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Here are the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about SET.

Qualifying for SET

How do I qualify for SET?

Students qualify for SET by scoring at least 700  on either the Math or Verbal (Critical Reading) SAT before age 13. Students who take the SAT after their 13th birthday  may qualify for SET by scoring an additional 10 points above 700 for each month after their 13th birthday. Thus, a student who takes the SAT three months and two weeks after his or her 13th birthday would qualify for SET with a score of at least 730 on either the SAT-Math or SAT-Verbal.

How do I register to take the SAT if I am under 13?

Students under 13 cannot register online for the SAT. They must register using the SAT Paper Registration form, which can be obtained in two ways:

  1. Students in grades 7 or 8 can register for CTY's Talent Search for Grades 7-8, and will be mailed a form.
  2. Parents may request a form at a nearby high school.

Students in 6th grade who wish to take the SAT cannot register for CTY's Talent Search for Grades 7-8 and so must use the second option.

Can I qualify for SET if I am older than 13?

Yes. See the first Q&A.

Can I qualify for SET if I am in 6th grade or under?

Yes. SET eligibility is based solely on age and SAT score, not grade in school.

However, parents should be aware that most CTY programs do have grade requirements. At present, 6th graders cannot participate in CTY's Talent Search for Grades 7-8 or the Awards Ceremonies for that Talent Search.

Do I have to take the SAT through CTY to qualify for SET?

No. Students may qualify for SET by taking the SAT through CTY, through another Talent Search (such as CTD or TIP), or on their own. Students who test outside CTY should send a copy of their official SAT score report to SET.

Can international students qualify for and join SET?

Yes, we welcome international students and American students living abroad. If you send us a copy of your official SAT score report, we will be happy to invite you to join.

Is the SAT the only test by which a student may qualify for SET?

Yes. SET does not accept other tests (ACT, PLUS, PSAT, SAT Subject tests, SCAT, Stanford Achievement Test, Stanford-Binet, Spatial Test Battery) in place of the SAT. Students who achieve high scores on such tests and meet age requirements are encouraged to take the SAT for eligibility.

Do I need to register for SET before I take the SAT?

No. Students do not register with SET before taking the SAT; they are invited to join SET after they take the SAT if they have qualified.

Do I need to notify SET of my SAT scores?

  • Students who take the SAT through CTY's Talent Search do not need to notify SET of their SAT scores; SET will automatically be notified.
  • Students who test outside CTY should send a copy of their official SAT score report to SET. We welcome international students and American students living abroad.

Does CTY accept unofficial SAT score reports?

No. We need an official score report, which includes your full name, mailing address, and date of birth (see an example).

Your Online Score Report (example, example) is not an official score report.

If you do not have a copy of your official score report, you can request that CollegeBoard send an official score report to CTY. Select "Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth" and/or reporting code "5334".

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Joining SET

How do I join SET?

To become a member of SET, a student must complete and return the SET registration forms. Once we receive a student's completed registration materials, the student becomes a member of SET, with all the privileges that entails... which leads to the next question.

I qualified for SET. Am I automatically a SET member?

No. To join SET, you must complete and return the SET registration materials you receive with your e-invitation to join SET. You will receive an e-invitation to join SET once CTY receives your SAT scores.

What are the benefits of joining SET?

SET members receive SET's publications, as well as individual educational counseling from the SET staff, if they desire. SET members may also join the members-only online community of Cogito.org, through which they can connect with other exceptionally gifted students across the country and around the world. Learn more about SET's services here.

Is there a membership fee to join SET?

No. SET's services are free to qualified students who join SET. We do, however, welcome donations from individuals who value our services.

What will be asked of me as a SET member?

Students and parents often wonder what sort of commitment is expected of SET members. Initially, students must complete a set of registration materials in order to join SET. Thereafter, they will receive annual update forms every spring, to help us keep up with their interests, activities, and contact information. We sometimes send SET members additional surveys (on specific topics, such as involvement in math extracurricular activities, for example). In all cases, students choose how much to disclose.

Our primary goal is to assist exceptionally able students and to provide them with counseling and information about programs and opportunities that may be of interest to them. We do that primarily through our publications, which SET members receive for free. Most of our efforts are focused on getting information to  SET members, not from  them. We understand that people vary greatly in how much they like to share about themselves, and we do not want students who qualify for SET to miss out on information that may be helpful to them simply because they don't feel comfortable sharing certain personal information. While SET's primary mission is to assist exceptionally able students, it is also an ongoing research study of how best to accomplish that goal, and we try to strike a balance between those objectives.

I qualified for SET several years ago but did not join at that time. Can I join now?

Yes. If you qualified for SET through CTY, we should have a record of your SAT score. If we do, we will send you an e-invitation after you contact us. If you did not qualify through CTY, you will need to send us a copy of your SAT score report before we can send you an e-invitation.

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CTY Awards Ceremonies

Will I be invited to a CTY Awards Ceremony?

This is a little complicated.

CTY hosts two kinds of ceremonies to celebrate the outstanding achievement of Talent Search participants: state/local Awards Ceremonies and an international Grand Ceremony (explained in more detail in a separate FAQ). At these events, eligible students are individually recognized and receive Certificates of High Honors. Eligible students who cannot attend are mailed their certificate after the ceremony is held.

