Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

758. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: September 2026

The Tests and the Rest podcast consistently focuses on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, t

THROWBACK: NEED BLIND AND NEED AWARE ADMISSIONS

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 admissi

757. THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER: EXPLORING INTERNATIONAL ADMISSIONS

With thousands of colleges and universities at home, few American students ever consider studying abroad. Amy and Mike invited independent education consultant Alan Shept

THROWBACK: ACT SCORE REVIEW AND VALIDATION

Security at testing centers is almost as tight as screening at American airports. Yet some test takers still find ways to cheat on the ACT or at least raise suspicions. A

756. GUIDANCE FOR WRITING A STRESS-FREE COLLEGE ESSAY

Students often approach their college applications as if each essay is the most important piece of prose they've ever written, which leads to overthinking and anxiety. Th

755. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: MentoMind (Fall 2026 Updates)

Expanding your tutoring business with MentoMind with educator Amit Jain What are five things you will learn in this episode? How are tutors using MentoMind? How is

THROWBACK: ANXIETY AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS

While all teenagers are alike in certain ways, those at the very top and very bottom of the socioeconomic spectrum share some disconcerting similarities. How are these pe

754. WHAT STUDENT RESEARCH MATTERS THE MOST TO COLLEGES?

The apprenticeship model of academia requires more than just passive learning from students. How can applicants seeking entry to selective programs demonstrate that they

THROWBACK: BRINGING CRITICAL BALANCE TO HIGH SCHOOLERS' LIVES

Many of today's high school students somehow appear to cram 30 hours of academic, extracurricular, work, and social commitments into each of their 24-hour days. Is that f

753. MAKING THE FIRST COACHING SESSION MATTER

Real improvement takes time, which is to say that a single class or lesson can only take us so far. However, getting off to a good start can go a long way towards an idea

752. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: August 2026

The Tests and the Rest podcast consistently focuses on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, t

751. ARE SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS DEAD?

Even 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 anoth

750. TEST PREP PROFILE: Eric Rath

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Eric Rath is the founder and president o

749. TEST PREP PROFILE: Amy Brooks

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Amy Brooks, the founder of Amy Broo

748. TEST PREP PROFILE: Bobby Nicholson

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Bobby Nicholson. Bobby is the found

747. TEST PREP PROFILE: Mishkaat Rawjee

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Mishkaat Rawjee. Mishkaat is the ow

746. TEST PREP PROFILE: Myles Múnera-Keating

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Myles Múnera-Keating. Myles graduat

745. WHY ARE SOUTHERN COLLEGES SO POPULAR?

While higher education is grappling with the implications of a demographic shift among applicants, an equally important trend of a decidedly geographic nature is creating

744. HOW TO DEFINE A DREAM SCHOOL

Young adults should always be encouraged to dream big when imagining their futures. When the time comes to actualize those aspirations, though, practical details matter m

743. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: July 2026

The Tests and the Rest podcast consistently explores important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we en