Applications for our Summer Program will be posted online tomorrow, on December 15^th, and will be due on February 15^th, 2012. If you are not familiar with our Summer Program, we serve students in rising fifth grade to rising eleventh grades in residential summer camp, offered in three consecutive blocks.

·        Session 1 is June 17^th – 28^th ,

·        Session 2 is July 1^st – 12^th, and

·        Session 3 is July 15^th – 26^th, 2012.

 

Students attend only one session each summer. We offer quality learning experiences designed to cultivate interest and potential in a wide variety of fields and disciplines. Students thrive on the fast-paced environment of the classes and the stimulating fun offered by the residential counselors. Qualifying students should be identified as gifted or show high potential in academic fields or intellectual, creative, artistic and/or leadership capacities.

Tuition for the 2012 summer is $1200 with a $25 application fee. Limited financial aid is available based on need. The financial aid form should be submitted no later than March 1, 2012. The selection process is blind to both previous attendance and request for financial assistance.

 

INSTRUCTORS AND COUNSELORS

Our summer courses are taught by specialists in gifted educations and experts in fields ranging from engineering and economics to linguistics and philosophy. During each twelve day session, students stay in dorms, in suites of 8 campers to one counselor, and enjoy the on Grounds experience at Thomas Jefferson’s University of Virginia. This coming summer will be our 34^th season. SEP is very popular and students usually try to attend all seven summer of their eligibility.  We accept between 800 and 950 students every summer, depending on the size of the dormitory buildings we are able to secure. We typically receive 300 – 400 more applications than we can accept. The most competitive group is found in girls rising into the 7^th - 9^th grades, though last year we finally saw the numbers of applications from boys rising again, which was very good news!

 

Students should ideally apply online through our website at http://curry.virginia.edu/sep, though paper applications are also accepted. Candidates must submit responses to two writing prompts and request a recommendation from one teacher.

 

Applications are evaluated within each age grouping based on the quality of the responses to the writing prompts and the teacher’s recommendation.

 

Please share the enclosed flyer and/or paper applications with gifted coordinators, guidance counselors, and teacher in your buildings. They are welcome to forward this email to the students and their families who may be interested in, and  benefit from this program.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support of our program. Students hear about the program primarily through their teachers, guidance counselors, gifted coordinators, and by word of mouth. If you have any questions please email us at curry-sep@virginia.edu or call us at 434-924-3182.