Duke TIP Summer Academy

[okeydokey]

I know we have talked about the Duke Tip program before, but I am looking for anyone who had a child attend the Summer Academy on the University Campus. The cost is $3500 for three weeks.

I'm not sure if I'm more shocked about the cost or the three weeks. My DD says it is too long to be away from home and I have to say, I think I agree, but the study subjects sound just awesome.

Has anyone here applied for and received financial aid? We are a two income family, but we in no way have that kind of money for a summer program. I am trying to get a feel for what the income requirement is to see if it is worth even trying to qualify.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Actually the Cost seems to be fairly relative. Emory is 3255 and for longer course 8900 UNC allows kids to take class/es, but that one would run us 1800 for just one, and that would not be worth it.
My ds was quite interested in the Emory program. We did a bit of research. The "feel" we got was that the program was good, the experience of the "campus" living was good, but the impact on admissions (basically none) coupled with relative cost (it'd be even more as we are would need flights, etc, just knocked it out for us. Its hard to justify 3700. for ten actual days of classes with college costs coming up.....shame....We too, would likely get Zippo for "aid" so we passed...

 

[The Mystery Machine]

For starters the cost is dependent on the University you attend. No way could we afford 3500 either.

That being said my dd went last yr at the end of 7th grade to to the tune of 1400.00. This yr is 1575.00. She is going to Truman University in Maryville MO.

She stays in a dorm for 3 weeks straight. They keep them busy all the time. She had such a blast last yr she applied to go again.

There are classes at Universities across the USA you can apply for, as an FYI to you.

 

[tzolkin]

I went when I was a kid, but I got a major scholarship. (We were a family of 6 with an income of less than $30K-- 1994.)

It was the summer before we moved and I started HS, so it was a good experience for me to learn how to meet new people and be somewhat independent of my parents. The classes were basically all day and there were activities planned for all the times when you're not in class. The supervision was good. The academic aspect was fairly rigorous (I took Latin), but it was a lot of fun.

Honestly, I would probably also be nervous about letting my DD (now in 7th grade) go away to something like that, but there's really not much trouble they can get into. If we had the money or could get financial aid, it would definitely be a good experience for her (but not something worth putting our family in debt or stress over).

 

[okeydokey]

She is not crazy about the 3 week length. Maybe it's something we would consider if she qualifies again in a few years. I don't think she is quite ready at 13, even if we had the cash. It's just frustrating being in the can't afford it, but doesn't qualify for any aid category.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

She is not crazy about the 3 week length. Maybe it's something we would consider if she qualifies again in a few years. I don't think she is quite ready at 13, even if we had the cash. It's just frustrating being in the can't afford it, but doesn't qualify for any aid category.

If she is not crazy about the length then that is OK.

Heck my dd wanted to do 2 sessions back to back this yr and we said NO. We just can't afford that. Maybe next yr.

 

[sharlon]

OP, my DD went last summer as a 13 year old. Her Duke TIP Summer Academy location was Appalachian State. For those who aren't aware, Duke does not hold most of their programs at Duke, they are held at other Colleges and Universities. DD took Algebra 1, which counted for her at her school. This was something she desperately wanted to do. If she hadn't, we wouldn't have considered it.
She had a blast! They were so busy that the time flew by. The kids have VERY limited time they are allowed to use the phone. This turns out to be a good thing, as it cuts homesickness.
If you have ANY questions at all, I will be happy to answer. I'm sure my DD would be happy to as well. Just remember, don't take too long to decide, as it fills up quickly.

 

[sharlon]

Oh, almost forgot, OP once she qualifies, she qualifies. So, if she doesn't go this year, she automatically qualifies next year, the year after, etc.

 

[okeydokey]

Oh, almost forgot, OP once she qualifies, she qualifies. So, if she doesn't go this year, she automatically qualifies next year, the year after, etc.

This is great to know, thank you.

I was looking at the list of study subjects wishing I could go!!

 

[Diegosmom]

Are you close to the school? Could you maybe drop by on the weekend for a visit so she won't be so homesick. I am sure she would have fun and 3 weeks would fly by.

