Online Application: http://www.mbc.edu/docs/adm_docs/apply_peg_prnt.pdf

• Full transcript with excellent grades
• 3 letters of recommendations (2 teachers and 1 administrator/counselor)
• 4 Personal Essays
• Detailed parent support and family background information
• Achievement test scores in the 90th percentiles
• PSAT, SAT or ACT scores comparable to entering college freshmen
• A family and individual interview on campus
• $35 application fee
• Students are selected based upon: giftedness, consistent achievement, maturity, the ability to benefit from the program, and a serious sense of purpose.

Program for the Exceptionally Gifted (PEG) is a direct to college experience offering gifted high school age women the chance to skip one or more years of high school and enter college early. This 4-year program at Mary Baldwin College for women results in a bachelor’s degree.

Like the other direct to college programs, PEG takes a staggered approach, where students gain more independance and freedom over time. Students who enter the program following the 8th or 9th grade (dubbed “Alpha PEGs”) are placed together in an exclusive residence hall with 24 hour adult supervision. The following year, they and students entering after the 10th or 11th grade, will be considered “transitional” PEGs, who still live as a group, but with less supervision and more independence. The remaining years PEG students live alongside typical college students. Similarly, students are encouraged to meet the core college requirements during their first two years before focusing on majors and specific degree programs.

PEG is a residential program and students are expected to live on campus all four (or sometimes more) years until they earn their bachelor’s degree. During the first one or two years on campus students live in housing reserved for PEG students. The youngest students (those who would ordinarily be in the 9th or 10th grade) spend their first year in a living environment with 24-hour adult supervision. Full-time professional staff, trained in dealing with gifted issues, provide emotional support and a watchful eye.

During their second year, students are given more independance and freedom. Students who enter PEG in place of their 11th or 12th grade will start at this “transitional” level of oversight. Both this group and the younger students have previously been housed in Bailey residence hall near the center of campus. This building is currently scheduled to be demolished and replaced by August 2002. A new (currently unnamed) facility will be built in the same location to house PEG residence facilities and office space. For information on interim housing arrangements, contact PEG directly.

“Residence life coordinators live in the residence hall to provide supervision, programming, advising, and emotional support for PEG students. Each stunent meets regularly with a residence life coordinator who serves as her individual advisor. In addition, small groups of students meet monthly to share ideas and discuss concerns. Those goal-setting and feedback groups are facilitated by the residence life coordinators. Once a week the PEG community gathers to conduct group business and build rapport within the group.” - PEG Brochure , p. 2.

After 1 or 2 years in the special, supervised living environment, students will move into regular on-campus housing offered by MBC. In fact, preparing students for life as regular college students is a large part of the purpose for the PEG specific housing. Even after moving out, students will still recieve special advising and meet with the community until they fulfill graduation requirments and leave the college.

The single dining hall on campus, Hunt Dining Hall, is located near the PEG site and serves 3 meals on weekdays and two on weekends. The price of meals included in the PEG costs.

In order to complete the program and earn a bachelor’s degree, students are subject to the normal requirements for MBC students, including the General Education Requirements and requirements specific to a student’s chosen major. In addition, students may be required to take additional courses to ensure there are no deficits in their education caused by skipping portions of high school. While prior to 1995 students were required to take some high school level classes, this is no longer the case and all required classes receive college credit. Such additional requirements should be completed within the first two years of attending PEG.

Potential Added Requirements:

• PEG Intermediate Composition
• Additional Literature Course
• One Biology Course
• One Science Course with Lab
• Western Civilization to 1648
• Western Civilization from 1648 OR Revolutionary Europe OR 20^th-Century Europe
• Introduction to American Government and Politics OR Comparative Politics
• College Algebra
• Additional Math Course
• Intermediate Proficiency in a Foreign Language

PEG students are not automatically part of the Honors program at MBC, but they are welcome to apply for admission, and may take honors classes on a space available basis.

Both MBC and PEG itself, offer tutoring and other forms of academic support. All new students participate in a study skills workshop to help ensure they have the skills neccesary to keep up with college classes. In addition, PEG staff regularly review student academic performance with the aim of intercepting any problems early on.

Students are encouraged, but not required, to participate in a variety of campus programs that are well suited to self-directed and gifted learners. These include: independent study, externships, individual tutorials, honors courses and study abroad experiences.

While not designed for this purpose, a significant number of students transfer away from MBC and PEG after 2 or 3 years there. Such students then continue their education at other colleges and universities that they feel are more suited to their educational needs and/or career goals. Transfering is not generally encouraged by PEG and is actively discouraged for students who do not plan to complete at least 3 semesters at MBC.

“PEG students become involved in a variety of activities, ranging from PEG and Mary Baldwin student government, to the arts, to team sports. PEG leadership opportunities include the Social Committee, Prospective Student Hostessing, Orientation Committee, peer advising, and tutoring. College opportunities are available on the Student Government Association, the Honor Council, the Judicial Board, and as House Presidents for residence halls. Every class elects officers, and student representatives serve on a number of volunteer boards, including the Advisory Board of Visitors and the Alumnae Board. Then, there are seven varsity and two club sports; pulications, including a campus newspaper, yearbook, and literary magazine; political groups; service groups; multi-cultural and religious groups and clubs and organizations for special interests covering nearly every academic discipline.” - PEG Brochure , p. 4

Colleges and universities are typically grouped based on the highest degree that they regularly award, which in the case of Mary Baldwin College is the Master’s degree.

The above data may be as much as five years old. Number of majors may include 4-year pre-professional programs.

Unlike all the other colleges sponsoring early entrance programs, MBC has a religious affiliation, Presbyterian. The following statement is available regarding the college’s religious affiliation:

“Although it has historically been associated with the Presbyterian Church, the College recognizes the diversity of religious faiths represented among the student body, faculty, and staff. The chaplain, an ordained minister, works closely with all members of the College community to support and encourage expression of religious beliefs through on-campus activities and observances. In addition, students are within walking distance of a synagogue, a Roman Catholic church, and churches representing all major Protestant denominations.” - PEG Brochure, p. 6-7.

Staunton, VA is located in north central Virginia and has a population of about 25,000. This city is 100 miles northwest of Richmond, VA and 120 miles southwest of Washington, DC.

MBC publishes information and facts about their college at: http://www.mbc.edu/college/

“The mission of Mary Baldwin College is to provide undergraduate and graduate education consistent with the institution’s rich heritage as a private liberal arts college primarily for women, which affirms its Christian roots while welcoming a broad diversity of views. This mission is implemented in the residential programs for women and the nonresidential programs for men and women over 21 through focus on teaching and learning; concern for the individual; commitment to the liberal arts as preparation for life, for careers, for graduate and professional studies, and for leadership; and emphasis on high ethical standards.” - Mary Baldwin College, Academic Catalog 2001-2002

A virtual tour of MBC is available at: http://www.mbc.edu/vtour/index.htm

A form to request more information about MBC: http://www.mbc.edu/admission/frm_rqstinfo.htm

For detailed comparison information and college rankings, we recommend America's Best Colleges published by US News & World Reports and available online at a cost of $10.