688. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: November 2025

688. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: November 2025

Author: Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin November 28, 2025 Duration: 27:47

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?

  1. How busy was last month for Amy and Mike?

  2. How was the College Board Forum?

  3. What new professional role has Amy taken on?

  4. What's been keeping Mike so busy?

  5. What's coming up in the next month for Amy and Mike?

We definitely want to respond to listener questions in our next EXTEMP episode, so reach out to us on social media or get in touch through our contact page. Let's get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling!

RELATED EPISODES

EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: October 2025

EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: September 2025

EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: August 2025

EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: July 2025

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.

 


Navigating the complex world of college admissions can feel like a maze with ever-shifting walls. Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast, hosted by Amy Seeley and Mike Bergin, serves as a reliable guide through that maze. Instead of generic advice, their conversations delve into the nuanced realities of testing, admissions strategies, learning differences, and broader educational trends. They bring in leading experts to provide depth and clarity on the issues that matter most right now. Whether you're a parent trying to support your student, a counselor shaping guidance, or an educator within the system, this podcast offers substantive discussion that goes beyond the surface. Each episode aims to demystify the process, offering practical insights and thoughtful analysis. You'll hear honest talk about standardized tests, application essays, financial aid, and the many factors that shape decisions on both sides of the admissions desk. For anyone invested in understanding the journey to higher education-from students to consultants-this is a vital resource. Tune in for a consistently informative and straightforward take on an industry that affects so many futures.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Podcast Episodes
707. OVERLOOKED TEST TAKING SKILLS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:54
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 s…
706. COACHING FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:05
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 Mi…
705. HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED A COLLEGE CONSULTANT? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:16
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…
704. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:18
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 op…
703. THE IMPORTANCE OF CALCULATORS ON THE SAT & ACT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:45
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…
702. WHAT IS THE CSS PROFILE? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:31
The old saying that you won't receive what you don't ask for definitely applies to college financial aid. Nobody likes paperwork, but there's one critical financial aid form that unlocks access to more than $14 billion i…
701. TEST SCORES: THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS EDGE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:33
Even 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…
700. CELEBRATING OUR 700TH EPISODE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:34
After 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 70…
699. BEST COLLEGES FOR YOUR TUITION DOLLARS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:10
An assortment of institutions as diverse and differentiated as colleges and universities can be ranked and sorted in any number of ways. If not all listing criteria are equally relevant, which ones should you trust to fi…
698. WHAT DOES PUBLIC EDUCATION OWE TO ADVANCED STUDENTS? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:01
Public schools are mandated to provide educational opportunities to all students and generally work very hard to support learners with profound deficits or differences. But what about learners who require enrichment rath…