Summer at Duke TIP (xpost): advice, please

[daijobu]

My dd is considering attending Center for Summer Studies at Duke TIP.  Does anyone have experience with it?  She's trying to pick a campus and her classes.  Thanks!  

[Woodland Mist Academy]

My dd did TIP Crisis camp when she was younger. We weren't sufficiently impressed to do three weeks at Center. If your daughter goes, I'd love to hear your feedback! Maybe the camps for the teens are better.

[Woodland Mist Academy]

You might want to check who will be teaching the classes she is interested in.  I wish we had done this. The classes are not always taught by those with specialties in the area of the class. You might be surprised by some of the teachers.

 

This might not be the case for Center. I do know it will be the first thing I check if my dd ever decides to attend.

[daijobu]

You might want to check who will be teaching the classes she is interested in.  I wish we had done this. 

 

Good point.  They don't include them in the course description, but maybe I can call and ask.  

[Dmmetler]

It is possible they may not know. At my school, summer camp contracts are essentially the same as adjunct contracts, and they don't put someone on contract until they know the class is needed. I work a summer music camp for 8-12 yr olds each year (and have for a decade), but if a parent registers when the summer catalog goes online (which should be any day now) and asks the office who is teaching, they won't know (although they'd have an idea of who they want/expect) because there's always a chance that the instructors who do it every year will say "no".

[Woodland Mist Academy]

It is possible they may not know. At my school, summer camp contracts are essentially the same as adjunct contracts, and they don't put someone on contract until they know the class is needed. I work a summer music camp for 8-12 yr olds each year (and have for a decade), but if a parent registers when the summer catalog goes online (which should be any day now) and asks the office who is teaching, they won't know (although they'd have an idea of who they want/expect) because there's always a chance that the instructors who do it every year will say "no".

 

If this is the case,  I would consider carefully the student's reasons for attending. That's quite a chunk of change for a toss up of teachers. If she is going mainly for the camp experience, a chance to live on campus, or to meet new people, that's one thing. If her goal is to study with an expert in the field, I would want some clear answers.

 

The first year my dd was interested in the camp aspect. Now that she is older and there are so many options, we've become choosier with time and money. She is first and foremost interested in what the class has to offer. The camp experience is just a fun bonus. When we decide on camps, knowing who will teach the class is vital. To others it may not matter. :)

[Dmmetler]

If this is the case,  I would consider carefully the student's reasons for attending. That's quite a chunk of change for a toss up of teachers. If she is going mainly for the camp experience, a chance to live on campus, or to meet new people, that's one thing. If her goal is to study with an expert in the field, I would want some clear answers.

 

The first year my dd was interested in the camp aspect. Now that she is older and there are so many options, we've become choosier with time and money. She is first and foremost interested in what the class has to offer. The camp experience is just a fun bonus. When we decide on camps, knowing who will teach the class is vital. To others it may not matter. :)

 

I agree here, and FWIW, it's frustrating for instructors, too (I have a class that's in limbo now due to low enrollment-and this is theoretically a COLLEGE class!).

[Alexinmemphis]

My daughter attended Duke TIP Center last year at Georgia Tech. I would say that she had fun, but if you are looking at it for real educational purposes, it matters tremendously who your instructor is, and they do not know that usually before you register and pay. At least, we didn't know. You live and you learn, but I would contact the Duke office to see when they know who the instructors are, as dmmetler said.

 

The other thing I noticed is that there is a lot of institutional memory and tradition wound up in Duke TIP. Since she was at Ga Tech, hers was the inaugural class. They carried a lot of "traditions" with them from other sites, but didn't yet have their own character, from how she described it. Maybe a site that had been around longer would.

 

Best,

Alex

[FergusonHomeschool]

I attended TIP summer programs every summer from 7th through 10th grade (Davidson two years, and Duke East Campus two years). They were amazing experiences for me socially and academically (though I would say the primary benefit, for me at least, was social, as it was my first chance to really interact with other gifted kids). I would love to send my son when he's old enough. :)

[Guest kcdelaney]

My daughter is attending the first term of the Duke TIP summer camp at Austin College in Texas, studying Debate & Persuasion. She's 12, a rising 8th grader and is very excited about it! 

[PamJBA]

I attended at Duke University the summer after 7th grade in 1988. I'm not sure there were other campus options back then. It was my first extended time away from home. I was very sheltered and it was a bit overwhelming. I'm glad I went. I just picked a course that was still open at the time. The course and instructor weren't what made the experience in my case.

[Mykids2000]

Any updates on the families that had children attend DUKE TIP summer programs specifically for the Center.  My son would be 12 and I am wondering if it is worth the cost.  We would have to fly from Arizona, etc.  Thanks!

 

 

Edited March 6, 2018 by Mykids2000