689. LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES 101

689. LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES 101

Author: Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin December 2, 2025 Duration: 25:11
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
EducationCourses

Liberal arts colleges represent what may be the most misunderstood class of higher ed institutions. What are the hallmarks of these schools, and what kinds of students should seek them out? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Matt Arant to provide instruction in Liberal Arts Colleges 101.

What are five things you will learn in this episode?

  1. How are liberal arts colleges defined in comparison to other types of schools?

  2. Is the application process different for liberal arts college applicants compared to those applying to research universities?

  3. Can you study STEM subjects at liberal arts colleges?

  4. What sort of pre-professional advising or alumni engagement programs are available at liberal arts colleges? Will I be adequately prepared for life post-graduation?

  5. How do I know if a liberal college might be a good fit?

MEET OUR GUEST

Matt Arant is the founder of Arant Academic Planning, LLC. Prior to becoming an independent counselor, Matt worked as an admission representative at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. At F&M, Matt was the primary athletics liaison for the Office of Admission, working closely with over two dozen intercollegiate sports throughout the entire application cycle. 

Matt has been invited to present on college athletic recruitment and the admissions process to public and private schools all across the country and is an active member of both the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and Texas Association for College Admission Counseling (TACAC). He is also a current associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), based in Metro Austin, Texas. 

Matt previously appeared on the podcast in episode 634 to discuss Division III and Ivy League Athletic Recruitment.

Find Matt at https://www.arantacademicplanning.com.

LINKS

How a Liberal Arts Degree Helps You Advance Your Career

RELATED EPISODES

ATTENDING A LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE

ATTENDING A SMALL COLLEGE

FINDING YOUR COLLEGE FIT

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

Official website RSS
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Podcast Episodes
731. FINANCIAL AID HORROR STORIES [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:32
Getting into your top choice college may feel like a dream come true, but figuring out how to pay for it can turn into a nightmare, especially when you don't know what you're doing. Amy and Mike invited financial aid exp…
730. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: StudySpaces & Assessiv [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:51
What if your PDFs could grade and track themselves? with educator Jam Mirzakhalov, Vinny Madera, and Aaron Golumbfskie What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind StudySpaces? How does S…
729. HOW COLLEGES USE AI IN ADMISSIONS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:38
With everyone in the world angling to access the benefits of artificial intelligence without succumbing to the plentiful pitfalls of excessive automation, you'd expect higher ed administrators to explore every way possib…
728. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: May 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:03
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 dis…
727. BUSINESS VS ENGINEERING MAJORS FOR TECH-MINDED STUDENTS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:57
High schoolers who show advanced aptitude and interest in science and math often seem destined to concentrate on STEM in college. Surprisingly, though, many choose a more financially focused track. Amy and Mike invited c…
726. NEW TRENDS IN SAT READING & WRITING [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:47
While the SAT changed in a very big way during the digital transition, the exam has continued to evolve in a way that test takers need to understand. Amy and Mike invited educator Lori Goldstein to review new trends in S…
725. TAKING A MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM COLLEGE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:34
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 y…
723. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: April 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:40
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 dis…
722. GETTING READY FOR THE AP BIOLOGY EXAM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:57
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…

12345...10»