What are five things you will learn in this episode?

1. What have Amy and Mike been up to this month?

2. Why is Mike headed to NYC during a busy month?

3. What big project did Amy complete?

4. What is a habit Amy and Mike are trying to build or break?

5. 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

Tutor: Perfectionism is About Fear

Seeley Test Pros/ LEAP HSPT On-Demand Course

RELATED EPISODES

EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: July 2026

EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: June 2026

EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: May 2026

EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: April 2026 

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.

What are five things you will learn in this episode?

1. Why are some colleges eliminating supplemental essays, and do their stated reasons tell the whole story?

2. Are supplemental essays simply another application hurdle?

3. What additional information is elicited through supplemental essays?

4. Which schools have eliminated supplemental essays heading into the 2026-27 admissions cycle? 

5. How should applicants determine whether they should write optional essays?

MEET OUR GUEST

Beth Kraemer is the co-founder of In College Consulting and has spent more than a decade helping families navigate the increasingly complex world of college admissions. With a background in journalism, education, and law, she brings both storytelling expertise and strategic thinking to her work with students.

Beth earned a journalism degree from Northwestern University, a master's degree from The Ohio State University, and a J.D. from the UCLA School of Law. She first became involved in admissions as a Northwestern alumni interviewer. She is a Professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association and regularly visits campuses to stay current on admissions trends.

In addition to her consulting work, Beth serves on the board of the Pinpoint Scholars Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access and leadership in STEM education.

Beth previously appeared on this podcast in episode 715 for an IEC PROFILE.

Beth can be reached at incollegeconsulting.com.  

LINKS

The Admissions Funnel Is Clogged. Here's How to Fix It.

Some Colleges Drop Supplemental Essays for 2026–27

Fall 2027 Essay Question - UGA Admissions

Georgia Tech Simplifies First-Year Admission Application by Removing Supplemental Essay

UVA removes supplemental essay prompt from 2025-2026 undergraduate application

RELATED EPISODES

COLLEGE ENROLLMENT TRENDS FOR 2026 AND 2027 

WHY THIS COLLEGE, WHY THIS MAJOR?

WHY OPTIONAL STATEMENTS AREN'T OPTIONAL

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.