Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin
  • 4.7 (42)
  • COURSES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to THE college admissions industry podcast! Join Mike Bergin and Amy Seeley as they discuss the latest issues in testing, admissions, learning, and education with leading experts. Tests and the Rest is perfect for parents, students, counselors, educators, test prep professionals, college consultants, and just about anyone engaged in the college admissions process. You can subscribe to this podcast or stream it online via any podcast app, including iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio. YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and Leap. Between the two of us, expect over 60 years of industry insight, expertise, insider news, and a bit of sarcasm.

  1. 2D AGO

    HOW TO WIN SCHOLARSHIPS

    Yes, of course college students want scholarships. Who wouldn't want their education funded in part or entirely with funds that don't need to be paid back? But an astonishingly deep well of free money seems inaccessible to most applicants. Amy and Mike invited educator Leia LeMaster Horton to explore how to win scholarships. What are five things you will learn in this episode? When should students start going after scholarships? What are the three types of scholarships? Which major private, merit-based scholarships are most strategic to target?  What preparation should a student complete before seriously applying for scholarships? What are the three most common scholarship essay prompts students should prepare for? MEET OUR GUEST Leia LeMaster Horton, M.Ed., is the founder of Horton Test Prep and a nationally recognized Test Prep Professional and Scholarship Expert in the college prep industry. She is a featured speaker at homeschool conferences and college fairs across the country, including events at UC Berkeley, UT Austin, Clemson, Johns Hopkins, and Columbia University, and has been on numerous podcasts and webinars guiding families through the often stressful college preparation process. As a founding member of the National Test Prep Association, a scholarship judge, certified test prep instructor, and creator of the digital course Secrets to Earning Scholarships, Leia is passionate about helping students raise their ACT, CLT, and SAT scores, unlock scholarship opportunities, and make their dream schools a reality. Leia previously appeared on the podcast in episode 248 for a TEST PREP PROFILE. Leia can be reached at info@hortontestprep.com or on Instagram @LeiaLeMasterHorton. LINKS Secrets to Earning Scholarships The Coolidge Scholarship Jeanne Lucas Memorial Scholarship Bold.org Scholarships.com RELATED EPISODES COMMON MISTAKES IN SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS HOW TO WIN LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS LESSONS LEARNED BY OFFERING A SCHOLARSHIP 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 the 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.

    27 min

  2. MAR 3

    UNPACKING AND SOLVING MATH ANXIETY

    Of all the subjects taught in school, mathematics is most certainly the most common source of stress. But what's so mind-numbing about numeracy? Amy and Mike invited educator Dan Roeder to unpack and explore solutions for math anxiety. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is math anxiety? What causes math anxiety? What are the major impacts of math anxiety? What are proven solutions for math anxiety? How can someone support a student or child to alleviate math anxiety? MEET OUR GUEST Dan Roeder is a math educator and researcher focused on understanding and reducing students' math anxiety. He currently serves as Math Department Coordinator at Winston Preparatory School's New York City campus. He earned his M.S. in Mathematics Education from the University of Rochester as a National Science Foundation Noyce Scholar, where his thesis examined the roots of math anxiety and practical classroom interventions. Since completing his research, he has focused on applying it in the classroom and sharing it with educators at conferences across the country.  Before becoming an educator, Daniel studied Economics and Statistics at Duke University and worked in corporate development at BlackRock. Dan can be reached at roeder.dan4@gmail.com. LINKS Recognizing and Alleviating Math Anxiety The Neurodevelopmental Basis of Math Anxiety Spotlight on math anxiety. RELATED EPISODES MENTAL MATH AND AUTOMATICITY HOW STRESS AFFECTS TEST PERFORMANCE MAKING LEARNING SCIENCE WORK FOR YOU 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.

    31 min

  3. FEB 27

    EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: February 2026

    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 discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. Catch up with us in the latest episode of EXTEMP with Amy & Mike. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What have Amy and Mike been up to this month? Where did Amy travel? Should Mike change his intro to the podcast? What are three things Amy and Mike love? What's coming up in the next month for Amy and Mike? We definitely want to respond to listener questions in our next EXTEMP episode, so reach out to us on social media or get in touch through our contact page. Let's get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling! RELATED EPISODES EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2026 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: December 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: November 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: October 2025 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.

