--- title: "Duke TIP Alternatives: Gifted Programs Since TIP Closed" description: "Duke TIP alternatives: what Duke says about TIP closing in 2020, and the talent search and enrichment programs families use now, each from its own site." canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/duke-tip-alternatives source: src/pages/duke-tip-alternatives.html --- > Duke TIP alternatives: what Duke says about TIP closing in 2020, and the talent search and enrichment programs families use now, each from its own site. In short Duke TIP, the Duke University Talent Identification Program, and its Academic Talent Search were permanently closed in 2020, according to Duke's Office of the Provost; Duke now runs a summer Duke Pre-College program instead. Families looking for a replacement usually turn to university talent-development centers such as Northwestern's CTD, or to enrichment and advanced classes. Modern Age Coders, which has no link to Duke, offers live online advanced math in a 15 to 20 batch or 1-on-1, with no test needed. Challenge without a test ## Three courses for students who want more math Each is open to any student who is ready, with placement by a conversation and a sample of work rather than a score. [![Maths Olympiad & Competition Course course thumbnail](/images/olympiad-competition-maths.webp) DTA / 01 Olympiad and competition math AMC-style problem solving and proof, from middle school up. Open the syllabus →](/courses/olympiad-competition-mathematics-mastery)[![Middle School Math Competitions course thumbnail](/images/middle-school-math-competitions.webp) DTA / 02 Middle school competition math MATHCOUNTS, AMC 8 and Math Kangaroo problem solving. Open the syllabus →](/courses/middle-school-math-competitions-course)[![High School Mathematics course thumbnail](/images/high-school-maths.webp) DTA / 03 High school math, algebra to calculus Working ahead of grade level with real understanding. Open the syllabus →](/courses/complete-high-school-mathematics-mastery) What happened ## Did Duke TIP close, and what replaced it? Yes. Duke's Office of the Provost states that the pandemic forced TIP's residential summer program to stop in 2020, and that TIP and the Academic Talent Search were permanently closed later that year. Duke's summer offering now continues as Duke Pre-College. ### Duke's own account A notice published by Duke's provost office tells the story. Duke TIP began after a 1980 request from Duke's provost, with a plan "to invite 7th graders to take the SAT" and offer high scorers further opportunities. The first three-week residential program welcomed 151 students in the summer of 1981. The same notice says: "In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the suspension of the residential summer program, and TIP and the Academic Talent Search were permanently closed later that year." The old tip.duke.edu address now redirects to Duke's pre-college page. ### Duke Pre-College today Duke Pre-College runs summer programs for students currently in grades 6 to 8 and 9 to 12. Its page says "2027 dates and courses will be announced in late October 2026" and "Registration will open in December 2026", and that it "will not offer online courses for the summer of 2027." It is a different kind of program from TIP. Duke's notice says that at Pre-College "standardized testing is no longer used as a primary means of assessment", and the program page says "Students must have a 3.0+ GPA" to participate. Sources: [Duke Office of the Provost notice on Duke TIP's founder](https://provost.duke.edu/news/duke-flags-lowered-robert-n-sawyer-founder-duke-tip-dies/) and [Duke Pre-College Programs](https://provost.duke.edu/pre-college-programs/), read 31 October 2026. Modern Age Coders is not connected with Duke University or any program on this page. The options ## What are the alternatives to Duke TIP? There is no single replacement. Instead, several long-running university centers offer parts of what TIP did: identification through testing, summer and weekend programs, and advanced online courses. The table describes each from its own site. | Program | Who runs it | Who it serves, as published | Is a test needed? | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Center for Talent Development (CTD) | Northwestern University, since 1982 | Online classes for kids and teens ages 4 to 18; summer, weekend and online programs | Depends on the tier: Amber is open enrollment; higher tiers ask for scores or a portfolio | | Belin-Blank Center | University of Iowa, since 1988 | Summer institutes, weekend enrichment, early-entrance academies | It is not currently providing above-level testing | | The Center for Gifted Studies | Western Kentucky University, since 1982 | Programs including SCATS, VAMPY, Super Saturdays and the Talent Identification Program of Kentucky | Varies by program; check each one | | Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies | Stanford University | Five summer and two academic-year programs, including SUMaC for rising juniors and seniors | Application-based; varies by program | | Duke Pre-College | Duke University | Summer programs for current grades 6 to 8 and 9 to 12 | No primary test; a 3.0+ GPA is required | ### Northwestern CTD tiers CTD sorts courses into eligibility tiers. Amber courses are open enrollment: "No test scores or portfolio materials needed to enroll." Emerald courses accept a report card plus teacher recommendation, or "90th percentile or above on a nationally normed, standardized grade-level achievement test" such as MAP or STAR. Magenta asks for the 95th percentile, and the accelerated Indigo tier asks for qualifying ACT or SAT scores, or PSAT 8/9, SCAT or I-Excel taken in grade 5 or 6. CTD says it "accepts test scores or an admission portfolio for most courses". ### Stanford and others Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies lists SUMaC, which "welcomes a select group of rising high school juniors and seniors" for advanced mathematics, the Stanford Math Circle for after-school math, and University-Level Online Math & Physics with Stanford Continuing Studies credit. The Belin-Blank Center, which no longer runs above-level testing itself, points families to WKU's Center for Gifted Studies, Northwestern's CTD and the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. Sources: [Northwestern CTD eligibility](https://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/eligibility), [Belin-Blank Academic Talent Search](https://belinblank.education.uiowa.edu/students/bests), [WKU Center for Gifted Studies](https://www.wku.edu/gifted/) and [Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies programs](https://spcs.stanford.edu/programs), read 31 October 2026. We could not read the Johns Hopkins CTY site (it refused automated requests), so we do not describe it beyond its name. Program names belong to their universities. Above-level testing ## What is above-level testing, and why did TIP use it? Above-level testing means giving a younger student a test written for older students. It was the heart of the old talent searches, including Duke's plan to have 7th graders take the SAT, and some centers still offer it. ### In the Belin-Blank Center's words The Belin-Blank Center explains it simply: "Give a younger student a test that was developed for older students." Bright students often answer almost everything right on a grade-level test, which psychologists call "hitting the ceiling". A test built for older students has room above, so it shows how far beyond grade level a child really is. That helps a family decide between enrichment, moving up a grade in one subject, or something else. ### A ceiling, in numbers (ours) Imagine two fifth graders who both score 40 out of 40 on a grade 5 math test. The test cannot tell them apart. Now give both a test written for grade 8. One scores 31 of 40 and the other 14 of 40. Both are strong, but they need different things: the first may be ready to accelerate, while the second may thrive on enrichment at grade level. The numbers are our illustration, not data from any program. | Provider | What the page says | | --- | --- | | Northwestern CTD | Above-grade-level assessment for grades 2 to 9, with tools including the CogAT, Practice PSAT or PreACT, Practice SAT and Practice ACT | | Northwestern CTD | Grade-level tools for younger learners: KTEA, NWEA MAP and CogAT | | Belin-Blank Center | Not currently providing above-level testing; recommends other university programs | | Duke Pre-College | Standardized testing no longer used as a primary means of assessment | Ability and gifted screening tests are a different topic; if your district uses one, our [gifted and talented test guide](/gifted-and-talented-test-prep) explains what they measure and why the honest preparation is broad reasoning, not drilling. How to choose ## How do I choose a gifted program for my child now? Start from what your child needs, not from the program's name. A short checklist helps, and the steps below are a sensible order for a family starting from scratch. Both are ours. | Question to ask | Why it matters | | --- | --- | | Is it enrichment or acceleration? | Enrichment goes deeper at grade level; acceleration moves ahead, sometimes for credit | | What does entry require? | Open enrollment, a portfolio, grade-level percentiles or above-level scores | | Online, weekend or residential? | Residential summers suit some children; weekly online classes suit others | | How long does it last? | A two-week camp and a year of weekly classes give very different results | | Who teaches? | Look for subject experts and small, active classes | | Does it fit the year? | Summer programs leave the school year untouched; weekly classes need steady time | 1. **Look at what you already have (ours).** School report cards and any MAP, STAR or state test percentiles are often enough for open or portfolio-based entry. 