Vanderbilt Summer Academy (VSA)

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Vanderbilt Summer Academy Cost and Financial Aid | Financial Aid Application

Vanderbilt Summer Academy 2010 offers three sessions, each of differing length and designed for differing grade levels.

Session 1 (one week) $1,250 Rising 8th graders June 13 - June 18

Session 2 (two weeks) $2,100 Rising 9th and 10th graders June 20 - July 2

Session 3 (three weeks) $2,950 Rising 10th-12th graders July 11 - July 30

PAYMENT INFORMATION
All applicants must submit a non-refundable application fee of $35, payable by check or money order to Vanderbilt University.  A separate check/money order for a tuition deposit of $300 must also be submitted with applications. Deposits will be refunded only if the student is not admitted to the program.

Final tuition payments:           
Session II & III – April 16, 2010
Session I – May 15, 2010

Last day to withdraw with partial refund:
Sessions II & III – April 30, 2010
Session I – May 27, 2010

Tuition balances may be paid by check, money order or credit card.  Credit card payments are subject to a processing fee.  Payroll deduction is available to Vanderbilt employees. Please make all checks/money orders payable to Vanderbilt University.

Early-Bird Discount available! Apply by early-bird dates listed below and you’ll be eligible for a 5% discount on your tuition:                                   
Sessions II & III Early-Bird Date:  MARCH 1, 2010
Session I Early-Bird Date:  APRIL 16, 2010

FINANCIAL AID
Limited need-based financial aid is available. In order to be considered for financial aid, parents must submit the VSA financial aid form along with student’s admission application by the stated deadlines. Families applying for financial aid must include copies of their most recent federal income tax return (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ) including any schedules, attachments and W-2 forms.  Financial aid decisions are made independently of admissions decisions. Award letters will be included in students’ admissions packet. Please note that all financial aid awards are for partial tuition and will be based on family’s demonstrated need.

REMINDER – Submit financial aid form with student’s admission application. We do not process financial aid forms without an accompanying admissions application.  
Financial Aid Deadlines:           
Sessions II & III:  March 15, 2009            
Session I:  April 30, 2009

OTHER SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Vanderbilt University's Programs for Talented Youth is aware that participation in its program may pose a financial burden for some families. PTY operates an internal financial aid program as part of its efforts to ensure that academically talented youth—regardless of economic circumstances—have an opportunity to participate in its programs. Internal PTY funding is, however, limited, and, as such, PTY encourages students and families to simultaneously pursue external funding opportunities.

PTY has identified the following competitive opportunities as ones that, in particular, offer support to gifted students who wish to participate in educational opportunities like those offered by PTY. All these opportunities are highly competitive. Deadlines vary and should be confirmed directly with the awarding organizations.

Parents and students should also think creatively about opportunities beyond this list. Many funding opportunities are residence-based, as evidenced by the many state-specific opportunities below. As such, make sure to consider opportunities in your local community. Support may, for example, be available through local not-for-profits, such as churches, schools, YMCAs, Rotary clubs, or other community entities.

Award Opportunities:

• California students: The California Foundation for Gifted Education awards gifted student grants that are intended to assist such students to excel in an area of interest or achievement. Grants are typically awarded to help finance: (1) an original project which holds promise for the advancement of learning or contributes to a field of endeavor, or (2) an instructional opportunity not available in the student’s school district. Please see the Awards & Scholarships section at www.cagifted.org.

• Illinois students: The Illinois Association for Gifted Children awards the Carol Morreale Student Scholarship to a student in grades 1 through 8 who has demonstrated excellence in language arts and/or mathematics. The award includes a one-time check in the amount of $1000. Financial need will be a consideration. For more information, visit Awards & Scholarships at www.iagcgifted.org.

• Montana students: The Montana Association for Gifted and Talented Education awards scholarships to students in grades 1-12 to attend a summer camp or workshop. For more information, visit Student Opportunities at http://mtagate.org/.

• New Jersey students: The New Jersey Association for Gifted Children awards scholarships intended for tuition assistance for programs and educational opportunities that are outside of regular school attendance. These opportunities should enhance, develop, or supplement skills, talents, and/or abilities of the applicant. For more information, visit “Awards” at www.njagc.org/.

• Rochester, New York students with financial need: The Tauck Foundation offers scholarship assistance to youth from Rochester, New York to attend summer programs of their choice. The foundation encourages applicants to seek a summer experience that will nurture their interests, passions, and aspirations, that will expand their horizons, and will expose them to new people, places, and ideas. Applicants must qualify for free or reduced lunch at their school. For more information, visit “Summer Scholarships” at http://www.tauckfoundation.org/.

• North Carolina students: The North Carolina Association for the Gifted and Talented awards scholarships to assist North Carolina’s gifted students, K-12, to excel in an area of interest or achievement. Scholarship funds are awarded to help finance an original project which holds promise for the advancement of learning or contributes to some field of endeavor, or an instructional opportunity not available within a students’ local school district. For more information, visit awards and scholarships at www.ncagt.org. 