    32 min

  4. FEB 24

    WHAT MAKES A GREAT COLLEGE TOWN?

    Tremendous amounts of interest and anxiety are expended on answering the question of where a student might go to college. Usually, though, the focal point is the school and not the community around the school, when sometimes the setting makes all the difference. Amy and Mike invited educator Ryan Allen to explore the question of what makes a great college town.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is a college town? Why are some towns with colleges not proper college towns? What are some of the best college towns in the United States? What features or factors make or break a college town? Should more schools aim to create a full college-town experience? MEET OUR GUEST Ryan M. Allen is an Associate Professor of International and Comparative Education and Leadership at Soka University of America. His academic research centers on the internationalization of higher education, global mobility, and the intersections between education and urbanism, with a particular emphasis on the US and East Asia. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of College Towns, a Substack where urbanism meets higher education. He holds a PhD from Teachers College, Columbia University, an MA from Yonsei University (Seoul, South Korea), and a BA from the University of Central Oklahoma. Ryan can be reached at collegetowns.org. LINKS What Even is a College Town? Morrill Act (1862) | National Archives The Education and Urbanism of Breaking Away RELATED EPISODES ATTENDING A LARGE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY ATTENDING A LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE MAKING THE MOST OF COLLEGE VISITS 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.

    28 min

  5. FEB 17

    707. OVERLOOKED TEST TAKING SKILLS

    Every exam is designed to assess an obvious array of knowledge and skills. However, much more than the obvious is often needed to truly excel. Amy and Mike invited educator Mike Settele to review overlooked test-taking skills. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the obvious or well-known test-taking skills?  What are some classic test-taking skills that influence the score? What are some overlooked test-taking skills?  Are any of these skills hard or impossible to improve during the test prep timeline?  What is the most important test-taking skill? MEET OUR GUEST Mike Settele is the founder of Settele Tutoring, an SAT prep company that specializes in creating user-friendly SAT resources. Mike has published thousands of hours of SAT lessons on his YouTube channel, which are watched every day by students around the world. Mike began his SAT career while an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University, where he studied political science and philosophy. He started as a Writing section tutor for Capital Educators, a test-prep company that offers courses in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. After graduating, Mike became a full-time program director for Capital Educators, but he eventually found his true passion in helping to create their curriculum for the new SAT in 2016.  After the new test was released, Mike moved to Los Angeles and founded Settele Tutoring, shifting his focus to private tutoring so he could create new SAT materials. He has since published the "SAT Packets" study guides for both the Reading and Math sections of the exam, with new editions coming soon for the digital SAT. In fact, when he's not tutoring, Mike can often be found sitting on Santa Monica Beach, writing SAT questions. Mike previously appeared in episode 573 for a Test Prep Profile. Find Mike at https://setteletutoring.com/ or his YouTube SAT channel. LINKS Top 10 Overlooked SAT Skills — it's so much more than Reading and Math! RELATED EPISODES RESOURCES FOR THE DIGITAL SAT ALL ABOUT DIGITAL SAT MATH ALL ABOUT DIGITAL SAT READING & WRITING THE NEW DIGITAL SAT EXPERIENCE: A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE 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.

    36 min

  6. FEB 10

    COACHING FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS

    When you need expert individual support with skill, strategy, behavior, or body of knowledge, you'll probably reach out to a tutor or coach. How do those roles differ, and how can you get the most out of them? Amy and Mike invited test prep professional Scott Clyburn to define coaching for academic success. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is there a difference between teaching and coaching? What are simple conversation habits that keep students in the driver's seat in learning? What is the best way to benchmark executive function skills?  Why is it valuable to look at habits you want to change as experiments? What are the most common pitfalls when tutors try to shift to a coaching approach? MEET OUR GUEST Scott Clyburn holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Yale University and is the founder and director of North Avenue Education, a premier test-preparation and study-skills firm based in Portland, Oregon. Originally from Houston, Texas, Scott has taught in both secondary and higher education and has been a professional tutor since 2005. He sees tutoring as an opportunity for any student to become a better learner. Scott specializes in coaching students with LD and is motivated by seeing his students transform their potential into action. Scott is the author of the North Avenue Guide to Study Skills, which will be published this winter and licensable by tutors and orgs in 2026.  Scott previously appeared on the podcast in episode 97 to discuss Test Prep for Students with Accommodations. Find Scott at scott.clyburn@northaveeducation.com or https://northaveeducation.com. LINKS The difference between tutoring and academic coaching RELATED EPISODES EFFECTIVE STUDY SKILLS FOR TEST PREPARATION HOW TO TEACH STUDENTS TO STUDY EFFECTIVELY THE THREE CORE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND TEST PREP WHY PROFESSIONALISM IN TUTORS MATTERS WHY YOU WANT TO WORK WITH A CAREER TUTOR 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.

