Duke Gifted and Talented 4th/5th grade

[lisabarr]

So my DD 11 brings home an invite from Duke gifted/talented program. She says very few students in her class got one.

Wondering if anyone has some info and is it worth the $35 application fee?

 

[barbmouse]

Both of my dks have been in the Duke TIP program. We joined and receive mailings and such during the year. It is a newsletter but you also get info on camps,classes, etc. that they can participate in. There is a charge for them though. If they are in Duke TIP in 7th they are eligible to take the SAT or ACT that year. I would go on the website and read about it and then decide!

 

[Leajess99]

My 12 year old has been in the Duke TIP program since 4th grade and has taken the Explore test twice and will be taking the ACT in 2 weeks. I really like the opportunities for testing that it gives. By taking the advanced tests it helps show what she can focus on as the school is often at a loss on what to do with her.

 

[finz2left]

We started with Duke TIP, and now homeschool through Stanford EPGY. The testing was very helpful in figuring out DS12 strengths.

 

[Ratpack]

My DD 12, just got into TIP for 7th grade. She will be taking the SAT in January. Not sure what all this will do for her, but honored to be nominated and given a chance to learn what this is all about early.

 

[Purseval]

You should try asking how many people in that program end up actually going to Duke or a similar school. They invited my kid years ago and we blew it off as nothing more than a moneymaking scheme that feeds off of the egos of parents who get to believe they have the next Stephen Hawking messing up the playroom. My son is now in his senior year at Georgia Tech, he scored a 1570 on his SATs to get admitted as a freshman and he just scored a 170 on his LSATs, all without any help from the Duke Gifted Program. If your child is truly smart you don't need to pay anybody to tell you that.

 

[finz2left]

You should try asking how many people in that program end up actually going to Duke or a similar school. They invited my kid years ago and we blew it off as nothing more than a moneymaking scheme that feeds off of the egos of parents who get to believe they have the next Stephen Hawking messing up the playroom. My son is now in his senior year at Georgia Tech, he scored a 1570 on his SATs to get admitted as a freshman and he just scored a 170 on his LSATs, all without any help from the Duke Gifted Program. If your child is truly smart you don't need to pay anybody to tell you that.

Actually, we didn't know how smart our son was. He complained of boredom on occasion, but got Bs and Cs in science and math. When he topped out the test, and then took the ACT and got a 23 in 5th grade!!!!! we realized we HAD to do something, so began EPGY. He's now in 6th grade and completing algebra. He wants to go to Purdue to study engineering...but not every parent thinks their kids is Stephen Hawking! In fact, I kept thinking my DS was just the product of an academic home (which he is!).

Without the Talent Search, DS would still be bored and we would not be as attuned to his real needs.

 

[RachelEllen]

I did the program back in the 7th grade and ended up going to the summer programs. It was an incredible experience that I would highly recommend to almost anyone. I don't know the percentage of kids that take the test that are eligable for the summer programs, but, if you think your kid might be interested, I'd highly encourge you to try.

I hate to post this, as I think it comes off a little braggy, but they were truly life changing summers. Learning in an amazing environment, being amongst peers were I didn't feel like the odd nerd out. If it's not for you and your kid, fine, but I don't really like hearing a program that was so important in my life disparged.

 

[Purseval]

Without the Talent Search, DS would still be bored and we would not be as attuned to his real needs.

Let's restate it then. If your child was so gifted and Duke truly had the search of knowledge as their primary concern they would be paying you, not the other way around. All they do is look at databases of achievement tests, notify the top scorers and try to enroll them in their programs, summer camps, etc. Compare that to Duke's basketball program and what they do when they see a "gifted" prospect. That person will be tracked through middle and high school, scouted the entire time. and offered a scholarship as soon as they are elegible. Turn down a gifted child application and you're history.

But, if you have the money and the time it certainly won't do any harm. And for some, like the poster I am replying to, it may help their child to focus their energies on something.

 

[taylor3297]

Let's restate it then. If your child was so gifted and Duke truly had the search of knowledge as their primary concern they would be paying you, not the other way around. All they do is look at databases of achievement tests, notify the top scorers and try to enroll them in their programs, summer camps, etc. Compare that to Duke's basketball program and what they do when they see a "gifted" prospect.

I used to be the coordinator for the academically gifted at a middle school. Duke does not look at the scores. It is up to each school to have someone nominate students with scores that is accepted by the Duke TIP program. If you are near enough to Duke to take the extra classes, take the ACT or the SAT in 7th grade the program can be beneficial. The classes offered are normally on topics that a child would not be either exposed to or have access to at a regular school.

Yes Duke has an outstanding basketball program, but has much more to offer for people in other programs. My aunt worked at Duke for 30 years and could tell your more of what Duke University has done for students.

I don't know why put your posts come off as someone who either doesn't really know much about Duke and all that Duke stands for (it is just more than basketball) or sour grapes are involved. If you think all Duke basketball players are on scholarships then you are wrong.

 

[Purseval]

I don't know why put your posts come off as someone who either doesn't really know much about Duke and all that Duke stands for (it is just more than basketball) or sour grapes are involved.

Actually I could care less about Duke except when they play Tech in football. My son may even end up going there next year, I believe that's one of the law schools he's applying to. This isn't an academic board this is a budget board and the OP wanted to know if it was worth the money. I'm giving my opinion because it's also a board where they ask for opinions.

