The Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG), founded in 1984 is a co-ed summer program specializing in gifted education

Gifted education

Gifted education is a broad term for special practices, procedures and theories used in the education of children who have been identified as gifted or talented...

for students ranging in age from 4 - 17. In 2009 SIG became a program of the National Society for the Gifted and Talented. SIG offers residential and commuter programs to students ages 10-17 and day programs to students ages 4-13.

Academics

Students attend class 5 days a week from 8:45 a.m. until 4:35 p.m. with a break for lunch. Classes are offered 5 periods a day and are 75 minutes in length. A variety of courses is offered in many different subject areas, including humanities, sciences and mathematics, visual and performing arts, and fitness and recreation. Courses are selected by students before the start of the program, and can be changed by students during the first two days of the program. Homework is assigned in many classes, to be completed during the evening study tutorial.

Residential Life

Students live in dormitory groups of approximately 10-12 same age and gender students under the direct supervision of a Counselor. Students spend most of their free and recreational time with their Counselor Group. Counselor Groups eat together during mealtime in the dining hall. Three to four Counselor Groups are combined together to form a SIG house, which is supervised by both a Residential Assistant and a Housemaster.

Students have a break from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. for the Recreational Hour. Afterward, they have dinner, go to evening tutorial, attend the scheduled evening program, and return to their dormitory for Residential Time. Lights out for juniors (ages 10-12) is 10:00 p.m., and for seniors (ages 13-17), it is 11:00 p.m.

Each Saturday is a "getaway day", with trips to local museums, zoos, and other attractions. The first Sunday is an activity day, where the morning is generally for relaxing and free time, and the afternoon is for a planned activity. The second Sunday is a visiting day for families of the students, where parents may take students off campus for the day, but activities are planned for those whose families cannot travel to visit.

Commuter Students

Commuter students participate in the full academic day from 8:30am-6:00pm. This includes lunch and recreation period. Commuter students do not participate in weekend activities.

Locations

SIG residential and commuter program locations for students 10-17 years old:

• Amherst College - Amherst, Massachusetts
• Bryn Mawr College - Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
• Dartmouth College - Hanover, New Hampshire (ages 13-17)
• Emory University - Atlanta, GA
• Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey (ages 13-17, no commuter option)
• University of California - Berkeley - Berkeley, California (2 sessions)
• University of California - Los Angeles - Los Angeles, California
• University of Texas - Austin, TX
• Vassar College - Poughkeepsie, New York
• Yale University - New Haven, Connecticut (ages 13-17)

Academics

Students take three 90 minute long classes per day over three weeks. Classes begin at 8:45 and end at 2:30 with an hour break for lunch. Students may choose from classes in mathematics, science, humanities, and multi-disciplinary. Following classes, students participate in a 90 minute long recreation period.

Locations

SIG day program locations for students 4-12 years old:

• Bryn Mawr College - Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
• Boston University Academy - Boston, Massachusetts
• Emory University - Atlanta, Georgia
• Fairfield University - Fairfield, Connecticut
• Guadalupe School - San Jose, California
• Hudson School - Hoboken, New Jersey
• Independent Day School - Tampa, Florida
• Manhattanville College - Purchase, New York
• Moorestown Upper Elementary School - Moorestown, New Jersey
• Out-of-Door Academy - Sarasota, Florida
• The Overlake School - Seattle, Washington
• Sandy Spring Friends Schools - Sandy Spring, Maryland
• Stuart Country Day School - Princeton, New Jersey
• University of Texas - Austin, Texas

Admissions

Students must score at or above the 95th percentile in at least one of the major content areas of a nationally normed test, OR be enrolled in a gifted and talented program, OR provide two letters of recommendation .

Pricing

• Residential program: $4,395-$4,995
• Commuter program: $2,495-$2,695
• Day program: $1,995

External links

• http://www.giftedstudy.org
• http://www.nsgt.org