| Application deadline | March 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $3,000; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $3,900; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 sliding-scale Louisiana-family contribution: $200–$3,000. Suggested contribution depended on combined household income; accepted families could request more aid.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based scholarship assistance: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Requires a financial-need application and supporting documents; amount and availability are not guaranteed.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 sliding-scale Louisiana-family contribution: $200–$3,000. Suggested contribution depended on combined household income; accepted families could request more aid.; Payment plan: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Case-by-case plans were available after acceptance.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Nonrefundable application fee: $60. A fee waiver can be requested.; Need-based scholarship assistance: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Requires a financial-need application and supporting documents; amount and availability are not guaranteed.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Catalog terms: Weekly salary: $500; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 6–10 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher | Grades 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Citizenship: U.S. citizen; Residency: Enrolled at an Illinois high school; Requirement: Senior in 2027–28 or 2027 graduate; proof of insurance | Residency: Louisiana and out-of-state students may apply; tuition differs by residence; Requirement: Junior Division: current grade 6, 7, or 8 in the application school year; Requirement: Senior Division: current grade 9 or 10 plus at least a B average in the prior full term and current year; Requirement: Submit Louisiana gifted-classification documents or acceptable aptitude-test/alternate qualifying evidence; Requirement: Demonstrate readiness for a seven-week residential academic, arts, and community program; Requirement: Musically Gifted applicants must complete a separate audition process; Exclusion: Applicants outside the published grade bands; Exclusion: Senior Division applicants below the B-average requirement; Exclusion: Incomplete gifted-identification, grade, testing, or teacher documentation; Exclusion: Applicants applying after all spaces are filled | Requirement: Be a current high-school student or recent graduate before beginning college; Requirement: Earn As and Bs in high-school math and science; Requirement: Complete Algebra II; Requirement: Complete trigonometric functions and right-triangle problem solving; Requirement: Complete one full year of high-school chemistry and/or physics including lab, or meet the published AP substitution; Requirement: Attend daily live Eastern Time classes and complete about 28 hours of weekly coursework; Requirement: Meet English-proficiency documentation rules if a foreign national; Exclusion: The course is not an introductory low-commitment camp; Exclusion: Older students receive priority when space is limited; Exclusion: Students without required math/science preparation may not be ready or admitted; Exclusion: Lab-kit delivery deadlines and customs constraints can narrow international participation |
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| Session dates or duration | Starts July 12, 2027; Ends August 6, 2027; 4 weeks (2027 cycle) | Catalog terms: 7 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 5 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | Unconfirmed — check official site | In person | Online |
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| Housing and supervision | Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Unconfirmed — check official site | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Worldwide synchronous participation, subject to Eastern Time attendance and lab-kit shipping/customs feasibility |
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| Selection and application | Unconfirmed — check official site | Selection: Applicants must meet gifted-identification or aptitude criteria and grade-specific requirements. Applications were reviewed until spaces filled; the program does not publish applicant counts, capacity, or an acceptance rate. Application materials: Separate audition information for the Musically Gifted track | Selection: Completed applications are academically reviewed. Rising juniors and seniors are typical, talented rising sophomores may be considered, and older students receive priority when space is limited. Programs can fill before final deadlines; no acceptance rate is published. Application materials: Required 175-225-word motivation essay; Optional 100-125-word context essay; One math/science/engineering/robotics/computer-science teacher recommendation in English |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-10 | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-21Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-21Source 4 · checked 2026-08-21Source 5 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-21Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-21Source 4 · checked 2026-08-21Source 5 · checked 2026-08-21Source 6 · checked 2026-08-21Source 7 · checked 2026-08-21 |
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