Duke University

Talent Identification Program (TIP)

PreCollege, Field Studies, and Institutes
Durham, North Carolina


		Program Description Program Overview Visit Web Site Get Free Info See Photos

For More Information, Contact
Duke University TIP
1121 West Main Street
Durham, North Carolina 27701
919-668-9100
Fax: 919-681-7921
http://www.tip.duke.edu

Type of Program: Academic (general), gifted and talented
Participants: Coeducational, grades 9–12 (varies by program)
Enrollment: PreCollege Program: 50–100 participants; Field Studies: 18 to 22 students per program; Institutes: 28 to 36 students per program
Program Dates: PreCollege Program: one 6-week session; Field Studies and Institutes: multiple two-week sessions; all programs are held between June and mid-August
Head of Program: Hollace Selph, Director of Educational Programs

Location

Locations vary by program. The Duke University PreCollege Program takes place at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Each individual domestic or international Field Study involves travel to an exciting location chosen specifically to enhance the academic content of the program. In 2007, locations included the mountains of North Carolina or Virginia, California, New Mexico, England, France, Italy, China, and Costa Rica. Each Institute is held on the campus of a top university, such as Duke University and Wake Forest University.

Background and Philosophy

The Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) is a national leader in identifying academically talented students and providing innovative programs to support the development of their optimal educational potential. Duke TIP, a nonprofit educational organization, conducts two annual talent searches, offers a variety of educational programs, and provides additional services to students, teachers, and parents. Since 1980, Duke TIP has served more than 1.6 million students.

Program Offerings

The Duke University PreCollege Program takes place each summer from July through mid-August and provides the opportunity for rising high school seniors to earn Duke University credit. Students attend Duke’s summer session courses along with Duke undergraduate students, following the University’s course and exam schedule. Duke TIP provides a structured residential program with trained staff members. During the six-week program, students have access to a variety of activities, community service opportunities, and educational seminars. This program is available exclusively to rising high school seniors.
    Domestic and International Field Studies and Institutes vary each year. Prospective students should visit the Duke TIP Web site for complete program descriptions, dates, pricing, and current offerings. Duke TIP Field Studies and Institutes are much more than just a science or humanities class. Each is an authentic academic experience, similar to a college field course. Although these programs are only two weeks long, the academic material offered in these courses can satisfy the intellectual hunger of the most ardent learner.
    Students selected for admission into one of these programs participate in a variety of activities, such as discussions, research projects, fieldwork, and/or presentations. Each instructor’s personal combination of methods has been developed to maximize student achievement while drawing from the unique features of each site. Duke TIP Field Studies and Institutes are noncredit, and no grades are awarded. Upon completion, each student receives a rubric and narrative assessment from the instructor, detailing his or her individual performance throughout the course. While it is very likely that any motivated student can succeed in these courses, they have been established specifically for academically gifted students.
    Offerings for 2007 included Above and Beyond: Astronomy, Physics, and Astrobiology (North Carolina); A Writer’s Art: Creative Writing (New Mexico); Off the Beaten Path: Field Ecology and Mountain Geology (Virginia); Reel Expressions: Filmmaking (California); Art and Soul: Architecture and Art History (Rome and Florence, Italy); China: A Leader in the Global Economy (Shanghai, Xian, and Beijing, China); Philosophic Quest: Paris Through the Eyes of its Greatest Minds (Paris, France); World Politics: A Diplomat’s Perspective (London, England); Tropical Ecology (Costa Rica); Tropical Medicine and Ethnobiology (Costa Rica); International Affairs Institute: The Ethics of War (Wake Forest University); Great Debates Institute: For the Sake of Argument (Duke University); and Leadership Institute: Theory and Practice (Duke University).

Extra Opportunities and Activities

Opportunities, excursions, and activities vary by site. While students should expect a large amount of structured academic time, staff members also organize a variety of supplemental activities. Examples include trips to local museums, movie theaters, or shopping centers; outdoor hiking or canoe trips; community service opportunities; and soccer or Ultimate Frisbee tournaments on the quad.

Facilities

Facilities vary by site. Students are housed in single-sex rooms of university residence halls, hotels, international schools, or field stations. Specific information is available in the Student and Parent Guide, which is sent to students when they are accepted into the program. The guide for each program is also available on the Duke TIP Web site.

Staff

Instructors for the PreCollege Program are Duke University faculty members, guest instructors, or advanced doctoral students. Each full-time residential staff member serves as a mentor, tutor, and role model and has training in leadership and residence hall advising. Students should expect 1 staff member for each group of approximately 10 to 12 students.
Instructors for the Field Studies and Institutes may be professors or doctoral students from leading universities or exceptional teachers from schools across the country. The teaching/residential assistants are usually highly skilled graduate or undergraduate students who possess experience in both the course content and student educational programs. Students should expect 1 staff member for each group of approximately 8 to 10 students.

Medical Care

All participants are required to carry current health insurance. Students in need of medical care are transported by Duke TIP staff members to the medical facilities at or near each site.

Costs

The cost for the 2007 PreCollege Program was $6900 (airfare and books not included). Program costs for the 2007 Field Studies and Institutes ranged from $2300 to $3900 (airfare and books not included).
At this time, need-based financial aid is available for the domestic Field Studies and Institutes only.

Transportation

Field Study and Institute participants meet Duke TIP staff members at the airport indicated in the program description, and PreCollege participants check in after they arrive on Duke’s campus. Exact transportation details vary by program and are outlined in the Student and Parent Guide. To ensure the safety of each student and that of the group, participants in the International Field Studies are required to travel with Duke TIP staff members from the gateway airport as part of the group reservation secured by Duke TIP.

Application Timetable

Application materials for Duke TIP are available online, and the review process of the application portfolios begins in January. Applications are reviewed as they are received, and participants are notified within three weeks of the status of their application. The final application deadline is mid-March, and final payments are due by mid-April.