Ivy League Prep Academy Podcast
Episodes
Back-to-school Masterclass Part 3
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In part 3 (of 3), we discuss HOW to be more productive. The neuroscience says most of us are 'focusing' the wrong way. Learn all about it ...
Back-to-school Masterclass Part 2
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 of 3 in our back-to-school success masterclass recording. Learn about how to set up the right study environment and why you shouldn't feel...
Back-to-school Masterclass Part 1
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How can you make sure that this school year is your best year yet? Start off strong and use the energy from the beginning of the school year to ensure...
Google Head of AI for Asia Renee Lo on GenAI for Students
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Renee is the head of AI at Google for Asia, and previously was the head of AI development at Amazon and Microsoft as well. She discusses how AI will i...
Back to School Success
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It is back-to-school time!You are probably feeling a mixture of excitement, stress, anxiety and anticipation. Join us on August 30th for a free master...
How 'Normal' Teens Create Impressive Impact Projects
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As you've listened to interviews with impressive teens on this podcast, you may have felt like some other parents, who have reached out to me rec...
Music, Science, & Service- Justin's Impact Project
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Justin is a rising junior who loves music and science, and wanted to find a way to positively impact his community. Listen in to learn how he combined...
Flash Announcement: Friday Night Cohort Begins Aug 4
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I'm excited to work with your teen. There are a few spots available in this Friday night cohort. Reach out to me right away if you'd like ...
Rising Senior Dimitri on his Astrophysics Impact Project Ideas
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dimitri joined his cohort of the Ivy League Challenge when it was already half-way completed. Soon after it finished, he joined the Bootcamp (for risi...
Visualization for High School Students
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
During class we did a visualization about what kind of student you would be when you arrive at your dream college. Two of the students requested that ...
Time Management, Engagement Musings from Class
24 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Each summer, we do an intensive bootcamp ONLY for rising seniors, where we go through the entire Ivy League Challenge course in just 2 weeks. During d...
In Their Words: Student & Parent Describe the Ivy League Challenge
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Corey Fischer and his mom, Robyn Blair, answered questions from my Facebook Group audience. Among the highlights-- Can teens really figure out their c...
Back to Podcasting & FREE Workshop
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Don't miss the free workshop from July 12-15.register at https://www.theivyleaguechallenge.com/workshopSee you there!
The Difference a Year Can Make, Part 2 with Ishita Kopparapu
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One year ago I met with Ishita and her parents. She was already a very hard worker, but needed some direction and clarity about what mattered most to ...
The Difference a Year Can Make, Part 1 with Ishita Kopparapu
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One year ago I met with Ishita and her parents. She was already a very hard worker, but needed some direction and clarity about what mattered most to ...
Best Use of This Summer Masterclass pt. 4
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the best use of your summer?The answer might not be as straightforward as you would like it to be.What would be great advice for one person, m...
Best Use of This Summer Masterclass pt. 3
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the best use of your summer?The answer might not be as straightforward as you would like it to be.What would be great advice for one person, m...
Best Use of This Summer Masterclass pt. 2
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the best use of your summer?The answer might not be as straightforward as you would like it to be.What would be great advice for one person, m...
Best Use of This Summer Masterclass pt. 1
29 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the best use of your summer? The answer might not be as straightforward as you would like it to be. What would be great advice for one person,...
What To DO When You Get Stuck
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you choose to work on problems that matter to you, you'll run into bumps along the way. Sometimes, you'll get stuck. And that is totally ...
Dr. Robyn Blair-- A parent's perspective
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Robyn Blair's son Corey just completed the intensive first part of the Ivy League Challenge. I interviewed him about his inspiring impact p...
My 'Why' by Steve Gardner
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The world needs every teen to reach their full potential, and college prep, should not hold them back. College prep and education should be the vehicl...
What is the Best Use of Your Summer?
01 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the keys to getting into selective colleges, and earning scholarships is a wise use of summer.Well, May is now here, and many people are asking...
How I got into Cornell-- Asfi
24 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Asfi has been on the show before when we spoke about her impact project and how she figured out her core values. Today she is a senior and has been ad...
How to Become Great
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many among us want to become great. Others wonder what we can do to help the teens we work with. When your circumstances are difficult, many around yo...
