718. IEC PROFILE: Sarah Abaza

718. IEC PROFILE: Sarah Abaza

Author: Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin April 2, 2026 Duration: 16:37
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
EducationCourses

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 advising approach. A mother of three, she guides each student's journey with empathy and strategy. Sarah is a certified IEC (Independent Educational Consultant), and holds a certificate from UCLA. She is a member of IECA ( Independent Educational Consultants Association), NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling), and HECA (Higher Education Consultants Association). 

Find Sarah at Sarah@questconsulting.org.

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

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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…

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