Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry Podcast Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin

Powerful graphing calculators can provide potent math problem solving advantages for students that know how to use–and can afford–them. What is the impact, then, when everyone has free access to leading edge calculation tools? Amy and Mike invited educator Kyle Terracciano to explore using the Desmos calculator in digital testing.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What is the Desmos calculator, and what can it do?
How is Desmos integrated into college admissions testing?
What are the best resources to learn Desmos for the Digital SAT?
When is it best to utilize Desmos on the Digital SAT?
In what kind of test problems are calculators less useful?
MEET OUR GUEST
Kyle Terracciano is the founder of the company Tutorllini, the math test prep YouTube channel Tutorllini Test Prep, and the Facebook group Digital SAT Prep. Since 2019, he has been on a mission to empower students to dominate their college admissions tests and bring much-needed clarity to the confusing world of academic math.
Kyle’s journey as an educator began in his college years while working as a competitive swimming coach, sparking his passion for mentoring others. After graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Connecticut in 2018, he couldn't resist the call of teaching. Kyle went on to earn a Master's Degree in Mathematics Education from Rutgers University in 2020, and then through Tutorllini, dedicated himself fully to his goal of empowering students everywhere with not just a deeper understanding of math, but more confidence as well.
But Kyle doesn’t stop there. Determined to make a global impact, Kyle runs one of the fastest growing YouTube channels and Facebook groups focused on the Digital SAT, all completely free to anyone who is ready to learn. By using the most modern tech and impactful visuals with a dose of humor and his trademark relatable personality, Kyle helps students unlock their full potential.
Kyle previously appeared on the podcast in episode 476 to discuss The New Digital SAT Experience: A Student Perspective and in episode 470 to discuss Getting Ready For The AP Statistics Exam.
Find Kyle at tutorllini.com.
LINKS
Desmos Graphing Calculator
Desmos (Digital PSAT, NMSQT, and SAT Version)
Kyle’s Free Digital SAT Math Desmos Course
Learn Desmos Playlist
Desmos User Guide
Mastering Desmos for the Digital SAT
App or Scrap? (ep 8): Digital SAT Strategy Guide
RELATED EPISODES
RESOURCES FOR THE DIGITAL SAT
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. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
 

When Ralph Waldo Emerson suggested that it's the journey, not the destination, that matters, he may not have had higher education in mind. That said, applicants often overlook what really matters on the road to college. Amy and Mike invited college consultant Arthur Smith to explore the intrinsic value of the college admissions process.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What does the college admissions process entail in general?
What is actually involved when you focus on “the process” instead of the outcome?
How can focusing on “the process” lead to more satisfying outcomes in the admissions process?
What roles do ambition and authenticity play in the college admissions process?
In what ways does learning how to focus on the process set students up with a valuable life lesson that goes beyond the college applications?
MEET OUR GUEST
With 25 years of experience working with students and their parents at Cornell and Duke Universities as an advising dean, admissions chair, and Division I head coach, Dr. Arthur Smith is intimately familiar with what it takes to be successful in the selective admissions process.
Dr. Smith, known as Artie to his colleagues and students, studied history and Africana Studies as an undergraduate in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University, where he graduated cum laude and with distinction in all subjects. He continued his education at Duke University, where he earned his MA and Ph.D. in history. Returning to Cornell, Artie served as an assistant director of admissions in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and was the athletics liaison between the seven different admissions offices at Cornell and the university’s 36 varsity teams. He then spent nine years as an admissions and advising dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, where he chaired admissions committees and guided hundreds of students through the college’s curriculum. His unique journey in higher education has also been defined by a highly successful 23 years of coaching track and field and cross country at the Division I level. A nationally recognized distance coach who worked with 19 All-Americans, 31 Ivy League champions, and 12 Eastern champions while coaching 19 Ivy League Championship teams, Artie was Cornell’s head women’s track and field and cross country coach.
During his time in the Ivy League, Artie chaired admissions committees and evaluated over 20,000 applications, served as a faculty advisor and advising dean, managed the TransAtlantic Series, an Exchange between Cornell University and Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the United Kingdom, and mentored hundreds of student-athletes.
Artie’s teams and athletes were outstanding in the classroom, with six of his students earning CoSIDA Academic All-American honors, two students earning NCAA Elite 89/90 honors, and three going on to win Marshall and Goldwater Scholarships. Notably, every student he coached who applied for medical school, veterinary school, or law school gained admission.
Artie is here to listen and work with each student’s goals. His two decades of mentoring experiences contribute to his firm belief that success in college—and beyond—comes from a person’s creativity, authenticity, and concern for others. He can help you tell your story.
Artie can be reached at https://www.arthursmithadvising.com.
LINKS
RELATED EPISODES
POWER DYNAMICS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
FINDING YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF IN THE PATH 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. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
 