2. **Decide on the goal.** Is your child bored and needs depth, or racing ahead and needs pace? That choice rules out half the options. 3. **Consider above-level testing** if you want to know how far ahead your child is. CTD lists it for grades 2 to 9. 4. **Pick one structured option for the year** and one for the summer, rather than five at once. 5. **Review after a term.** If your child is still coasting, move up a level; if stressed, step back. Stretch problems ## What kind of math stretches a gifted student? Problems that reward thinking over calculation. Here is one worked example and a short set, all ours, of the kind a former TIP student would enjoy. Each answer was checked in Python. ### The problem (ours) How many zeros are at the end of 25! (that is 25 x 24 x 23 x ... x 1)? Multiplying it out gives a 26-digit number. There is a far better way. A zero at the end comes from a factor of 10, which is 2 x 5. There are plenty of 2s among the factors, so count the 5s. ### The reasoning The multiples of 5 up to 25 are 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25: five numbers, each with one 5. But 25 = 5 x 5 has a second 5. So there are 5 + 1 = 6 fives, and 25! ends in 6 zeros. The same idea for 100!: 100 / 5 = 20 multiples of 5, plus 100 / 25 = 4 multiples of 25 with an extra 5, giving 24 zeros. Counting factors replaced an impossible multiplication. | Problem | A way in | Answer | | --- | --- | --- | | How many diagonals does a 10-sided polygon have? | Each vertex joins 7 others; halve the double count | 35 | | 1 + 2 + 3 + ... + 100 | Pair 1 with 100, 2 with 99, ... | 5050 | | Last digit of 7 to the power 2026 | Last digits cycle 7, 9, 3, 1 | 9 | | Zeros at the end of 100! | Count 5s, then 25s | 24 | | How many squares of any size on a chessboard? | 64 + 49 + 36 + ... + 1 | 204 | Where your child is ## Four kinds of mathematical readiness Our own way of describing what an able child may need next. | What you see | What often helps | | --- | --- | | Finishes schoolwork fast, bored | Enrichment: richer problems at the same level | | Already knows next year's topics | Acceleration in that subject | | Loves puzzles, struggles with speed | Problem-solving classes and contests | | Ready for proof and depth | Competition math and university-style courses | ### For parents A child can be in different places in different subjects. Plan math separately from reading. Challenge should feel hard but doable. Frustration every week means the level is wrong. ### For students If a problem looks like it needs a huge calculation, look for a pattern first. Getting stuck is part of the work. Write down what you tried; it often shows the way. The catalogue ## Advanced math and thinking courses Live online courses for students ready for more, open without a qualifying test. I ### Elementary Grades 2 to 5 DTA / E / 01 #### Reasoning and readiness Patterns and logic. [Open the syllabus](/courses/reasoning-and-readiness-course-for-young-thinkers) DTA / E / 02 #### Problem solving Puzzles and algorithms. [Open the syllabus](/courses/problem-solving-and-computational-thinking-for-kids) DTA / E / 03 #### Mental math Number sense. [Open the syllabus](/courses/mental-maths-mastery-kids)II ### Middle school Grades 6 to 8 DTA / M / 01 #### Competition math MATHCOUNTS and AMC 8. [Open the syllabus](/courses/middle-school-math-competitions-course) DTA / M / 02 #### Algebra early Pre-algebra to Algebra 1. [Open the syllabus](/courses/algebra-foundations-masterclass) DTA / M / 03 #### Math through coding Ideas in Python. [Open the syllabus](/courses/maths-through-coding)III ### High school Grades 9 to 12 DTA / H / 01 #### Olympiad math AMC, AIME and proof. [Open the syllabus](/courses/olympiad-competition-mathematics-mastery) DTA / H / 02 #### High school math Algebra to calculus. [Open the syllabus](/courses/complete-high-school-mathematics-mastery) DTA / H / 03 #### College math Beyond calculus. [Open the syllabus](/courses/college-mathematics-complete-masterclass) How lessons run ## Advanced math, all year, from home Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays. Weekdays Evening classes alongside school. Weekends Longer problem-solving sessions. 