Go Ivy or Go Free

Welcome to Episode 5 of the Go Ivy or Go Free Podcast!In this episode, host Andreas Stamatakis sits down with entrepreneur, investor, and education disruptor Joe Liemandt — the visionary founder behind Alpha School — to hear how he's completely reimagining what school can look like for the next generation of builders, creators, and leaders.If you think the only path to a successful future runs through a traditional classroom with teachers, textbooks, and homework, think again. In this episode, Andreas and Joe get real about why the conventional education model is broken — and how Alpha School is proving there's a radically better way.Joe walks through exactly how Alpha School works: instead of sitting in lectures all day, students use AI to master core academics in just 2 hours, then spend the rest of their day on real-world projects that most adults never accomplish in a lifetime. We're talking about high schoolers who have made $1 million in high school, served as PR reps for A-list celebrities, built Broadway musical productions, launched apps, and more — all before graduation.The conversation also goes deep on the philosophy behind Alpha's model: Why does traditional schooling kill curiosity? What does it actually mean to be "educated"? And is a Harvard degree still worth it when a 16-year-old in your school is already running a profitable company? Andreas gives his take on how to think about the ROI of elite credentials versus real-world experience — and where the two might actually complement each other.Expect plenty of big ideas, some uncomfortable truths about traditional schooling, and a conversation that will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about preparing kids for the real world. About Our Guest: Joe Liemandt Joe Liemandt is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and the founder of Alpha School — one of the most innovative and controversial schools in America. Previously, Joe built Trilogy Software into a multi-billion dollar enterprise, establishing himself as one of the most successful tech entrepreneurs of his generation. Today, through Alpha School, Joe is on a mission to prove that AI can deliver world-class academic instruction in just 2 hours a day — freeing students to spend the rest of their time doing what actually prepares them for life: building, creating, leading, and launching real ventures. Alpha students don't just learn about the world — they go out and change it. About Your Host: Andreas Stamatakis Widely considered the #1 Ivy Admissions Advisor on Earth, Andreas Stamatakis has spent over a decade advising on elite college admissions and has built a social media empire dedicated to democratizing elite admissions advice, making top-tier Ivy strategies accessible to millions of students worldwide — for free. Andreas started his consulting practice at just 18 years old, right after making the ultimate strategic move: turning down multiple Ivy League acceptances for a full-ride scholarship to Stony Brook University. Holding degrees in Physics, Pure Math, and Applied Math, he brings a first-principles approach to the admissions process, debunking myths with hard facts and contrarian strategies that have helped thousands of students get accepted. Connect with Us!Follow Joe Liemandt:X: https://x.com/jliemandtInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/alphaschool_2hrlearning/Website: https://www.alpha.schoolFollow Andreas Stamatakis & The Ivy League Roadmap:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivy_roadmapTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ivy_roadmapWebsite & Consulting: https://ivyroadmap.orgBook: The Ivy League Roadmap (Available on Amazon): https://a.co/d/0bhf10mC

Welcome to Episode 4 of the Go Ivy or Go Free Podcast! In this episode, host Andreas Stamatakis sits down with content creator, startup operator, and USC dropout Eric Ou (aka @ericcouu ) to hear how a top high school student ended up at community college, transferred into USC, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, Emory, and more—and then made the bold decision to drop out and go all-in on startups and social media.If you think the only path to success runs through a four-year degree at an elite university, think again. In this episode, Andreas and Eric get real about what happens when life doesn't go according to plan—and why that might actually be the best thing that ever happens to you. Eric walks through his full journey: excelling in high school, landing at community college, grinding his way to transfer acceptances, and ultimately choosing USC before making the controversial decision to drop out and pursue startups full-time. He shares what it was like working with Turbo AI and other startups, and how he built a social media following of nearly 300K on TikTok and Instagram by being unapologetically honest about his unconventional path.The conversation also goes deep on the practical side of admissions: Andreas breaks down the actual essay that got Eric into USC as a transfer student, dissecting what made it work and what students can learn from it. They also tackle one of the most polarizing questions in college admissions—when does it actually make sense to drop out versus stay in school? Eric shares the framework he used to make that decision, and Andreas gives his take on how to think about the ROI of a degree versus real-world experience. They also cover how Eric got started on social media, turning his college journey content into a full-blown audience. Expect plenty of laughs, some hard truths about the traditional college path, and a conversation that will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about "making it."About Our Guest: Eric OuEric Ou is a content creator, startup operator, and social media personality with 300,000 followers on TikTok (@ericcouu). After graduating as a top student in high school, Eric attended community college before transferring to USC, where he was also accepted to UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, Emory, and other top schools. He later dropped out of USC to work full-time in the startup world, including roles at Turbo AI and his own consulting venture, Ou-Yu Consulting. Eric is known for his raw, unfiltered content about college life, the transfer experience, and navigating early adulthood—and has built a loyal audience by telling the truth about the paths no one talks about. About Your Host: Andreas StamatakisWidely considered the #1 Ivy Admissions Advisor on Earth, Andreas Stamatakis has spent over a decade advising on elite college admissions and has built a social media empire dedicated to democratizing elite admissions advice, making top-tier Ivy strategies accessible to millions of students worldwide for free. Andreas started his consulting practice when he was just 18 years old, right after making the ultimate strategic move: turning down multiple Ivy League acceptances for a full-ride scholarship to Stony Brook University. Holding degrees in Physics, Pure Math, and Applied Math, he brings a first-principles approach to the admissions process, debunking the myths using hard facts and contrarian strategies that have helped thousands of students get accepted. Connect with Us!Follow Eric Ou: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericcouu/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ericcouuYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ericcouuWebsite: https://linktr.ee/ericcouuFollow Andreas Stamatakis & The Ivy League Roadmap:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivy_roadmapTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ivy_roadmapWebsite & Consulting: https://ivyroadmap.orgBook: The Ivy League Roadmap (Available on Amazon): https://a.co/d/0bhf10mC

