To test or not to test? Post-COVID, that is the question

The pandemic led in-person college admissions exams to be abruptly cancelled and forced universities to adopt ad-hoc policies that have still not been completely normalized.

If you or your child are navigating the college admissions journey, you know it’s become a minefield of test options and requirements–and if you’ve been through it yourself, you know how stressful the process can be.

Tune in to this week’s N.E.T. Collective Podcast as we discuss the SAT and ACT! In this conversation we cover what these tests are and how they’re different, whether you or your child should take one, and, if so, which one. Learn which skillsets are best showcased by which exam; suss out the differences between test blind, optional, and required policies. Most importantly, join us in a conversation that remembers the human in all of it.

Join us @ netcollective.org or wherever you get your podcast. We’re here to help you: Navigating Everything Together, from classroom to college to careers & beyond. One conversation at a time.

#netcollective, #SAT, #ACT, #SATvsACT, #collegeadmissions, #testblind, #testoptional, #testrequired, #netcollectivepodcast, #testanxiety, #postCOVID, #

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Have you ever felt stuck with your career?

Maybe:

· figuring out your college major

· launching or pivoting your career

· considering what’s next after raising kids or closing a chapter

If so - tune into your internal compass to help guide you.

If you don’t know what your internal compass is, or where to find it, then tune into NET Collective Podcast to learn more. Learn about your true North: Values, South: Strengths and Skills, East: Everything that Excites you, and West: Who you are, how your Wired up. Everyone has an “Internal Compass”, you simply need to know where to find it and how to leverage it to best guide you.

Join us @ netcollective.org or wherever you get your podcast. We’re here to help you: Navigating Everything Together, from classroom to college to careers & beyond. One conversation at a time.

#netcollective, #internalcompass, #careers, #careercoaching, #gettingunstuck, #whatsnext, #netcolectivepodcast, #unstuck, #choosingamajor, #launchingcareers

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Executive functioning skills are the brain’s management system — the invisible engine behind how we manage life. They are the set of mental processes that help us organize our days, manage time, regulate emotions, stay focused, adapt, and follow through on what matters. When these skills are working well, life feels doable. When they’re not, even bright, capable people can feel stuck, overwhelmed, or constantly behind.

In this first episode of our Executive Functioning Series, we take a deep, practical look at what executive functions actually are, why they are essential for success across school, work, relationships, and daily life, and how they show up in real-world behavior — not just in textbooks or testing reports.

In this episode we unpack the full executive functioning system, including:

• Organization
• Time management
• Planning and prioritizing
• Working memory
• Self-regulation and emotional control
• Self-monitoring
• Task initiation
• Cognitive flexibility
• Sustained attention and focus

These skills don’t operate in isolation — they work together as an interconnected system. Challenges in one area often ripple into others, which is why executive functioning difficulties are commonly seen in individuals with ADHD, learning differences, anxiety, and in many high-achieving people who simply feel overwhelmed by competing demands.

This episode lays the foundation for understanding why someone can be intelligent, motivated, and full of potential — yet still struggle with organization, productivity, follow-through, or consistency.

This conversation kicks off an ongoing series. Every third episode of NET Collective will focus on a specific executive functioning skill, with future episodes offering practical strategies, supports, and tools for children, teens, college students, professionals, parents, and educators.

If you’ve ever wondered why getting started feels so hard, why time slips away, why plans don’t translate into action, or why daily life can feel more exhausting than it “should,” this series is designed to give you clarity, language, and direction.

👉 Visit our website for companion handouts and resources aligned with each episode at: www.netcollective.org

Because understanding how your brain manages life isn’t just necessary — it’s empowering.

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