751. ARE SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS DEAD?
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Release Date: 08/25/2026
762. CREATING BETTER COLLEGE VISITS
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Choosing a college often entails deciding where you’ll live for the next four to possibly fifty-four years. Why, then, do so many applicants select their new homes without properly evaluating them? Amy and Mike invited student entrepreneur Evan Goldstein to discuss creating better college visits. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Can you truly understand a college without visiting campus? What should every high schooler ask a current college student before committing to a school? What can current college students tell you that admissions offices can’t? How much...
info_outline
THROWBACK: FINISHING A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE ON TIME
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
About 66% of American students FAIL to earn their bachelor’s degrees in four years. Yet, those extra years of college come at a tremendous cost. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Edie Steele to explore the benefits and challenges around finishing a four-year degree on time. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does finishing a four-year degree on time matter? What academic issues keep students from finishing college on time? What credit and career planning issues keep students from finishing college on time? What role do or should...
info_outline
761. HOW TO WRITE THE COLLEGE ESSAY THAT AI CANNOT
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
In the age of artificial intelligence, more and more communication is crafted by sophisticated models–and it shows. Critical messages should be composed by a person for a person. Amy and Mike invited college essay specialist Barak Rosenbloom to discuss how to write the college essay that AI cannot. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the consensus view on AI and college essays? What do people—students, adults, professionals, even teachers—miss out on when they use AI, and what does it do to communication between people? What do people need to know, and what...
info_outline
THROWBACK: MATHEMATICAL MATURITY & TEST SUCCESS
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Far too often, we evaluate math ability in high schoolers solely on the basis of grades and level of math learned. A more accurate assessment of a student’s potential on challenging math tasks--including those posed on tests like the SAT and ACT--should consider mathematical maturity. Amy and Mike invited author and test prep professional Dr. Steve Warner to define what this means and explain the link between mathematical maturity and test success. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is mathematical maturity? How can you determine your "level" of...
info_outline
760. WHAT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CULTURE IS DOING TO OUR KIDS
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Obviously, accomplishing big things requires energy and intention. But should admission to a specific school really be the ultimate focus of a child’s K-12 journey? Amy and Mike invited college advisor Beth Gelles to analyze what college admissions culture is doing to our kids. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How early does college admissions pressure start in the worst cases? When should parents actually start talking to their kids about college? When does wanting your child to succeed start doing more harm than good? How do we stop turning everything kids...
info_outline
THROWBACK: USING MINDFULNESS FOR TEST AND SCHOOL SUCCESS
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
How can we succeed in the moment when we’re so burdened by thoughts of the past and anxious over fears of the future? The practice and application of mindfulness can keep a person fully focused on the present. Amy and Mike invited author and test prep professional Logan Thompson to discuss powerful strategies for using mindfulness for test and school success. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is mindfulness? What is “the other half of test prep” and how can mindfulness help prep? What are the “passengers” that steer us wrong in stressful moments? ...
info_outline
759. WHY DIDN’T MY TEST SCORE INCREASE?
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
It is often said that intention is one thing, but execution is another. That observation is little comfort to students who study and prepare with the best intentions yet still fail to reach their goals. Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Bobby Nicholson to unpack the regrettably common question, “Why didn’t my test score increase?” What are five things you will learn in this episode? When students say, “I know the material—I’m just a bad test taker,” what is usually preventing them from scoring higher? Why isn’t taking more practice tests enough, and what should...
info_outline
758. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: September 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 in the world is Amy today? How many podcasts has Mike been on this month? What...
info_outline
THROWBACK: NEED BLIND AND NEED AWARE ADMISSIONS
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Is any aspect of college admissions more mystifying than the determination of financial aid? The concept of “need” and how different schools consider need in both admissions and aid decisions goes deeper than most people realize. Amy and Mike invited admissions consultant Jona Jacobson to bring clarity to the topic of need blind and need aware admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What do the terms “need,” “need blind,” and “need aware” mean in college admissions? What is gapping? Do all colleges meet 100% of need? Does need...
info_outline
757. THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER: EXPLORING INTERNATIONAL ADMISSIONS
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
With thousands of colleges and universities at home, few American students ever consider studying abroad. Amy and Mike invited independent education consultant Alan Sheptin to explain why he says the world is your oyster when you’re willing to explore international admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the benefits and disadvantages of studying outside the U.S.? What is the cost of a non-US education? Can you decide what you want to study, or do you have to declare a major before entering school? What kind of student thrives when studying abroad? ...
info_outlineEven in the Common App era, completing college applications can feel like an interminably long and complex process with far too many permutations from one school to another. But some schools are announcing what appear to be efforts to eliminate application bloat. Are they really, though? Amy and Mike invited independent education consultant Beth Kraemer to answer the question, “Are supplemental essays dead?”
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
-
Why are some colleges eliminating supplemental essays, and do their stated reasons tell the whole story?
-
Are supplemental essays simply another application hurdle?
-
What additional information is elicited through supplemental essays?
-
Which schools have eliminated supplemental essays heading into the 2026-27 admissions cycle?
-
How should applicants determine whether they should write optional essays?
MEET OUR GUEST
Beth Kraemer is the co-founder of In College Consulting and has spent more than a decade helping families navigate the increasingly complex world of college admissions. With a background in journalism, education, and law, she brings both storytelling expertise and strategic thinking to her work with students.
Beth earned a journalism degree from Northwestern University, a master’s degree from The Ohio State University, and a J.D. from the UCLA School of Law. She first became involved in admissions as a Northwestern alumni interviewer. She is a Professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association and regularly visits campuses to stay current on admissions trends.
In addition to her consulting work, Beth serves on the board of the Pinpoint Scholars Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access and leadership in STEM education.
Beth previously appeared on this podcast in episode 715 for an IEC PROFILE.
Beth can be reached at incollegeconsulting.com.
LINKS
The Admissions Funnel Is Clogged. Here’s How to Fix It.
Some Colleges Drop Supplemental Essays for 2026–27
Fall 2027 Essay Question - UGA Admissions
Georgia Tech Simplifies First-Year Admission Application by Removing Supplemental Essay
UVA removes supplemental essay prompt from 2025-2026 undergraduate application
RELATED EPISODES
COLLEGE ENROLLMENT TRENDS FOR 2026 AND 2027
WHY THIS COLLEGE, WHY THIS MAJOR?
WHY OPTIONAL STATEMENTS AREN’T OPTIONAL
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.