FAQs
Parents and Students
General
- What is the Talent Search?
- What are the benefits of participating?
- How many students participated last year?
Eligibility
- Who is eligible to participate?
- Does participation in the 4th/5th Grade Talent Search automatically qualify me for the 7th Grade Talent Search?
- If I do not have appropriate qualifying test scores or my scores do not meet the qualification, is there another way I can participate?
- My school does not participate, may I enroll?
- May I participate if I am homeschooled?
Enrollment
- What are the enrollment deadlines?
- What are the costs?
- Is financial aid available?
- Is the fee refundable?
- What will I receive after I enroll?
Schools
General
What is the Talent Search?
Duke TIP offers the 4th/5th Grade Talent Search to help gifted students and their families find out how advanced the students' abilities truly are. Traditional testing often fails to measure the variation among many gifted students who reach the upper limits of scoring on grade-level exams. By taking advanced above-level (at least two years above a student's current grade placement) testing through Duke TIP's talent searches, gifted students and their families gain a far better understanding of where the student stands in relation to gifted peers and what level of educational challenge is appropriate.
What are the benefits of participating?
Enrolled students receive numerous participant benefits through their sixth grade year.
How many students participated last year?
Over 36,000 students enrolled in the 2011 4th/5th Grade Talent Search.
Eligibility
Who is eligible to participate?
To see if you are eligible to participate in the 4th/5th Grade Talent Search, visit Enrollment.
Does participation in the 4th/5th Grade Talent Search automatically qualify me for the 7th Grade Talent Search?
No, the scores that qualify you for the 4th/5th Grade Talent Search are too old to use when applying for the 7th Grade Talent Search. A student must re-qualify and submit a new enrollment for participation in the 7th Grade Talent Search.
If I do not have appropriate qualifying test scores or my scores do not meet the qualification, is there another way I can participate?
There are times when students who would benefit from talent search participation are excluded due to situations such as unexpected problems with state-mandated testing or testing eligibility criteria. Check with your school counselor to inquire about a coordinator’s recommendation.
My school does not participate, may I enroll?
Yes. Enroll online or request an application at 45talentsearch@tip.duke.edu.
May I participate if I am homeschooled?
Yes. Duke TIP's 4th/5th Grade Talent Search identifies academically talented homeschooled 4th and 5th graders based on standardized test scores achieved during their elementary school years. While most homeschooled children complete standardized testing, we recognize that some do not, and we accept a parent nomination form in these rare instances.
Enrollment
What are the enrollment deadlines?
See Enrollment for deadlines.
See Fees and Grants.
Yes. See Fees and Grants.
No.
What will I receive after I enroll?
Upon enrollment through online registration you will receive a confirmation email providing you immediate access to the online benefits. If enrolling with a paper application, you will receive a confirmation card with information on how to access these benefits.
Schools
Why should a school participate in the Talent Search?
The Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) is a global leader in identifying academically gifted students and providing them with innovative programming to support their development. Through identification, recognition, challenging educational programs, information, advocacy and research, Duke TIP provides resources to gifted students, their parents, educators, and schools for the development of the students’ optimal educational potential.
What is my Duke TIP school ID?
The Duke TIP school ID consists of six numbers and two letters. Find your school ID number.