1. What is the National Society for the Gifted and Talented?
2. Is there a cost to join NSGT? Is it an annual membership?
3. How can I apply to NSGT?
4. What are the eligibility criteria?
5. Does NSGT provide scholarships?
6. Is NSGT affiliated with any talent search organizations?
7. Is my membership fee tax deductible? Is my donation tax deductible?

1. What is the National Society for the Gifted and Talented?
The National Society for the Gifted & Talented™ (NSGT) is a non-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization created to enable and empower gifted, talented, and high potential youth, in the United States and abroad, to celebrate and maximize their unique potential through membership in the National Society for the Gifted and Talented.

Mission: The mission of NSGT is to advance the development of gifted, talented, and high potential youth, in the United States and abroad, through opportunities, advocacy, and exemplary programs and practices.

2.Is there a cost to join NSGT? Is it an annual membership?
Yes. The annual membership fee is $45.00. Students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch may join for $35.00. Students participating in the SIG program receive a discounted membership fee of $35.00. Siblings receive a $10 fee reduction for each additional child in the family.

3. How can I apply to NSGT?
You can obtain a brochure and application by calling (866) 303-4744, emailing us at info@nsgt.org or by visiting our website at www.nsgt.org.

4. What are the eligibility criteria?
a) Identification for giftedness or successful participation in a local, school, regional, state or national gifted program.
b) Scores at the 95th percentile or above in at least one of the major content areas or ability sections of national or state test. A list of acceptable tests can be found on our website.
c) Gifted range scores on the PSAT, SAT, ACT or SSATB tests.

5. Does NSGT provide scholarships?
Yes. NSGT allocates approximately $5,000 per year in scholarship monies to members for a variety of projects and programs such as after-school, weekend, summer, and distance learning. Additional scholarships may be offered throughout the year for particular programs depending on the kindness of our donors. The yearly allocation is dependent upon donations received.

6. Is NSGT affiliated with any talent search organizations?
No. NSGT is a membership organization with a goal of providing recognition to gifted and talented youth, and providing them with valuable resources.

7. Is my membership fee tax deductible? Is my donation tax deductible?
The membership fee is not tax deductible because you are joining a membership society with value. However, donations made to NSGT are tax deductible.

1. What is the difference between Campus Transportation and Greeter Services?
2. Is there a fee for these services?
3. Do I have to use the shuttle service if I choose the greeter service?
4. Do I have to use the greeter service if I choose the shuttle service?
5. How do I know if my child must travel as an unaccompanied minor?
6. How do I arrange for these services?
7. How do I make payment for these services?
8. Will I know where the student should meet the shuttle and / or who the greeter is?
9. Who does SIG use for the transportation and greeter services?

1. What is the difference between Campus Transportation and Greeter Services?
Campus transportation is provided to/from airports that have been selected as the easiest to travel from near our campuses. On the first day of the program students will be picked up from the airports at 12pm and 5pm and take them to their campus. On the last day of the program students will be taken to the airports at 11am.

The Greeter Service is for students traveling as unaccompanied minors or who are not used to traveling alone. On the first day of the program a member of the SIG staff will be assigned to meet the student at the baggage claim area (or arrival gate if an unaccompanied minor). The greeter will then escort the student to the SIG shuttle. On the last day of the program the greeters meet the students at the shuttle and escort them to security (or to the departure gate if an unaccompanied minor).

2.Is there a fee for these services?
Yes. Each leg of the service costs $100.00. If you will request transportation on the first and last day of the program, the total cost is $200. If you will use the greeter service and transportation on the first and last day of the program, the total cost is $400.

3. Do I have to use the shuttle service if I choose the greeter service?
Yes.

4. Do I have to use the greeter service if I choose the shuttle service?
No. You only need to use the greeter service if the student is traveling as an unaccompanied minor or is not used to traveling alone. If you are hesitant about your child arriving at the airport, gathering baggage and locating the shuttle area; you may want to consider using the greeter service.

