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, St ...
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Mike Bergin Podcasts
Hosted by life long Rangers fans Joe Wisniewski and Mike Bergin!
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Listen along as we talk to some of the most outragous and radical people in the outdoor and extreme sports worlds. We will cover extreme sports related news and events around the world. You'll be able to hear all the experiences of different athletes, photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
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Ready to grow your wealth through smarter investing decisions? With The Meb Faber Show, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and investment fund manager, Meb Faber, brings you insights on today’s markets and the art of investing. Featuring some of the top investment professionals in the world as his guests, Meb will help you interpret global equity, bond, and commodity markets just like the pros. Whether it’s smart beta, trend following, value investing, or any other timely market topic, each w ...
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660. HOW ARE POLITICAL CHANGES SHAPING HIGHER ED?
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26:26The walls of academia have always seemed distant and distinct from the corridors of political power. But even the ivory tower isn’t safe during periods of dramatic societal change. Amy and Mike invited educator Dominique Padurano to explore how political changes are shaping higher education. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What…
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Dan Rasmussen & D.A. Wallach on The Future of Biotech and Healthcare | #589
1:27:27
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1:27:27Today’s guests are Dan Rasmussen, founder of Verdad Advisers, and D.A. Wallach, a venture capital investor for Time BioVentures and an acclaimed recording artist. Pharrell Williams discovered D.A.’s band Chester French and signed the group to Interscope Records. In today’s episode, Dan & D.A. discuss the current state of biotech, the impact of AI o…
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659. HOW MUCH AI IS JUST RIGHT IN THE COLLEGE ESSAY?
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27:47Smart college applicants know not to let artificial intelligence agents write their entire personal statement but might shudder at the idea of ignoring these tools entirely. How much is too much? Amy and Mike invited educator Razi Hecker to explore how much AI is just right in the college essay. What are five things you will learn in this episode? …
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Victor Haghani on Predicting the Market and Disciplined Asset Allocation | #588
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1:14:32Today’s guest is Victor Haghani, founder and CIO of Elm Wealth, which focuses on managing wealth with an emphasis on diversification, low fees, and tax efficiency. He’s also the author of The Missing Billionaires: A Guide to Better Financial Decisions. In today’s episode, Victor explores the Crystal Ball challenge, and how position sizing can be ev…
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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 takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and education. …
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657. DOES IT MATTER IF YOU TAKE CALCULUS IN HIGH SCHOOL?
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30:22If you’re applying as a STEM major or looking at selective colleges, there’s no question that you should consider taking advanced or accelerated math courses at the secondary level. The question instead revolves around which course to take. Amy and Mike invited researcher Adam Tyner to review whether taking calculus in high school is absolutely nec…
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Rob Arnott & Cam Harvey on Passive Investing Risks, The AI Boom & Stimulus That Doesn’t Stimulate | #587
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1:12:36Today’s guests are Rob Arnott, founder and Chairman of the board of Research Affiliates, and Campbell Harvey, Head of Research at Research Affiliates and Professor of Finance at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. In today’s episode, Rob and Cam touch on the state of value investing in a megacap dominated market, emphasizing the potent…
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Most students matriculate directly from high school to college. But what if you’re not like most students? Amy and Mike invited education consultant Julia Rogers to explore how to plan a gap year. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is there a typical profile of "who" takes a gap year? What are the biggest benefits of taking a gap …
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Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Kristen Lefebvre, the National Director of Education at StudyPoint, an educational services company that supports students across the U.S. on their journey to college by providing one-on-one academic and test prep tutor…
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Whitney Baker on the End of ‘Buy the Dip’ & the American Bubble | #586
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1:46:05Today we’re joined by Whitney Baker, founder of Totem Macro and one of the sharpest minds in macro investing. Whitney was previously the head of Emerging Markets at Bridgewater Associates and worked at Soros Fund Management under current Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. In today’s episode, Whitney discusses the current macroeconomic landscape, emp…
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Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Allen Tsao, who started out as an Electrical Engineer (BS at UC Berkeley, and MS at Stanford University), and worked as a full-time engineer for 11 years before switching to tutoring full-time. He loves helping students…
