In 2008, Rich Maddox, Program Director of CSULA-EEP, initiated a survey of all the early entrance programs nationwide to determine recruitment procedures, to aid in the redesign of his outreach. (These represent both public and private universities, with a wide range of financial requirements -- from $3,000-$50,000 annually -- refer to individual websites for current costs.)
These are only those universities/schools that have programs in place for a group of early entrants; many universities will accept individual bright scholars but have no support facilities/staff for them. Four of the 13 other schools responded with information on their recruitment/outreach.
1. CSULA EEP - the Early Entrance Program at CSULA. Admits children ages 11-15 directly into college. There is no specific grade level from which students are admitted, although most students are 13/14 and start after 8th grade. Admission process includes a provisional 11-week summer, where the candidates take two college courses. Candidates must have taken SAT/ACT college test and earned scores above the 75% level. Usually accept 25-35 students a year
Recruitment: biannual letters to GATE coordinators at all LA public and private schools, inviting them to refer exceptional children to the SEAA. As of 2008, approximately 1/3 of incoming EEP students first discover EEP through GATE/school, 1/3 through word of mouth and 1/3 on the internet.
PDF - 2008 information from website and GE Honors Program
http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/eep/ - current CSULA EEP website.
http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/gehp/index.htm - current General Education Honors Program website.
2. Mary Baldwin PEG - Program for the Exceptionally Gifted. Staunton, VA. Began in 1985, accept about 15-20 students a year. All-girls residential college, the PEG students live in the PEG Center, a special residence hall built in 2003, allowing them to live with their true peers. There is no specific minimum age required; the website only says that PEG offers an opportunity for bright and accomplished young women to complete college during their high school years.
PDF - 2008 information from website
http://www.mbc.edu/peg/ - current PEG website
3. Univ of Washington TS-EEP - University of Washington (the Halbert and Nancy Robinson Center for Young Scholars) Transition School and Early Entrance Program TS-EEP. Admits about 10-15 students after 7th or 8th grade into a one-year Transitional School, after which they matriculate as full-time University scholars. They perform their own Talent Search (WSYS - Washington Search for Young Scholars) designed for children in grades 5-8. They also have two summer programs: the 3-week Summer Challenge for children in grades 5 and 6; and Summer Stretch for students in grades 7-10 to take a variety of subjects at an accelerated pace. In addition to the Early Entrance Program for 7th and 8th graders, there is also a University of Washington Academy for 10th graders.
Recruitment: mailing list and talent search. The applicants are 15 years of age and there is also a second program for applicants who are 16. Also use the summer programs for direct contact to those students. Announce EEP at the talent search program and attend academic ceremonies.
PDF - one-page information on outreach and 2008 information from website
http://depts.washington.edu/cscy/?cscy=770d8b6d80ef6d3f8612806d73366a27 - current University of Washington TS-EEPwebsite.
1. BARD - The Bard High School Early College, New York, NY. bhsec@bard.edu.
Founded in 2001, BHSEC is a collaboration between the NYC Dept of Education and Bard College. It offers motivated NYC public school students a rigorous intellectual challenge. BHSEC admits ninth graders and prepares them to enter the early college program at the end of tenth grade. This is an adaptation of the Simon's Rock College of Bard model. BHSEC is in lower Manhattan; BHSEC II (opening fall 2008) is located in Queens. Graduates receive a NYS high school diploma and an Associate of Arts (two year) degree from Bard College. Application process includes an admissions assessment.
PDF - 2008 information from website
http://www.bard.edu/bhsec/ - current Bard website.
2. Boston University Academy - Boston, MA. academy@buacademy.org.
Founded in 1993, Boston University Academy is a high-caliber college prep school, providing invigorating classroom dynamic for students at the high school level who are ready for college-level work. BU Academy has unique ties to Boston University, and has a classically-based curriculum across all disciplines that is rooted in the influence of ancient Greece and Rome, through the Renaissance and neoclassical periods.
Recruitment: at local school fairs, word of mouth, newspaper ads, radio spots, m=direct mail to educational consultants and feeder schools, online, within the BU community, and their own Open Houses and regional receptions. Looking into targeting specific affinity organizations.
PDF - 2008 information from website, preceded by one-page email about their recruitment
http://www.bu.edu/academy/ - current Boston University Academy website.