5. How do I know if my child must travel as an unaccompanied minor?
When making your flight reservations for the student please ask the airline agent about their policy. In many cases, any child traveling alone under the age of 14 is considered an unaccompanied minor. Unaccompanied minors must be delivered to the departure gate and picked up by an adult at the arrival gate by a predetermined adult. The airline will need this information in advance.

6. How do I arrange for these services?
There will be a Campus Transportation and Greeter Service form on the student log in site for download. You should complete this form and return it to SIG with a copy of the student’s flight itinerary at least 4 weeks before the start of the program.

7. How do I make payment for these services?
The fees will be added to your SIG invoice. Full payment must be remitted before the start of the program.

8. Will I know where the student should meet the shuttle and / or who the greeter is?
Yes. We will send you an email at least one week before the travel date to provide you with the location of the pickup and / or the greeter name and a cell phone number. We will also provide the contact information for a SIG staff member on call at the airport.

If the student is an unaccompanied minor, we will provide you with any additional information regarding the greeter the airline requires.

9. Who does SIG use for the transportation and greeter services?
Airport coordinators, transportation providers and greeters are generally SIG instructors or other staff members who agree to meet the students and ensure their safe arrival and departure.

All members of the staff undergo a background check, including a DMV check for drivers. All staff members are covered by SIG insurance.

1. How many international students attend SIG? What countries are these students from?
2. Where should I look for more information about the SIG session I am attending?
3. Are there on campus accommodations if I would like to arrive before the program begins or leave after the program ends?
4. When should I plan to arrive at/depart from the campus?
5. Does SIG provide flight arrangements?
6. Is there transportation from the airport to the campus?
7. My child will be traveling alone. Are there special arrangements I need to make?
8. Is there a fee for these services?
9. What type of visa is required to attend SIG?
10. Why isn’t a student visa required?
11. What should I bring to my embassy when applying for a visa?
12. What is the International Student Resident Fee?
13. What items should I bring with me to the program?
14. Will my roommate be from a different country?
15. Is there a vegetarian meal option?
16. Do I need travel and health insurance?
17. Are students able to move about campus or go off campus alone?
18. What are your rules about smoking and drinking on campus?

1. How many international students attend SIG? What countries are these students from?
SIG is pleased to host students from all over the globe each year. In 2011, over 500 students from 38 countries attended SIG sessions. Our participants come from Brazil, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Taiwan and many other countries.

2.Where should I look for more information about the SIG session I am attending?
SIG has an informative student log in section on our website. You may sign in at any time to view important messages and information using your student ID and last name.

3. Are there on-campus accommodations if I would like to arrive before the program begins or leave after the program ends?
No, SIG is unable to procure dorm space for participants beyond the dates of our sessions. If you are traveling a long distance, we recommend you arrive in the area the day before to acclimate yourself. However, you will have to make accommodations arrangements off-campus. We are unable to supervise students arriving on campus before 1:00 pm on registration day.

4. When should I plan to arrive at/depart from the campus?
Registration begins at 1:00 pm and lasts until 3:00 pm on the first day of the program. Late arrival students are welcome on that day until 11:00 pm at the SIG campus office. If you are unable to arrive on campus between these times, please contact us to discuss other acceptable arrangements.

On the last day of the program, students are required to be off campus by 1:00 pm.

5. Does SIG provide flight arrangements?
No, SIG does not provide flight arrangements for students. However, we do offer shuttle transportation to and from the airports closest to the campuses (for an additional fee). (See #6)

6. Is there transportation from the airport to the campus?
Campus transportation is provided to/from airports that have been selected as the most convenient to our campuses. On the first day of the program shuttles will pick students up from the airports at 12 pm and 5 pm and take them to their campus. On the last day of the program students will be taken to the airport at 11:00 am.

7. My child will be traveling alone. Are there special arrangements I need to make?
Children traveling alone between the ages of 5 and 17 may be considered an unaccompanied minor by the airline. Please check with your airline regarding their policies when booking flights for the student. It is imperative you make the arrangements with the airline per their specific policies and you inform SIG to avoid any travel delays.

