Summer Programs for the Gifted: Time to Start Planning
Gifted students enroll in summer programs for a wide variety of reasons. They may choose to enroll in a summer program in order to:
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spend valuable time with others who are at a similar intellectual level,
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concentrate on a specific area of interest or ability,
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enhance their academic study with additional enrichment opportunities,
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burnish their credentials so that they have a better chance of gaining entrance to an elite college,
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"try out” an academic area of interest, or
- earn early college credit.
Cogito is an online community for gifted youth that is sponsored by Johns Hopkins University. As of today, the website has listed more than 430 summer programs in all academic areas. These programs are located all over the United States, as well as the world. Most of the programs listed are designed for middle school and high school students, but some programs are designed for elementary school students, as well. Some programs are residential and some are commuter. Opportunities can be sorted by title or by organization. There is also a search engine built into the website that allows you to sort by grade level, acceptance requirements, and location. You also may want to check out
Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page: Summer and Saturday Programs for more summer enrichment ideas.
Selecting an appropriate summer program for your student can seem like a daunting task.
NAGC (National Association for Gifted Children) has several articles that you may find helpful as you sort through your list of choices.
Remember that many of these programs have strict deadlines for admission. Whatever your reason for enrolling your student in a summer program, be sure to start the process now before it is too late.