Online Core Essentials

With the launch of our new application system, our processes have changed and are more streamlined for your convenience.

From the Home page on your MyCTD account go to Courses.  If you do not yet have a MyCTD account, you can create one by clicking on MyCTD account from the upper right corner of our website. Please make sure to put your student or students into your account and make sure to select a STUDENT for each application.

You may use the filter to search for classes OR type in the class you wish to apply for in the search field.

Select the Apply Now button in the upper right corner of the course description card.

Select the student for whom you wish to create an application.

If your student’s school is not found with the search tool, please choose Other and provide your student’s school information in the space provided.

Please read through and sign the necessary release page.  The policies link at the top of the page includes the withdrawal and refund policies applicants agree to.  We ask that you make sure to review the policies for the program you are applying to carefully.

You may then choose to create a new application or proceed to the payments page.

On the payments page, select New Course Payment.

The Applications for Payment screen will allow you to make payment for the class AND shows the enrollment status of your application(s).  If the status is Under Review, no further action should be needed.  If the status reads Additional Information Needed, you will need to provide either qualifying test scores OR your student’s most recent report card/transcript and the name and email of their classroom teacher or the teacher whose class most closely relates to the course for which you are applying.

Please note, we have recently migrated to a new system and there may be some errors in our database. If you feel that your student’s Enrollment Status should read Under Review based on previous CTD classes, please email ctd-admissions@northwestern.edu .

If you would like to apply for need based financial aid, please make sure to read through our financial aid page to assess if you may qualify: https://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/financial-aid  If you indicate you are applying for financial aid you will receive the FACTS financial aid application in a follow-up email.  Your application to the course cannot be reviewed without a COMPLETED FACTS application in the FACTS system.

On the payment screen, please select the application or applications you wish to pay for.  Unless applying for financial aid, CTD requires full payment at the time of application for most programs. If your student is not accepted, or the class is cancelled, you will receive a full refund.

Once you have made payment you will be directed back to your dashboard.  Please select TO APPLICATION.

You may choose to complete your application at this time OR you may come back to it. Please keep in mind, paying for and submitting and application DOES NOT hold a spot for your student.  Classes are filled in the order that completed, qualifying applications are received.

COMPLETING YOUR APPLICATION

You will receive a confirmation email upon submission of your payment. The email contains a link to more specific directions regarding how to complete your application, should additional information be needed.

To complete your student’s application with qualifying TEST SCORES, click on Upload Test Scores.  You may also use this button to upload a copy of your student’s grades if necessary to show proof of prerequisites.

To complete your student’s application with a TEACHER RECOMMENDATION and GRADES please provide the name and email address of your recommending teacher.  If you do not have the grades ready at the same time you will be able to return to provide them later by following the prompts in your MyCTD account.

If you have any prerequisites that are not documented on your report card or transcript, you will have the opportunity to upload them separately.

We kindly request that you do not upload the same documents multiple times.  Please also allow our team up to 7 business days to process any documents provided for your application.

Deadlines:  In order to join the Winter Session for the regular January 17th start, all application materials MUST be received by January 12th.   Students who complete their applications after January 12th, may join the late-start cohort on January 24th.

CTD Online Core Essentials courses are at the Emerald Tier for eligibility. To qualify for Emerald Tier courses, students must be in grade 3 through grade 8 and must also provide one of the following:

• Achievement of a score of 90^th percentile or higher on a nationally normed grade-level assessment in the required qualifying subject area (Verbal or Math) for the desired course; OR
• Successful completion of a CTD course, with the same qualifying subject area within the past two years; OR
• Submission of a portfolio application, consisting of a teacher recommendation (available after submitting the application) and the student’s most recent report card, demonstrating that the student is performing exceptionally well in the qualifying subject area.

A small number of Core Essentials courses may have prerequisites. Please read individual course descriptions carefully for more information.

For families looking for insights into student learning or interested in assessment for program eligibility (test scores are valid for 2 years for CTD programs), Center for Talent Development offers REMOTE assessment using MAP.  Because of the requirements of remote testing, there are limited dates and times available. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more.

