WAVU applications are available online or may be requested by calling (615) 322-8261 or emailing pty.peabody@vanderbilt.edu.
Academically talented seventh through 10th-graders will have a chance to expand their horizons intellectually and socially at an overnight Vanderbilt program specifically designed for gifted students. Applications are being accepted for the Weekend Academy at Vanderbilt University, which will take place Saturday and Sunday, March 3-4.
WAVU is a part of Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth, which offers academic programs for gifted children from kindergarten through 12th grade and for their families and educators.
“At Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth, we seek to develop talent in gifted students and those who work with them,” said Tamra Stambaugh, director of Programs for Talented Youth and research assistant professor in special education. “Adolescence is an important time for developing talent, and WAVU provides a mechanism for this development. Students enjoy the intellectual and social benefits of being in a classroom with their academic peers and have an opportunity to work closely with a content expert in a field of mutual interest. These early experiences can be life-changing.”
This spring’s classes for seventh and eighth graders include “Forensic Anthropology,” “The Short Story” and “How to Think Like a Researcher.” For ninth and 10th-graders, “Computer Programming and the Smart Phone” and “Human Origins and Adaptation” will be offered.
Gifted students in seventh through 10th grade, specifically students who test at the 95th percentile and above on a standardized achievement or ability test, are encouraged to apply. Classes contain 12 to 15 students and are held on the Vanderbilt University campus.
WAVU gives students a taste of college life. Students work with expert Vanderbilt scholars, who will teach their classes. They spend the night in residence at the Scarritt-Bennett Center adjacent to the Vanderbilt campus. They also have an opportunity to take a campus tour and interact with current Vanderbilt students who serve as residential proctors and mentors during the weekend.
All WAVU classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are due by Feb. 22. Applicants will be notified of their admission decision within a week of application.
The cost of the program is $400, which includes the academic course, classroom materials, meals and overnight accommodations. Need-based financial assistance is available. WAVU applications are available online and may be requested by calling (615) 322-8261 or by emailing the Programs for Talented Youth.
Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth has been serving the needs of gifted students from across the nation and abroad since 2000. Weekend Academy at Vanderbilt University was launched in spring 2007. Learn more about Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth’s year-round offerings.