How to Begin Your Impact Project with Corey Fischer
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Corey Fischer is only a few weeks into the Ivy League Challenge, and I've invited him to speak about how he decided on his impact project, and wh...
What Can I Do to Have a Better Chance of Getting Into Harvard?
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you've been thinking about what you can do today to increase your chances of getting into a GREAT college (like Harvard), I can give you some ...
Greater Growth, More Fun
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do we take students who are struggling in school-- teens who are so disengaged that they are actively sabotaging classroom learning, into cheerful...
Why you should lean in to challenges
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I ran for my middle school cross country team.I learned some surprising things. Because I never ran a single race where I didn't desperately look...
Why working with teens makes me more optimistic
13 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I recently overheard a conversation that inspired me to set the record straight. This conversation was about how difficult it is to lead new employees...
The Power of an Impact Project Combined with Research
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I was recently asked to speak to Lumiere students to hep them understand how to use the academic research they are doing to help them stand out in col...
The Mother's Perspective: Janice Kim
27 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Janice Kim is the mother of four children, and enrolled her youngest daughter in the Ivy League Challenge. Because she saw such extreme success guidin...
The Early Years Masterclass (grades 4-7) recording
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I help teens to figure out their core values and then work to solve problems in their community that violate their core values. It is very meaningful ...
The Golden Eggs of College Prep
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every loving parent wants their children to be happy. But happiness can be elusive-- sometimes seeking happiness seems to push the happiness away, but...
Removing Desperation from College Prep
13 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The current college prep environment creates desperation. But it doesn't have to.We can replace that desperation with curiosity.When healthy ambi...
The Early Year; Growth Mindset & Other Fundamentals
06 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you listen to me regularly, you know that the best college prep begins with discovering your core values, and then building off of that make a mean...
The College Prep Gorilla
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the early 1990's, Christ Chabris and Daniel Simons did a study at Harvard. They asked participants to count the number times a basketball was ...
Meet the Students of the Ivy League Challenge
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
THIS is what healthy college prep sounds like. Listen in to hear what it is like to join the Ivy League Challenge as a junior, or a freshman in high s...
Minna Most- How My Impact Project has Evolved
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Minna Most joined the Ivy League Challenge during the summer before her senior year of high school. Now she is nearly finished with all of her applica...
Announcing: Hacking College Admissions Workshop
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join us on January 22nd for a free workshop: Hacking College Admissionslearn about college prep that actually works. (Day 1) January 22nd: What colle...
Claire Kim: Busy Junior Joins the Ivy League Challenge
09 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When Claire Kim's mom introduced the Ivy League Challenge to her, Claire was incredulous. How could she possibly add another thing to her already...
My Approach to the New Year
02 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you are frustrated by New Year's resolutions that have failed, I'd love to introduce you to my approach. Instead of massive, revolutionar...
How to Appreciate Today More
26 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the business of high school classes and activities, it can be easy to lose sight of just how incredible it is to be alive and to be working towards...
How to Recover from Burnout
19 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You begin the semester with optimism and genuine excitement for the challenges ahead. But as stress builds, that excitement can die out quickly. If yo...
How to Balance Everything Masterclass pt. 4
12 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
final thoughts as I wrapped up the presentation portion of the masterclass. We did spend an additional 25 minutes discussing answers to some excellen...
How to Balance Everything Masterclass pt. 3
11 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Now that we know what colleges are not looking for, and also what they do care most about, we can create a strategy to ensure that we prioritize the r...
How to Balance Everything Masterclass pt. 2
09 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The myths that lead to the imbalance. Learn what college admissions officers actually care about when they shape a class. It's not what you think...
How to Balance Everything Masterclass pt. 1
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In part one of our November 2023 masterclass, we learn how and why teens get so far out of balance. While many people believe that teens have no choic...
The Impressiveness Trap
05 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It is natural and understandable that teens want to find ways to impress admissions officers. And yet... that desire to impress often leads to the exa...
How Too Many APs Makes it Harder to Get In pt. 2
28 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In part 2 of this series, we learn what the right amount of AP or IB classes will be for you. This is part 2-- be sure to listen to part 1 for context...