    25 min

  7. FEB 3

    HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED A COLLEGE CONSULTANT?

    A DIY attitude can not only open the mind to new experiences and illuminate hidden strengths but also save a dollar or two. But we may not want to tackle every important task alone, particularly one as complex and chancy as a competitive college application. Amy and Mike invited independent educational consultant Jodi Rosenshein Atkin to help assess how to know if you need a college consultant. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Does every student need outside help in applying to college?  What does a student's high school have to do with the need for a college consultant?  What role do family dynamics play in the need for external support? What kinds of services do college consultants typically offer? What does it take to do it yourself? MEET OUR GUEST Jodi Rosenshein Atkin is an independent educational consultant in private practice. She holds a BA and an MA in Psychology from the University of Rochester and has over 20 years of experience in educational and clinical settings.  Her first career focused on working with individuals and families living with learning challenges.  She is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, as well as a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, New York State Association of College Admissions Counselors, and Higher Education Consultants Association.  Jodi has visited over 300 college campuses in 17 different states and 3 countries! Jodi is committed to finding a "best fit" school for every student, considering academic, financial, social and cultural factors.  It's about more than the mascot and the sweatshirt; it's about finding the places that each student can thrive and grow, making the most of their higher education investment.  Finding the right school is a journey, not a race to some imaginary finish line. Jodi is a frequent guest speaker at libraries, schools, podcasts, and webinars. Her insights have been featured in publications nationally, including the Wall Street Journal, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Teen Vogue, Rochester Business Journal, and The Deseret News (Utah).  She has also presented to professional groups, including the NYS Association of College Admissions Counselors. She and her husband, Louis, have four adult children and live in Rochester, NY with their golden doodle, Dustin.  Jodi has appeared on this podcast in episode 32 to discuss Making the Most of College Visits, in episode 160 to discuss Demonstrating Interest during Virtual College Tours, and in episode 523 to discuss Why This College, Why This Major? Find Jodi at www.jodiratkin.com LINKS When Should You Engage a College Admissions Consultant? IECS and the College Journey RELATED EPISODES HOW TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE COUNSELOR THE DIFFERENT ROLES OF SCHOOL AND PRIVATE COUNSELORS HOW PARENTS CAN SUPPORT (NOT DERAIL) THE COLLEGE PROCESS INTENTIONALITY ON THE ROAD TO COLLEGE 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.

    26 min

  8. JAN 29

    EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2026

    The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. Catch up with us in the latest episode of EXTEMP with Amy & Mike. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What have Amy and Mike been up to this month? Where did Mike travel? What are Amy and Mike's favorite family meals? What is Impact 9, and what are your hosts presenting on? What's coming up in the next month for Amy and Mike? We definitely want to respond to listener questions in our next EXTEMP episode, so reach out to us on social media or get in touch through our contact page. Let's get this Tests and the Rest mailbag rolling! LINKS Impact 9 RELATED EPISODES EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: December 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: November 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: October 2025 EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: September 2025 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.

    23 min
See All (712)

4.7
out of 5
42 Ratings

About

Welcome to THE college admissions industry podcast! Join Mike Bergin and Amy Seeley as they discuss the latest issues in testing, admissions, learning, and education with leading experts. Tests and the Rest is perfect for parents, students, counselors, educators, test prep professionals, college consultants, and just about anyone engaged in the college admissions process. You can subscribe to this podcast or stream it online via any podcast app, including iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio. YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and Leap. Between the two of us, expect over 60 years of industry insight, expertise, insider news, and a bit of sarcasm.

Information

You Might Also Like