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Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Margaret Duden, Founder of Twin Cities Test Prep Tutor, is a full-time test prep and writing tutor who specializes in helping highly motivated students hone their writing skills, achieve their score goals on the ACT and…
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Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Ren Abraham, the founder of Telos Tutors, a test prep and academic tutoring company serving students in the Philadelphia suburbs and beyond. With nearly two decades of teaching experience across both the humanities and …
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Kim Flynn - Unlocking Alternative Investments | #585
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56:34Today’s guest is Kim Flynn, President of XA Investments, which helps provide access to alternative investments. She was previously the Head of Product Development for Nuveen Investments Global Structured Products Group. In today’s episode, Meb and Kim discuss the democratization of alternative investments in relation to the recent explosion of inte…
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The unfolding changes to the ACT take effect everywhere in September. Are you ready? Let two nationally recognized experts in education–your hosts of the Tests and the Rest podcast–help you understand both the ACT enhancements and how students should navigate them. This free Game Plan for the Enhanced ACT webinar was presented live as part of the T…
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Cole Wilcox on The Power Law of Investing | #584
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1:05:02
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1:05:02Today’s guest is Cole Wilcox, CIO of Longboard Asset Management, a boutique asset manager specializing in alternative investment strategies. In today’s episode, Cole walks through one of my favorite papers of all time, Does Trend-Following Still Work On Stocks? Hint: it does. Cole explains why you have to be a good loser to be a good investor, how …
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650. HOW CAN PAST POOR DECISIONS AFFECT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS?
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25:24To err is human, which makes adolescence a particularly intense expression of the human condition. Yes, we all make mistakes, but some are more glaring and likely to impact acceptance than others. But which ones? Amy and Mike invited student advocates Susan Stone and Kristina Supler to clarify how past poor decisions can affect college admissions. …
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Apollo's Alex Wright on The Role of Private Markets in Modern Portfolios | #583
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50:06Today’s guest is Alex Wright, Global Wealth Strategist at Apollo. In today’s episode, Alex discusses the fragility of public markets, citing high valuations, rising correlations, and limited diversification opportunities, which prompt a need to reassess traditional 60/40 portfolios. Then he walks through the opportunity in private markets, includin…
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649. AI AND THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS
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29:38In a process with as many steps as choosing, applying to, and being accepted at a target higher education institution, small improvements in efficiency at any point can compound dramatically for both applicants and admissions offices. Amy and Mike invited ed tech entrepreneur Sam Bernstein to explore the current state of AI and the college admissio…
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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 educati…
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BCG’s Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak on Global Macro: Recession Risk, Tariffs, Debt Dynamics | #582
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46:35Today’s guest is Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak, Global Chief Economist at BCG and author Shocks, Crises, and False Alarms: How to Assess True Macroeconomic Risk. In today’s episode, Philipp starts by sharing his framework to assess macroeconomic risk, emphasizing the importance of adapting to changing global conditions. Then he applies that framework to…
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647. THE PREDICTIVE VALIDITY OF TEST SCORES IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
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30:39The last thing anybody wants to do is sit for a meaningless test. Entrance exams like the SAT & ACT should be able to inform both test takers and target institutions about the likelihood of success at the next level. So do they? Amy and Mike invited educator David Blobaum to explore the predictive validity of test scores in college admissions. What…
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Not everyone assumes that life after high school automatically entails immediate enrollment in college. Many teens graduate ready to pursue a more practical education. Amy and Mike invited education market researcher Brady Colby to explain the implications of enrolling in a trade school. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What exa…
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Jeremy Grantham, John Arnold & Sam Zell Share Their Most Memorable Investments | #581
19:54
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19:54Today’s episode features the most memorable investments from Jeremy Grantham, John Arnold and Sam Zell. (0:00) Starts (0:53) Jeremy Grantham (5:25) John Arnold (8:24) Sam Zell To listen to the full episodes, click the links below: Jeremy Grantham I: Apple, Spotify, YouTube Jeremy Grantham II: Apple, Spotify, YouTube John Arnold: Apple, Spotify, You…
