Program Structure / Application / Placement

Project 2008 meets on weekdays for three weeks. Students may enroll in either the Morning Program or the Full-Day Program. On the evening of the final day, August 15, parents are invited to an Open House featuring student performances and elaborate classroom demonstrations.

Morning Program

For all students, mornings consist of two classes, chosen by the students themselves from a wide variety of exciting topics. On some mornings, students and faculty assemble for competitive and high-spirited trivia bowls.

Full-Day Program

The afternoon component of the Full-Day Program provides in-depth, hands-on exploration of a single theme of the student’s choice. This immersion into a topic affords each student the privilege of mastering its content.

After their morning classes, students enrolled in the Full-Day Program join their afternoon teachers for lunch and then proceed to their classrooms at 12:45. Full-day students bring sack lunches, including drinks, that do not require refrigeration.

Application

Download and complete the application and mail it in with the required deposit of $150 or full tuition. Applications sent without deposits will not be processed. Applications are not accepted via phone, fax, email, or online; however, application materials can be printed from our website.

Placement

Students are placed in classes on a rolling basis, per postmark dates of their applications; therefore, we advise new students to send their applications ahead of the required letters of recommendation. Class placements will be tentatively reserved for new students until their recommendations are received. Parents are notified of their child’s enrollment status within two weeks of application or, for new students, following review of the recommendations.

A week or two before the program begins, parents receive enrollment packets with individual class assignments, maps, directions, and information about our on-site parent seminars.

Transportation

We are happy to assist families who are interested in carpooling. Check the appropriate blank on your application, then call us May-July for more information.

We provide free round-trip shuttles at the Metra train station in Wilmette and the CTA El station at 4th and Linden (purple line), also in Wilmette. Return shuttles run at 12:00 and at 2:45.

Chartered busses are available to and/or from the following Chicago locations for 9:10 arrival and/or 12:00 departure, only. Busses do not run for the 2:45 departure. Bus fees are $40 to ride one-way only and $80 to ride round-trip. They cover the entire three weeks, regardless of how many days the student plans to ride, and must be paid by July 14.

• 95th & State
• Washington & Michigan
• Western and Milwaukee
• Western and Irving Park
• Western and Devon
• Western and Howard

Payment / Refunds / Withdrawls

Make all checks payable to Project 2008.

A tuition deposit of $150 via check or money order, or full tuition via check, money order, or Visa or MasterCard, must accompany application. All deposits are credited to tuition. The balance of tuition, as well as bus fees, if any, are due on July 14. Lab fees are not incurred until classes are assigned and will be payable on the first day of the program.

If a student withdraws before the program begins, tuition is refunded upon written request, minus a $50 processing fee. There are no credits or refunds for withdrawing after the program begins, nor for absences for any reason. The Center for Gifted does not offer sibling discounts.

Financial Aid

Limited financial assistance or payment plans are considered for those in need. For Chicago residents, limited scholarship funds are available and awarded on the bases of need and merit. Application forms can be requested directly from The Center for Gifted.