866.303.4744
Summer Institute for the Gifted:
Programs for gifted & talented youth ages 5–17
Programs for gifted & talented youth ages 5–17
ABOUT
Established in 1919 and located in the heart of Los Angeles, the University of California Los Angeles remains one of the nation’s most competitive and prestigious Universities. Spanning 419 acres of the Westwood community, summer programs at UCLA provide an enriching blend of academic opportunity and social engagement.
COURSES
The SIG STEAM+ curriculum focuses on applying creative thinking across multiple disciplines to solve real-world problems. The SIG Innovators Program offers a STEAM+ curriculum through a wide variety of courses incorporating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math, Humanities, and Fitness and Recreation.
GENERAL
SIG at is a Residential Program. A Day Option and a Day + Evenings & Saturdays Option are also available.
- Experience independence within a secure environment living in a college dorm for 3 weeks (day option also available).
- Meet other gifted students from around the world who share common interests, abilities, and goals.
- Enjoy a variety of fun social activities in the evenings.
FUN FACTS!
- SIG has been on campus since 2004!
- On average, the SIG at UCLA program attracts approximately half of its participants from almost 20 different countries.
SIG at : Program Options
SIG at is a Residential Program. A Day Option and a Day + Evenings & Saturdays Option are also available.
Program Options Chart
Innovators Program students have 3 options. They may choose to live on campus, commute on weekdays only, or commute and extend their stay into evenings and Saturdays. Please refer to the chart below for information regarding each option. Times vary by campus. Additionally, the Investigators Program is available for ages 5-12 (ages vary by campus).
ACTIVITY |
RESIDENTIAL
|
DAY + EVENINGS &
SATURDAYS
|
DAY
(8:30 am - 5:30 pm) *
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | |||
| All 4 Academic Periods | |||
| Lunch | |||
| Recreation Hour | |||
| Dinner | |||
| Evening Study/Tutorial | |||
| Evening Activities | |||
| Saturday Activity Days | |||
| Sunday Activity Days | |||
| Dance | |||
| Student Talent Show | |||
| Academic Performance Program | |||
| Closing Ceremony | |||
| Dorm Residence |
* Schedule runs 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 p.m. at UC Berkeley only. Exceptions to the Day student time schedules are not possible as safety procedures are compromised when staff must modify their supervision responsibilities to accommodate exceptions.
** Schedules vary by campus. Please note: Day students at Yale dismiss prior to recreational hour.
Options Available
Residential
- Gain independence living in a college dorm
- Robust selection of evening, weekend, and recreational activities
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided daily in a college dining hall
Day + Evenings & Saturdays
- Participation on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 p.m. plus Saturdays*
- Convenience of living at home while participating in the SIG academic experience during the day, rec hour in the afternoon, and evening activities
- Lunch and dinner provided daily in a college dining hall
- Participate in Saturday activities including on-campus events and off-campus excursions
Day
- Participation on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.*
- Convenience of living at home while participating in the SIG academic experience during the day, and rec hour in the afternoon**
- Lunch provided daily in a college dining hall
Program Conversion
Day option students may convert to the Day + Evenings & Saturdays option at any time during the first two weeks of the session. Conversion must be for the remainder of the session with the minimum being one week (7 days). Additional fees will be incurred and must be paid in full at the time of conversion.
Day and Day + Evenings & Saturdays option students may convert to the Residential option at any time during the first two weeks of the session, subject to dorm availability. Conversion must be for the remainder of the session with the minimum being one week (7 days). Conversion fees will be incurred and must be paid in full at the time of conversion.
Fee calculation: Residential option program fee minus the original non-Residential program fee divided by 20 days times the number of days for conversion.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Yes! Students may request to room with a specific person (same SIG age group,
same gender). The residential staff will do its best to honor such
requests. However, there is no guarantee that the student’s
request will be fulfilled.
At many of the Innovators campuses, SIG provides a day student option for families who live in the surrounding area. In addition, SIG has several day programs for younger students ages 5-12.
Learn about SIG Day Student Programs at Innovator campuses
View the SIG Investigator programs for students ages 5-12
Learn about SIG Day Student Programs at Innovator campuses
View the SIG Investigator programs for students ages 5-12
Students are assigned to same age, same gender groups that live
in a dormitory under the supervision of a counselor. A Residential Life Dean
and Housemaster are also part of the overall
residential supervision team.
Students do their own laundry. They may use the laundry facilities
located on campus in the dormitories. Staff will assist with any
laundry instruction that may be necessary.
Students, once on campus, are not allowed to leave campus unless
they are supervised by a SIG staff person. These trips only occur
within the structure of the program and with parent/legal guardian
permission.
Special permission may be given to students with Senior Privileges (ages 15-17 only) to leave campus in groups of three or more without SIG Staff.
Sometimes. SIG's academic courses are offered to students
of the same age grouping. However, the cultural and recreational
classes usually are open to all students. Class grouping can accommodate
varying ability levels.
Definitely. Students will always be chaperoned when going off campus
on SIG sponsored trips, as well as when they are on campus.
Yes! Courses may be changed during the first two days of the session
with the approval of the Academic Dean and the students’ parents.
Yes! A Student Performance Review for each course taken will be available on MySIGPortal a few weeks after the close of the program. Students’ performance reports and letters can be mailed to schools, but only after SIG receives a written request from parents.
Yes! Special meals can be provided during the session. Parents must
advise the Residential Life Dean at the session site of the student’s
special dietary needs.
Email is available at the sites. However, availability is limited
to specific areas depending on the session’s host facility.
SIG is pleased to offer shuttle transportation services to and from our campuses and nearby airports at the beginning and end of our sessions.
Campus specific shuttle times can be found here.
For full details about SIG Campus Transportation and Greeter Services, please visit the FAQs page.
Directions
UCLA is easily accessible by car and by bus. The closest major airport to UCLA is the Los Angeles International Airport.
Zoom out to view all SIG Program Campus locations.
SIG Programs Provide...
Dynamic and innovative approaches for supplementing the education of our world’s most gifted and talented students, ensuring that they receive the individual attention they require.
Select and go directly to
a specific program page.
All contents copyright © Summer Institute for the Gifted
