In 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 admissions process.

What are five things you will learn in this episode?

1. How is AI changing the way students search for colleges and navigate the application process?

2. How should students and parents be using AI in the college process—and where should they draw the line?

3. What AI-powered tools should parents, counselors, and IECs be aware of?

4. How can counselors use AI to manage caseloads more efficiently while maintaining a personal touch?

5. What does a student-first future look like in an AI-driven college admissions landscape?

MEET OUR GUEST

Sam Bernstein is the co-founder of Loper, a free mobile app designed to help students explore and discover their best educational opportunities after high school. The inspiration for Loper came out of the pandemic, where “life on pause” led to two college friends (Sam and his co-founder Eric) spending long nights discussing their shared passion: education. Fast forward two years, and they quit their jobs to launch Loper, which has now helped nearly 200,000 students find best-fit opportunities after high school.

Since founding Loper, Sam has spoken at nearly a dozen industry conferences, and he always loves the opportunity to present to both students and parents on college and career readiness. Sam lives in Chicago, loves to bike, and (so far) has kept up with his 2025 resolution to read more fiction. His favorite podcast is “Revolutions” by Mike Duncan.

Sam has previously appeared on the podcast in episode 360 to discuss FINDING YOUR COLLEGE FIT.

The best place to connect with Sam is on LinkedIn. If you have questions about Loper or are interested in either a virtual or live presentation to your students, you can reach him at sam@getloper.com.

LINKS

AI Is Taking Over College Admissions

Incorporating AI into the Admissions Process

Loper

ESAI

CollegeCraft.Ai

TurboLearn AI

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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 and LEAP. 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 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?

1. How was the IECA Conference in Detroit?

2. Was our presentation on Scaling Your Practice well received?

3. What projects are Mike and Amy working on?

4. Who should attend the Game Plan for the Enhanced ACT seminar?

5. What does the next month hold 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

2025 NTPA National Conference

RELATED EPISODES

EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: April 2025

EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: March 2025

EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: February 2025

EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2025

EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: December 2024

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 and LEAP. 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 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 are five things you will learn in this episode?

1. Research says that SAT/ACT scores are better predictors of success at Ivy-plus colleges than are high school grades–why?

2. Have any other colleges beyond the Ivy-plus colleges made similar statements?

3. Why have colleges not gone back to requiring test scores then if they're so predictive?

4. Do test-optional colleges value SAT/ACT scores?

5. Are test-blind colleges blind to all tests?

MEET OUR GUEST

David Blobaum graduated from the University of Chicago with honors both from the college and in his major. In college, he took seriously the University of Chicago’s aim of a “Renaissance” or well-rounded education and took courses in 17 different disciplines, ranging from Statistics and Economics to Philosophy and Art History. Since then, he has devoted himself to helping students reach their potential on the SAT and ACT and, more broadly, to help them succeed through education.

To that end, in 2013, he founded Summit Prep with a former UChicago classmate. They now have two tutoring centers in New Jersey, and their team of SAT/ACT experts privately tutors over 500 students per year. David is a consultant to schools on SAT/ACT best practices, personally trains each Summit Prep tutor one-on-one, and tutors a select few students himself. David not only teaches students the necessary subject matter but also motivates them to continually strive towards their potential.

David first appeared on the podcast in episode 79 to discuss Why The SAT And ACT Are Awesome, in episode 582 to discuss The Need For Testing Sites In California, and in episode 421 for a Sponsor Spotlight.

Find David at https://summitprep.com/.

LINKS

Common Data Set

AP Exam Scores Are Important For College Admissions

The Rumors Are... True. Testing is Coming Back.

SAT And ACT Scores Are More Predictive Than Grades?

RELATED EPISODES

HOW GRADING POLICIES INFLUENCE GRADE INFLATION

WHO LOSES WHEN WE ABOLISH ENTRANCE EXAMS?

WHY TESTS MATTER: STUDENT PERSPECTIVES

WHY UC WAS WRONG TO STOP USING THE SAT

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 and LEAP. 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.