In most cases, you will be charged a fee by the airline for their unaccompanied minor services, and will need to provide them with the contact name and address of the adult dropping the child off at the departure airport and pick them up from the arrival airport.

We offer a Greeter Service for students traveling as unaccompanied minors or who are not accustomed to traveling alone. On the first day of the program a member of the SIG staff will be assigned to meet the student at the baggage claim area (or arrival gate if an unaccompanied minor). The greeter will then escort the student to the SIG campus transportation provider. On the last day of the program the greeters meet the students at the shuttle and escort them to security (or to the departure gate if an unaccompanied minor).

To sign up for transportation or unaccompanied minor greeter services, please sign in to the SIG student portal and click on the Travel Plans icon.

8. Is there a fee for these services?
Yes. Each leg of the service costs $100.00. If you use the shuttle for transportation on the first and last day of the program, the total cost is $200. If you use the greeter service and shuttle for transportation on the first and last day of the program, the total cost is $400. Reservations and payment for these services are required at least one month in advance.

For more information on the SIG Campus Transportation and Greeter Service, please contact us at admissions@giftedstudy.org.

9. What type of visa is required to attend SIG?
In most cases, a regular tourist or visitor (B-2) is all that is required.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1262.html

Pleasure, Tourism, Medical Treatment - Visitor Visas (B-2) - As examples, if the purpose of your planned travel is recreational in nature, including tourism, amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature, and participation by amateurs, who will receive no remuneration, in musical, sports and similar events or contests, then a visitor visa (B-2) would be the appropriate type of visa for your travel.

If you are going to the U.S. primarily for tourism, but want to take a short course of study which is recreational or vocational, and of less than 18 hours per week, you may be do so a visitor visa. If your course of study is 18 hours or more a week, you will need a student visa. – Each SIG course meets for 75 minutes per day or the equivalent or only 6.25 hours a week.

10. Why isn’t a student visa required?
SIG is considered an independent short term academic enrichment program. Our students do not receive educational credits and SIG is not directly affiliated with any of the colleges and universities that host our programs. Therefore most countries will provide a tourist visa as they would for students attending a camp in the USA.

F-1, or Student Visa: The visa for people who want to study at an accredited U.S. college or university, or to study English at a university or language institute – SIG is not a school or university.

J-1, or Exchange Visitor Visa: The visa issued to people who will be participating in an educational or cultural exchange program. – SIG is not an exchange program.

M-1, or Student Visa: The visa for those enrolled in nonacademic or vocational programs. – SIG is an academic enrichment program.

11. What should I bring to my embassy when applying for a visa?
You will need to contact your embassy directly for a list of identification items you will need to submit with your application. Directly upon your acceptance into the SIG program you can download the invitation letter from our student portal to present to the consulate.

12. What is the International Student Resident Fee?
The international student resident fee is a surcharge charged by SIG for the additional expenses incurred for the facilitation of processing your application and the inclusion of World Class Coverage Health Insurance and Travel Protection Plan (see #16).

13. What items should I bring with me to the program?
Some of the SIG campuses provide bed linens and towels (i.e. UC Berkeley, UCLA, UT Austin). However, for most of the programs you will need to bring these items. If you prefer not to bring them with you, you can pre-order these items by signing into our student portal and clicking on the Program Options icon or purchase these items at registration (Sheet sets - $20.00 / Pillows - $10.00). Some students bring sleeping bags to use for their stay.

You should bring enough clothes for at least a week, spending money for laundry and get away trips; basic school supplies (i.e. pens, notebooks, etc.). In most cases $100 -$150 is sufficient. All campuses have ATM machines.

A full list of items to bring can be found in the documents section of the student login section of the SIG website.

14. Will my roommate be from a different country?
In most cases, yes, SIG promotes cultural diversity throughout the student population. However, if you and a friend (who is of the same age grouping and gender) request to be roommates we will do our best to honor your request.