Welcome to Episode 3 of the Go Ivy or Go Free Podcast! In this episode, host Andreas Stamatakis sits down with Stanford student and founder of Project Connect Forum, Andra Campos (aka @projectconnectforum), to hear how a first-generation, low-income student from Southern California built two organizations from scratch and landed acceptances to Stanford, Columbia (likely letter), UCLA, UC Berkeley, USC, and more.If you think elite college admissions are reserved for students with expensive consultants and prep school pedigrees, think again. In this episode, Andreas and Andra get real about what it actually takes to stand out when you don't come from privilege. Andra walks through her journey of building Project Connect Forum into a platform with tens of thousands of users and founding Solace for Outdoor Workers, a nonprofit that provides sunscreen and sun safety resources to gardeners and other outdoor workers at higher risk of skin cancer. She shares what drove her to start both organizations, the setbacks she faced along the way, and how these passion projects became the backbone of her applications.The conversation also goes deep on the practical side of admissions: Andra talks about the importance of starting your essays early, how she approached writing authentically about her background, and what it was like opening her Stanford acceptance letter. Andreas breaks down why Andra's story is a masterclass in his strategic admissions philosophy, showing how genuine impact and a compelling narrative can outperform a perfect-on-paper applicant every time. They also cover how to start a successful nonprofit as a high school student—from finding a real problem to solve, to scaling your impact, to making it all feel genuine rather than resume-driven. Expect plenty of laughs, some hard truths about what "impressive" really means to admissions officers, and actionable advice you can start using today.🎙️ About Our Guest: Andra CamposAndra is a current Stanford University student, founder of Project Connect Forum—a platform with over 60,000 users that connects high school students with extracurricular opportunities and helps them launch their own passion projects. She is also the founder of Solace for Outdoor Workers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing sun safety resources to outdoor workers, and the creator of SunScan, a UV index app that won the Congressional App Challenge. Andra is the author of Math Speaks: Discovering the Wonders of Mathematics in Everyday Life and a recipient of the Edison Scholars Award ($50,000). She is passionate about empowering the next generation of student changemakers.🎙️ About Your Host: Andreas StamatakisWidely considered the #1 Ivy Admissions Advisor on Earth, Andreas Stamatakis has spent over a decade advising on elite college admissions and has built a social media empire dedicated to democratizing elite admissions advice, making top-tier Ivy strategies accessible to millions of students worldwide for free. Andreas started his consulting practice when he was just 18 years old, right after making the ultimate strategic move: turning down multiple Ivy League acceptances for a full-ride scholarship to Stony Brook University. Holding degrees in Physics, Pure Math, and Applied Math, he brings a first-principles approach to the admissions process, debunking the myths using hard facts and contrarian strategies that have helped thousands of students get accepted.🔗 Connect with Us!Follow Andra Campos:Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/projectconnectforum/ TikTok: / https://www.tiktok.com/@projectconnectforum Website: https://projectconnectforum.com/ Follow Andreas Stamatakis & The Ivy League Roadmap:Instagram: / ivy_roadmap TikTok: / ivy_roadmap Website & Consulting: https://ivyroadmap.org/Book: The Ivy League Roadmap (Available on Amazon): https://a.co/d/0bhf10mC

