718. IEC PROFILE: Sarah Abaza

718. IEC PROFILE: Sarah Abaza

Author: Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin April 2, 2026 Duration: 16:37

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

Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Podcast Episodes
716. IEC PROFILE: Steve Tapper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:27
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Steve Tapper, who serves clients nationwide through Tapper College Counseling. Steve obtained…
715. IEC PROFILE: Beth Kraemer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:36
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Beth Kraemer. Beth is the co-founder of In College Consulting and has spent more than a decad…
714. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: March 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:52
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…
713. THE IMPACT OF DIVORCE ON COLLEGE ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:05
While the pain divorce can cause everyone involved is well known, less understood are the problems that only pop up when the FAFSA is due. Amy and Mike invited college financial prep expert Vicki Vollweiler to explain th…
712. HOW BUSINESS-MINDED STUDENTS CAN STAND OUT IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:29
College admissions is serious business, doubly so if you want to study business at a selective institution. Fortunately, the very traits that presage corporate or entrepreneurial success contribute mightily to the applic…
711. HOW TO WIN SCHOLARSHIPS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:02
Yes, of course college students want scholarships. Who wouldn't want their education funded in part or entirely with funds that don't need to be paid back? But an astonishingly deep well of free money seems inaccessible…
710. UNPACKING AND SOLVING MATH ANXIETY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:29
Of all the subjects taught in school, mathematics is most certainly the most common source of stress. But what's so mind-numbing about numeracy? Amy and Mike invited educator Dan Roeder to unpack and explore solutions fo…
709. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: February 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:57
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…
708. WHAT MAKES A GREAT COLLEGE TOWN? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:38
Tremendous amounts of interest and anxiety are expended on answering the question of where a student might go to college. Usually, though, the focal point is the school and not the community around the school, when somet…
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…