Academic FAQS
For a video on the educational philosophy of CTD, click here.
What is the Summer Program?
Why should a gifted student enroll
in the Summer Program?
What are the admissions criteria
for the Summer Program?
Can you receive high school
credit for the Summer Program courses?
What is the cost of the Summer
Program?
How do I apply/qualify for financial
aid?
How are the admissions criteria
for the Summer courses set?
Can my child be admitted if
s/he lacks appropriate test scores?
Can students finish one to
two semesters of course work in three weeks?
Who teaches Summer Program courses?
How can I get more information
or a syllabus about a specific course?
Are Summer Program courses
graded?
What kind of evaluation
do you receive in a summer course?
What is the teacher-to-student
ratio in the class?
Will my child need a computer?
What special teaching methods
do teachers use?
How can I obtain the information necessary for tuition reimbursement through my Flexible Spending Account?
What is the Summer Program?
Go to Program Description
for more information.
Why should a gifted student enroll in the Summer
Program?
Check out our Benefits.
What are the admissions criteria for the Summer
Program?
Click Eligibility for more information.
Can you receive high school credit for Summer Program
courses?
Go to Accreditation or Benefits.
Spectrum and Equinox courses all offer high school credit, as well as
the Algebra I course in Apogee. CTD routinely sends course and student
performance information to school officials at a family's request. (Click here to download a transcript request form.) Ultimately,
the student’s own high school must decide whether to recognize the
credit, although schools similarly accredited by the North Central Association
should honor CTD credits. Families are therefore strongly encouraged to
check with school officials prior to enrolling in the Summer Program to ensure that the CTD
credit will be honored. School officials will likely wish to see a copy
of the CTD course syllabus (go to Downloads
for sample syllabi). Most schools recognize the quality of CTD courses
and award some sort of recognition to students including subject acceleration,
course credit toward graduation, and/or the inclusion of grades toward
overall grade point average and class rank.
What is the cost of the Summer Program?
Go to Policies & Fees.
How do I apply/qualify for financial aid?
Go to Policies & Fees.
How are the admissions criteria for Summer courses
set?
CTD has a history of research with gifted and talented children; in addition,
past summer programs have provided insight into entrance criteria that
predict success in our programs. The most important piece of information
is the off-level exam (i.e. ACT, SAT, or EXPLORE) results. For Leapfrog
applicants, it is highly preferred that students who do not have standardized
tests scores participate in testing by CTD prior to applying for the program.
Many years have shown that students who meet or exceed stated testing
criteria have the best chance to succeed in a summer course. In addition
to testing, we know that motivation to learn and succeed plays an important
role, and successful applicants make convincing arguments about their
motivation in the application essay.
Can my child be admitted if s/he lacks appropriate
test scores?
Go to Eligibility. In the absence
of off-level testing (3rd-12th grades) or other qualifying test scores (2nd-6th grades), we ask applicants for an alternate admissions portfolio
that includes current grades, teacher recommendations, and, for writing
courses, a writing sample (7th-12th grades only). Again, our goal is to try to ascertain if a
student is likely to be successful in our summer program; these criteria,
while valuable, are less reliable in predicting success and less preferable
than testing. PreK-1st grade students must provide test scores; they may not apply with an admissions portfolio.
Can students finish one to two semesters of course
work in three weeks?
Yes, they can and do. The teaching staff is composed of veteran public
and private school teachers from the Chicago metro area. They are excellent
communicators and experts in their subject matter with an understanding of the
needs of gifted students. In order to provide students with an intimate learning environment,
there are a maximum of 18 students in a class. Each class is also provided
with a teaching assistant selected from college campuses across the nation.
Students receive, on average, 75 hours of classroom instruction with the
teacher and teaching assistant. Spectrum and Apogee students are also
involved in supplemental study sessions with the teaching assistant for an additional
6-9 hours. Residential advisors familiar with the classes are always available
to help students during assigned study periods in the residence halls.
In Equinox, Residential Teaching Assistants attend classes and live in
the dorm with the students, providing easy access to academic support.
CTD students, like many gifted learners, need relatively little instruction
to gain mastery of academic materials. They read, listen, and discuss
material at an extremely quick pace with very good retention and little
need for repetition and reinforcement. As a result, instruction at CTD
is efficient yet thorough.
Who teaches Summer Program courses?
Our teachers are drawn mostly from the Chicago metropolitan area, and
most are public or private school teachers who have a demonstrated record
of excellence in teaching and contributions to their field of expertise.
A few of our teachers come from the University community.
How can I get more information or a syllabus
about a specific course?
For syllabi go to Downloads and click on the appropriate link to view the syllabus from the previous year. For course descriptions, click on one of the following links:
Sample syllabi provide a course outline including a detailed, assignment-by-assignment picture
of each course. You may also call the Center and request a copy of a past
syllabus. Unfortunately, syllabi for new courses may not be available.
Are Summer Program courses graded?
All Spectrum and Equinox courses, as well as Apogee Algebra I, are graded.
Grades are recorded on course evaluations and on the official CTD transcript.
What kind of evaluation do you receive in a summer
course?
CTD automatically sends a comprehensive evaluation to parents shortly
after the conclusion of the class. The material consists of the course
syllabus and a written evaluation highlighting a student's work ethic,
grades and credit (for Spectrum/Equinox students), performance, and recommendations
for the future. This material is also sent to a school official designated
by the family, unless the family has requested material not be sent. Evaluations
for schools also contain an official CTD transcript.
What is the teacher-to-student ratio in the class?
Each course has a maximum of 18 students. Each class has a veteran teacher
and a teaching assistant.
Will my child need a computer?
Computers (and printers) are helpful and convenient, especially for writing-intensive
classes. They are not, however, an absolute necessity, since CTD maintains
computer labs for student use. We recommend students bring computers,
but they are not required.
What special teaching methods do teachers use?
The most obvious difference in our instruction is the pace. CTD classes
move quickly because CTD students learn and use information quickly. CTD
teachers routinely determine what content students have already mastered,
and compact the remaining content into a shorter timeframe to avoid boredom
and reduce unnecessary repetition. The actual methods used in classes
vary as demanded by the subject content. Residing on the campus of a major,
private, research university means our students and teachers have access
to technology, equipment and materials that might not be available in
other settings. To learn more about the teaching, read CTD Teachers on
Acceleration.
How can I obtain the information necessary for tuition reimbursement through my Flexible Spending Account?
Contact the Summer Program staff to obtain CTD's tax identification number and for assistance with any other paperwork necessary for tuition reimbursement through a Flexible Spending Account. Call us at 847-491-3782 or email us at summer@ctd.northwestern.edu for assistance.
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