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Ivy League Prep Academy Podcast
Equipping you to successfully pursue the college of your dreams. I believe that the world needs every student to reach their full potential. College admittance shouldn't hold you back. I'm an educator and Harvard grad who has been in your shoes. I designed this podcast to accompany the Ivy League Challenge (my online course) to support my listeners. I've met with graduates, admissions officers, and professors to identify the criteria used to select candidates. I've crafted a road map for success and can share it with you.
Episodes
285 episodes
What Matters Most During High School
Real innovation isn’t about being impressive or unique unless it’s also about being useful.In this episode, three teens show how curiosity and compassion can combine to create meaningful change.Illia Denisov uses robotics and AI to p...
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Season 2
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Episode 244
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26:31
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The Kind of Leadership Colleges Can't Ignore
Most students think leadership starts with a title like captain, president, or founder.But true leadership doesn’t wait for permission.In this episode, two teens prove that real impact begins the moment you care enough to act.&nb...
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Season 2
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Episode 243
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29:08
Innovation-ish: How Anyone Can Create Breakthrough Solutions with Rich Braden
Harvard and Stanford educator and co-author of the bestselling book Innovation-ish Richard Braden joins me to discuss how his book can help my students. We explore how teens, parents, and aspiring innovators of all ages can...
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Season 2
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Episode 242
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46:10
Mastery Training from the Global Impact Council training
Most people romanticize mastery.They talk about "grit" and "passion" and "work ethic," but avoid the uncomfortable truth:Mastery is build by failing-- over and over again. In public, in private, both big and small failures. Failur...
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Season 2
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Episode 241
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27:02
Prof. Elizabeth Lee: How Aligning with Core Values Helps You Rock College
Dickinson College professor Elizabeth Lee joins us to discuss how the aligning your choices around your core values helps you prepare for college and for long-term success. We discuss why her daughter, a high school freshman, signed...
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Season 2
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Episode 240
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36:22
Personal Statement College Essay Workshop wk 2 Your Garbage Draft
You’ve done the hard thinking. You’ve found your insights, explored your contradictions, and reflected deeply. But now you’re stuck—staring at a blank page, unsure how to turn those ideas into a compelling college essay.In this episode, ...
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Season 2
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Episode 239
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13:46
How to Get your Personal Statement Done
If you’ve been putting off your college essay, dreading it like a monkey on your back—you’re not alone. But what if you could stop trying to sound impressive and start telling a story that actually matters?In this episode, I’ll ...
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Season 2
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Episode 238
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16:46
Essay Workshop Prep Episdoe
The personal statement can be one of the most confusing and stressful parts of the college application — but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, I share a few key do's and don'ts to help you avoid common pitfalls and start your ess...
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Season 2
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Episode 237
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19:58
How to Get the College Essay Monkey Off Your Back — Before July
The personal statement is one of the most important — and misunderstood — parts of the college application. In this short, powerful episode, Steve Gardner explains why so many students struggle to get started, what the real purpose of the perso...
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Season 2
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Episode 236
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14:47
What Ivy League Admits Do After AP Exams
You’ve made it to the end of AP season—or you're just about to. So… what now? In this episode, I share what successful students actually do after their exams are over to prepare for college applications. These are the same strategies u...
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Season 2
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Episode 235
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23:22
Smarter Summer, Stronger Application
Are you feeling pressure to make the most of summer—but not sure what actually matters for college admissions? In this episode, Steve Gardner breaks down the three most common mistakes high-achieving students make when planning their s...
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Season 2
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Episode 234
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24:52
How My Daughter Got Into Dartmouth, by Tessymol Jose
Steve sits down with Tessymol Jose — the inspiring mother of Erica, one of our incredible students — to tell the full, raw story of their college admissions journey.This isn’t a sugar-coated success story. It’s a front-row seat to the ov...
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Season 2
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Episode 233
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48:13
Curiosity is a Skill to Develop
This episode is a special one — made especially for parents of Curiosity Lab students, but meaningful for anyone raising a curious preteen.Inside, Steve shares:Why curiosity is a skill, not a personality trait —...
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Season 2
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Episode 232
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23:36
How Passion Actually Works: From Disengagement to Mastery
Most teens today feel overwhelmed, burned out, or stuck in the race to be impressive — all while secretly wondering: “How do some students become so great, so young?”In this episode, we break down the real process of building pa...
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Season 2
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Episode 231
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1:03:37
The Hidden Test: What Colleges are Really Looking For
What if the real test in college admissions isn’t the one you think it is?In this episode, we unpack “The Hidden Test”—the one that’s not on any syllabus and can’t be studied for with flashcards. Drawing from a powerful psycholo...
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Season 2
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Episode 230
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24:23
Launching the Curiosity Lab with Ava D
In this episode, I’m thrilled to introduce something brand new — Curiosity Lab, a program designed to ignite the minds of 10–13-year-olds through real-world learning, led by inspiring high school mentors.Our very first teacher is ...
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Season 2
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Episode 229
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36:48
The Curiosity Window
What if your child’s future success—especially with college admissions—hinges on how curious they become before they even get there?In this episode, I break down the Curiosity Window, the critical developmental phas...
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Season 2
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Episode 228
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25:18
What to Do When Your Teen is Overwhelmed
If you’ve ever felt helpless watching your teen struggle with stress, you’re not alone. Many parents want to help but don’t know how to do it in a way that actually works. In this episode, we dive into why today’s teens feel more overwhelmed th...
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Season 2
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Episode 227
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28:23
A Message to My Teenage Self About College Admissions
If I could sit down with my teenage self, I’d have a lot to say about college admissions—especially in today’s high-pressure environment. In this episode, I share the advice I wish someone had given me at 16, including the biggest misconception...
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Season 2
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Episode 226
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27:45
Visualize Yourself in Your Dream College Today
What if you could see yourself, right now, as a student at your dream college? What if you could feel what it’s like to walk across campus, sit in a classroom, and engage with world-class professors and peers?In this special guided visua...
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Season 2
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Episode 225
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14:51
Don't Chase Gold- Stand Out in College Admissions
Most students believe that getting into a top college means checking all the right boxes—perfect grades, leadership roles, and a long list of impressive achievements. But what if that’s actually the wrong approach?In this episode,...
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Season 2
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Episode 224
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15:40
Build a Standout Application in 3 Steps
Most families assume that strong grades, leadership roles, and packed extracurriculars will guarantee college admissions success. But I explain why top schools aren’t just looking for impressive students—they’re looking for memorable student...
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Season 2
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Episode 223
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19:05
College App Roadmap Workshop day 2 (of 2)
We just completed our Holistic College Application Roadmap workshop.Enjoy our final day (day 2) here. To register for the Ivy League Challenge, go to TILC.to/register-----To register for the Ivy League Ch...
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Season 2
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Episode 222
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1:23:56