Ivy League Prep Academy Podcast
Episodes
How Admissions Teams Actually Evaluate Applications
04 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most students believe the way to stand out in college admissions is simple:Do more.Achieve more.Be more impressive.But at the highest levels, that str...
What To Do with Your Summer
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In college admissions, summer serves a very important purpose.It’s one of the only times of year where your time is truly your own… and that makes...
Athletics & College Application Strategy
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Does playing a sport actually help you get into a top college?The answer is more nuanced than most families realize.In this episode, we break down whe...
How Musicians Get Into Ivy League+ Colleges
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If your child spends hours practicing music each day, you may wonder: "is this actually helping with college admissions?"From a strategic pe...
College Admissions Playbook Full Training Recording
29 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today is Ivy Day, and the results are in.This year:5 out of 6 of my 1:1 students who applied to Yale were admittedOthers were accepted to Cornell, Dar...
Getting to the Top Tier
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Internships. Summer programs. Camps.Most students assume these are the key to standing out in college admissions.But what if some of the hardest oppor...
Why Strong Student Still Miss the Mark in Supplemental Essays
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve been following this podcast, you already know that college admissions isn’t about being the most impressive student.But what does a trul...
Inside Yale Admissions: How to Stand Out
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What actually helps a student stand out to Ivy League admissions officers?In this episode, Steve Gardner sits down with Bilal Kharrat, a Yale student ...
Emerging Researchers Incubator with Saisha Pal
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Saisha Pal joins me to discuss her journey through the Emerging Researchers Incubator and how she transformed an interest in mental health and crimina...
Bottlenecks to High Performance in Teens pt. 3: Fear
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve committed to aiming high.You’ve accepted the hard work.So why does something still feel tense beneath the surface?In this final episode of ...
Bottlenecks to High Performance in Teens pt. 2 Time Management
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most teens don’t need more hours in the day, they need to stop losing the hours they already have.In Part 2 of this 3-part series, we tackle the sec...
Bottlenecks to High Performance in Teens pt. 1
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Why do some teens seem to effortlessly rise to the top—winning scholarships, earning Ivy League acceptances, and excelling in everything they do—w...
How My Students Got Into Yale and Other Top Schools
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if college admissions isn’t about being more impressive, but about being more clear?In this episode, I break down why so many hardworking, high...
Supporting an Ambitious Teen with Karen DiNapoli
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it actually look like to support a highly driven teenager—without controlling, pushing, or burning them out?In this episode, I sit down wi...
How can I Make an Impact?
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the last few episodes, we’ve explored the many ways students can lead through innovation, dialogue, and action.We’ve seen, again and again, tha...
High School Leadership Case Studies
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Leadership isn’t about titles as it’s about noticing what matters and taking action.In this episode, three students show how real impact often beg...
Social Media & Teen High Performance
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is social media silently sabotaging your success?In this episode, Steve Gardner — founder of The Ivy League Challenge and Harvard Summer School inst...
What Matters Most During High School
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 com...
The Kind of Leadership Colleges Can't Ignore
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most students think leadership starts with a title like captain, president, or founder.But true leadership doesn’t wait for permission.In this episo...
Innovation-ish: How Anyone Can Create Breakthrough Solutions with Rich Braden
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 student...
Mastery Training from the Global Impact Council training
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most people romanticize mastery.They talk about "grit" and "passion" and "work ethic," but avoid the uncomfortable truth...
Prof. Elizabeth Lee: How Aligning with Core Values Helps You Rock College
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dickinson College professor Elizabeth Lee joins us to discuss how the aligning your choices around your core values helps you prepare for college and ...
Personal Statement College Essay Workshop wk 2 Your Garbage Draft
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve done the hard thinking. You’ve found your insights, explored your contradictions, and reflected deeply. But now you’re stuck—staring at...
How to Get your Personal Statement Done
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 sou...
Essay Workshop Prep Episdoe
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 episod...
How to Get the College Essay Monkey Off Your Back — Before July
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The personal statement is one of the most important — and misunderstood — parts of the college application. In this short, powerful episode, Steve...
What Ivy League Admits Do After AP Exams
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Smarter Summer, Stronger Application
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
How My Daughter Got Into Dartmouth, by Tessymol Jose
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Curiosity is a Skill to Develop
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a special one — made especially for parents of Curiosity Lab students, but meaningful for anyone raising a curious preteen.Inside, S...
How Passion Actually Works: From Disengagement to Mastery
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most teens today feel overwhelmed, burned out, or stuck in the race to be impressive — all while secretly wondering: “How do some students become ...
The Hidden Test: What Colleges are Really Looking For
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Launching the Curiosity Lab with Ava D
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 throug...
The Curiosity Window
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if your child’s future success—especially with college admissions—hinges on how curious they become before they even get there?In this ep...
What to Do When Your Teen is Overwhelmed
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Message to My Teenage Self About College Admissions
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 thi...
Visualize Yourself in Your Dream College Today
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Don't Chase Gold- Stand Out in College Admissions
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most students believe that getting into a top college means checking all the right boxes—perfect grades, leadership roles, and a long list of impres...
