Are you ready for college now? PROGRAM FOR THE EXCEPTIONALLY GIFTED
Cheyenne, 18 (senior)
We’re ready for you.
“The prospective student overnight was an important experience for me. I learned what it really feels like to be a student and to be part of this community. That was when I found out about the opportunity as an undergrad to do scientific research hand-in-hand with professors.”
Our Program for the Exceptionally Gifted — you’ll hear almost everyone call it PEG — is the only one of its kind. And so are you. Choosing the best educational path is about fit, more than any other factor. It has to be right for you.
PEG MIGHT BE RIGHT FOR YOU IF … n n n n n
you have big plans to earn an advanced degree or get started early in a career you aren’t afraid to shine you are bored in high school or middle school classes you want classmates who enjoy challenges as much as you do you’re excited about doing research and working closely with your professors
PEG IS for 13- to 16-year-olds who have at least one year of high school under their belts
Small university.
Big rewards.
an accelerated college program; PEG students have the same core curriculum, choose from the same wide range of majors and minors, and earn the same bachelor’s degree as Mary Baldwin’s traditional undergraduate students
n flexibility to design your own major, accelerate your studies, and enroll in 5-year master’s-degree programs in education or Shakespeare n applied leadership in more than 570 student positions — all held by women n interaction with professors and graduate students at Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences, and the opportunity to apply for early admission to PT, OT, and PA programs n three-week experiential May Term sessions merge graduate and undergraduate studies n meaningful campus jobs and internships that build your resumé while you learn
PEG BY THE NUMBERS
12:1 STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO
1985
The year PEG was founded as a pioneering option for radically accelerated students
a residential setting where students are fully immersed in campus life — from theatre productions to Division III athletics to student government, and much more a safe, secure community with a designated residence hall that has round-the-clock supervision part of the Mary Baldwin College for Women, which also includes cadets in the nationally recognized Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership
PEG IS NOT a dual-enrollment program located on a separate campus a predetermined set of courses and activities
17 27 1870 AVERAGE INCOMING PEG SAT TOTAL SCORE
AVERAGE # OF STUDENTS IN PEG
HONOR SOCIETIES
70
AVERAGE INCOMING PEG ACT COMPOSITE SCORE
Edlene, 15 (sophomore)
Program for the Exceptionally Gifted Don’t quite think of yourself as “exceptionally gifted”? Don’t worry. Being a perfect match for PEG is about more than being super smart, so don’t be intimidated by our name. Strong test scores and GPAs are a good start, but what’s even more important is a drive to do your best, your maturity, and excitement about the opportunity to start college early.
motivated energetic adventurous focused
“Everyone in the program is smart — smarter than I imagined, actually — but PEG is not a competition. There is such a strong system of support and encouragement in PEG. We help review each other’s papers, we discuss project ideas, and we have lengthy conversations and debates about the world. We do all of this while maintaining a respect and value for each other’s opinions and thoughts. The environment that comes with being constantly surrounded by such amazing intellectuals is definitely incomparable.”
Learn more
Meet the PEG students from our photo shoot. www.marybaldwin.edu/early_college/peg
community and connection
CAMPUS LIFE
Home away from home
Camry, 16 (sophomore) “The PEG Center is our space. Whatever is going on in class, or on the rest of campus, we know we can come back here to relax, recharge, and feel at home. You will always find someone to talk with about a concern or share good news, and there is always a staff member here if you need a shoulder to lean on.”
Phoenix, 16 (sophomore) “Our gatherings usually just happen organically. A few people will be in the lounge talking about something, and they will get excited and their voices will draw more people in, and then — before you know it — a big group of us are in an intense discussion that goes on for hours.”
