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735. BEACH READS FOR BETTER SCORES

735. BEACH READS FOR BETTER SCORES

Author: Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin June 23, 2026 Duration: 26:40
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
EducationCourses

According to Henry Ward Beecher, there is a temperate zone in the mind, between luxurious indolence and exacting work; and it is to this region, just between laziness and labor, that summer reading belongs. Teens willing to spend time in this region will benefit from much more than just the sheer pleasure of a good book. Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Marina Yalon to dive into beach reads for better scores.

What are five things you will learn in this episode?

  1. What's wrong with the "harder is better" reading approach?

  2. What's the benefit of contemporary fiction? What kinds of skills can students build from reading contemporary fiction?

  3. Do beach reads really have SAT vocabulary words?

  4. What are some book recommendations for summer reads?

  5. How should parents approach helping teens find the right book?

MEET OUR GUEST

Marina Yalon is the founder of MYPrep, a virtual tutoring company dedicated to taking the stress out of SAT and ACT prep. With deep expertise in both exams and nearly two decades spent coaching students to achieve their goal scores, she brings a highly individualized approach to test prep—meeting each student where they are and building from there. Through sessions, students build test (and life!) confidence. She's the kind of tutor students want to tell their friends about.

Marina loves working with all kinds of learners, and her sessions are as likely to end with a book recommendation as a practice set. An avid reader with a soft spot for plot-twists and unreliable narrators, she's thrilled when a student gives her a new addition to her ever-growing TBR list. Her philosophy: it's all figure-out-able!

Marina previously appeared on this podcast in episode 233 for a Test Prep Profile.

Marina can be reached at https://www.learnwithmyprep.com.

LINKS

A Little Reading Every Day

RELATED EPISODES

VOCABULARY ON THE SAT & ACT

IMPROVING READING SKILLS WITH STRUGGLING TEENS (PART 1)

IMPROVING READING SKILLS WITH STRUGGLING TEENS (PART 2)

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

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Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
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