<p>It’s not just a revenue generator, but you shouldn’t sign a child up for it expecting it to confer any advantage whatsoever in the admissions process. The value of TIP is that it gathers a great peer group of kids together for a few weeks to explore advanced academic topics in an environment where it’s okay to be smart and okay to take chances and make mistakes. There are narrative evaluations but no grades. Some of the courses sound really interesting, and I wish I had been able to take them.</p>
<p>If your child gets enough of that at his or her regular school or through other summer programs, TIP may not be worth it to you. But I know kids who view it as a real lifeline from less stimulating school environments. </p>
<p>Also, you should note that many of the best offerings for middle schoolers are hosted on other campuses. From familial experience, I’d recommend the Davidson classes. That’s just about the perfect size campus for a sleep-away experience for kids that age with terrific instructors and good activities outside of classes. And the campus is so compact that you can basically walk from one end to the other without having to cross the street.</p>