The PEG Center — built in 2003 and conveniently located between Pearce Science Center and Grafton Library — is a livinglearning environment created specifically for our youngest residents. Designed to meet students’ academic and social needs, the building features a study room, lounge, laundry, and small kitchen on each of its three floors. Student rooms are arranged in clusters, each supervised by a live-in staff member (a total of six staff members are on duty on nights and weekends). Office staff is also available 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, and doors are locked round-the-clock. PEG students live in the Center until they are at least 16 years old.
BEYOND THE PEG CENTER The MBU campus is your campus, and the city of Staunton is your community. PEG students are encouraged not only to be members, but to lead student clubs and organizations and to take on positions in our active Student Government
www.marybaldwin.edu/about/close
Association. (In fact, the SGA presidents in 2011–12 and 2014–15 were PEG students.) PEGs also are key players on the college’s Division III basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball athletics teams. Traditions are the heartbeat of Mary Baldwin. We guarantee that you won’t find annual celebrations like Apple Day, Junior Dads and Family Weekend, or Spring Fling on any other college campus. By adding personal touches, each student helps keep traditions alive and relevant for future MBU students. And let’s not forget that eclectic downtown Staunton is just steps away. From leading a children’s class at the Staunton-Augusta Art Center to catching a movie at the Visulite to indulging in a few scoops of homemade gelato at The Split Banana, the city is brimming with things to keep you busy. Travel a little farther and you’ll find Gypsy Hill Park, the Green Valley Book Fair, and hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, among other diversions.
Experience more of the local scene (including many free activities) on our Close to Campus page.
www.Mary Baldwin.edu/early_college/what-does-peg-look-like Want to see more pictures of the PEG Center?
FIT FACTOR: Admissions We encourage you to apply! To begin the process and to help us effectively guide your college journey, please submit the following items: n PEG application (online) n Short personal essays (4) n Full grade school/high school transcript n SAT/ACT scores n Recommendations from teachers and a school administrator
We also want to learn more about you and your family. An important part of the evaluative process is the individual student interview and the family interview, where we get to know you as a socializing, thinking human being. The interviews can be arranged as part of a day or overnight visit.
passion and purpose
ACADEMIC LIFE
More than a major
WHAT ABOUT MY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA? Because PEG is not a dual-enrollment program, students do not complete high school courses or receive a high school diploma from Mary Baldwin. Earning a high school diploma isn’t necessary for your admission into the PEG program, but we encourage you to determine if this milestone is important to you and your family. If it is, there are a few ways for you to complete that credential: 1) work with your local high school to transfer college credits back toward a high school diploma; 2) Contact compuHIGH (an accredited online high school diploma program); or 3) complete the GED. Some PEG students choose not to pursue a high school diploma or GED, realizing that the bachelor’s degree they will earn opens the door to a wide range of career and graduate school options.
Mary Baldwin’s common curriculum and your major and minor are the two main parts of your undergraduate studies. All students need to fulfil the requirements of the common curriculum — which includes many course choices focused on three core learning outcomes: 1) an understanding of the liberal arts and sciences, 2) an understanding of the self in relationship to the broader community, and 3) the capacity to make a positive impact on the world by acquiring skills and by addressing issues. By the end of your first year (or earlier), you will be ready to choose a major and spend the next three years diving into a subject that you’re serious about.
What you do outside the classroom is just as important as your formal studies. Applied, experiential learning is where it really sinks in. Study abroad and study away (within the United States) are other great ways to enhance your learning. In addition to semester- and yearlong programs, MBU’s unique three-week May Term is a popular time to travel with professors to Costa Rica, Mexico, Italy, El Salvador, and other locales. Closer to home, meaningful campus jobs, internships, and service projects in the surrounding community build your resumé while you learn.
Whether it’s in a lab or in the library, the ability for undergraduates to tackle real, relevant research projects is a hallmark of a Mary Baldwin education. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself working side-by-side with a professor or classmate to investigate hormone-disrupting compounds in local waterways or the history of a nearby African-American cemetery. During your senior year, you’ll design an original research project of your own, and have chances to present at regional or national conferences and the annual Capstone Festival on campus.
n Are seen by students as true mentors, and often play a key role in decisions about career and advanced studies.
