THROWBACK: BRINGING CRITICAL BALANCE TO HIGH SCHOOLERS' LIVES

THROWBACK: BRINGING CRITICAL BALANCE TO HIGH SCHOOLERS' LIVES

Author: Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin September 3, 2026 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 and Mike invited school counselor Eric Domroes to analyze the need for bringing critical balance to high schoolers' lives. 

 What are five things you will learn in this episode?

  1. What does balance mean for a high school student?

  2. Where does the pressure to do too much come from?

  3. What should students consider when planning for life after high school?

  4. Is balance just a euphemism for doing too much?

  5. How can counselors help students find balance?

MEET OUR GUEST

Eric Domroes is a 21-year veteran educator and lead school counselor at Pittsford Mendon High School, which has the notable distinction of consistently achieving top academic standing in all of Upstate New York. His work developing a diversity of students gives him some unique perspectives on how best to support good planning and advocacy for student preparation for college and beyond.

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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
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THROWBACK: ACT SCORE REVIEW AND VALIDATION [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:16
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756. GUIDANCE FOR WRITING A STRESS-FREE COLLEGE ESSAY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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755. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: MentoMind (Fall 2026 Updates) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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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…
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…
751. ARE SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS DEAD? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:52
Even in the Common App era, completing college applications can feel like an interminably long and complex process with far too many permutations from one school to another. But some schools are announcing what appear to…