Get it on Google Play

729. HOW COLLEGES USE AI IN ADMISSIONS

729. HOW COLLEGES USE AI IN ADMISSIONS

Author: Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin May 26, 2026 Duration: 27:38
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
EducationCourses

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 possible to harness tech for more accurate and efficient student selection. And you'd be right. Amy and Mike invited ed tech professional Ashish Fernando to examine how colleges use AI in admissions.

What are five things you will learn in this episode?

  1. What does AI actually look like inside an admissions office today?

  2. Why are data silos a problem across educational institutions?

  3. Does AI lead to less bias in admissions decisions or more?

  4. Where is the human advantage in making admissions decisions?

  5. Looking ahead five or ten years, what will separate the colleges that survive and thrive from the ones that struggle?

MEET OUR GUEST

Ashish Fernando is the Founder & CEO of EDMO, an AI-powered education technology company that provides enrollment solutions to higher education institutions. With an education background from Bentley University, Ashish has spent the last several years building intelligent tools that automate document evaluation, streamline enrollment workflows, and enhance student engagement. Growing up in an education-focused family inspired his mission to make global admissions more accessible, transparent, and efficient. 

A member of the Forbes Technology Council and a frequent higher-ed speaker, Ashish also hosts the Edu Unlocked podcast, where he brings together leaders driving innovation in universities. His work reflects a simple philosophy: use AI to empower institutions and create better experiences for students worldwide. 

Ashish can be reached at https://goedmo.com/contact.

LINKS

What Really Happens to Transfer Students' Credits?

Why Test Scores Matter More Than Ever

RELATED EPISODES

AI AND THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

WHAT DO COLLEGES KNOW ABOUT APPLICANTS?

COLLEGE ESSAYS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

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: 50

Official website RSS
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Podcast Episodes
THROWBACK: NEED BLIND AND NEED AWARE ADMISSIONS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:36
Is any aspect of college admissions more mystifying than the determination of financial aid? The concept of "need" and how different schools consider need in both admissions and aid decisions goes deeper than most people…
757. THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER: EXPLORING INTERNATIONAL ADMISSIONS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:08
With thousands of colleges and universities at home, few American students ever consider studying abroad. Amy and Mike invited independent education consultant Alan Sheptin to explain why he says the world is your oyster…
THROWBACK: ACT SCORE REVIEW AND VALIDATION [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:16
Security at testing centers is almost as tight as screening at American airports. Yet some test takers still find ways to cheat on the ACT or at least raise suspicions. Amy and Mike invited school counselor Desiree Rodri…
756. GUIDANCE FOR WRITING A STRESS-FREE COLLEGE ESSAY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:24
Students often approach their college applications as if each essay is the most important piece of prose they've ever written, which leads to overthinking and anxiety. There is a better way! Amy and Mike invited essay sp…
755. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: MentoMind (Fall 2026 Updates) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:46
Expanding your tutoring business with MentoMind with educator Amit Jain What are five things you will learn in this episode? How are tutors using MentoMind? How is the MentoMind platform evolving? What are the users of M…
THROWBACK: ANXIETY AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:35
While all teenagers are alike in certain ways, those at the very top and very bottom of the socioeconomic spectrum share some disconcerting similarities. How are these peer groups connected, and what can be done to help…
754. WHAT STUDENT RESEARCH MATTERS THE MOST TO COLLEGES? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:03
The apprenticeship model of academia requires more than just passive learning from students. How can applicants seeking entry to selective programs demonstrate that they have the ability and ambition to contribute to the…
THROWBACK: BRINGING CRITICAL BALANCE TO HIGH SCHOOLERS' LIVES [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:41
Many of today's high school students somehow appear to cram 30 hours of academic, extracurricular, work, and social commitments into each of their 24-hour days. Is that frenzy of activity sustainable or even healthy? Amy…
753. MAKING THE FIRST COACHING SESSION MATTER [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:27
Real improvement takes time, which is to say that a single class or lesson can only take us so far. However, getting off to a good start can go a long way towards an ideal ending. Amy and Mike invited educational entrepr…
752. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: August 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:29
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…

12345»