OUR OUTSTANDING FACULTY n Are available outside of class during office hours (and beyond those hours when needed). n Are leaders in their fields, including published authors, community organization heads, and sought-after researchers. n Two faculty members serve as academic advisors to new PEG students (until they declare a major), guiding them in class selection and designing their four-year-plan in our BOLD 101 orientation course.
www.marybaldwin.edu/about/studies See our full list of majors and minors, from biology and chemistry to studio art.
AFTER MARY BALDWIN Recent graduate school acceptances Baylor University College of Medicine College of William and Mary Columbia University Dartmouth College Disne y World Duke University Harvard Law School
As our daughter went through the program, we saw her confidence and leadership skills grow. She served on several boards as well as the President’s Society, and she was Student Government Association president. Each experience shaped her as a strong, independent, confident young women. — Kelly Vasiloff, mom of Kristia Vasiloff ’15
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences University of Texas at Austin University of Washington Sampling of professional positions American Shakespeare Center, marketing manager Anthem Health Care, disability policy engagement director City of Hampton (Virginia), assistant Commonwealth’s attorney Family Refuge Center, social worker Harvard Medical School, critical care fellow iCrossing, director of data science and analytics Peace Corps volunteer Stanford University, assistant dean The Metropolitan Club (Washington DC), director of communications The Riverside Church, director of stewardship and development United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals, associate legal officer
Fit factor: AFFORDABILITY Thinking about starting college before finishing high school means thinking about paying for college sooner than expected. We understand that investing in higher education ahead of schedule might not be easy and are committed to working with families to make PEG affordable to a diverse group of students.
Contact us! 1-800-468-2262 admit@marybaldwin.edu
YOUR FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE MAY INCLUDE: n Merit scholarships — determined by previous academic achievement n Need-based aid — determined by family income and other factors
n Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant—for Virginia residents, $3,100 in 2014–15 n Malone Scholarship — a PEG-specific scholarship funded by the Malone Foundation and awarded to a student with financial need, a proven academic record, and personal integrity
Washington, D.C.
Mary Baldwin University
New York City
Richmond
Maryland BALTIMORE
Atlanta
WASHINGTON, DC
Mary Baldwin University 95
To Virginia Beach RICHMOND WILLIAMSBURG
Virginia
TRAVEL TIME FROM: GREENSBORO
Charlottesville, VA Richmond, DURHAM VA Washington, DC Baltimore, MD Virginia Beach, VA Raleigh, NC
Mary Baldwin Admissions
95
45 minutes 2 hours RALEIGH 2 hours 45 min 3 hours 3 hours 45 min 4 hours 15 min
North Carolina
@AdmissionsMBU
admissionsmbu
Ready to visit? VIRGINIA BEACH
85
NEARBY AIRPORTS Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (Weyers Cave): 20 min
SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT TODAY:
PEG FRIDAYS
PEG OVERNIGHTS
Office of Admissions 1-800-468-2262 admit@marybaldwin.edu www.marybaldwin.edu/visit
Fridays September through May are special visit opportunities when students and families can tour campus and the PEG Center and meet program staff.
Strengthen your connection to campus, attend a class, and meet professors during an overnight experience in the fall or the spring.
Charlottesville Albemarle Airport: 45 min Lynchburg Regional Airport: 1 hour 15 min Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport: 1 hour 20 min Richmond International Airport: 2 hours Washington Dulles International Airport: 2 hours 15 min
Mary Baldwin University does not discriminate on the basis of sex (except that only women are admitted to Mary Baldwin College for Women) nor does the University discriminate on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, color, age, disability, religion, veteran’s status or sexual orientation in its educational programs, admissions, co-curricular or other activities or employment practices. Inquiries may be directed to Director of Human Resources, P.O. Box 1500, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, Virginia 24402, 540-887-7367.