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One should not take on what is potentially the biggest expense of a lifetime lightly. Motivated students can absolutely make sure college pays off academically, socially, and emotionally; financially, though, can be a big question mark. Amy and Mike invited educator Gage Mersereau to define the concept of true college ROI. What are five things you …
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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 educati…
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Carl Kawaja – Navigating the Investment Landscape: AI, Tariffs, Sports Gambling & More| #580
1:07:13
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1:07:13Today’s guest is Carl Kawaja, a Portfolio Manager with Capital Group for over three decades. In today’s episode, Carl shares insights into his investment philosophy, early experiences, and the current market landscape. He discusses the transformative impact of AI on semiconductor demand, the challenges posed by tariffs and supply chain dynamics, an…
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643. A TEST TAKER’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENHANCED ACT
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33:16The ACT has been a remarkably stable exam, administered in roughly the same way for decades. However, a new version is on the horizon, and some intrepid souls have braved the uncertainty of the field test to experience it. Amy and Mike invited someone who sat for the April 2025 Enhanced ACT to share the test taker’s perspective. What are five thing…
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642. GETTING READY FOR THE AP ECONOMICS EXAM
25:48
25:48
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25:48The Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and AP Economics is no exception. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Michael Rodriguez to share valuable strategies, insights, and resources for gettin…
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641. GETTING READY FOR THE AP PRECALCULUS EXAM
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23:41The Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and AP Precalculus is no exception. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Joey Lin to share valuable strategies, insights, and resources for getting ready…
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640. GETTING READY FOR AP WORLD LANGUAGE EXAMS
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28:22The Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and the various AP World Language and Culture exams are no exception. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Milton Alan Turner to share valuable strategie…
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AKA Not Just Your Tutoring Software–It’s Your Tech Team What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind Wise? How does Wise work? Who currently uses Wise? What kinds of outcomes do users experience? What should someone curious about Wise know about it? ABOUT WISE Founded by a former test prep tutor, Wise is a feature-p…
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UBS’ Paul Donovan on Tariff Trouble, Swiftonomics & Republican Swings | #579
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52:09Today’s guest is Paul Donovan, Chief Economist of UBS Global Wealth Management. In today’s episode, Paul discusses the impact of structural changes in the economy, particularly in relation to flexible working and demographic shifts. The discussion also touches on the disparities in innovation between the US and Europe, the ongoing trend of spending…
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Mental math trains working memory, boosts confidence, supports faster problem-solving, enhances number sense, and facilitates everyday calculations. So why do so many teachers deemphasize this valuable academic and life skill? Amy and Mike invited educator Mike McGibbon to explore the value of mental math and automaticity. What are five things you …
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Francois Rochon - Outperforming the Market for 30+ Years Through Patience, Humility & Rationality | #578
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1:05:07Today’s guest is Francois Rochon, the President of Giverny Capital, which has returned over 15% per year for over 30 years. In today’s episode, Francois walks through the influence of Peter Lynch and Warren Buffett on his investment philosophy. He highlights three principles that have helped him navigate market cycles in his career: patience, humil…
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A test platform by tutors and for tutors Better SAT and ACT Tests, Smarter Analytics with educators Sonya Muthalia and Neill Seltzer What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind ScoreSmart? Which tests does ScoreSmart support? Who currently uses ScoreSmart? What kinds of outcomes do users experience? What should som…
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UBS’ Mark Haefele – The New Rules of Investing From A $4 Trillion Investment Advisor | #577
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56:16Today’s guest is Mark Haefele, Chief Investment Officer of UBS Global Wealth Management, where he advises on over $4 trillion. He’s also the author of ‘The New Rules of Investing.’ In today’s episode, Mark emphasizes the significant role of government spending in shaping investment decisions. He touches on the importance of asset allocation and dis…