How Too Many APs Makes it Harder to Get In pt. 1
21 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Although everywhere you turn, everyone talks about how important academic rigor is, there is more to the story. AP, IBDP, or A-level classes are unque...
How to Balance Everything
18 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Exciting announcement for those who feel overwhelmed by school work as we approach the end of the semester. I am hosting a free masterclass to help ...
Duke Prof. Robert Malkin on Research in High School
14 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As more and more families realize how valuable academic research is as a college admissions strategy, they come to us to learn how to get started.But ...
Mother and Daughter Reflect on Phase 1
07 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Zuzu (Ivy League Challenge student) and Gulnar (her mom) join me to discuss Zuzu's experience in the Ivy League Challenge. We discuss each weekly...
Better Essays, Less Time
31 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Few things are more frustrating than working hard for weeks to put together your best essay, only to get a poor grade. Essay writing should be prefera...
Better Grades in Less Time
24 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel frustrated because you spend too much time studying? Are you not getting the grades you want?Often some of the hardest workers don&ap...
Defeat Procrastination Challenge Announcement
17 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We're several weeks into the school year. As the excitement of the new school year wears off, have you found yourself procrastinating important t...
Student's perspective: Akaash Sachdeva- 9th grade math lover
10 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Akaash has just completed the Ivy League Challenge, and is in the beginning stages of executing his impact project-- creating training materials for c...
High School Research Superstar Ishita Kopparapu, part 2
03 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ishita shares her final thoughts about how the Ivy League Challenge impacted her college prep. Hear her thoughts as she wraps up our interview in part...
Fall 2022 Registration Closing. Don't Delay!
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Registration for the Fall 2022 cohorts will close soon. To register, go to TILC.to/registerwhen you sign up, you will receive access to the digital co...
High School Research Superstar Ishita Kopparapu
26 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As an almost-16-year-old, Ishita has already logged more than 800 hours of laboratory research work. Her excellence in the lab has allowed her to ente...
How to Get More Done By Slowing Down
19 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been in such a hurry to get something done, that in your need for speed you make mistakes that cost you time, and the task ends up takin...
Senior student's perspective: Minna Most, the Ivy League Challenge as a senior
12 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The summer before senior year is the busiest of an ambitious teen's life. Minna Most decided to take two weeks from that summer and dedicate them...
Bonuses for Early Registration, The Ivy League Challenge
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Fall 2022 Ivy League Challenge registration is now open. The two options for Fall, 2022 are:Sundays, beginning September 25th (8-10 pm EST)Fridays, b...
Parent's Perspective: Maxine Most, how the Ivy League Challenge helped my daughter
05 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the middle of a hectic senior summer, Maxine Most and her daughter decided to pause their college prep for two weeks in order to participate in the...
Time Management & Focus Masterclass pt. 3
03 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In parts 1 & 2 you learned the science that explains why it can be so hard to manage our time better. In part 3, I'll share the tactics I use...
Time Management & Focus Masterclass pt. 2
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We all know how important effective time management is-- begin able to focus the way you want to earns you better grades, greater confidence, and more...
Time Management & Focus Masterclass pt. 1
29 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Effective time management leads to better grades, greater confidence, and more time to do the things you want to do in life. So why don't more t...
Back to School Keys to Success
22 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are you excited to go back to school? Horrified? Somewhere in between? Regardless of how you feel, you know that this school year will be important f...
How to Focus & Manage Your Time
15 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the great ironies of life is that making hard choices leads to an easy life, but making easy choices leads to a hard life.Procrastination, junk...
Putting the Admissions Odds in Your Favor
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What if the secret to maximizing your odds of success is to choose the right field of competition?We all know that boiling water will harden an egg, b...
Motivation is Overrated
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Motivation is overrated. It really is. Think about it:1. motivation is NOT the key to winning-- we know this because the winning and losing teams are...
The Student's Perspective: Asfi Tias
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Asfi Tias is a rising senior who is also aspiring to go to a competitive college in preparation for medical school in a few years. Listen in to hear ...
How to Earn the Grades You Want with Expert Camille Roney
18 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You're teen works hard, but just can't seem to get the grades or test scores they need to reach achieve their ambitions. You know grades ar...
How to Handle Fierce Admissions Competition
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel like preparing for college is like fighting for limited seats on a train? This can make you feel anxious, overwhelmed, and frustrate...
