In this episode, Kevin McMullin, Chief Education Officer of Collegewise and founder who grew the company from 9 students in 1999 to serving over 30,000 families, shares insights from 26 years in college admissions. Starting at Princeton Review's corporate headquarters as their spokesperson, Kevin explains how he transitioned to driving to students' kitchen tables before scaling to the largest admissions consulting firm in the industry with 150+ counselors processing roughly 2,000 applications per available position—statistically harder to get hired than getting into Harvard.

Kevin breaks down the brutal mathematics of highly selective admissions, explaining why Princeton could fill two and a half freshman classes with nothing but valedictorians, and reveals the surprising truth behind early decision statistics—Tulane admitted 68% of early decision applicants versus only 2.5% regular decision. He addresses the biggest misconception families have about college essays, explaining why admissions officers can spot when teenagers write "playing volleyball taught me many important lessons about hard work" instead of sounding like themselves, and shares the story of a successful applicant whose opening sentence was "the worst part about being the slowest runner on my cross-country team is that sometimes I fall so far behind I have to stop and ask spectators for directions." Kevin emphasizes that great college essays are "equal opportunity employers" where everyone starts with a blank slate senior year, unlike GPAs and test scores that can't be dramatically improved in one semester, and stresses that students should spend more time building on their strengths than polishing perceived weaknesses—the B-minus in chemistry after studying harder than ever before deserves celebration, not disappointment.

In this episode, Heather Krey, co-president of World Class Tutoring, shares insights from nearly two decades of standardized test prep experience. Managing 50 students annually alongside three other tutors in her virtual company, Heather explains how the pandemic forced her transition from a brick-and-mortar office to Zoom-based tutoring, and reveals her initial excitement followed by reality check when the SAT went digital—making her "hustle to be the expert" in her town on the new format.

Heather addresses the growing gap between straight-A students and their SAT scores, citing a UC San Diego study showing how GPAs now reflect effort rather than content mastery, leaving high-achieving students confused when they score only 500 on math despite their A grades. She breaks down her "revenge on a question" strategy and her business partner Anna's error log system, explaining the crucial difference between understanding something today versus retaining and transferring that knowledge weeks later. Heather emphasizes that the most common skill students lack isn't algebra or grammar—it's the discipline to study for something weeks away instead of homework due tomorrow, and she's frank that tutoring without homework simply doesn't work. She discusses her experiments with AI question generation, admitting ChatGPT initially "did horribly" but now serves as her efficiency tool for double-checking math answers and generating sentence variations, while stressing that one bad question can destroy student confidence or make them dismiss all future questions as flawed.

In this episode, Dennis Vidach, CEO of The College Admissions Experts, shares insights from 12 years of guiding students through the college admissions process. Working with top-tier applicants targeting Ivy League and elite schools, Dennis explains why he sometimes has to scrap well-written essays and start from scratch—many students write about their childhood or treat it like a high school english assignment instead of understanding what admissions officers actually need to see. He reveals his framework for differentiation through the story of a videography student who created compelling homeless interview documentaries instead of traditional volunteering, generating significant donations and demonstrating genuine initiative.

Dennis breaks down the brutal reality of 5-10% acceptance rates, explaining the inherent randomness when choosing between remarkably qualified candidates and why families need to understand that admissions is fundamentally a marketing campaign, not just form-filling. He addresses common mistakes including parents over-editing essays and losing the student's voice, expensive consulting packages that provide poor essay support, and the financial implications of early decision applications that eliminate negotiating power. Dennis emphasizes that beyond the top 20 colleges, the next tier offers exceptional education that families often overlook in their pursuit of prestige.

In this episode, Brooke Henry, a 20-year-old college student and founder of Henry College Prep, shares her journey from taking the SAT in seventh grade through Duke Talent Search to building a thriving test prep business at 18. She explains why the digital SAT represents a radical shift that most prep resources haven't caught up with—particularly how Desmos has transformed math strategy from teaching 15-20 concepts down to just 5-8 patterns.