15. Is there a vegetarian meal option?
Yes, all SIG campuses provide vegetarian options in their dining halls.

16. Do I need travel and health insurance?
For our international students we are pleased to include a comprehensive medical protection plan. The insurance is included as a part of the international resident fee. This plan provides the international student with up to $500,000 Basic Medical Insurance per accident or illness with a $50 deductible (per accident or illness). This plan provides an assortment of benefits, including personal effects coverage such as cameras and electronic equipment; medical evacuation/repatriation in the event of an emergency, tuition refunds up to $5,000 in the event that the student is unable to participate in the program due to serious injury or illness, or if either parent of the insured is laid off, and session interruption coverage prorated up to $5,000 for any student that is unable to complete the program for the reasons listed above.

A brochure and a claim form are available on the student login section of the SIG website.

17. Are students able to move about campus or go off campus alone?
No, students are always under the supervision of SIG staff and may not go off campus without supervision. Older students, ages 15-18, are at specific times, provided the opportunity to travel in groups around the campus. This privilege is at the discretion of the SIG staff.

18. What are your rules about smoking and drinking on campus?
In the United States, students under the age of 18 are not allowed to smoke nor are they allowed to drink alcohol before the age of 21. It is against SIG policy for any student to smoke any substance, use chewing tobacco, take any illegal drugs, or drink alcohol while attending the program. There are strict consequences for this behavior, including immediate dismissal from the program. We appreciate the fact that international students may have a different experience in their countries but it is imperative that all students understand that these US laws are strictly enforced on campus.

1. What is the SIG commuter program?
2. Are the commuter options available at all SIG residential program campuses?
3. What are the benefits of attending SIG as a commuter student?
4. What are the differences between the day and extended commuter options?
5. What are the rules/regulations and limitations of the commuter program?
6. Are the commuter schedules flexible?
7. Can a student convert from a day commuter to an extended commuter after the program has started?
8. Can a commuter student convert to residential status after the program has started?
9. How are commuter students supervised?
10. How do commuter parents contact SIG staff and instructors on site?
11. What are the charges incurred for late pick ups?
12. We live near the campus and my child will be arriving and/or departing alone each day? What are the procedures for this?

1. What is the SIG commuter program?
The commuter program enables students to attend a SIG program at a residential site without the need for them to reside on campus. There are two types of commuter options available – the day and extended commuter options.

2.Are the commuter options available at all SIG residential program campuses?
The commuter programs are available at all campuses except for Princeton.

3. What are the benefits of attending SIG as a commuter student?
The commuter option is perfect for students living near a SIG residential campus that are looking for an academic enrichment experience during the summer but for one reason or another aren’t ready to commit to a residential program. Many of our commuter students are engaged in other summer activities in the evenings and weekends; some just aren’t ready or don’t want the residential experience.

4. What are the differences between the day and extended commuter options?
Day commuter students partake in the academic day and the recreational period after classes, Monday through Friday. They arrive on campus at 8:30 am and depart at 6:00 pm. Extended commuter students participate in all activities Monday through Friday; arriving in time for breakfast at 8:00 am and depart after all evening activities are over at 9:45 pm (9 & 10 year olds have the option of being picked up at 9:15 pm). They also partake in the Saturday getaway trips arriving on campus at 8:00 am and departing at either 6:00pm or 9:45 pm.

*Day commuter students may participate in the final performance and the closing ceremony if accompanied by a parent/guardian.

**Extended commuter students may participate in the closing ceremony if accompanied by a parent/guardian.

5. What are the rules/regulations and limitations of the commuter program?

The SIG commuter model is designed to provide local students the option to partake in the academic and social advantages of our program without living on campus. Commuter students must adhere to the rules and regulations of the residential SIG programs.

Students must be dropped off and picked up at site-specific designated locations. Fees will be incurred for late pick up (see below). Drop off and pick up times are inflexible as our staff have daily routines they must maintain.

6. Are the commuter schedules flexible?

Unfortunately, no. Due to the meal and activity schedules for other students and staff, commuter students must adhere to the drop off and pick up times.