701. TEST SCORES: THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS EDGE
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Release Date: 01/13/2026
725. TAKING A MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM COLLEGE
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
As much as every student anticipates four or more years of perfect health during their undergraduate studies, life happens. Luckily, illness or injuries don’t need to mean an end to your academic journey, especially if you know the right way to take a pause. Amy and Mike invited college advisors Jennifer Stephan and Karen Flood to explain the process of taking a medical leave of absence from college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is a medical leave of absence (MLOA), and how do colleges actually use medical leaves? What is the typical timeline for a leave...
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724. HOW DATA IS TRANSFORMING THE WAY STUDENTS NAVIGATE COLLEGE DECISIONS
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
How often does a thorough college search process involving hours of research and weeks of onsite college visits take an unexpected last minute twist because of fuzzy criteria and gut feelings? Shouldn’t certain statistics inform better choices? Amy and Mike invited ed tech entrepreneurs Braden and Cooper Weissman to explore how data is transforming the way students navigate college decisions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does the college admissions process feel more complicated today? How can counselors help students think about choosing a college beyond...
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723. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: April 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? What are Amy and Mike’s time-sensitive tasks this month? ...
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722. GETTING READY FOR THE AP BIOLOGY EXAM
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Leann Westin to share valuable strategies, insights, and resources for getting ready for the AP Biology exam. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is tested on the AP Biology exam? How is the AP Biology exam structured and scored? What are the highest priority topics on the tests? How should students prepare for the AP Biology exam? What...
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721. WHEN ACADEMIC PRESSURE TURNS INTO BEHAVIORAL ISSUES
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Pressure is a privilege, according to Billie Jean King, who said it's what you do with it that matters. Millions of students, however, may beg to disagree about the privilege part, and what many of them do with it impedes rather than elevates their performance. Amy and Mike invited ed tech specialist Deanna Oliver to explore what happens when academic pressure turns into behavioral issues. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How does academic pressure typically show up in schools? Why do some students “act out” while others withdraw or disengage? What are the most...
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720. WHAT MOTIVATES STUDENTS IN TEST PREP?
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
It’s been said that pain in life is inevitable, but we can choose whether to suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. How can we help learners make the right choice when enthusiasm or available time wanes? Amy and Mike invited educator Athena Savino to explore what motivates students in test prep. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What's the biggest misconception tutors and parents have about what motivates students to engage? What is the best way to assess student needs and sequence instruction? Why should goals and expectations set the foundation for...
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719. IEC PROFILE: Brooke Daly
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Brooke Daly. Brooke is the founder and CEO of Advantage College Planning, a nationally recognized college counseling firm that has helped thousands of families navigate the admissions process with clarity and confidence. With more than 20 years of experience in college admissions and financial aid, Brooke works closely with students to develop thoughtful college lists and authentic applications that reflect their strengths and goals. Brooke is an instructor in the...
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718. IEC PROFILE: Sarah Abaza
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Sarah Abaza. Cairo-based Sarah Abaza founded Quest Consulting to help international students find their path to universities across the U.S. and beyond. Before discovering her calling in education, she spent years as an entrepreneur, where she learned the value of curiosity, communication, and resilience — lessons she now brings to her students. With a background in political science and a lifelong love of writing, Sarah blends structure with storytelling in her...
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717. IEC PROFILE: Ingrid Latham
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Ingrid Latham. Ingrid has been advising students on the college process since 2004. She enjoys learning about her students’ activities and how those might relate to ideas for majors and careers. Navigating the college process can be more manageable with Ingrid’s assistance in creating timelines for completing each task. In addition to college applications and essays, Ingrid also helps with high school and college course selection, which can be an...
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716. IEC PROFILE: Steve Tapper
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Steve Tapper, who serves clients nationwide through Tapper College Counseling. Steve obtained his College Counseling Certificate with Distinction from UCLA and then served as a seasonal reader with the Emory University admissions office, where he analyzed students’ curriculum rigor and grades and assessed applications as a partner in the Committee-Based Evaluation process. Steve then worked as an essay specialist for College Essay Guy and with another college...
info_outlineEven as many competitive colleges are returning to test score requirements for admissions, many others remain at least nominally optional. What does the near future hold for testing, and who stands to gain from improved exam performance? Amy and Mike invited educator Phillip Bates to explore the college admissions edge of test scores.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
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How significant are standardized test scores in today's increasingly holistic college admissions landscape?
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What strategies can students employ to maximize their test scores and gain a competitive edge in college applications?
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What are the benefits and drawbacks of test-optional policies?
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How has the importance of test scores in college admissions evolved over the past five years?
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What steps should students who are struggling with standardized tests but still aspire to attend competitive colleges take?
MEET OUR GUEST
Philip Bates is a lifelong learner and educator with an unwavering passion for equipping educators with the tools and strategies to help students transition from the classroom to college success. As Director of College Readiness at UWorld and host of the From Classroom to Campus podcast, he draws on 18+ years of experience as a teacher, principal, and education leader to equip educators with the knowledge and strategies to help students succeed in higher education. A dynamic speaker and advocate for college preparedness, Philip is committed to making the path to college more accessible and achievable for all learners.
Phillip can be reached at UWorld, through the From Campus To Classroom podcast, and on LinkedIn.
LINKS
Where Are Test Scores Required?
College Testing Plan for the HS Class of 2027
RELATED EPISODES
THE PREDICTIVE VALIDITY OF TEST SCORES IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
TESTING GAMEPLAN FOR THE CLASS OF 2027
WHO LOSES WHEN WE ABOLISH ENTRANCE EXAMS?
WHY TESTS MATTER: STUDENT PERSPECTIVES
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.