CTY questions, what to do?

<p>Hello everyone! If some of you may know from a past post that I'm taking a few classes online through FLVS (Florida Virtual School). I was advised by a few people to take a look into CTY courses. I went on the website and their is SO much to look at that I don't even know where to begin. In addition, I live in Florida, so the FLVS is free. CTY isn't, and in this economy, I don't think my parents will understand why I want to take even more classes online that aren't even free. I know CTY is more for gifted students, and FLVS is for anyone, but it's kind of hard for me to explain to my parents. Anyways, what courses does everyone recommend? How did you feel they courses increased your chances of getting in to boarding school? Why do the CTY courses have that others don't? Thank you in advanced.... and good luck (only a little more than a week!!)</p>

<p>I’m taking a Music Theory course. I’d say they’re pretty well-respected on not only prep schools but also colleges. PM me for any questions.</p>

<p>CTY hires the best in their field. I’ve taken numerous classes online and through the summer program and every instructor has been a college professor with at least a master’s degree. My sister had a professor from Williams as her teacher. To attract top professors like these, CTY has to pay a lot which in turn causes the courses to cost a lot. CTY is not stingy with aid so if you think you could qualify then you should apply.</p>

<p>Oh yeah, my teacher also teaches at Deerfield…</p>

<p>I’d suggest you try the sample videos for the classes you’re interested in. They don’t all have samples, but the math classes we looked at did - and they were very different from FLVS classes! First and foremost - it’s an actual lecture, with a teacher. Prerecorded, obviously, so you can’t interrupt him to ask a question, but you can pause it while you look at the notes on the screen and try to figure out what’s going on. And, of course, you get a tutor who’s available to help you by phone or chat. I found it to be much better than the analogous FLVS courses.</p>

<p>But you have to qualify for the CTY program in order to take their courses. You qualify by taking the SAT and meeting CTY’s threshold scores. </p>

<p>My daughter qualified last year but the only course she has participated in so far was a family science program, sailing the Chesapeake Bay and learning about oysters. We did it together last summer. Couldn’t say as I’d highly recommend that particular program.</p>

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<p>Actually, no. As I understand it, a student can take one course prior to qualifying. Just one - but, still, that ought to be enough to decide if it’s worth pursuing.</p>

<p>^I’ve never heard that before. I don’t think that’s true.</p>

<p>Thank You everybody! Dodgersmom, I don’t like the FLVS set up either (I only take Spanish online because my mother speaks Spanish natively, so I know Spanish and can get a credit for it).</p>

<p>Is CTY the best program out there? I was looking at some other posts and I know Duke has a program (can’t remember the name of it right now).</p>