• Ohio students: The Ohio Association for Gifted students offers twice yearly scholarships to K-12 Ohio students for special activities that extend their special talent/interest areas. For further information, visit http://www.oagc.com/?q=node/38 .

• Ohio students with financial need: Support for Talented Students (STS) is a foundation whose sole purpose is to provide scholarships to financially needy gifted and talented Ohio students in grades 3-11. Scholarships are made available for students who would benefit from enrichment activities not normally provided in schools, including academic summer programs. For more information, visit http://www.schoolmatch.com/sts/STS.htm.

• Oklahoma students: The Oklahoma Association of Gifted, Creative, and Talented awards the Beverly Riggs Camp Scholarship to pay up to $500 toward summer camp attendance for students who are gifted. For more information, visit http://oagct.org/about-oagct/awards-scholarships.

• South Carolina students: The South Carolina Consortium for Gifted Education awards the Melba McKenzie Summer Scholarships to cover or partially cover tuition for academically or artistically gifted students at the middle school level to attend a summer program. For more information, visit Awards at www.scgifted.org.

• Tennessee students: The Tennessee Association for the Gifted offers scholarships to Tennessee's gifted students for educational programs that provide enrichment, acceleration, or independent study. For more information, visit http://www.tag-tenn.org/scholarship.html.

• Texas students: The Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented awards summer scholarships to gifted and talented students who wish to attend academic programs during the summer months. For more information, visit www.txgifted.org for more information.

• Virginia students: The Virginia Association for the Gifted offers summer scholarships designed for those gifted and talented students who wish to attend academic or artistic programs during the summer months.  The scholarships are available for students in grades K-12. For more information, see Scholarships at www.vagifted.org.

• Virginia students: The Northern Virginia Council for Gifted/Talented Education has limited funds for gifted and talented students who have not yet attained a high school diploma and wish to take part in an educational enrichment program, summer workshop, or enroll in college credit courses concurrent with high school enrollment. For more information, visit http://www.acps.k12.va.us/tag/schlpapp.pdf.

• Washington state students: The Washington Association of Educators of the Talented and Gifted (WAETAG) awards scholarships for student to attend summer gifted programs. For more information, see the WAETAG Summer Scholarship Application at www.waetag.com/.

• Members of the National Society for the Gifted and Talented: The National Society for the Gifted and Talented awards scholarships to its student members to support their academic, intellectual, and cognitive development. Funds can be used to help pay tuition for various academic programs, such as after-school, weekend, summer, and distance learning. For more information, visit Scholarships at www.nsgt.org/.

If a funding opportunity for your state is not listed above, consider contacting directly your state’s association(s) affiliated with the National Association of Gifted Children (NAGC) regarding potential funding opportunities. Contact information for NAGC affiliated associations by state is available at: http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=609.

Other Scholarship Opportunities for Talented Youth: Though the scholarship opportunities listed below may not be applicable to financing a student’s participation in a PTY program, they offer other excellent scholarship opportunities for talented youth.  

• The Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award is another opportunity for gifted students. One child per state is named a Nicholas Green Distinguished Student and that winner receives a $500 U.S. savings bond and a National Association for Gifted Children Certificate of Excellence. Eligible students may be nominated by parents, teachers, students, or community/civic groups. To learn more about this award, click here. The deadline for this application is June 1, 2009.

• The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation awards approximately 70 scholarships to high-achieving youth with financial need. The Young Scholars Program is one of the most individualized scholarships in the nation. This scholarship specifically funds summer academic and enrichment programs like VSA. Application to the Young Scholars Program is made during a student’s seventh-grade year. We encourage you to visit their website for more information, including application materials. 

• The Davidson Fellows Scholarship awards $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 scholarships to extraordinary young people under the age of 18 who have completed a significant piece of work. Application categories are Mathematics, Science, Literature, Music, Technology, Philosophy and Outside the Box. For application information, see www.davidsongifted.org/fellows/.

• The Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship was founded on the conviction that the nation's exceptionally gifted young people will flourish and reach their fullest potential in a nurturing, rigorous and flexible learning environment that is right for their individual needs and goals. This highly selective award provides, among other things, a four-year high school scholarship that covers academic fees, including tuition and books. The competition is open to students currently in the seventh grade. For more information, visit: http://www.educationaladvancement.org/pages/programspages/cdbscholarship.html.

• The Quaqua Society, an organization dedicated to promoting the alternative-education community (including family-based and self-directed education), has a number of award opportunities available for talented students. For more details on these awards, visit www.quaqua.org.

Important Note: PTY provides the above listings as a courtesy to potential PTY students and families. PTY makes no endorsement, representation, or affiliation with respect to any of the above opportunities. Students and parents should thoroughly investigate any such opportunities, including, for example, whether a student will be subject to any obligations upon accepting an award.