The Center for Talent Development's Summer Program
CTD's Summer Program
Apply for the Summer Program's Leapfrog, Apogee, Spectrum or Equinox programs
Equinox

The Summer Program’s Equinox courses provide rigorous academic enrichment and acceleration opportunities for academically gifted and talented students completing grades 9 through 12. If you want to earn honors and Advanced Placement (AP) high school credit while making friends from around the world and enjoying life at a great university, apply today!


Equinox offers three-week courses in English and writing, humanities, mathematics, science and technology. During each three-week session, students take a single course that meets from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., five days a week. All Equinox courses are taught at the high school honors and AP levels by highly qualified instructors, and each course carries one or two semesters of high school credit upon successful completion. 

Equinox participants…
  • maximize their potential by studying one topic in depth at an accelerated pace.
  • prepare for Advanced Placement exams and college-level courses.
  • earn academic credit and study subjects not always offered in their schools.
  • thrive under enthusiastic instructors who recognize talent and encourage achievement.
  • develop self-awareness, self-confidence and self-directed learning and critical thinking skills.
  • experience a college campus, learning and making friends with peers from all over the world.


Past Equinox participants have…
mastered a year of calculus in three weeks
written poems, short stories and memoir based essays
served food to the homeless while examining poverty and urban decay
built lifelong friendships
explored the human brain using a multidisciplinary approach
created computer programs in JAVA
explored downtown Chicago
written clear and compelling philosophical treatises
worked independently and at their own pace
stretched themselves academically and socially
returned as Equinox Residential Teaching Assistants while in college and graduate school
returned as Equinox Instructors