Johns Hopkins: Summer Program for Academically Talented Youth
By Sybil Maimin

Pre-college students of exceptional academic ability have a chance to immerse themselves in a challenging intellectual world at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth summer programs. To be eligible, pupils must be in grade 7 or higher, but under age 17, and achieve a prescribed minimum score on the SAT 1. Classes are held on the lovely Johns Hopkins University campus in Baltimore, MD (a very popular choice) and 19 other sites in the United States. Students live in residence halls or commute. In addition to academics, a very full program of social, athletic, and cultural activities, supervised by resident advisors (mainly college students), is offered. In 200l, students came from 45 states and 26 countries. Sixty-seven percent came from public schools, 26 percent from private schools, and 4 percent from parochial schools. Most students were between 15 and 17 years old.

After selecting one course from a wide array in writing, the humanities, science, or math and computer science, pupils devote three weeks to intensive study in the subject of their choice. The courses cover a great deal of material and are taught at a fast pace and high level. Classes are small and instructors top notch. As Charles Beckman, who works in the program, explains, “Some of the work may be esoteric, but you can’t fool these kids. Teachers are chosen who know their subjects really well.” The learning is vigorous: mandatory classes are from 9 AM to 12 noon, 1 to 3 PM, and 7 to 9 PM, five days a week. The broad and exciting course offerings include: in writing – a general foundation in college-level writing including, the crafting of fiction or poetry, and the critical essay; in the humanities – classics and ancient languages, ethics, twentieth century art, Gandhi’s India, and the Harlem Renaissance; in science – neuroscience, fast-paced high school chemistry, and paleobiology (studying fossils using modern biology); and in math and computer science – cryptology, probability and game theory, and mathematical modeling.

The Hopkins program provides exceptional students with learning experiences usually not available to youngsters their age. They meet peers with similar academic abilities and motivations. They can assess their own skills and potential and develop educational goals and interests. The residence halls are an important component, encouraging new friendships from within a learning community. Dana Wilson, a ninth grader from Brooklyn who attended CTY last summer and plans to return this year, explains that, “Classes are really fun. For example, we learned math while participating in fun group activities. All of the friends I made there are going back.”

Hopkins summer program participants are very bright. Their test scores put them in the top 2 percent of their age groups. Minimum SAT scores are, for example, 620 points in the verbal portion for ages 15 years 6 months to 16 years 0 months for humanities and writing courses. The minimums for math and science courses for the same age group are 570 in math and 1190 combined math and verbal scores. For residential students, tuition, room, and board is $2,375. Need-based financial help is available.

More information is available online at www.jhu.edu/gifted/ctysummer or by writing to Center for Talented Youth, Johns Hopkins University, P.O.Box 64434, Baltimore, MD 21264.#

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