGIN STORY
SAT & ACT TESTING TIMELINES: MIKE BERGIN’S ORIGIN STORY
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.