Ivy League Prep Academy Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Real Research, Real Mentors, No Cost- Introducing SPAN Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

High school research can be incredibly valuable—but finding a legitimate opportunity often requires money, connections, or both.

In this episode, Steve talks with high school student Wesley Lin about his own research journey and the creation of SPAN, a free, remote program connecting curious high school students with professors and PhD mentors for real academic research.

To get started with Wes' program, go to:
Website: https://spanresearch.org/

Email: span.research.contact@gmail.com

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To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website
To follow on Instagram: @TheIvyLeagueChallenge
To join us on our Facebook group for parents

How I got into UC Berkeley + Building Confidence in Elementary School Jun 28, 2026

Show notes

Ava beat the odds and got into UC Berkeley. Listen in to learn how she did that, despite having an application theme that is quite common (speech and debate).

Part of her secret was empowering others to find their voice and gain the confidence to speak up.

We discover how her work training young people learn public speaking is expanding beyond the 600 youth she has already worked with.

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To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website
To follow on Instagram: @TheIvyLeagueChallenge
To join us on our Facebook group for parents

She Chose Stanford Over Yale & Notre Dame-- Here’s How She Got There Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

Lizzie had every reason to choose Notre Dame.

Her parents went there. She grew up loving the school. She was admitted early. For most students, that would have been the dream ending.

But then Stanford and Yale said yes.

In this episode, Steve sits down with Lizzie to unpack how she went from dreaming about Notre Dame to choosing between some of the most selective universities in the world—and ultimately choosing Stanford over Yale and Notre Dame.

But this is not just a “college results” story.

Lizzie shares how a simple seventh-grade book donation turned into Literacy is Lit, an organization that has collected and distributed more than 75,000 books to children in underserved communities. She explains how she stepped outside the usual high school achievement game—clubs, titles, competitions, and résumé padding—and started building real impact with nonprofits, educators, legislators, and community leaders.

This conversation is a masterclass in what elite colleges actually notice: not just perfect grades or impressive activities, but clarity, values, courage, initiative, and evidence that a student is already making the world better.

You’ll hear how Lizzie built confidence, created momentum, handled the grind of senior year, and learned to trust her gut when making one of the biggest decisions of her life.

For any student hoping to stand out—and any parent wondering what “standing out” actually means—this episode is a must-listen.

What You’ll Learn

How admitted-student weekends helped her make the final decision.

How one small book donation became a 75,000-book impact project.

Why real-world impact matters more than another club title.

How Lizzie got adults, nonprofits, schools, and policymakers to take her seriously while she was still in high school.

Why “common sense is not common practice” became one of her most important success principles.

How students can escape the “high school bubble” and start doing work that actually matters.

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To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website
To follow on Instagram: @TheIvyLeagueChallenge
To join us on our Facebook group for parents

A fun exercise for making the most of your summer May 19, 2026

Show notes

Summer can either become a missed opportunity, or a powerful season of growth.

In this episode, I share a clip from a class for students who have already completed the Ivy League Challenge. After students finish the ILC, they continue meeting weekly to stay connected, keep building, and grow inside a positive community.

In this class, Wes shares his simple summer planning system: choose the areas of your life you want to develop, set a few meaningful goals, and create small routines that keep you moving without over-scheduling every hour.

You’ll hear how students are thinking about research, writing, podcasts, fitness, impact projects, friendships, and even fried chicken.

The goal isn’t to have the busiest summer.
The goal is to design a summer that helps you grow

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To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website
To follow on Instagram: @TheIvyLeagueChallenge
To join us on our Facebook group for parents

Before You Start Writing College Essays, Listen to This May 12, 2026

Show notes

Most students start their personal statement by asking, “What should I write about?”

That’s the wrong starting point.

In this episode, Steve explains why the topic is not the essay-- and why strong essays usually reveal three layers:

the external problem
the internal journey
the deeper reason the story matters

Before students begin drafting, they need to understand what their essay is actually trying to reveal: who they are, what they value, and why it matters.

For students who have been through the Ivy League Challenge, this is the moment to connect the dots between core values, meaningful impact, personal growth, and application strategy.
Register for the workshop at TILC.to/essay

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To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website
To follow on Instagram: @TheIvyLeagueChallenge
To join us on our Facebook group for parents

How Admissions Teams Actually Evaluate Applications May 04, 2026

Show notes

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 strategy is exactly what makes applications blend in.

In this episode, we break down how admissions officers actually evaluate students, and why trying to be “impressive” often works against you.

You’ll learn:

Why the “Impressiveness Trap” causes strong students to get overlooked
The two questions admissions officers are really asking
How context and expectations shape how your achievements are viewed
Why doing more doesn’t make you stand out
How clarity of values leads to a more compelling application
What separates students who get into top schools from those who don’t

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To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website
To follow on Instagram: @TheIvyLeagueChallenge
To join us on our Facebook group for parents

What To Do with Your Summer Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

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 it one of the clearest signals of who you are, what you value, and how you choose to operate when no one is telling you what to do.

In this episode, we break down how to think about your summer the right way, and how to use it to actually differentiate yourself.

What You’ll Learn

Why summers matter more than almost anything else in your application
The difference between “theme park” experiences and real responsibility
How to evaluate opportunities (beyond job vs internship labels)
Why “ordinary” work can be more impressive than prestigious programs
How to move from interest → experience → real contribution
What admissions officers are actually looking for when they review your summer activities

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To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website
To follow on Instagram: @TheIvyLeagueChallenge
To join us on our Facebook group for parents

Athletics & College Application Strategy Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

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 when athletics is a powerful advantage, when it doesn’t matter at all, and how to think through one of the most difficult decisions student-athletes face.

The 3 Categories
Recruited → athletics can carry your application
Want to quit → you can walk away without hurting your chances
Messy middle → you must choose between time in your sport and building a more competitive profile

Sports only help if you use them the right way.

The real question is not whether you play, it’s what you’re able to demonstrate because of it.

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To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website
To follow on Instagram: @TheIvyLeagueChallenge
To join us on our Facebook group for parents

How Musicians Get Into Ivy League+ Colleges Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

If your child spends hours practicing music each day, you may wonder: "is this actually helping with college admissions?"

From a strategic perspective, music can feel like a poor return on investment, especially if your child isn't planning to pursue it professionally.

And yet, every year I see a disproportionate number of musicians beat the odds and get admitted to the top schools like Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and others.

In this episode, we explore why. I hope this helps you decide how much effort to put into music training at different periods of your child's development.

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To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website
To follow on Instagram: @TheIvyLeagueChallenge
To join us on our Facebook group for parents

College Admissions Playbook Full Training Recording Mar 29, 2026

Show notes

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 admitted
Others were accepted to Cornell, Dartmouth, Princeton, and UPenn
One student was admitted early to both Yale and Caltech

These outcomes are not random.

In this episode, I’m sharing a full training I recently delivered to families, breaking down the strategy behind why some students consistently stand out, while others (who are just as capable) don’t.

Inside this training, you’ll learn:

Why strong students still get rejected from top schools
The mistake most families make when planning internships and summer activities
What admissions officers are actually looking for
How to use this upcoming summer to build a compelling, differentiated application

If your teen is in 8th–11th grade, this is a critical window, and what they do next matters more than most families realize.

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To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website
To follow on Instagram: @TheIvyLeagueChallenge
To join us on our Facebook group for parents

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