719. IEC PROFILE: Brooke Daly

719. IEC PROFILE: Brooke Daly

Author: Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin April 3, 2026 Duration: 16:17

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant?

MEET OUR GUEST

Meet Brooke Daly. Brooke is the founder and CEO of Advantage College Planning, a nationally recognized college counseling firm that has helped thousands of families navigate the admissions process with clarity and confidence. With more than 20 years of experience in college admissions and financial aid, Brooke works closely with students to develop thoughtful college lists and authentic applications that reflect their strengths and goals.

Brooke is an instructor in the College Counseling Certificate Program at the University of California, Berkeley, a past president of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), and the co-founder (along with her husband) of CollegePlannerPro, a widely used software platform for independent college counselors. She currently serves as Vice President of Education and Training for the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).

Through her work with families, counselors, and national organizations, Brooke is passionate about helping students find colleges where they will thrive!

Find Brooke at advcp.com or on LinkedIn. 

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
696. NEW WAYS TO USE YOUR 529 PLAN [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:21
Every dollar saved for college is a dollar you won't have to borrow. But even if you can save, what's the best way to put money aside for higher education? Amy and Mike invited financial expert Joanne Dashiell to explore…
695. TEST PREP PROFILE: Dani Fleischer & Kevin McCormick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:02
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUESTS Kevin S. McCormick is a certified New Jersey English teacher who has taught middle and high s…
694. TEST PREP PROFILE: Lucy Zhang [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:35
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Lucy Zhang is the owner of A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, a 30+ year–old company helping students…
693. TEST PREP PROFILE: Roman Marchenko [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:16
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Roman Marchenko. After 15 years of teaching high school social studies in public and priv…
692. TEST PREP PROFILE: Angie Kelley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:50
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Angie Kelley. Angie is the founder of Land Run Learning, a test prep and tutoring company…
691. TEST PREP PROFILE: Jonah Fishel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:20
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Jonah Fishel. Jonah has spent nearly a decade helping students and families unlock confid…
690. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: MentoMind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:14
Expanding your tutoring business with MentoMind with educators Amit Jain and Chris McKenna What are five things you will learn in this episode? How are tutors using MentoMind? How is MentoMind helping tutors attract more…
689. LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:11
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 education…
688. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: November 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 op…
687. FOREIGN LANGUAGES AS A SUPERPOWER IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:33
Most college-bound teens tend to focus on core English, history, science, and math classes as the keys to the schools of their dreams. Little do they know how important or influential their language studies can be. Amy a…