Brooke reveals why she believes the SAT is the better choice for 95% of students doing any kind of prep, and how her students achieve an average 16-point increase per tutoring hour—triple the national average. She discusses her AI-powered app Stratify, which tracks not just what students missed but why they missed it by analyzing wrong answer choices to identify thinking patterns rather than just content gaps.

From her unconventional marketing approach of taping 100 flyers to neighborhood mailboxes to offering free SAT prep sessions at private schools, Brooke shares how she built her business through uncomfortable but effective face-to-face outreach. She also addresses the biggest mistakes parents make—waiting until junior year and resume stuffing—and explains why college essays actually begin on the first day of freshman year through the depth and initiative students show in their chosen pursuits.

In this episode, Jeremy Ciampa, founder of Higher Learning Test Prep with nearly two decades of experience, shares how starting as a digitally-native company with Skype tutoring made the digital SAT transition seamless for his organization. Working with 60-100 students one-on-one and another 200+ in small groups annually, Jeremy explains how the digital shift gave test makers back control of their materials, making it harder for students to find leaked tests on Reddit. He reveals his approach to the SAT versus ACT decision: strong reading comprehension is the biggest ceiling for SAT success, while the ACT rewards efficiency and speed. Jeremy discusses his evolved homework philosophy—moving away from assigning six days of massive homework to offering on-call support with multiple tutors throughout the week, recognizing that overscheduled high-achieving students were doing SAT work at midnight.

Drawing from his background as a musician and mountaineering experience, Jeremy shares practical anxiety-management techniques including the counterintuitive strategy of squeezing every muscle as hard as you can instead of trying to relax. He explains his systematic approach of coding every released SAT question from 2015-2023 by type, his use of AI trained on 10,000 hours of his tutoring transcripts to generate practice questions, and why the most common skill students lack is breaking hard problems into smaller pieces—citing the quote: "Small minds are capable of great ideas, but great minds proceed by the smallest of stages." Jeremy concludes by reframing test prep not as a hurdle to leap over but as a doorway to walk through—an opportunity for young people to take something seriously for the first time and become serious people in the world.

In this episode, Ben Paris, former Kaplan Curriculum Director with over 30 years of experience and millions of assessment questions under his belt, reveals how today's students have fundamentally changed—from lacking basic study skills to lying about practice test scores post-pandemic. He shares why he now spends time teaching students how to actually study (assembling notes, setting priorities) versus just completing assignments, and discusses the alarming trend of students trusting TikTok and ChatGPT over experienced tutors.

Ben exposes red flags parents should watch for when hiring tutors—including demands for $5,000 upfront payments and seven-page contracts—and explains his philosophy of charging only at the end so families pay for what they use. He shares memorable stories about teaching students when to trust themselves through data analysis, and offers practical advice on evaluating tutors based on connection and communication rather than credentials alone.

In this episode, Jessica Liou reveals why the "simpler" digital SAT micro-passages actually demand sharper precision than long passages—and shares her unexpected approach of teaching strategy before timing. Working with 10-12 students annually, many with learning accommodations, she explains which Bluebook tools can hinder performance and discusses challenging college prestige obsession.

She uncovers scholarship strategies most families miss—including why filing FAFSA/CSS forms matters even when you think you won't qualify—and reveals how merit aid can make elite private schools cheaper than public ones. Jessica shares what "right education" means beyond test scores: students feeling supported, curious, and inspired

In this episode, Jeff Eisenberg, founder of Long Island Test Prep with over 30 years of experience, reveals how the digital transformation forced him to embrace technology despite initially working in a paper-and-pencil world. Managing 110-120 students annually, Jeff explains why most students arrive with pro-SAT bias but need ACT evaluation, and shares his balanced approach to calculator dependency—including the moment he physically grabbed a student's calculator to prevent her from using it for "three squared."

He discusses his systematic analysis of both correct and incorrect answers to find time-saving efficiencies, and explains why New York State's Regents exams create unique tutoring opportunities beyond standardized testing.

