THROWBACK: ANXIETY AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS

THROWBACK: ANXIETY AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS

Author: Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin September 10, 2026 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 them? Amy and Mike invited psychiatrist Anthony Villani to bring clarity to the topic of anxiety and socioeconomic status.

 What are five things you will learn in this episode?

  1. What fascinating aspects of teen life has Dr.Suniya Luthar uncovered in her research? 

  2. What behaviors do teens at the highest and lowest socioeconomic levels exhibit?

  3. Does gender enter into the teen anxiety equation? 

  4. How can parents, educators, and counselors mitigate these levels of teen anxiety?

  5. How does envy undermine teens in school?

MEET OUR GUEST

Dr. Anthony Villani is a practicing psychiatrist, former school board member, parent of two teens, and college applicant interviewer. He's also a competitive math coach.

LINKS

Children of the Affluent: Challenges to Well-Being (Suniya S. Luthar and Shawn J. Latendresse)

RELATED EPISODES

COLLEGE TRANSITIONS AND DISTRESS TOLERANCE

FROM STAGE TO TEST: WHAT PERFORMANCE TEACHES US ABOUT TEST ANXIETY

DESTRESSIFYING THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

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
750. TEST PREP PROFILE: Eric Rath [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:11
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Eric Rath is the founder and president of Rath Tutoring, where he's spent the last decade buil…
749. TEST PREP PROFILE: Amy Brooks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 practi…
748. TEST PREP PROFILE: Bobby Nicholson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:12
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Bobby Nicholson. Bobby is the founder of Outliers ACT Prep, a Knoxville-based education c…
747. TEST PREP PROFILE: Mishkaat Rawjee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:22
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Mishkaat Rawjee. Mishkaat is the owner of Mishmath, a solo tutoring business that focuses…
746. TEST PREP PROFILE: Myles Múnera-Keating [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:49
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Myles Múnera-Keating. Myles graduated early from Stanford University with a BS in Mathema…
745. WHY ARE SOUTHERN COLLEGES SO POPULAR? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:27
While higher education is grappling with the implications of a demographic shift among applicants, an equally important trend of a decidedly geographic nature is creating winners and losers on opposite sides of the Mason…
744. HOW TO DEFINE A DREAM SCHOOL [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:19
Young adults should always be encouraged to dream big when imagining their futures. When the time comes to actualize those aspirations, though, practical details matter most. Amy and Mike invited author Jeff Selingo to c…
743. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: July 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:37
The Tests and the Rest podcast consistently explores important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own…
742. WHY COLLEGE FLASH ISN'T FIT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:16
How many bad relationships begin because people prioritize superficial qualities over true virtues? Whether you are looking for a partner or applying to college, your deeper values should inform your decisions. Amy and M…
741. WHAT IS AN IEC AND WHO NEEDS ONE? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:17
Most people know–or at least think they know–the role of a school-based counselor. What about all of the professionals in private practice who support families on their admissions journeys and more? Amy and Mike invited…