 

[sharlon]

Are you close to the school? Could you maybe drop by on the weekend for a visit so she won't be so homesick. I am sure she would have fun and 3 weeks would fly by.

They STRONGLY discourage parents coming to visit. The program is set up so that the kids are constantly busy. Except for one hour in the afternoon and the hour before bed, they are going. One of the wonderful things about the program is that they try to expose these "nerds" (daughter's word, not mine) to different interests. They don't want them hanging out in their rooms alone. They want them to be social and creative and engaged. Parental visits often interrupt these activities and actually lead to homesickness.
And yes, Diegosmom is right, the 3 weeks does fly by.

I will say, we probably wouldn't have let DD go to study some of the subjects, but she wanted to do Algebra, which her school would give credit for. That made it totally worth it.

 

[momof1princess]

DD13 just got a book about this today and there is NO way we could afford it, unless she gets financial aid. it does look great though.

 

[okeydokey]

DD13 just got a book about this today and there is NO way we could afford it, unless she gets financial aid. it does look great though.

The financial aid packet actually looked more promising than I thought it would. It said there was "limited" financial aid available and that if you were a family of 4 with less than a 99,000 annual income you could apply. Don't know how likely it would be for us to get some aid, but we are surely below that number.

I really want my DD to experience this at least a year or two. We hope she will want to apply next year or the year after. And I would like her not to choose Algebra, but to choose something she would not normally be exposed to in Middle or High School. Math is not her strong suit anyway.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The financial aid packet actually looked more promising than I thought it would. It said there was "limited" financial aid available and that if you were a family of 4 with less than a 99,000 annual income you could apply. Don't know how likely it would be for us to get some aid, but we are surely below that number.

I really want my DD to experience this at least a year or two. We hope she will want to apply next year or the year after. And I would like her not to choose Algebra, but to choose something she would not normally be exposed to in Middle or High School. Math is not her strong suit anyway.

Then go for it. My dd HAD A BLAST and I was happy she had to take care of herself 100%. They keep them so busy they don't have time to miss home.

For my dd it keeps her focused on the grand prize of going to college. Thankfully she will be starting HS next yr and she is hoping that she finally gets to learn something.

My dd is a writer so she took a writing class last yr. This yr she is going to be in a newspaper reporting & production class.

She is the classic "nerd" I guess and academics are her "sports".

 

[momof1princess]

The financial aid packet actually looked more promising than I thought it would. It said there was "limited" financial aid available and that if you were a family of 4 with less than a 99,000 annual income you could apply. Don't know how likely it would be for us to get some aid, but we are surely below that number.

I really want my DD to experience this at least a year or two. We hope she will want to apply next year or the year after. And I would like her not to choose Algebra, but to choose something she would not normally be exposed to in Middle or High School. Math is not her strong suit anyway.

we didn't get a financial aid "packet", but i did see this in the booklet. we're a one income family and WAY below that cutoff, so we'd probably have a decent chance for financial aid. DD13 is waffling about going, though, because she was planning to spend her summer earning money for her band uniform and dance recital costumes.

 

[Alphabetsoup]

I went to a 4 week program at a NC university from the time I was 12-17 and LOVED it! We went to classes during the day (morning was academic, afternoons were creative/sports/etc....). We had 'study hall' in the evenings, dances, movies and field trips on the weekends. It was fantastic!

It was a camp for 'gifted and talented'....re: nerds. And to this day we are happy with that label. For most of us, the program helped us learn to socialize with others, make new friends and learn that it was okay to have a brain and to WANT to use it. Most of us were classified as 'at risk' (for depression, etc...) due to our brains, GPAs, IQs, bullying, etc...

We were only there for 4 weeks but the time FLEW by and we always wished the program were double the length. We lived in the dorms, ate in the university cafeteria, everything. Ahhh...memories! ))

In the past few years they have even started having reunions for the program I was in....

 

[momof1princess]

i did DD's application online last monday, the first day of registration for 7th graders, and i have to say, i was VERY disappointed in the courses available. almost all of the ones she'd chosen from the duke TIP catalog weren't listed. why list the courses in your catalog if you're not going to offer them? we managed to find a couple of courses she was moderately interested in, completed the online app and mailed in the financial paperwork. hoping to hear something in a week or two.