Build a Standout Application in 3 Steps
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most families assume that strong grades, leadership roles, and packed extracurriculars will guarantee college admissions success. But I explain why to...
College App Roadmap Workshop day 2 (of 2)
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
College App Roadmap Workshop day 1
19 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We just completed our Holistic College Application Roadmap workshop. Enjoy day 1 here. To register for the Ivy League Challenge, go to TILC.to/regis...
Holistic College App Roadmap Workshop
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Announcing our upcoming workshop: the Holistic College Application RoadmapJanuary 16-17th, 8:00 pm eastern timeTo register, go to TILC.to/CommonApp---...
Complete College Application Audit
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Complete College Application AuditLimited Spots for this personal guidanceSign up at TILC.to/auditExpert Guidance: With years of experience helping st...
Imposter Syndrome, or Just Growth?
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When you decide to grow, you set yourself up for challenging periods of awkwardness. You might feel like you are 'faking it' or that you don...
Charitable Assumptions
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In times of deep conflict and polarization, we can easily become triggered. But when an event occurs, we all respond based on our assumptions coming i...
Ace Your Alumni Interview
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Your alumni interview may be the first interview you've ever been a part of that felt like a high-stakes interview. I hope you realize after list...
How to Demonstrate Leadership (training from the Global Impact Council)
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If your high school is ultra competitive, and you don't want to step on the backs of your peers in order to land a leadership title, then this tr...
Maximize your SAT/ACT Score
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Learn how the top test takers prepare to get such outstanding scores. If you genuinely follow this approach, you can raise your test score by a signif...
Saisha Pal-- Pivot your Impact Project
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Saisha walks us through her journey to an impact project that she is excited about. It took time, probing, and effort for her to land where she is tod...
Leading a Cause with Ava DiNapoli
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ava has founded Junior Speakers and Voices Unmuted; two organizations designed to help others to find their voices and speak up. You can find her webs...
How to Complete the Common App Workshop pt 2
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Day 2 of our workshop helping teens understand what colleges are looking for and how to complete the five different sections of the Common App so you ...
How to Complete your Common App Workshop
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is day 1 of our workshop helping teens understand what colleges are looking for and how to complete the five different sections of the Common App...
Common App Workshop & a New Cohort Opening
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you are stressed about how to best fill out the Common App, I have good news for you. I'll be hosting a free workshop to help you understand h...
Essay Workshop Day 1 recording
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For seniors-- it is time to get those essays done. Listen in to understand what role these essays play in your application, and how to avoid the most ...
Sathvic Interview-- Research with Harvard & MIT Professors
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sathvic has advice that is wise beyond his years. He has landed multiple research opportunities and internships, including with professors from Harvar...
Holistic Common App Overview Pt. 2
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do each of the five sections of the Common App come together tell your story to the admissions officers?What are the most common mistakes people m...
Holistic Common App Overview
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do each of the five sections of the Common App come together tell your story to the admissions officers? What are the most common mistakes people ...
Restricting or Driving Change?
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can we use business principles I learned at Harvard to improve our mentoring and increase our impact? I go over how to use Lewin's Force-fiel...
Essay Workshop-- Get it Written!
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Now that exams have finished up, it is time to shift your focus to your college application essays. I will be hosting a workshop to help you get start...
Dealing with Disappointment
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when both of your children work hard for an audition, and then one is chosen to perform, but the other is not selected? How should they...
Academic Considerations in the College Application
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is an A in a regular class, or a B in an honors/AP class more valuable for me?How do I decide how many APs to take?How do I schedule my classes in ord...
Your Common App Audit-- urgent!
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you stressed about what is coming when you fill out the Common Application? Do you worry that you might have gaps in your story that need to be fi...
Your Holistic College Application Audit
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What gaps might exist in your future application? How can you find those gaps so you can fill them before it is too late?We go through each element of...
NHS & Volunteering
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Should you sign up for NHS? Is it worth the effort?What about volunteering in general? How much should I volunteer? How many hours is enough? Which ty...
So, Which College Should You Choose?
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
April for high school seniors can be a stressful time-- instead of worrying about which schools might admit their application, many seniors now have m...
Begin Essay Prep Now (You'll Be Glad You Did)
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you are willing to spend a few minutes listening to this podcast now, you'll be equipped to save most of the stress coming your way when it co...
Info Session Ahead of March 2024 Ivy League Challenge Cohort
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join us to hear how to avoid the major mistakes most teens make in their college prep so you can gain an advantage in future college admissions.Regist...
From Dysfunction to Impact; Productivity for Teens
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel like you don't have enough time? It is common for stressed teens and adults to say "I wish I had more time!"But actual...
Middle School & Before; How to Prepare for College?
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Because college is difficult to prepare for, many families want to begin early. But when they ask how to prepare, too often they are told that there i...
The Impressiveness Trap
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Most ambitious teens (and their parents, if we're honest) ask the question "what's most ambitious to an admissions officer" early ...