The Student's Perspective; Daniel Waheed
04 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel Waheed shares his impact projects, and talks through how he is tying in his core values and personal history to craft his application narrative...
The Student Perspective: George Banke
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
George Banke felt like he was floating along in life, and lacked the focus that he needed to feel confident in his college prep. In this interview, h...
Build Your Teen's Confidence Masterclass pt. 3
26 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In part 3 of our 'sneak peak' into the recent Masterclass about how to help build teen confidence, we learn:*Why feeling nervousness is wond...
Build Your Teen's Confidence Masterclass pt. 2
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In part two, we move on to the second type of confidence: the idea that when I don't have skills or experience, I still know that eventually I ca...
Build Your Teen's Confidence Masterclass pt. 1
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Teen (and preteen) confidence is one of the most important traits to help develop. But how? Unfortunately a lot of advice on the topic is incomplete...
Harvard Leader Dr. Weissbourd on Healthy College Prep
20 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Harvard professor Dr. Richard Weissbourd is currently a senior lecturer on education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and at the Kennedy Sc...
How to Get Outstanding Letters of Recommendation
13 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As someone who has written hundreds of letters of recommendation, and has spent just as much time talking to the admissions officers who read others&a...
Summer Cohort Registration Now Open!
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Registration for the Summer 2022 cohort of the Ivy League Challenge is now open! To participate in the bootcamp (July 3-16) or standard cohort (weekl...
College Prep Timeline: A Grade-by-grade Guide
06 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Want to make sure you or your teen are on track in your college prep? Wondering when college prep should really begin? This podcast takes you throug...
AMAZING Announcement & Dates for Summer Cohort Set
02 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Registration for the Summer 2022 cohort of the Ivy League Challenge will open soon, but the date is already set. Mark your calendars beginning Thursd...
How to Get Straight A's, Even In Hard Classes
30 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
No matter how impossible this statement might feel right now, it is still true: YOU can get straight A's, even in your hard classes.When you crea...
Ivy League Productivity, You Can Too!
23 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You don't need more time in your day, you need to be more productive with the time you already have.But how?Do you get frustrated when you realiz...
How to Develop Ivy League Confidence
16 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you were asked to create a fictional character to represent total confidence, how would you create that character? Most people would make this fic...
Student's perspective: high school junior Anubhav
09 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder what it is like to participate in the Ivy League Challenge? As a busy high school junior, Anubhav decided to add the Ivy League Challenge ...
How to get Publicity for your Impact Project with expert PollyAnna Brown
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Media exposure can be the best, most effective way to create legitimacy and credibility for you as the expert or for your impact project as the soluti...
How Future Ivy Leaguers Create Opportunities
24 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Looking to land a competitive internship or research opportunity? Having a hard time finding an opportunity that will take you one while you are young...
Success Architecture Masterclass
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why is it that some people seem to have everything put together? What's up with these people? They are smart, they exercise exactly when they say...
Self-identify & Great College Essays
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do you show thoughtfulness in your personal statement? Why not learn from the professionals? Think about your favorite story. Whether a movie or a...
Student's perspective: Nilambera Pradhan
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nilambera (Neela) Pradhan explains what attracted her to the Ivy League Challenge and how her impact project aligns so completely with her core values...
College Prep Without Sacrificing Childhood? YES!
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What if you could gain an incredible advantage in college admissions without sacrificing your childhood? It's not just a dream. Real college pr...
College Visits: When & How To Do Them Right
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What time of year is best?What age/year in school is the best time to visit colleges?How do we make the most of those college visits? How do we make s...
Party Your Way Into The Ivy League
14 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sound too good to be true? Infusing fun into difficult tasks is one of the keys to success before, during, and after college. Longtime listeners of th...
On Winning, Losing, & Ivy League Admissions
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Take a peek into a zoom class in the Ivy League Challenge.Do you ever find you hold yourself back in order to keep yourself safe? Imagine you were a b...
Happiness in College Prep
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Gallup polls show that the two most common words teens use to describe school were "bored" and "tired".It doesn't have to be ...
Personal Statement Tips- How to Write a Great Essay
21 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After reading through tens of thousands of college application essays, professional admissions officers say they see many of the same mistakes resur...