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In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel speaks with Michelle Chasin, Associate Director of Advantage Testing New York and senior tutor with more than 30 years of experience working with high school students. Michelle specializes in tutor development, long-term academic mentorship, and supporting students through test preparation, foundational skill-building, and the emotional challenges of high-pressure academic environments.
Together, Thomas and Michelle discuss how students actually learn, why academic anxiety is rising, and how consistent practice and strong process habits set students up for success not only on standardized tests but throughout high school, college, and beyond.
Key Topics:
Why academic anxiety has increased and how to help students break through it
What "missing foundations" look like and how long-term tutoring repairs them
How consistent, incremental practice outperforms last-minute cramming
Why failure and "messing up" are critical parts of real learning
Effective ways parents can support academic growth without increasing pressure
How to motivate gifted students who appear disengaged
Lessons from competitive chess that apply directly to test prep and high-level academics
Why there is no such thing as a "natural test taker" — only strong processes and habits
Guest:
Michelle Chasin: Associate Director of Advantage Testing New York, senior tutor, mentor, and parent of a seven-time national chess champion, with three decades of experience supporting students through deep, long-term academic development.
Learn more about Admittedly's partnership with Advantage Testing: admittedly.co/programs
Follow Admittedly: Instagram and TikTok: @admittedlyco
By Thomas Caleel4.7
2424 ratings
In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel speaks with Michelle Chasin, Associate Director of Advantage Testing New York and senior tutor with more than 30 years of experience working with high school students. Michelle specializes in tutor development, long-term academic mentorship, and supporting students through test preparation, foundational skill-building, and the emotional challenges of high-pressure academic environments.
Together, Thomas and Michelle discuss how students actually learn, why academic anxiety is rising, and how consistent practice and strong process habits set students up for success not only on standardized tests but throughout high school, college, and beyond.
Key Topics:
Why academic anxiety has increased and how to help students break through it
What "missing foundations" look like and how long-term tutoring repairs them
How consistent, incremental practice outperforms last-minute cramming
Why failure and "messing up" are critical parts of real learning
Effective ways parents can support academic growth without increasing pressure
How to motivate gifted students who appear disengaged
Lessons from competitive chess that apply directly to test prep and high-level academics
Why there is no such thing as a "natural test taker" — only strong processes and habits
Guest:
Michelle Chasin: Associate Director of Advantage Testing New York, senior tutor, mentor, and parent of a seven-time national chess champion, with three decades of experience supporting students through deep, long-term academic development.
Learn more about Admittedly's partnership with Advantage Testing: admittedly.co/programs
Follow Admittedly: Instagram and TikTok: @admittedlyco

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