California is the most populous American state with a veritable cornucopia of exceptional and reasonably well-funded high schools. Why, then, do Californian teens need to travel hundreds–and sometimes thousands–of miles to sit for the SAT or ACT? Amy and Mike invited student Sebastian Gillmore and educator David Blobaum to discuss the need for testing sites in California.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What is the problem with SAT & ACT testing locations in California?
Why are testing locations so scarce?
Why is access to testing so critically important for students?
What has been done so far to address this problem?
What else can and should be done to expand testing access in California?
MEET OUR GUEST
David Blobaum is the director of outreach for the National Test Prep Association, which works to support the appropriate use of testing in admissions. He is a co-founder of Summit Prep, which opened its doors in 2013 to help empower students through education to succeed in life.
Sebastian Gillmore is a rising Senior at Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, California just North of San Francisco. He’s a hardworking student with a passion for mathematics, and he’s on a mission to make college entrance exams, like the SAT and ACT, more accessible for California high school students. He recently authored an Op-Ed in the LA Times titled, “I live in Northern California. Why do I have to travel hundreds of miles to take the SAT?”
David first appeared on the podcast in episode 79 to discuss Why The SAT And ACT Are Awesome and in episode 421 for a Sponsor Spotlight.
David can be reached at www.summitprep.com.
LINKS
I live in Northern California. Why do I have to travel hundreds of miles to take the SAT? 
It Shouldn't Be This Hard to Take the SAT and ACT
https://testaccess.org/
RELATED EPISODES
TESTING POLICIES AND EDUCATIONAL EQUITY REVISITED
WHY UC WAS WRONG TO STOP USING THE SAT
WHO LOSES WHEN WE ABOLISH ENTRANCE EXAMS?
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. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
 

The bespoke nature of homeschooling can be a great advantage for tailoring education to a student’s individual needs. However, those differentiated programs present challenges when the time comes to apply to college. Amy and Mike invited education consultants Michele Evard and Holly Ramsey to review the intricacies of college documentation for homeschoolers.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What do stakeholders in the admission process need to know about homeschool documentation?  What are some best practices for homeschool documentation? How do homeschoolers show the depth & breadth of their studies?  Who writes recommendations for homeschooled students, and do colleges believe them?  Should homeschoolers claim credit for every potential learning experience?
MEET OUR GUESTS
Dr. Michele Evard is an independent educational consultant who assists homeschooling families with planning & documenting K-12 education as well as the college application process; she specializes in assisting families of gifted and 2E young people. 
She is an active member of multiple professional organizations including IECA, NACAC, SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted) and the Digital Learning Collaborative. 
While homeschooling her three children and mentoring others, Dr. Evard co-founded Many Rivers Unschoolers and served as president of Voyagers Homeschool Cooperative and Resource Center. 
Michele can be reached at https://evardconsulting.com.
Holly Ramsey is an independent educational consultant specializing in working with homeschoolers and their parents to create clear, concise, and compelling college applications and counselor documents.
She is a professional member of Independent Educational Consultants Association, where she served in a variety of roles and is a recipient of IECA’s Making a Difference Award. Ms. Ramsey is also a member of the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling. 
In addition to homeschooling her own five children over 20+ years, Holly taught writing to hundreds of homeschoolers through Brave Writer™ and mentored new Brave Writer instructors.
Holly can be reached at https://thoughtfulhomeschooling.com. 
Dr. Michele Evard and Holly Ramsey are co-authors of College UnMazed: Your Guide to Design & Document Your Homeschool. This book provides guidance for any professionals helping homeschoolers in the college admission process.
Tests and the Rest listeners can use the coupon code HOMESCHOOL10 for 10% off this book AND anything else on the College UnMazed site.
LINKS
College UnMazed: Your Guide to Design & Document Your Homeschool
How to Create Your School Profile As A Homeschooler
RELATED EPISODES
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS FOR HOMESCHOOLERS
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: GOOD VS. GREAT
CRAFTING YOUR COLLEGE RESUME
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. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
 

