{"podcast":{"title":"Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel","slug":"admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707","podcast_index_feed_id":6069707,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/461571/rss","website_url":"https://sites.libsyn.com/461571","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/7/0/7/9/70790ea0084cb796a04421dee9605cbd/AP_cover_art.png","author":"Thomas Caleel","episode_count":136,"summary":"Does thinking about applying to college, grad school, or prep school make your head spin? The Admittedly Podcast is for both parents and students preparing for or navigating school admissions. We aim to demystify the admissions process and share with you what you really need to know to succeed. Our host, Thomas Caleel, former director of MBA admissions and financial aid for the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, is here to help. He is a lifelong entrepreneur and CEO of a global admissions consulting agency where he works with families worldwide to help them achieve their educational goals. New episodes go live every Tuesday and Thursday. Learn from our guest speakers, live coaching sessions, and weekly solo episodes. Have admissions questions you'd like answered on the show? Apply to be coached by Thomas himself on one of our upcoming recordings. In this podcast, we don't promise easy answers or quick fixes. But with decades of experience under his belt, Thomas will address the practical aspects of applying to school and how to think like an admissions officer to improve your college or prep school application.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707"},"episode":{"title":"S4E33: Do The SAT and ACT Still Matter? Test Optional Policies and the Ivy League Explained","slug":"s4e33-do-the-sat-and-act-still-matter-test-optional-policies-and-the-ivy-league-explained","published_at":"2025-09-26T14:43:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/s4e33-do-the-sat-and-act-still-matter-test-optional-policies-and-the-ivy-league-explained","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707","url":"https://0d82b450-fcc2-4086-b871-7e76ac366a12.libsyn.com/s4e33-do-the-sat-and-act-still-matter-test-optional-policies-and-the-ivy-league-explained","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/0d82b450-fcc2-4086-b871-7e76ac366a12/TEST_OPTIONAL_PODCAST_copy.mp3?dest-id=3894051","summary":"In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast , host Thomas Caleel unpacks one of the most debated topics in college admissions: test optional policies . Are they really leveling the playing field, or just creating more confusion? Drawing from his decades of admissions experience, Thomas explains how test optional began, what it means for students today, and why the future of standardized testing is shifting once again. Key Takeaways The Origins of Test Optional: COVID-19 accelerated the move away from testing, with schools adopting test optional to expand diversity and boost application numbers. Equity and Access: Standardized tests often disadvantage lower-income students due to differences in tutoring access, prep resources, and early exposure to academic vocabulary. The Reality vs. PR: Colleges also use test optional strategically: to lower admit rates, attract more applicants, and keep flexibility for admits such as athletes or donor-linked students. Why Test Scores Still Matter: Strong SAT/ACT results can offset weaker grades, help combat grade inflation, and provide admissions officers with a clearer measure of academic readiness. Who Benefits from Test Optional: Policies may help first-gen, low-income, or students with extenuating circumstances — but for many, not submitting scores can raise red flags. The Road Ahead: Elite schools like MIT, Yale, and Dartmouth are reinstating test requirements. For 2025 and beyond, students should treat testing as essential. Practical Advice for Students: Start preparing early. Use free tools like Khan Academy, peer tutoring, or paid resources. Build consistency and discipline, because \"hope is not a strategy.\" Test optional policies may change, but one thing remains constant: preparation and intentional strategy make all the diff…","meta_description":"In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast , host Thomas Caleel unpacks one of the most debated topics in college admissions: test optional policies . Are…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1191,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/episodes/s4e33-do-the-sat-and-act-still-matter-test-optional-policies-and-the-ivy-league-explained/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/s4e33-do-the-sat-and-act-still-matter-test-optional-policies-and-the-ivy-league-explained.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}