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You can’t please everyone, nor should you seek to, because then you won’t please anyone, least of all yourself. When actor Dylan Moran dispensed that bit of wisdom, he probably wasn’t aware of how aptly it applied to highly selective admissions. Amy and Mike invited education consultant Feiyang Liu to highlight the troubling college pleasing epidem…
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635. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Edison Prep AP History Boot Camps
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16:57Learn everything you need to ace the AP U.S and World History Exams in One Day What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind Edison Prep AP History Boot Camps? How do Edison Prep AP History Boot Camps work? Do you need to live in Atlanta to attend Edison Prep AP History Boot Camps? What kinds of outcomes do users exp…
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Christopher Zook - Accessing Private Markets (Pro Sports Teams, Private Equity & GP Stakes)
53:26
53:26
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53:26Today’s guest is Christopher Zook, founder and Chief Investment Officer of CAZ Investments, which has invested $8 billion and is one of the top 180 allocators to private equity in the world. In today’s episode, Christopher explains what led him to build his firm with a focus on private markets. He walks through some of the investment themes he’s fo…
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634. DIVISION III AND IVY LEAGUE ATHLETIC RECRUITMENT
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27:09Many student athletes (or at least their parents) dream of earning a full ride to the college of their dreams. What most applicants find is that having sports on their resumes yields different but still substantial advantages. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Matt Arant to demystify Division III and Ivy League athletic recruitment. What …
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The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and educati…
…
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Barry Ritholtz - Debunking Investment BULLSH$T! | #575
1:18:57
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1:18:57Today’s guest is Barry Ritholtz, CIO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, which manages over $5.7 billion for 3,900 families. His latest book, ‘How Not to Invest,’ offers a blueprint to help you make better decisions and achieve financial success. In today’s episode, Barry & I discuss the pitfalls of relying on experts for investment advice, the dangers …
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632. THE THREE CORE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND TEST PREP
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26:56
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26:56Traits like cognitive flexibility and impulse control strongly influence student grades and test scores to such an extent that they may be best learned in an academic context. Amy and Mike invited educator Ariel Lieberman to explore the relationship between the three core executive functions and test prep. What are five things you will learn in thi…
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Expanding your tutoring business with MentoMind with educators Amit Jain and Jeremy Bryant What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind MentoMind? How does MentoMind work to help with student outcomes? How does MentoMind work to help educators attract students? Who currently uses MentoMind? How is MentoMind helping …
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Buy Stock Where You Shop With Grifin | Aaron Froug | #574
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36:42Today’s guest is Aaron Froug, founder of Grifin, the company that helps you buy stock where you shop. In today’s episode, Aaron explains how the app connects everyday spending with investing by automatically buying stock in a company you make a purchase from. Meb & Aaron also touch on financial literacy, the benefits of consumer loyalty, and the fu…
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So much of the college search and application process looks forward, focusing on the destination. Where a student is coming from matters quite a bit though. Amy and Mike invited educational consultants Aly Beaumont and Meg Joyce to explain the significance of the high school class profile. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What i…
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Jacqueline Faber: A Journey into Dark Academia | #573
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53:57Today’s guest is Jacqueline Faber, the author of The Department … and Meb’s wife! In today’s special episode, Meb & Jacqueline discuss the book’s themes, including trauma, memory, and the impact of the Kitty Genovese case. They both talk about how they approach the writing process, the art of getting noticed in a crowded market, and how to engage y…
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THE DIGITAL SAT: HOW IT STARTED AND HOW IT’S GOING
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35:32A year ago, an innovative new digital adaptive SAT came to the United States–a year after its first appearance internationally. This is the perfect time to find out how College Board feels about both the obstacles and opportunities encountered over this historic transition. Amy and Mike invited Vice President of SAT Suite Program Maureen Forman to …
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In today’s Mebisode, Meb reads his latest paper, “Can We All Invest Like Yale?” ----- Follow Meb on X, LinkedIn and YouTube For detailed show notes, click here To learn more about our funds and follow us, subscribe to our mailing list or visit us at cambriainvestments.com ----- Follow The Idea Farm: X | LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok ----- Intereste…
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