749. TEST PREP PROFILE: Amy Brooks

749. TEST PREP PROFILE: Amy Brooks

Author: Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin August 20, 2026 Duration: 16:31

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry?

MEET OUR GUEST

Meet Amy Brooks, the founder of Amy Brooks Tutoring, an academic tutoring and test prep practice serving K–12 students and families both in person and online. With over 30 years of experience in education, Amy specializes in standardized test prep for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and ISEE, along with academic tutoring and educational consulting for families from homeschool, private school, and public school backgrounds.

Amy graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Spanish. Her professional background includes corporate IT consulting and training, classroom teaching in both public and private schools, directing an area homeschool group, and enjoying 15 years of homeschooling her own four children.

She is a member of the National Test Prep Association and is committed to providing the highest level of professionalism and expertise in test prep coaching, helping students develop both the strategies and confidence needed to succeed on standardized exams.

Amy and her husband, Taylor, have been married for 31 years. Their four children graduated from their homeschool and went on to attend Texas A&M University and Abilene Christian University. Today, Amy enjoys being a lifelong learner and encouraging students to grow in academic confidence as they discover how they learn best and pursue their future goals. She and Taylor are also delighted in their newest role as grandparents.

Find Amy at https://www.amybrookstutoring.com.

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

Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Podcast Episodes
720. WHAT MOTIVATES STUDENTS IN TEST PREP? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:18
It's been said that pain in life is inevitable, but we can choose whether to suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. How can we help learners make the right choice when enthusiasm or available time wanes? Am…
719. IEC PROFILE: Brooke Daly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 recogn…
718. IEC PROFILE: Sarah Abaza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
717. IEC PROFILE: Ingrid Latham [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:12
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Ingrid Latham. Ingrid has been advising students on the college process since 2004. She enjoy…
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…