<p>I am wondering if anyone has any experience with this program. Someone recommended this program to me for my daughter who is currently in 6th grade. If you had a child in the program, did you find it beneficial when it came time to apply for college?</p>
<p>Just curious...</p>
<p>Son went. Never gave college application a thought, and I don’t think it was ever mentioned. what was important was that he was with bright peers, in a structured program, and getting a feel for what living on a college campus would be like. Apply early to get the classes D wants. My son procrastinated until last minute, and while he liked his class, he would have preferred some others.</p>
<p>Oh yes, he did mention a funny incident that occurred in a college essay.</p>
<p>DS did two summer programs through Duke TIP. One was at Duke (game theory) and the other at Chapman University (a film class). He really enjoyed them both. I am not sure either made a difference in his college admissions, but both were wonderful experiences, and gave him experience living in a dorm with students on his level. The programs are very high quality.</p>
<p>My son did Johns Hopkins CTY, which is very similar. He liked it, but the next year he decided to go to Johns Hopkins to take real college classes. I think most people really like JHU CTY, and I’m pretty sure DUKE TIP is similar.</p>
<p>My son did the TIP program at Austin College last summer. He is currently in 8th grade. He loved the program. We didn’t consider it to be a boost for college admissions. He liked being around other very smart kids.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t do it for the college boost, because there really isn’t one. </p>
<p>My D wants to do one of the summer residential programs through CTD / NUMATS, which is another of the talent searches. (TIP is our talent search, but she likes the CTD course offerings better.)</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. It sounds like a great program. I just wondered if they provided guidance on college selection etc… It sounds like it is more a program for GT kids to expand their horizons in the summer. I just don’t know if my daughter has taken any of the tests that they use in the program. She has been in the GT program since kindergarten. I’ll have to give the GT office a call to find out if they offer any of the tests on the list.</p>
<p>Here is the link:</p>
<p>[Are</a> you Academy or Center eligible? | Duke TIP](<a href=“http://www.tip.duke.edu/node/151]Are”>http://www.tip.duke.edu/node/151)</p>
<p>We didn’t really “do” anything with Duke TIP until my ds was in 7th grade. He took the ACT that year through that program. He scored high enough to earn both recognition at the state level and at Duke University. We attended both. He scored high enough to qualify for the higher of the two - I think that’s “Center.” He did a program after 7th grade at Trinity University. At least when he did it, the sessions held for the summer after 7th grade were not on Duke’s campus. The summer after 8th grade allows a choice - one can do either a 7th and 8th grade program or an 8th, 9th, and 10th grade program. My ds chose the latter preferring to be with older kids. This program was on Duke’s campus. </p>
<p>The residential summer programs are expensive, though some financial assistance is available. I agree with the other poster about registering early. Classes fill quickly. It was a tremendous experience for him and he enjoyed being with other bright young folks. It also gave him the opportunity to be away from home to get a sense of what college life is like. He has since moved on to other summer opportunities. </p>
<p>I think taking either the SAT or ACT as a 7th grader is a wonderful opportunity to get one’s feet wet in the standardized testing world. I <em>believe,</em> though I am not sure that taking one of these in 7th grade is required to continue in the Duke TIP program. If your daughter is a 6th grader, I might just wait until next year and have her try to test in then. We tested in February which was the last possible date for qualifying.</p>
<p>The qualifying tests are the NCLB-mandated state tests, plus a bunch of others. Your D may or may not have qualifying scores, but she’s taken at least one of the tests. Her test to get into the GT program was almost certainly qualifying, but likely too old.</p>
<p>A qualifying score on those tests allows you to take the ACT or SAT through TIP; without a high enough ACT or SAT score, you can’t do the summer programs.</p>
<p>My daughter lives (we live) in Venezuela, and we knew about the program, but somehow we did not do anything while she was in 7th grade. This year she took the SAT (she is in 8th) and qualified for the “Center” which is the highest of the two programs. We are waiting for a decision on the application for a summer program. She is excited and I think it is a great opportunity. Besides, if the child does not take the SAT or ACT in 7th or 8th, he or she will not be able to take it after 8th to qualify for any of the programs. Just my thought, it is worth it, but it has to be done in 7th or 8th.</p>
<p>As mentioned, there are a number of talent searches; CTY is this area’s. TIP and CTD cover other geographic areas. There’s a certain amount of reciprocity between them. </p>
<p>My son did CTY for six years; he loved loved loved it. Still does, and has visited CTYers all over the country. Not a boost for college, but a huge boost in his life. He grew every summer in incredible ways, had great learning opportunities, and I cannot say enough about its great (positive) impact on him.</p>
<p>It’s a nice accolade if you get state or national recognition. Neither of my D’s went to any of the camps. I know many kids who did and very much enjoyed them. $8k for two kids to go to summer camp seemed a bit ridiculous to me especially when you could be saving it for college! There are scholarships available but they are need based.</p>
<p>My son really enjoyed his experience at the TIP program last summer. Although it was expensive we felt it was worth the money for an experience that he could not get at home. He wants to go again this summer but unfortunately JV football will interfere. We are looking for a shorter program.</p>