If you think all Duke basketball players are on scholarships then you are wrong.

Reread my post. I was talking about the gifted ones.

 

[taylor3297]

Actually I could care less about Duke except when they play Tech in football. My son may even end up going there next year, I believe that's one of the law schools he's applying to. This isn't an academic board this is a budget board and the OP wanted to know if it was worth the money. I'm giving my opinion because it's also a board where they ask for opinions.



Reread my post. I was talking about the gifted ones.

I reread your edited post which was not exactly what I had responded to. Yes, I know this is a budget board and you were giving your opinion but in reading your opinion there was more than a yes it is worth it or no it is not worth it.

By the way I stated my opinion I would think most would be able to draw from it that I think it is worth the money if you have access to Duke.

Good luck to your son with law school applications. If he hasn't already, besides applying to Duke, he may want to look at UNC also.

 

[crazyme5kids]

My son was invited to join, but I decided it was way too pricey, plus there weren't any summer programs around here he could attend (another financial hurdle to attend with the program).

 

[pantherlj]

My son was invited to join, but I decided it was way too pricey, plus there weren't any summer programs around here he could attend (another financial hurdle to attend with the program).

My daughter was invited and we live just a few miles from Duke and it's still really expensive! A friend told mine told me a day course is over $200. They offer some neat programs/experiences but not in our budget.

Having said that ... my current child that was invited doesn't really push herself or want "extra" work. My younger child ... she wants harder work so might enjoy such an experience. That's still a couple of years off.

On a side note, I took the SATs in 7th grade and it didn't give me an edge with anything at all.

 

[Purseval]

By the way I stated my opinion I would think most would be able to draw from it that I think it is worth the money if you have access to Duke.

And, in another one of my edited posts, I responded that if you have the money it certainly won't do any harm.

Good luck to your son with law school applications. If he hasn't already, besides applying to Duke, he may want to look at UNC also.

Thank you. He's narrowed it down to 3 as of last contact: Emory, Stanford and Duke. They have some automated system that, once you fill everything out, forwards your applications to wherever you want it to go but filling everything out that they want is like a full-time job that you have to do while still attending classes. I hope he does well so he can support me in my old age

 

[okeydokey]

My DD is taking the ACT in Feb as part of the 7th grade program. I figure the experience of taking the exams in the actual setting will be beneficial. The fact that she wanted to take part is what made me want her to do it. I wanted to let her decide.

The program is not intended to recruit for Duke but to provide information to gifted students.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

worth every penny. We have been involved with Duke Tips and it has really impacted our gifted child in a positive way.

 

[sharlon]

I have 2 daughters involved in Duke TIP. The oldest took the SAT as a 7th grader last December. It was wonderful practice, and she said that she is glad she took it so she won't be nervous taking it in high school. The statistics are that approximately the top 5% academically of 7th graders take the SAT or ACT under the program. The top 5% of that 5% then qualifies based on their scores to be invited to one of the summer programs. We were fortunate that our daughter was invited and did attend Summer Academy. She BEGGED to go and study Algebra, and we had the money, so we sent her. Wonderful experience and after less than 3 weeks, she was done with Algebra 1.
It was wonderful for her to be around other smart kids and not be the "token geek". (not that it's ever bothered her) She made some wonderful friends and got ahead another year in math.

My 11 year old has no interest in the summer programs and we've never done the EXPLORE test. She will probably take the SAT or ACT for practice, but that's about it. She is homeschooled, so the online classes might be something we will use in the future as part of her regular schooling.

 

[Purseval]

On a side note, I took the SATs in 7th grade and it didn't give me an edge with anything at all.

Actually that is a relatively inexpensive way to track your progress, identify weaknesses and (most importantly IMO) get you used to taking the test. 7th grade is a bit overdoing it but if you start in 9th grade you get 4 year's worth of chances to get a good score while the typical student who waits until their junior or senior year gets 1 or 2 shots. If they blow it they're hosed. Your score can never go down and every improvement becomes the one sent out to your chosen schools. Plus you can get a copy of the test for a couple of extra dollars and use it as a study aid.

If you get a real good score word gets around. My son got "invited to apply" to MIT without ever sending them a copy of his scores.

 

[Leajess99]

You should try asking how many people in that program end up actually going to Duke or a similar school. They invited my kid years ago and we blew it off as nothing more than a moneymaking scheme that feeds off of the egos of parents who get to believe they have the next Stephen Hawking messing up the playroom. My son is now in his senior year at Georgia Tech, he scored a 1570 on his SATs to get admitted as a freshman and he just scored a 170 on his LSATs, all without any help from the Duke Gifted Program. If your child is truly smart you don't need to pay anybody to tell you that.

I know a young man who is going to Duke on a full ride scholarship thanks to his brains and he was in the TIP. No, not all kids go to Duke but not all kids get the testing opportunities that the Duke TIP kids do. We have known for years how smart my DD is BUT there are not many opportunities here for gifted kids. I have no clue who Stephen Hawkins even is and don't really care. I only care about what I can do for MY child. The test results show areas my child can benefit from different teaching approaches or different things to study/learn. I am giving MY child every opportunity to succeed and I guess that makes me have a big ego.

Oh and Duke does offer financial help for those who qualify.