3. Clarkson University - the Clarkson School, Potsdam, NY. A full-time residential early college program, seeks incoming high school seniors who wish to start college a year early. The students are fully matriculated college freshmen but the school provides a supportive environment with specialized programs and activities, including separate residential facilities. Approximately 50-60 students accepted per year, approximately 65% from NYS.
PDF - 2008 information from website
http://www.clarkson.edu/tcs/ - current Clarkson School website.
4. GAMES - Georgia Academy of Mathematics, Engineering, and Science (GAMES) Middle Georgia College, Cochran, Georgia USA.
For high school juniors or seniors with a special interest in mathematics, engineering, science, and allied health fields. Students who complete the 2-year program are given an associate's degree and a high school diploma.
PDF - 2008 information from website
http://www.mgc.edu/academic/scimathenga/games/ - current GAMES website
5. Advanced Academy of Georgia - at the University of West Georgia, Carollton, GA. An alternative for the last two years in high school (but will "occasionally accept younger, high ability students"). Residential early entrance program at the University of West Georgia. Students advance from high school junior to college junior in two years. Started in 1995, now have 60-70 students per year. Also have a "Young Scholars Institute" a residential summer camp in July for rising 8th and 9th graders -- one week math and science and one week arts and humanities. Have three preview days a year.
PDF - 2008 information from website, including a list of 12 articles on early entrance to college
http://www.advancedacademy.org/ - current Advanced Academy website
6. Missouri Academy - at Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO. Opened 2000 as a 2-year residential early college entrance option for typically rising 11-graders, replacing the junior and senior years of traditional high school - one of 17 such programs in the nation. Students earn an Associate of Science degree as well as a high school diploma. Co-ed, live in special dorm with separate living spaces for males and females. Has grown from 40-50 students/year to 80-90.
PDF - 2008 information from website
http://www.nwmissouri.edu/MASMC/ - current Missouri Academy website
7. NAASE - National Academy of Arts, Sciences and Engineering, at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. Founded in 1999, allows admittance at the University of Iowa after junior year in high school for students aged 16+, in conjunction with the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education. Residential program, 15-20 students a year, 66% from Iowa ACT scores 24-35. NAASE support typically only for the freshman year of college.
PDF - 2008 information from website
http://www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/programs/naase/ - current NAASE website
8. Simon's Rock - Bard College at Simon's Rock, Great Barrington, MA.
Founded in 1966, a small, selective, supportive, intensive college of the liberal arts and sciences. All 400 students enter after 10th or 11th grades; all live on campus. The only university in America totally dedicated to early entrants, with no older students on campus.
PDF - 2008 information from website
http://www.simons-rock.edu/ - current Simon's Rock website
9. Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities - Lamar University (part of the Texas State University System). A highly-selective, dual enrollment residential high school. Students fulfill their junior and senior high school requirements, earning college credits as well, at ages 14-16. Graduates go on to colleges, with some college credits.
PDF - 2008 information from website
http://dept.lamar.edu/taolith/ - current Texas Academy website
10. TAMS - Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, at the University of North Texas, Denton, TX. A unique residential program for high school-aged high-achievers in math and science. Two-year program of rigorous college coursework, taught by the regular university faculty -- no high school courses taught. TAMS applicants must be Texas residents enrolled in 10th grade.
Recruitment: direct mail (subscription to CBSS and TIP) and mail to educators and students, recruit at major cities, promotional video, summer math camp, radio spots (free), website, student recruiting, annual phonathon, 5 preview days, and find their 800 number is widely used.
PDF - 2008 information from website, with a first page email about recruitment
http://www.tams.unt.edu/ - current TAMS website.
11. USC RHP - Resident Honors Program at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. 20-30 exceptional students a year enroll one year early to USC. Facilities include a seminar room; all students reside on campus. Minimum SAT I score of 2050; Act score of 32; free tuition for RHP students.
Recruitment: word of mouth and a sophomore search. This search is a national list of top scores from sophomores throughout the nation, and USC mails out their program information to the top 50%. (Note: question that 50% number, since the minimum score so high -- probably 5%)
PDF - 2008 informational page from website, plus one page of recruitment information.
http://college.usc.edu/resident-honors-program/ - current RHP website