Requests for Grade Advancement/Acceleration

CTD course content is advanced or grade-level accelerated, as reflected in course descriptions and the standard admission requirements. Though course content is advanced, students can engage with intellectual peers who are also age- or grade-level peers. Therefore, most students should apply for courses aligned to the grade-level in which they are currently enrolled. Still, for some students demonstrating a need for an even higher level of instruction than CTD’s advanced and accelerated courses already provide, further acceleration may be an option. Visit the Requesting an Accelerated Placement web page for more information about the process, timeline, and required materials.

Tuition

• $660

Tuition increases by $25 after the Early Bird deadline, 10 days before the start date of the session.

Withdrawals

Please see CTD's withdrawal and refund information for policies.

Financial Aid

CTD offers need-based financial aid awarded as requests are received. Families are encouraged to apply early because the amount of aid available is limited. Please see the Financial Aid page for details. 

• The deadline to complete a financial aid application for winter is January 3rd, 2024.
• You will receive the FACTS application link in your application confirmation email once the $60 dollar tuition deposit is paid and the application is submitted.
• It is imperative that you complete the financial aid application as soon as possible as it may take FACTS up to ten days to process your information.
• If you previously completed a FACTS application for the 2022-2023 academic year for CTD, you must still attach the 2023-2024 FACTS application to your FACTS account. You will be able to link your FACTS account to this new FACTS information. You may need to update financial information.
• If you experience difficulties with the FACTS process please call the FACTS helpline at 866/412-4637.

Students in Online Core Essentials courses should expect to spend 2-5 hours per week engaged in course activities. Students have flexibility in terms of when they complete course work, and instructors provide weekly pacing guides to help students stay on track with course material. Students’ ability to manage their time and adjust their efforts accordingly are keys to success in the program.

Some Core Essentials students participate in their courses at home, while others learn online in a school setting (such as a computer lab, media center, gifted resource room, or study hall) where Core Essentials courses serve as alternatives to traditional study.

Students will be engaged in academically stimulating and engaging activities designed to develop higher-level thinking skills. A student should have a keen interest in the subject, be eager to work through academic challenges, and have a desire to learn in an online platform.

Our dedicated instructors will initiate and guide online discussions, and students should possess effective communication skills, including comfort in asking clarifying questions, and be willing to contribute to written discussion posts and complete assignments.

Core Essentials courses offer two live online class sessions during the course. Instructors make every effort to schedule real-time class sessions around students’ busy schedules, and class sessions are recorded for later viewing if a student is not able to attend.

Schoology, the learning management system used by CTD, is a user-friendly platform designed specifically for K-12 online learners, and is COPPA compliant.

Students will receive login information to Schoology via e-mail 12-24 hours before the course start date.

With their login information, students will receive information about a live, online orientation for all new Online Program students. (Returning students are also welcome to repeat the orientation.) The orientation will be recorded for students to view at a later time, if desired.

Access to course material, including instructor contact information, syllabi, and assignments, begins on the course start date.

The course acceptance notification email will contain a link to CTD’s online bookstore, where students can find textbook requirements (if applicable) for their course.

Textbooks can be purchased from CTD’s online bookstore, or from another vendor of choice. The use of a textbook varies by course, and not all online courses require one.

Textbook and supply costs (i.e. lab kits, if applicable) are not included in course fees.

Online Core Essentials courses are aligned to Common Core standards. While not credit-bearing, students will receive letter grades. All students receive an evaluation after completion of the course. The evaluation provides feedback on the student’s mastery of course content, ability to navigate the online course environment, and future course recommendations. An e-mail notification will be sent when the evaluation is available for access via MyCTD.

All course work and communication (including instructor contact information, the course syllabus, and assignments) take place within the Schoology course site. Schoology can be accessed on a desktop or laptop computer, or with the Schoology mobile app for iOS or Android tablets and phones. While tablets may be sufficient for most course work, some web tools and/or websites may require the use of a computer.

Students need access to a stable internet connection and updated web browser.

Participation in “live” course activities or multimedia recordings may require a computer web camera, microphone or headset.

See Frequently Asked Questions about Online Program courses.

• For questions regarding Online Program admissions and financial aid, please contact:
  ctd-admissions@northwestern.edu
• For questions about current Online Program enrollments, please contact:
  ctd-online@northwestern.edu
• For questions about school partnerships with Online Programs, please contact:
  ctd-school-services@northwestern.edu