<p>I am considering having my rising 7th grader take on online course through CTY or Duke TIP. Do any of you have experience with both? If so, which did you prefer and why? We live in the South so the schools are more inclined to refer to Duke TIP, but their testing dates were not as convenient and we had him tested through CTY.</p>
<p>My son did both. But by that I mean that he signed up for the testing via Duke TIP and then, when it came time to take courses, he was qualified by his SAT scores to take courses at any of the so-called “gifted and talented” programs that rely on SAT test scores to determine eligibility for student participation. If you live in the South, you would sign up for the SAT through Duke TIP. Depending on your child’s scores, you can then sign your child up for TIP or CTY or the other ones that are out there…or anything else that relies on SAT test scores. You can sign your child up for CTY and not TIP. Or TIP and not CTY. Or both. Or neither.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what you meant by the difference in testing dates. If you’re referring to the SAT or ACT tests, they are taken alongside the regular administration of those exams for high school students and not on a schedule established by CTY or TIP. If you mean testing dates of some other sort, then I’m totally lost.</p>
<p>My son took a literature course at Duke for TIP and a math course at F&M for CTY. Both were good experiences. I’m not sure they were good values considering the price, but they were both good and well-run and he enjoyed both of them. He didn’t take any online courses so I have nothing to offer you on that front. If the online classes aren’t for credit (and I don’t think they are…although that may be up to your child’s school to decide), I would look beyond those entities for online academic stimulation.</p>
<p>I hope this helps. If I didn’t address what you were looking for exactly or if you want more information, send me a PM alerting me that you posted something here so I’ll be sure to find it.</p>
<p>My ds was in the 6th grade when he tested, so he didn’t take the SAT. That’s how the CTY test dates were more convenient for us than the DUKE TIP test dates. I signed him up for an online CTY course that he can use toward an independent study at his school. He has yet to start. I let him choose the class this time. And no, they are not cheap! We’ll have to see if it’s worth it. I’m looking at having him do one of the math series. Our state does not have a strong math program.</p>