<p>Question to parents who took this route:
How do you compare EPGY versus CTY online classes, why have you chosen one instead of the other?
I am looking at two totally different courses - Algebra and English/LA course.
Both are for a very smart/gifted (hate that label) child. The child will possibly be able to spend an hour of regular "school time" working on one. What would you recommend?
Would you mind sharing your experiences?
Again - online classes only, not summer enrichment:-)</p>
<p>My S did a CTY online class (Hon Algebra 1). CTY gave him a scholarship. At the time, I don't think I'd heard of EPGY.</p>
<p>It's my understanding that CTY is EPGY plus a tutor.</p>
<p>We (one of my boys) took a H Creative Writing through CTY. It was a very rough start and I was pretty vocal about the fact that they did not meet my expectations. The teacher had them write, graded, but didn't explain the grades or do any posting of a lecture. After I fussed, she was much better and did post some lectures and at least for my son's work gave a very detailed explaination for the grade. I was mad that I had to fuss, but it did work out. The course was demanding in the amount of work that was required and the way she graded. It turned out to be a reasonably good experience, and he did a lot of writing which he wouldn't have done on his own. I feel like a math or science course might have a little more of a curriculum. I guess I'd say he'd do it again if he didn't have anything else going.</p>
<p>My son took Pre-Calc 2 years ago via EPGY. He did it over a summer, because he wanted to take Calc during his JR year in HS which would give him some time in his schedule to take a very populat Music Theory class during his senior year (which never ended up working out that way after all). Regardless, he chose to do it and did it at his own pace and seemed to learn what was needed because he eased right into Calculus after that summer. There is a teacher to whom you email your homework and tests and he/she corrects it and answers questions, etc. Overall our experience was very good.</p>
<p>We did not have the best experience with CTY Algebra II- make sure that the curriculum presented in the online course "aligns" with your school's curriculum. The CTY course was more similar to the Pre-Calc course taught in our schools. The experience of working with the tutor was not the best either- it was very confusing for my daughter to try and work with her on the whiteboard. She also took a writing course with CTY and that experience was far better- tutor was far more engaged and interested. The tutor for Algebra was a graduate student in math- the tutor for writing was a professional writer. She really enjoyed the writing, even though she is more a math/science person.</p>
<p>We had an excellent experience with EPGY. In fact, I would say it was life altering solution for some transitional issues going from private to public MS. He transitioned from an academically enriched Montessori private school to a fantastic 6th grade public school experience. Yet in 7th grade S was caught in a district re-shuffle when they opened a new middle school. Really great people at the new school, but the enrichment or differentiation strategies were not in place during the normal growing pains of getting a new school up and running. No bashing from me.</p>
<p>While differentiation was widely available to all students at his prior public MS, it was non-existent at the new school and S was going nuts. There are lots of issues getting a new school up and running, and we accepted the fact that the onus was on us to find suitable solutions. His independent learning habits were well entrenched, and we found a lot of activities and independent projects he could pursue on his own. However, we really wanted the appropriate rigor and depth for his math curriculum that he had been exposed to at the other public MS school. </p>
<p>We researched the CTY and the EPGY programs. At the time, CTY was using EPGY for their math at his level. We worked with his math teacher, and they agreed to flip his schedule so he could participate in EPGY. He would do the online/CD lesson at home in the evening, and then he would do the homework for EPGY in class. He had to sit for all the MS classroom exams, so they had grades to assess his work. They would not accept his letter grade from EPGY despite his accelerated coursework. This was really no problem. He did not have to do any extra preparation. Of course, we had to pay for EPGY.</p>
<p>Many parents have written about their successful EPGY Math experiences, but I just want to add that he had fantastic results with their English and Computer Science courses as well. S completed their Writing 11A-D courses. The educational model is a bit different from the math. You actually enroll in a class section with a live on-line lecture and white board session. You have headset/mic set up to participate, and you go to school with kids from all over the world. I actually had to pick him up and bring him home to log-in from a computer at home as their computer center in the library was in use. It was timed so that he was doing EPGY English in the same period as his 8th grade English. It took a lot of coordination and goodwill on everyone’s part.</p>
<p>While there were math tutors, the English classes were set up with more individual instruction, advising, and essay grading. My S had some fantastic instructors, and he really developed his writing style. His EPGY instruction was far more rigorous than anything he encountered in many of his HS AP classes years later. The timing was essential to his self-esteem and well-being in the turbulent MS years. He added Computer Science courses for enrichment as he was already a tech type—building computers on his own, coding, modding, and whatnot. </p>
<p>The biggest downside is the expense. There are learning communities where you can access and enroll in the EPGY courses without the tutoring for a reduced fee, or your school can set up their own tutoring and get a significant discount. We personally thought the expense was critical for this student. Our younger S hated EPGY and sought out more creative enrichment opportunities. He needs people to bump into. Older S might have his preferences, but he can learn in a number of environments. </p>
<p>The greatest upside beyond the curriculum is the ability to work online at your own time schedule. It allowed our S who was heavily involved in sports to have access to a classroom no matter the time of day or his locale. He would have loved to attend the CTY programs in the summer, but his schedule precluded that. </p>
<p>One last thing that worked well for older S. When he was looking at the course outlines, readings, and syllabi for CTY programs, he created some of his own independent learning opportunities from their descriptions that piqued his interests. He is an avid reader, and he developed projects, mentor interviews, and travel experiences related his long-standing interests. As a family we were always more interested in enrichment and personal development rather than acceleration. As it worked out, the one took care of the other. He was a far happier person.</p>