Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast

Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin
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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. 1D AGO

    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

  2. 4D AGO

    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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. JAN 27

    THE IMPORTANCE OF CALCULATORS ON THE SAT & ACT

    There's not a single question on the SAT or ACT that absolutely requires a calculator to solve. So are these powerful tools even necessary, and if so, where do they make a difference? Amy and Mike invited educators Vinny Madera and Tony Miglio to explore the importance of calculators on the SAT and ACT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How important is a calculator on the SAT and ACT? What are the best calculators to use on the tests? What skills are helpful to know for using DESMOS on the SAT and ACT? Is it better to take the digital ACT in order to be able to use DESMOS? Should test takers download useful programs into their calculators in advance? MEET OUR GUESTS Vinny Madera is the guy who shapes Test Prep Wizards and helps the team determine the most effective and efficient ways to get the results students need. Tutoring in some capacity since college, Vinny decided in 2007 to become a full-time tutor and works directly with over 800 students per year through his classes and individual students. Aiding numerous school districts, private institutions, and tutoring companies, Vinny has developed all Test Prep Wizards' reporting software and has written the company's SAT and ACT manuals, which have been licensed by many school districts as an efficient, low-cost means of helping their students.  Vinny is a huge nerd fan of data and statistics, moonlighting as a math enthusiast at Fairfield University, where he teaches a variety of math courses and freshman experience workshops. He brings this love of numbers and trends to Test Prep Wizards in the form of its state-of-the-art analysis programming. Vinny is the author of Demystifying the Calculator: A Guide to Using the TI-84 PLUS CE on the ACT. Vinny first appeared on the podcast on episode 141 to discuss Tracking Test Score Data, in episode 225 to discuss Calculator Usage On The SAT and ACT, in episode 340 for a SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Test Prep Wizards Score Reporting, and in episode 511 to discuss Answer Traps on Standardized Tests. Find Vinny at testprepwizards.com or vinny@testprepwizards.com. Tony Miglio is the owner of NKY Tutoring and a nationally sought-after test prep expert specializing in the math section of the ACT. He has worked with students both locally in the Greater Cincinnati area and also with students throughout the US and Europe. He works with students in person and virtually; in groups, and 1-1, and is able to help build a rapport with each of his students to help students grow in confidence, along with growing their ACT Scores. Tony is a former teacher and has been an ACT tutor for more than 15 years, with the last 10 specializing in helping students improve their ACT Math Scores. His specialty is customizing the mental approach for each student based on their score to drive success on the test.  Tony first appeared on the podcast on episode 48 to discuss How Test Prep and Sports Are Similar, and in episode 225 to discuss Calculator Usage On The SAT and ACT. Find Tony at nkytutoring@gmail.com or nkytutoring.com. LINKS Live Online Calculator Class Demystifying the Calculator: A Guide to Using the TI-84 PLUS CE on the ACT Be Calculator Smart on Test Day RELATED EPISODES Using The Desmos Calculator In Digital Testing All About Digital SAT Math Calculator Usage On The SAT and ACT 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.

    27 min

  8. JAN 20

    WHAT IS THE CSS PROFILE?

    The old saying that you won't receive what you don't ask for definitely applies to college financial aid.  Nobody likes paperwork, but there's one critical financial aid form that unlocks access to more than $14 billion in nonfederal aid. Amy and Mike invited financial planner Brian Eyster to explain exactly what the CSS Profile is. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the CSS Profile, and how does it differ from the FAFSA? Do all private universities require the CSS? How can I find out which colleges? Which assets and which income(s) do you need to reveal or disregard? How do you value your farm, business, and real estate, and how do you discount the values properly with documentation? Are you able to amend the CSS after submission? MEET OUR GUEST Brian Eyster, CCFS®, ELA™, LIC, is the visionary founder of the G.R.A.D. Process™, a groundbreaking system created to help families navigate the challenge of paying for their children's college education without sacrificing their retirement goals.  Over his 27-year career, Brian has developed a profound understanding of the financial needs of families. His personal experiences with college planning for his own kids have shaped his approach to wealth management, risk mitigation, resource allocation, and college funding strategies.   As a highly sought-after speaker, Brian shares his knowledge on Creative Funding for College, Cash Flow Design, Income Planning, Risk Management, and Tax-Advantaged Strategies. Clients trust and respect Brian for his commitment to delivering exceptional service. Brian lives in Metro Detroit with his wife, two kids, three cats, and enough guitar and softball equipment to last three generations. Brian can be reached at https://essentialstrategies.net. LINKS CSS Profile How to Complete the CSS Profile Participating Institutions and Programs FHFA House Price Index® Datasets How Student Loans Secretly Sabotage Your Financial Future College Planning With Brian Eyster RELATED EPISODES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FAFSA AND CSS PROFILE THE BETTER FAFSA FOR NEW AND PREVIOUS FILERS WHAT DO FEDERAL POLICY CHANGES MEAN FOR FINANCIAL AID? 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
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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.

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