Ivy League Prep Academy Podcast

Steve
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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. 

  1. JUN 16

    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, Steve explains why the next step is not perfection—it’s motion. You’ll learn how to choose the right moment to write about, why your first draft should be messy, and how that so-called “garbage draft” is the best way to get unstuck and start building an unforgettable essay.  What You’ll Learn: Why insight alone won’t get you a finished essayHow to choose a powerful, reflective moment for your personal statementThe truth about “impressive” stories (and what to do instead)Why the garbage draft is your most powerful tool for clarity and momentumA simple two-step plan to move from stuck to confident Ready to finish your essay? Join Steve’s College Essay Workshop and get: Access to recordings from completed weeksStep-by-step guidance to write a powerful, authentic essay👉 Register now at TILC.to/essay

    14 min

  2. JUN 10

    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 guide you through the exact questions and strategies we used in the first week of my Personal Statement Workshop to help students uncover stories that admissions officers care about. You’ll learn: Why this essay can make or break your applicationWhat admissions officers are really looking forHow to start discovering the contradictions and insights that make your story unforgettableExamples of thought-provoking contradictions like “a colorblind painter” or “a debater who avoids conflict”Insightful truths that make you human—and memorableWhether you join my workshop or not, this episode will help you begin writing an essay that’s honest, thoughtful, and impossible to ignore. Ready to take action? Join my 4-week Personal Statement Workshop and finish your essay before July even starts. You’ll get instant access to the replay of Session 1 and join me live for the next three trainings.  Enroll now: TILC.to/essay Mentioned in this episode: 20+ examples of powerful contradictions you can explore in your own storyInsightful one-liners that could become the heart of your essayThe two questions every personal statement should answer

    17 min

  3. JUN 2

    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 essay with clarity and confidence. Whether you're staring at a blank page or already brainstorming ideas, these tips will help you stay on track and write something that actually strengthens your application. 🎯 You’ll learn: What the personal statement is really for (and what it’s not)The biggest mistake most students make — and how to avoid itHow to know if your essay idea is on the right trackA simple mindset shift to make your writing more authentic and effective📣 Want support while you write? Join my upcoming College Essay Bootcamp, starting June 4th. It’s free for Ivy League Challenge grads. Register at TILC.to/essay ✅ 4 live Zoom sessions  ✅ Essay workbook + live feedback  ✅ Finish your personal statement before July

    20 min

  4. MAY 28

    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 personal statement is, and how families can reduce stress and gain a competitive edge now, before summer slips away. If you're a parent or student feeling overwhelmed, this episode offers clarity, direction, and a powerful invitation to tackle this task with expert support. 🧭 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why the personal statement is not the place to try to be impressiveWhat admissions officers are really hoping to discover from the essayWhy English teachers, editors, and even ChatGPT often make things worseHow to avoid procrastination and gain real momentumWhat it takes to write a statement that’s truly effective — not just “done”How to get it off your plate now, with the right guidance🚀 Ready to finish the personal statement before July? Join the College Essay Bootcamp with Steve Gardner. 🗓️ Starts: Wednesday, June 4th, 8 PM Eastern  💻 4 Live Zoom Sessions + Workbook + Bonuses  🎯 Outcome: A compelling, submission-ready personal statement — done early, done right 👉 Register now: TILC.to/essay  (Limited seats. Registration closes soon.) 🎁 Bonus Resources Included: “Top 5 Essay Mistakes to Avoid” Mini-Guide“Submission-Ready Checklist” to know when it’s truly complete

    15 min

  5. MAY 12

    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 used by Ivy League, Stanford, and MIT admits—and they’re simple, clear, and powerful. You’ll learn: Why the summer after junior year is a “bonus semester”The two questions your application must answerWhat aligned action looks like (with real student examples)How to recover, reflect, and move forward with purposeA simple 3-step plan you can start this weekWhether you’re feeling burned out or just unsure of your next step—this episode will help you reset your direction and use your time wisely. 💡 Want a personalized plan? Book an Application Audit to identify your strengths, gaps, and strategy—while there’s still time to make your summer count. ----- To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallenge To join us on our Facebook group for parents

    23 min

  6. MAY 8

    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 summer... and shows you how to avoid them. You’ll meet: Sophia, who overloaded her schedule trying to impress collegesDaniel, who created a meaningful project from a single questionAnd Bryanna, a real student whose summer project led to research, grants, and scholarship offersWhether you’re feeling behind or just overwhelmed, this episode will help you create a summer that builds not just a stronger application—but a stronger you. ----- To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallenge To join us on our Facebook group for parents

    25 min

  7. APR 28

    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 overwhelming pressure, confusion, and heartbreak that so many ambitious students (and their families) experience when they follow the wrong roadmap to college admissions — the "just do more, be more impressive" roadmap that leads straight to burnout. 🔹 Tessymol shares how Erica — a top student involved in leadership, orchestra, tennis, and volunteering — still felt like she was falling behind. Despite all her accomplishments, despite the straight A's, despite the sleepless nights and sacrifice, she was left asking: "What more can I possibly do to stand out?" 🔹 You’ll hear how endless stress, migraines, ulcers, skipped meals, and emotional breakdowns finally led them to seek a different answer — an answer they found inside the Ivy League Challenge. 🔹 You’ll learn how Erica shifted from the Impressiveness Trap to aligning her college prep around her core values — and how that transformation (not overachievement) led to her acceptance at Dartmouth College, one of the most prestigious and life-changing undergraduate experiences in the world. This conversation is emotional. It's honest. And it’s a powerful reminder that winning at college admissions — and more importantly, winning at life — doesn't come from sacrificing your health and happiness at the altar of "impressiveness." It comes from clarity, core values, and smart, strategic action. If you’re a parent or a student feeling the pressure, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss. Key Topics: The dangers of the Impressiveness TrapHow Tessymol and Erica realized they needed a different pathThe power of core values in college admissionsWhy top colleges care about who you are, not how many activities you can juggleHow real transformation — not just more stress — leads to Ivy League success ----- To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallenge To join us on our Facebook group for parents

    48 min

  8. APR 21

    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 — and why that mattersThe five core pillars of the Curiosity Lab (and how they work together)Three powerful ways parents can support curiosity at homeA bonus mindset shift that will change how you respond when your child says, “This is hard.”Whether your child is already enrolled in the Curiosity Lab or you're curious about what makes this program so unique, this episode will leave you inspired and equipped to support your 10–13-year-old in the most important learning window of their life. Register for the Curiosity Lab at TILC.to/CL https://www.globalimpactcouncil.org/gic-curiosity-labs ----- To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallenge To join us on our Facebook group for parents

    24 min
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4.7
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

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. 

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