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-achieving students are rejected from top colleges, and what actually separates students who get admitted from those who don’t.

Drawing on recent early-decision results (including acceptances to Yale, Dartmouth, Cornell, and Vanderbilt, plus $100,000 scholarships) I explain the hidden trap families fall into when they chase what they think admissions officers want.

You’ll learn:

• Why “doing more” often makes applications weaker, not stronger
• The two questions admissions officers are really trying to answer
• How the Impressiveness Trap creates noise instead of clarity
• What successful students do differently to become “obvious admits”
• Why starting earlier (8th–11th grade) dramatically reduces stress and increases options
  
  

I also share details about the upcoming live workshop, Hacking College Admissions, where you can learn how to build a clear, strategic plan that actually works. Register for free at TILC.to/janworkshop

If you want your teen to have real options. Confidence instead of panic, this episode is for you.

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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 does it actually look like to support a highly driven teenager—without controlling, pushing, or burning them out?

In this episode, I sit down with Karen DiNapoli, mother of nationally ranked speaker and Ivy League Challenge alum Ava DiNapoli, to pull back the curtain on the parent side of an extraordinary student journey.

Karen shares:

• What it felt like when Ava first came home with an overwhelming, world-scale project idea
• Why seeking outside guidance was essential—for both parent and child
• How Ava’s first projects weren’t the final answer, and why that mattered
• The moment Karen realized Ava had found her own core values, not her parents’
• How internal motivation changed everything—from reminders and resistance to self-driven action
• Why parents must learn when to step in—and when to step back

This conversation is a powerful reminder that:

• You don’t need a perfect plan to start
• Growth comes from action, reflection, and course-correction
• The right support system helps teens become drivers of their own lives

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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

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, that when teens identify their core values and then make a meaningful impact aligned with those values… that’s the kind of leadership colleges simply cannot ignore.

But today, I want to zoom in on something even more foundational:

What does it actually mean to make an impact?

When adults talk about impact, it often sounds abstract, almost mysterious.

And for teens who are used to classroom projects that stay theoretical, the idea of solving real problems in the real world can feel overwhelming… even scary.

The students you’re about to hear from — Ava Dinapoli and Aavi Patel — felt all of that.

They ran into roadblocks.

They doubted themselves.

They had to figure things out step by step.

But they stayed committed to making the most meaningful impact they could.

And because of that persistence… their work is literally saving lives.

I hope you listen to their stories and feel as inspired as I am, not only because of the size of their impact, but because of the way they achieved it.

They didn’t leap into greatness.

They moved forward one step at a time, exactly the way any young person can.

Let’s listen in.

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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

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 begins close to home.

Scarlett worked with her city to strengthen emergency alert systems and protect vulnerable residents.
Abbas bridged science, faith, and community service to turn personal challenge into purpose through his thought-provoking podcast.
Akilaish used curiosity and analysis to solve meaningful problems through disciplined, thoughtful leadership.

Their stories reveal a powerful truth: students become leaders by being useful.

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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

Is social media silently sabotaging your success?

In this episode, Steve Gardner — founder of The Ivy League Challenge and Harvard Summer School instructor — shares the mindset and strategies that set high-performing teens apart. Discover how top students manage (and often delete) their social media apps during critical periods like finals, and why this one decision can be a game-changer.

You’ll learn:

• Why most teens are reactive with social media — and what to do instead
• The exact challenge Steve gives his students during high-pressure seasons
• How to use social media strategically (not addictively)
• A 5-step plan to take back your attention and protect your goals

Whether you’re prepping for finals, writing college essays, or just ready to feel less scattered — this episode will give you the clarity and tools to focus on what really 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

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 protect civilians in Ukraine.
Matthew Kim designs hands-on STEM programs that make science exciting and accessible for younger students.
Mohammad Aarish Khan connects cutting-edge cancer research with a mission to help underserved communities.

These stories reveal that when students pursue what they care about and use it to serve others. They don’t just innovate. They lead.

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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

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.

Asher Stubbs shares how his great-grandmother’s legacy in Peru inspired him to create Kusko Trips, a program helping students build cross-cultural understanding through service and entrepreneurship.

Asher's email address is ajstubbs100@gmail.com

Toby Hou explains how he launched the Civil Discourse Initiative to bridge political and social divides in his school through empathy and open dialogue.

Toby's email address is thou26@lawrenceville.org

If your teen believes they need a title to lead, this episode will change the way they see leadership and themselves.

Register for the Ivy League Challenge to gain the kind of support that these students had as they went through this journey towards incredible college preparation.

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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

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 develop the mindsets and skill sets needed to thrive in an ambiguous world.

Rich shares how his book demystifies innovation, reframes failure as essential learning, and helps ordinary people unlock their creative potential. Together, we dive into the connection between design thinking and college prep, the power of micro-failures, and how to navigate the real world with curiosity, empathy, and humility.

Whether you're a student trying to design an impact project or a parent guiding your teen through uncertainty, this episode is packed with inspiration, insights, and practical tools.

Topics Covered:

• What Innovation-ish really means, and why it makes innovation more accessible
• How “Explore Before Explain” builds lasting learning
• The critical role of ambiguity in growth, creativity, and college prep
• Why the myth of the lone genius is holding us back
• The two types of failure, and how to embrace the kind that leads to success
• Why humility is the single most important trait for innovation, leadership, and impact

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You can find Richard's book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-ish-Anyone-Breakthrough-Solutions-Problems/dp/1394318901
To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website
To follow on Instagram: @TheIvyLeagueChallenge
To join us on our Facebook group for parents