Some gifted teens are ready for college long before completing their high school careers. Varieties of programs provide early college for gifted teens. Some programs allow dual enrollment in high school and college. Others like CSULA-EEP, PEG, and TS-EEP accept gifted teens into specialized early entrance programs located on traditional university campuses. Only Simon’s Rock College offers a complete undergraduate education tailored to the needs of young scholars on a campus filled with their social and intellectual peers.
Simon’s Rock College of Bard – A Unique Liberal Arts College for Young Scholars
Simon’s Rock is the only accredited four-year liberal arts college in the United States solely serving young, highly gifted students. The close-knit community consists of four hundred gifted teens attending college in the village of Barrington, Massachusetts. The facilities reflect the smaller scale of Simon’s Rock; this is not a nationally renowned research university. Available resources and faculty reflect the highest quality. Simon’s Rock lists graduates including successful, innovative thinkers such as MoveOn’s Eli Pariser and the Coen Brothers of movie fame.
The Rock- Rigorous Coursework, Rich Traditions, Small Class Size, an Individualized Education
Most students enter Simon’s Rock after tenth grade. The school boasts an exceptional 9:1 student to teacher ratio, a racially and culturally diverse study body, and a famous dodge ball tradition. The coursework is rigorous, but the admissions policy shows more flexibility than other early entrance programs towards gifted underachievers whose recent academic performance does not reflect potential.
A Stepping Stone to Greater Achievement at Simon's Rock the Early College
Students of “the Rock” graduate with an associate or Bachelor of Arts degree in one of forty-three areas of concentration. The baccalaureate program culminates with a yearlong thesis project. Recent Simon’s Rock alumni pursued graduate studies at first-rate universities including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Oberlin, Stanford, and Yale.
Fast Facts on Early College for Gifted Teens- Simon's Rock of Bard College
- Starting grade: 11th
- High school diploma required: No
- Program length: 2 to 4 years
- Residential: Yes, first year students must live on campus
- Degree: Associate of Arts or Bachelor of Arts
- Application requirements: Essay, personal interview; college entrance test scores optional
- Admission deadlines: December 15 through May 31; February 1 deadline for Acceleration to Excellence Program (AEP) scholarship applicants
- Estimated annual cost: $50,000 for 2008-2009
- Average yearly acceptance: 165
- Contact information: (800) 235-7186
Simon’s Rock Early Entrance College – An Affiliate of Bard College
Simon’s Rock is part of Bard College, which also administers the Bard College High School Early College (BHSEC) alternative high school program for highly gifted students in New York City. Tuition, fees, student health services, and room and board costs for first-year students were just under $50,000 for 2008-2009.
Simon’s Rock applicants can apply for a range of scholarships based on academic achievement, financial need, race, exceptional hardship, and alumni referral. Gifted teens with a motivation to attend Simon’s Rock should not let the cost of tuition deter their applications.
Carla Marie Boulianne - Background and Interests I am a former feature writer for Parenting a Gifted Child. I relish combining personal parenting and childhood ...
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