In this episode, Henry Nguyen, former engineer turned founder of A STEM Tutoring, reveals how he transformed his approach to education by creating "safety valves" for overwhelmed students—including letting them hit his taekwondo pad when anger strikes. Drawing from his engineering background and self-defense expertise, Henry explains why he tells students they can quit anytime they want, creating psychological freedom that paradoxically increases commitment.

He discusses the digital SAT's adaptive testing challenge where getting early questions wrong dooms your score, and shares his unconventional philosophy of tackling the hardest problems first using martial arts principles of neutralizing the most dangerous opponent.

In this episode, Daniel Ryave, SAT/ACT prep tutor and social media content creator with 262,000 followers, reveals how he transformed from Peace Corps teacher to viral TikTok educator launching satpreptutordaniel.com. Drawing from tutoring 32 students in 2025 alone, Daniel explains why the digital SAT's biggest challenge isn't the content but helping students bounce back after missing questions in the new rapid-fire format.

He discusses his unconventional homework assignments—like taking practice tests with ticking clock YouTube videos playing to simulate test anxiety—and shares why he gives students a dollar every time he makes a mistake during sessions, creating psychological safety that transforms the tutoring dynamic.

In this episode, Megan Padden, owner and founder of O.W.L. Educational Services, reveals how the digital SAT transformation has created unexpected ripple effects across all standardized testing, including the new Enhanced ACT. Drawing from nearly 20 years in test prep, Megan explains how COVID-era educational gaps are still visible today—she can instantly identify which grade level a student experienced their "COVID year" based on specific skill deficits.

She discusses her diagnostic-first approach using full practice tests to target individual weaknesses, and shares why she believes in using multiple resources rather than "reinventing the wheel," explaining how she strategically moves students between easier and harder materials to build confidence before crushing overconfidence.

In this episode, Steve Schecter, founder of MuchSmarter, reveals how his accidental entry into tutoring evolved into a revolutionary learning methodology that positions his company as more neuroscience than test prep. Drawing from classical piano instruction, Steve explains how most 16-17 year olds become "experts on what they can't do" and shares his three-part framework fusing growth mindset, grit, and deliberate practice into unified "habits of thinking, feeling, and learning."

He discusses transforming his boutique practice into Much Smarter games platform and why he treats standardized tests as "safe challenges" that unlock human potential, citing how one "average" student rejected from honors math became a rocket scientist through the right learning framework.

In this episode, Linford, a history and philosophy scholar turned SSAT specialist, reveals why the "old-fashioned" SSAT remains one of the most demanding standardized tests for seventh and eighth graders—testing content that many ninth graders haven't even studied yet. He shares his serendipitous journey from teaching in Jerusalem to discovering that middle school test prep students are often more hardworking and advanced than their high school counterparts, and explains the stark differences between families seeking SSAT preparation versus SAT tutoring.

Linford discusses the surprising reality of COVID's lasting impact on English education, revealing that many current high schoolers don't know basic grammar concepts like FANBOYS conjunctions that tutors could take for granted just five years ago. He also addresses the increasingly complex landscape of curriculum sensitivity in conservative areas, where classic books like "To Kill a Mockingbird" face censorship, forcing tutors to navigate delicate conversations with parents about reading materials. From his "marathon versus sprinter" homework philosophy to why the official EMA practice package remains the only resource worth paying for, Linford offers practical insights into preparing students for one of the most rigorous middle school assessments in American education.

In this episode, Ann Pham, an education veteran and a volunteer tutor for trauma survivors and low-income families, reveals her unconventional approach that achieved a 200-point SAT increase in just three weeks with her first private client. Drawing from her extensive background in brain teasers and critical thinking puzzles, she explains how she transforms traditional test prep through games, escape rooms, and physical activities that engage students' natural learning patterns.

Ann discusses her three-category diagnostic system for identifying whether students struggle with foundational knowledge, reasoning gaps, or executive functioning issues, and shares why she encourages solving math problems by hand rather than relying on Desmos calculator shortcuts. She also reveals her vision for democratizing education by helping high-achieving students from all backgrounds access quality instruction, explaining why she believes brilliant students should attend community colleges rather than just elite institutions, challenging traditional assumptions about educational prestige and accessibility.