We focus so much on our teens getting through high school and into college yet spend little time looking at the space between or how everyone involved needs to change and adapt for success. Amy and Mike invited educator Dr. Andrea Malkin Brenner to discuss the parent transition from high school to college.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
What role can parents play to support their students as they become self-reliant and college-ready?
What are the major differences between being a high school parent and a college parent?
How can parents help students prepare for the academic, practical, and social responsibilities that come with independence?
When should conversations about college transitions ideally begin?
What are scenarios parents of college students might not expect but should be ready for?
MEET OUR GUEST
Dr. Andrea Malkin Brenner is the creator of the Talking College™ card decks and co-author of How to College: What to Know Before You Go (and When You’re There), a leading guide for college-bound students and their parents/guardians. Andrea brings 25 years of experience as a college professor and university administrator at American University in Washington, DC to her presentations with high school and college audiences. See her website for her articles, podcast recordings, and upcoming talks and webinars.
Find Andrea at www.talkingcollege.com.
LINKS
Talking College card decks 
How to College: What to Know Before You Go (and When You’re There)
RELATED EPISODES
THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN THE COLLEGE PROCESS
ADVOCACY FOR PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOLERS
THE W-CURVE MODEL AND NEW COLLEGE STUDENTS
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. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

When the most important exams in our lives tend to be meticulously crafted instruments based research, statistics, and standards, a sloppy and spontaneous approach just won’t cut it. Amy and Mike invited educator Russ Hanush to outline a scientific approach to test-taking.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
Why is general knowledge an irreplaceable foundation for test takers? 
What’s the best way to create study aids?
What test-taking strategies do most students fail on? 
How can you leverage the odds on multiple choice? 
What physical preparation is necessary for a successful testing experience? 

MEET OUR GUEST
Inspired by the rings of Saturn at 8 years old, fascinated by San Francisco's Exploratorium at 14, and motivated to make a difference in education when he witnessed a mother unable to help her child with their homework, Russ Hanush has always been about learning. After a research career in nuclear physics and chemical kinetics spanning decades at America's national laboratories and inventing The Periodic Table of Dimensions, Russ opened Physics Phor Phun Tutoring in 2007. 
Over the years the name has changed, Physics Phor Phun Tutoring is now Acclaimed Tutoring, and they've grown from a single tutor driving around the dusty vineyards of Templeton and Paso Robles, CA to helping students from Beverly Hills to Portland, OR, and Honolulu to Paris, France. Acclaimed Tutoring has helped hundreds of students become successful scientists, engineers, doctors, lawyers, vets, teachers, professional athletes, and entertainers. 
Besides inventing The Periodic Table of Dimensions, Russ is also the author of over a dozen technical publications as well as two books: The Parent's Guide to Choosing the Right Tutor and Harnessing Your Seven Senses. 
Helping students navigate their education, and their life after high school is Russ' passion. With one-on-one tutoring available for most math and science classes from middle school through college, college, and career counseling, and standardized test preparation, Russ' promise is to help students become happier, more confident, and more successful, guaranteed.
Russ can be reached at 805-610-1725 or russ@acclaimedtutoring.com.

LINKS
Harnessing Your Seven Senses: Help Your Child Become A Happier, More Confident, More Successful Student by Harnessing Their Seven Senses (A Scientific Approach to Study Skills)
The Periodic Table of Dimensions
PhysicsPhorPhun AP Resources
RELATED EPISODES
EFFECTIVE STUDY SKILLS FOR TEST PREPARATION
MAKING LEARNING SCIENCE WORK FOR YOU
HOW TO BECOME A RIDICULOUSLY EFFECTIVE STUDENT
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. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you’re interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.