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Go Ivy or Go Free Podcast! In this episode, host Andreas Stamatakis sits down with former Princeton Teaching Fellow and elite admissions expert Kate Stone to uncover why checking all the traditional boxes is no longer enough to get into top-tier universities.If you think a perfect GPA, AP classes, and generic volunteer hours will guarantee your spot in the Ivy League, you need to hear this conversation. Andreas and Kate break down exactly why top colleges routinely reject "perfect" valedictorians and what you actually need to do to stand out.Drawing on her background in creative writing and years of mentoring high-achieving teens, Kate explains the critical difference between being well-rounded and building a "spike"—a deep expertise and cohesive narrative that admissions officers actually care about. They discuss the power of authentic passion projects, cultivating a personal board of advisors, and why real-world skills are the ultimate differentiators. Andreas brings his formulaic, first-principles perspective, and together, they debunk the biggest myths about extracurriculars and essay writing. Expect a hard-hitting, contrarian conversation that will completely change how you approach your college prep.🎙️ About Our Guest: Kate StoneKate Stone is an elite college admissions consultant, essay coach, and the founder of Kate Stone Prep (University Gurus). With a degree from NYU and experience as a Princeton University Teaching Fellow in Asia, Kate transforms her passion for storytelling into actionable admissions strategies. She goes beyond basic prep, mentoring students to build high-impact passion projects, develop unshakeable confidence, and craft compelling narratives. Her holistic approach has helped countless students secure acceptances to Harvard, Yale, and Stanford by teaching them to live their best stories, not just write them.🎙️ About Your Host: Andreas StamatakisWidely considered the #1 Ivy Admissions Advisor on Earth, Andreas Stamatakis has spent over a decade advising on elite college admissions and built a social media empire dedicated to democratizing elite admissions advice for free. Andreas started his consulting practice at just 18 years old after making the ultimate strategic move: turning down multiple Ivy League acceptances for a full-ride scholarship to Stony Brook University. Holding degrees in Physics, Pure Math, and Applied Math, he brings a first-principles approach to the admissions process, debunking myths using hard facts and contrarian strategies that have helped thousands of students get accepted.🔗 Connect with Us!Follow Kate Stone:Website & Newsletter: https://universitygurus.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katestoneprep/Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGMQQLHhHFSqObgFig3iODgFollow Andreas Stamatakis & The Ivy League Roadmap:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivy_roadmap/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ivy_roadmapWebsite & Consulting: https://ivyroadmap.org/Book: The Ivy League Roadmap (Available on Amazon): https://a.co/d/0bhf10mC

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Go Ivy or Go Free Podcast! In our inaugural episode, host Andreas Stamatakis sits down with writing expert and Stanford alum Mark Hernandez (aka @englishwithmarkh) to decode the ultimate black box of college applications: the admissions essay.If you think stuffing your personal statement with SAT vocabulary is the golden ticket to the Ivy League, think again. In this episode, Andreas and Mark get real about what actually happens behind closed admissions doors. They dive deep into the true process of making a great writer—spoiler: it doesn't happen overnight—and dissect the anatomy of the "essay that got me in."During their conversation, Mark brings his 25 years of educator experience to the table, debunking the myth that admissions officers want to read a polished, robotic rehash of your resume. Instead, they discuss how vulnerability, advanced storytelling, and a strong grasp of narrative structure are the real needle-movers. Andreas also shares how his strategic admissions roadmap pairs perfectly with authentic writing, highlighting why so many valedictorians miss the mark on their essays—and how you can avoid making the exact same mistakes. Expect plenty of laughs, some hard truths about generic applications, and actionable writing advice you can start using today.About Our Guest: Mark HernandezMark is a 25-year educator, writing coach, and the creator behind the highly popular "English with Mark H." Armed with both a B.A. and a J.D. from Stanford University, Mark has helped thousands of students master the art of storytelling to get into their dream schools. He is the founder of The Writing Alliance—a community designed to bridge the gap between what high schools teach and what elite colleges expect—and the author of the Write to Win ebook collection.About Your Host: Andreas StamatakisWidely considered the #1 Ivy Admissions Advisor on Earth, Andreas Stamatakis has spent over a decade advising on elite college admissions and has built a social media empire dedicated to democratizing elite admissions advice, making top-tier Ivy strategies accessible to millions of students worldwide for free. Andreas started his consulting practice when he was just 18 years old, right after making the ultimate strategic move: turning down multiple Ivy League acceptances for a full-ride scholarship to Stony Brook University. Holding degrees in Physics, Pure Math, and Applied Math, he brings a first-principles approach to the admissions process, debunking the myths using hard facts and contrarian strategies that have helped thousands of students get accepted.🔗 Connect with Us!Follow Mark Hernandez:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englishwithmarkh/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englishwithmarkhYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@englishwithmarkhWebsite & Masterclasses: https://englishwithmarkh.com/Follow Andreas Stamatakis & The Ivy League Roadmap:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivy_roadmap/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ivy_roadmapWebsite & Consulting: https://ivyroadmap.org/Book: The Ivy League Roadmap (Available on Amazon)Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode of Go Ivy or Go Free!

Welcome to Go Ivy or Go Free, hosted by Andreas Stamatakis! Most people are playing the game blind. Traditional college admissions advice is broken and ignores the deeper systems that actually determine long-term success. This podcast was created to expose those systems and show how college can be used as a strategic tool, not just a credential.Go Ivy or Go Free goes far beyond college applications. Each episode examines the structural problems in the American education system and how students can navigate, leverage, and even bypass them to create real opportunities over the long term.Andreas sits down with Ivy League students, admissions counselors, college dropouts, CEOs of billion-dollar companies, and more to discuss what worked, what didn’t, and how education fits into a bigger life and career strategy.This podcast isn’t for everyone. In fact, it’s not for most people. It’s for those who want to hack the system, understand the truth, and come out ahead in the American education system.Want in on the ride? Hit follow and learn how to beat the game.New episodes coming soon.Socials: Website: ivyroadmap.orgInstagram: @Ivy_RoadmapTikTok: @Ivy_RoadmapEmail: [email protected]