• Pre-College Plan
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Extracurriculars
    • Testing
  • Admissions
    • The Common App
    • Supplemental Info
    • Early Decision & Early Action
  • Your Application
    • Your Transcript
    • Test Scores
    • Extracurriculars
    • Recommendations
    • Essay/Personal Statement
  • Choosing
    • What to Consider
  • The Visit
    • Preparations
    • What to Ask
    • The Ideal Visit
  • Financial Aid
  • Checklists
    • 8th Grade
    • 9th Grade
    • 10th Grade
    • 11th Grade
    • 12th Grade
  • Resources

TIPs for the College Bound

Middle and high school should be a time of academic discovery, stretching your skills as a scholar, exploring outside interests, and making friends. But all too often, college prep stress can get in the way.

Our solution? Start planning now so you don't get caught short later. No matter what grade you are in, there are steps you can take to make it easier to apply to college when the time comes—and to increase your chances of getting into the college of your dreams. We'd like to help by guiding you through this process and pointing you toward the resources you need to make the journey enjoyable. We have compiled advice and resources on everything from planning a successful pre-college academic strategy to navigating the application process, scheduling college visits, understanding financial aid, and choosing the school that’s just the right fit for you.
Sometimes you will see a quote from Duke TIP alumni providing firsthand advice for gifted students from someone who has been through the process. Don't miss their wisdom!

Check out our resources section for even more information on college prep. Check back here as we will be adding new content in the future.

Gifted Today is a blog for parents and educators that provides research-based advice as well as the latest news on nurturing academically talented students. It also includes an Opportunity Guide that lists dozens of competitions, programs, and scholarships of interest to gifted students.

About Duke TIP



The Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving academically gifted and talented youth. As a global leader in gifted and talented education, Duke TIP works with students, their families, and educators to identify, recognize, challenge, engage, and help students reach their highest potential. Visit Duke TIP's main website at www.tip.duke.edu.

Student TIPs

Look out for Student TIPs on each page for quick advice about every step of the college-prep process.

Parent TIPs

You'll also see some tips just for parents -- everything from setting realistic expectations to talking about financial aid.

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