1-on-1 For a child far ahead in one subject. ### No entry test Placement by a free first class. ### Depth and pace Enrichment or acceleration, as needed. ### Problems we wrote Original, never copied. ### Year-round Weekly, not just in summer. ### No outcome promises We teach; results belong to the child. ### Group or private Fifteen to twenty, or one to one. Student work ## Work from our advanced students Math investigations and programs made in our classes; more in [student labs](/student-labs). ![NutriLife AI nutrition coach project screenshot](/images/projects/nutrilife.webp) AI and ML #### NutriLife An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target. by Bhavya · [Open it](https://nutrilife-bhavya.lovable.app) ![Misti AI chatbot for maths and coding screenshot](/images/projects/misti.webp) AI and ML #### Misti A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student. by Harshit · [Open it](https://misti.modernagecoders.com) ![GuardianX AI internet safety assistant screenshot](/images/projects/guardianx.webp) AI and ML #### GuardianX An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online. by Vivaan · [Open it](https://guardianx-cybersaver.lovable.app) ![SkyCast weather forecast application screenshot](/images/projects/skycast.webp) Web app #### SkyCast A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location. by Krish Fees ## Fees Advanced math is paid month by month with no qualifying test and no long contract, so a family can try a term of real challenge before deciding. Free first class USD 0 no card required - A free first class - A sample of work is enough - No card details Book it Group batch USD 100 a month, billed in US dollars - Fifteen to twenty learners - A steady teacher - Choose a batch time - Monthly Start here One to one USD 150 a month, billed in US dollars - A private teacher - Paced to your child - Flexible times Enquire What families say ## Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews Google reviews from parents, word for word. ★★★★★ "The one step solution for my son. Modern Age Coders make learning coding so simple that kids love it. The teachers explain complex concepts clearly with practical exercises and interactive content." Ria Mukherjee Parent ★★★★★ "Modern Age Coders has been a game-changer for me. I struggled to grasp IT concepts and coding before joining, but their classes transformed everything. I can now confidently write complex programs with ease." Samriddha Mondal Student ★★★★★ "One of the most wonderful education centres out there. Education is not limited to school syllabus but focuses on skill development." Vansh Agarwal Student ★★★★★ "My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coders classes. This is his first online class and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can already see his improvement, and the teachers are very cooperative." Sonam Oswal Parent of Dhairya ★★★★★ "Modern Age Coders have wonderful teachers who teach in a clear, easy and practical way. The teacher boosts students' confidence and inspires them to learn without hesitation." Sonu Goyal Parent ★★★★★ "I highly recommend this computer coding class! The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about coding." Ritu Kedia Parent Questions from families ## Duke TIP alternatives: questions answered ### Is Duke TIP still running? No. Duke's Office of the Provost says TIP's residential summer program was suspended in 2020 because of the pandemic, and that TIP and its Academic Talent Search were permanently closed later that year. ### What replaced Duke TIP? Duke now runs Duke Pre-College, summer programs for students currently in grades 6 to 12. It does not use standardized testing as a primary means of assessment, and it asks for a 3.0+ GPA. ### What is the best alternative to Duke TIP? There is no single replacement; it depends on whether your child needs testing, a summer program or year-round classes. Northwestern's CTD offers above-grade-level assessment and tiered courses, while Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies, WKU and the University of Iowa run their own programs. ### Does any program still offer a talent search? Northwestern's Center for Talent Development lists above-grade-level assessment for grades 2 to 9. The Belin-Blank Center says it is not currently testing and recommends WKU, CTD and Johns Hopkins CTY. ### Does my child need test scores for Northwestern CTD? Not always. CTD's Amber tier is open enrollment with no scores, and its higher tiers accept either scores or an admission portfolio for most courses, according to its eligibility page. ### When does Duke Pre-College registration open for 2027? Duke's page says 2027 dates and courses would be announced in late October 2026 and registration opens in December 2026. It also says there will be no online courses in summer 2027. ### What did Duke TIP's talent search do? According to Duke's provost office, the original plan invited 7th graders to take the SAT and offered high scorers further opportunities, beginning with a residential program in 1981. ### Do your classes require a test? No. We place students after a free first class and a look at recent work. We teach advanced math, but we are not a talent search and award no scores. ### When are your classes? Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays. ### Are you connected with Duke or any of these programs? No. Modern Age Coders is an independent online school with no link to Duke, Northwestern, Stanford, the University of Iowa, WKU or Johns Hopkins. We describe each program only from its own site. Elsewhere on this site ## Related pages More for academically able US students. ### [Gifted and talented tests](/gifted-and-talented-test-prep) What screening tests measure. ### [Accelerated math online](/accelerated-math-program-online) Working ahead, properly. ### [Middle school math competitions](/math-competitions-for-middle-school-students) Contests for able students. ### [Homeschool math curriculum](/homeschool-math-curriculum-usa) Planning advanced math at home. ### [CS summer programs](/computer-science-summer-programs-for-high-school-students) Summer options for teens. ### [CogAT explained](/cogat-test-prep) Reasoning, not drilling. ## Related pages in this guide Part of the guide: [US gifted and selective school tests](/us-gifted-and-selective-school-tests-guide) ### Programs for advanced students - [Stanford Online High School math prep](/stanford-online-high-school-math-prep) - [Accelerated math program online](/accelerated-math-program-online) ### Gifted and talented screening - [CogAT test prep](/cogat-test-prep) - [NNAT test prep](/nnat-test-prep) - [OLSAT test prep](/olsat-test-prep) - [Iowa Assessments math prep](/iowa-assessments-math-prep) - [Gifted and talented test prep](/gifted-and-talented-test-prep) - [NYC Gifted and Talented guide](/nyc-gifted-and-talented-guide) ### Exam schools and private high schools - [SHSAT math prep](/shsat-math-prep) - [Hunter College High School math prep](/hunter-college-high-school-math-prep) - [Boston exam schools math prep](/boston-exam-schools-math-prep) - [HSPT math prep](/hspt-math-prep) - [TACHS math prep](/tachs-math-prep) - [ISEE and SSAT math prep](/isee-ssat-math-prep) More guides: [US state math tests by state](/us-state-math-tests-by-state) · [US math placement and college readiness tests](/us-math-placement-and-college-readiness-tests) · [Homeschool and school math curricula guide](/homeschool-math-curriculum-guide-usa) · [US math and coding competitions guide](/us-math-and-coding-competitions-guide) Start here ## Book a free first class Tell us your child's grade, what they find too easy at school and anything they love in math. The teacher will pitch the class above that. Have a look at [our teaching method](/how-we-teach) or the [course list](/courses) if you like. [WhatsApp us](https://wa.me/919123366161?text=Hello%20Modern%20Age%20Coders%2C%20my%20child%20in%20the%20US%20would%20have%20gone%20to%20Duke%20TIP%20and%20needs%20more%20challenge%20in%20math.%20Could%20we%20book%20a%20free%20first%20class%3F) · [+91 91233 66161](tel:+919123366161) · [connect@modernagecoders.com](mailto:connect@modernagecoders.com) Every lesson is live online, taught from India, scheduled for US evenings and weekends. Message us on WhatsApp for the fastest answer. ### Want a class sooner? Book a priority demo A priority demo is a full class of about 45 to 60 minutes. After the class the mentor sends a written skill report and a personal learning roadmap on WhatsApp. If you enrol, the demo fee is adjusted against your first month's fee. Share your demo Order ID with us on WhatsApp and we take it off. [Book a priority demo](/book-demo) ## Keep exploring Modern Age Coders ### More comparisons - [Free Demo vs Priority Demo](/free-demo-vs-priority-demo) - [Cuemath Alternative for 2026: A Live Coding and Maths School](/cuemath-alternative) - [Functional Skills Maths Course Cost UK 2026: Free or Paid?](/functional-skills-maths-course-cost-uk) - [Create & Learn Alternative: Small Groups, Levels, Trials](/create-and-learn-alternative) - [Functional Skills Maths vs GCSE Maths: Which Should You Take?](/functional-skills-maths-vs-gcse-maths) - [Common Core Math vs Traditional Math: A Parent Guide](/common-core-math-vs-traditional-math) - [Tynker Alternative 2026: A Live Teacher, Not an App Alone](/tynker-alternative) - [Modern Age Coders vs Oxford Learning: Cost and Fit 2026](/modern-age-coders-vs-oxford-learning) - [Vibe Coding vs Building AI in the Netherlands](/vibe-coding-vs-building-ai-netherlands) ### Free resources - [C++ Tutorial: From Basics to Advanced](/resources/cpp) - [Smart Pointers and Modern Memory Management](/resources/cpp/smart-pointers-and-memory) - [Transformers and Attention Mechanism](/resources/ai-and-machine-learning/transformers-and-attention) - [Data Preprocessing and Exploratory Data Analysis](/resources/ai-and-machine-learning/data-preprocessing-and-eda) ### From the blog - [Why Is My Child Struggling with Maths? The Real Reasons](/blog/why-is-my-child-struggling-with-maths) - [Top 20 Java Programs for ICSE Class 10 (With Code)](/blog/top-20-java-programs-for-icse-class-10) - [Area and Perimeter: The Difference, Explained Simply](/blog/area-and-perimeter-difference) ### Start here - [How Modern Age Coders teaches, small batches and real projects](/how-we-teach) - [What Modern Age Coders families say](/love) Free class[Priority demo](/book-demo)[Call us](tel:+919123366161) --- *Canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/duke-tip-alternatives*