(How to) Make Learning Fun
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Want to increase your chances of getting into Harvard? My suggestion for you is to cultivate a sincere love of learning. Figure out a way to inject ge...
Community, Coaching, & the Ivy League Challenge
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Parents are so important to teens' success. Even if you feel like your teens are annoyed by you, your efforts are very important. For many reason...
When Should I Join the Ivy League Challenge?
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For those who enjoy this podcast, one question remains very important-- when is the best time to join the Ivy League Challenge? Is grade 8, or 9, or 1...
What is it like in the Ivy League Challenge? From the student's perspective
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Erica, Claire, and Molly join us to answer questions about what it is like to be in the Ivy League Challenge. Listen in to learn more about what you c...
Juniors, This Begins This Week!
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Attention Juniors! This is the week that you should be sending out your emails to future recommendation letter writers. You've worked hard to be ...
Getting Your Impact Project Back on Track with Twisha Sharma
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many students join the Ivy League Challenge when they are young. At that stage in your life, it is normal to become excited about executing an impact ...
Rachel & Eliza on Perfectionism and Music
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Eliza and Rachel are first cousins and are both elite violin performers. When they toured Southeast Asia, I was able to attend their concert in Singap...
Cornell Admit Shares Value of the Ivy League Challenge
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our Hacking College Admissions workshop begins just a few hours after this podcast goes live. The workshop is free but you must register to attend. To...
The Rules of the Infinite Game in College Prep
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Most ambitious teens spend their high school years pursuing the activities that they believe will make them most impressive to an admissions officer. ...
How to Succeed in the IB Diploma Program with Nandita Nair
01 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program right for you? Once you are committed to the diploma program, how can you ensure your success?...
My Presentation at GradAchiever
25 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I recently spoke at a GradAchiever event online. The message aligns closely with what I discuss in my own podcast, and because I am so happy with the ...
Senior Katie Silverman is Thriving
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Katie Silverman joined the Ivy League Challenge as a junior, and did an incredible job with her own impact project and supporting others with their pr...
Tips for an Awesome Alumni Interview
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For many teens, adding a high-stakes interview to an already stressful application process feels stressful. But the interview should be a highly enjoy...
Ava DiNapoli Begins her Impact Project
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ava DiNapoli recently completed the Ivy League Challenge, and is already making incredible progress in a very important impact project about providing...
Leadership & Superchickens pt. 3 of 3: How to demonstrate leadership in high school
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 of 3:What is leadership? In the context of teens in high school, applying to college...What does it mean to "demonstrate leadership"...
Leadership & Superchickens pt. 2 of 3: How to demonstrate leadership in high school
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 of 3:What is leadership? In the context of teens in high school, applying to college...What does it mean to "demonstrate leadership"...
Leadership & Superchickens pt. 1 How to demonstrate leadership in high school
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is leadership? In the context of teens in high school, applying to college...What does it mean to "demonstrate leadership"?And what if...
Why Core Values Beats Impressiveness in College Admissions
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When most people begin to prepare for college, they ask the same question as everyone else; "what is more/most impressive to the admissions offic...
Erica Chemmanoor's CS impact project
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Erica shares her experience in the Ivy League Challenge, and how she is making an impact in her community by creating an app to teach the fundamentals...
GenAI & Education Masterclass pt. 3
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Part 3 of 3 for our masterclass about GenAI and education.I share my advice and answer questions about how education will evolve, as well as what step...
GenAI & Education Masterclass pt. 2
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing our masterclass recording, we discuss the difference between kind and wicked learning environments, and how that distinction helps us under...
GenAI & Education Masterclass pt. 1
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The fears we have today about Gen AI are not new-- society had the same concerns 30 years ago when the internet was new, and 40 years before that when...
Sophomore Aki Velemati Learns How to Stand Out
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Aki was stressed throughout his freshman year, because although he was at a very good high school, he just felt like he didn't know how to stand ...
Play to Win
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Too many of us approach life with the philosophy of "play not to lose". Once, when I was in college, I was able to play on a intramural bask...
GenAI & Education-- Opportunities & Pitfalls
07 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This Wednesday, October 11th, at 8pm eastern time, I will be hosting a masterclass to discuss how we can help our teens take advantage of the many opp...
The Student's Perspective: Krisha Pillai-- Make the Most of Your Time
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Krisha is a sophomore. She loves debate and has ambitions in the medical field. She joined the Ivy League Challenge last year, and at the time of this...
Activities Section Checklist for the Common App
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Aside from the essays, the activities section of the Common Application is the trickiest section for many teens. But it doesn't have to be.Listen...
How to Be Ambitious & Realistic at the Same Time
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you wonder sometimes if it is realistic to be ambitious? Have you ever been frustrated because it seems like setting ambitious goals is just settin...
Last Chance to Register This Year
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you've been thinking about the Ivy League Challenge, but have been looking for the right time-- let's get started.Saturday, September 16,...
Bryana Quintero's Impact Project: Sharing Immigrant Stories
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bryana Quintero is working with an NYU professor to college and catalogue immigrant stories.We get to hear all about how she decided on this project, ...