In this episode, Gus Elmashni, high school math teacher and test prep veteran, reveals the internal conflict every educator faces when switching between teaching beautiful mathematical reasoning and efficient test-taking shortcuts. Drawing from his data science background, he explains his diagnostic-driven approach that identifies exactly where students waste time per question—data that typical practice tests don't provide.

Gus discusses why leveraging technology like Desmos separates high scorers from those stuck in traditional problem-solving methods, and addresses the punctuation challenges he observes among students, which he connects to texting culture's influence on formal writing skills. He shares insights from his statistical modeling on college admissions patterns, discusses the realistic factors that influence student outcomes beyond tutoring methods, and reveals how he handles the resource shortage challenge when working with high-achieving students who've exhausted standard practice materials multiple times.

In this episode, Sajad Ahmed Qureshi, international STEM educator and founder of DecaScholars, reveals his four-pillar system that consistently helps students achieve 4s and 5s on AP exams. Drawing from over 10,000 hours of teaching across 10+ countries, he explains why content knowledge alone isn't enough and how mental state preparation separates successful students from those who plateau.

Sajad breaks down his approach to "alive" homework that adapts to each student's needs, shares his game-based learning strategies using platforms like Kahoot that reset attention spans every 10-12 seconds, and explains why he researches gaming and pop culture to connect with reluctant learners. He also discusses the cultural differences he's observed between American and Asian students, revealing how individualistic versus parent-driven learning approaches affect tutoring success and why availability beyond scheduled sessions distinguishes premium tutors from basic instruction providers.

In this episode, Lindsey Wander, founder of WorldWise Tutoring, shares her homework approach of assigning 1-3 hours of independent practice per tutoring hour while achieving high completion rates. She reveals her unique strategy of providing students with answer keys, transforming homework into self-advocacy training where students learn to identify exactly where they struggle and articulate their specific learning needs.

Lindsey explains her diagnostic process that separates genuine skill gaps from test anxiety through untimed retesting, and shares why she believes current AI question generation falls short of expert-created content. She discusses her "green light" system for determining test readiness and reveals a memorable case where tutoring sessions helped identify undiagnosed dyslexia in a junior, leading to proper accommodations and academic transformation that changed the student's entire educational trajectory.

In this episode, Anna Moss, founder of Mind the Test, reveals why she starts with diagnostic tests to create genuine student motivation rather than jumping into curriculum. Drawing from her linguistics research on test bias, she challenges the minimal homework trend by assigning up to three hours weekly while maintaining high completion rates through personalized resources.

Anna explains her method for distinguishing real skill gaps from testing mistakes, discusses how Desmos has eliminated her use of the quadratic formula, and addresses why most "careless errors" actually signal content overwhelm. She also shares her AI experiments for generating practice content and explains why tutor-student chemistry ultimately matters more than credentials when parents choose test prep support.

In this episode, Mike Bergin, 30-year test prep veteran and founder of Chariot Learning, challenges conventional wisdom by skipping diagnostic tests to build student rapport first. Drawing from his work training ACT teachers nationwide, he reveals why minimal homework often works better than endless practice problems for overloaded students.

Mike breaks down his method for separating genuine skill gaps from test anxiety through strategic practice test reviews, explains why the enhanced ACT's optional science section creates a new dilemma for students, and addresses the real culprits behind score plateaus: grammar deficits and weak reading comprehension in digitally-native learners. He also shares his philosophy on matching tutor personalities with student needs—because chemistry, he argues, is the final ingredient in test prep success.

In this episode, Michael Ermann, architect and professor at Virginia Tech, explains how he brings design thinking into SAT prep through Olive Book, his animated, asynchronous course. Drawing on his background in teaching architecture, he shares why visuals, stories, and recall-based learning make concepts stick far better than rote memorization.

Michael highlights how Olive Book serves students in the 1100–1300 score range especially well, offering engaging practice tests, spiral learning, and free access for families with financial need. He also reflects on misconceptions about learning styles, the importance of narrative in memory, and why meeting students where they are—both in format and mindset—is key to lasting success.