To be eligible to be invited to a state or local CTY Awards Ceremony, you must meet the following criteria:

  • you took the SAT and qualified for SET in the current Talent Search year (2011-12),
  • you are registered for CTY's current Talent Search,
  • you are in 7th or 8th grade,
  • you live in one of the states where CTY holds Awards Ceremonies, and
  • CTY receives your SAT scores by June 30, 2012.

To be eligible to be invited to the Grand Ceremony, you must meet the following criteria:

  • you took the SAT or ACT in the current Talent Search year and met the Grand Ceremony eligibility criteria,
  • you are registered for CTY's current Talent Search,
  • you are in 7th or 8th grade, and
  • CTY receives your SAT scores by June 30, 2012.

Note that where you live is a factor in eligibility for state/local Awards Ceremonies but not for the Grand Ceremony.

The 2012 CTY Talent Search Awards Ceremonies will be held in September-November 2012. Invitations will be mailed in late summer 2012. Please see the Awards Ceremonies FAQs for more information.

Do SET members receive special recognition at CTY Awards Ceremonies?

Yes. At CTY's state/local Awards Ceremonies, eligible students who qualified for SET during that Talent Search year receive special recognition and a SET Certificate. The names of all eligible SET qualifiers for that year are printed in the Awards Ceremony program. Eligible students who cannot attend a ceremony are mailed their certificate after the ceremony is held.

Do I have to register for CTY Talent Search to attend a CTY Awards Ceremony?

Yes. Only registered CTY Talent Search participants are eligible for CTY's Awards Ceremonies. If you wish to attend a CTY Awards Ceremony, you must register for CTY's current Talent Search.

I have already taken the SAT. Can I still register for CTY Talent Search so I can attend a CTY Awards Ceremony?

If you took the SAT outside CTY, you can still register for CTY Talent Search -- even after you have taken the SAT. You will not have to retake the SAT.

Whether you will be invited to an Awards Ceremony depends on when you took the SAT.

  • If you took the SAT during the current academic year, you can still register for CTY's current Talent Search, and your SAT score will be counted as part of the current CTY Talent Search.

  • If you took the SAT before the current academic year, you cannot register that score in CTY's current Talent Search and so cannot be honored for that score at a CTY Awards Ceremony.

I live in a state where CTY does not holds Awards Ceremonies. Will I receive any recognition?

If you meet all the requirements except that you live in a state where CTY does not hold state Awards Ceremonies:

  • your name will be listed in the state/local Awards Ceremony program as a SET qualifier and your SET Certificate will mailed to you after the Awards Ceremonies are held. Due to space limitations at the Awards Ceremony venues, out-of-state students are not invited to attend state/local Awards Ceremonies.
  • you will be invited to the Grand Ceremony if you meet its eligibility requirements.

Are SET members invited to CTY's Grand Ceremony?

CTY hosts an annual Grand Awards Ceremony at Johns Hopkins University to honor top Talent Search participants from around the world. Students who meet the Grand Ceremony score requirements on the SAT or ACT and are registered for the relevant CTY Talent Search are invited to attend. Many students who qualify for SET meet these criteria. However, the qualifying scores for SET and the Grand Ceremony are not identical, so some SET qualifiers are not invited to the Grand Ceremony, and some Grand Ceremony invitees are not invited to join SET.

At this ceremony, students receive a medal honoring their outstanding academic achievements. Students who are invited to the Grand Ceremony but are unable to attend will be listed in the program, and will receive their medal by mail after the ceremony is held.

Read about the 2008 Grand Ceremony and watch video of the 2011 event.

The 2011 Grand Ceremony was held on Sunday, November 13, 2011 at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.

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Other FAQs

Do SET members receive scholarships to CTY programs?

No, SET members do not automatically receive scholarships as a benefit of joining SET. A few CTY scholarships recognize academic excellence and so are usually awarded to students who qualify for SET. And SET members may apply for all relevant need-based scholarships.

What are the one-course scholarships some SET members receive?

Some CTY Talent Search participants receive a one-course scholarship to a college or community college near their home if a nearby school grants CTY such a scholarship. Students who receive one-course scholarships are notified by mail through CTY's Talent Search department. SET does not determine who receives these scholarships.

Does SET offer courses?

No. We refer students to a wide variety of programs that may be appropriate to develop their interests and exceptional abilities.

Does SET write letters of recommendation for SET members?

Yes, we write letters of recommendation to colleges and competitive-admissions high schools and prep schools. SET's letter of recommendation should supplement  the required teacher recommendations, not replace one of them.

Before requesting recommendation letters from us, make sure that the colleges to which you are applying are willing to receive supplementary letters of recommendation.

To request letters of recommendation,

  • Send us a letter of request as well as stamped, addressed envelopes  to each of the admissions offices to which you want letters sent.
    • If you live outside the U.S. (and cannot obtain U.S. stamps), SET will pay the postage. Send us a letter of request with the complete mailing address of the admissions office(s) to which you want letters sent.
  • Be sure to include any additional information (for example, an Applicant ID) that should be included in the letters.
  • Be sure to give 3 weeks notice.
  • If any applications are Early Decision/Action, indicate that and the date the application is due.
  • Include your email address so we can send you a confirmation that the letters were mailed.
  • To receive a copy of the letter for your own files, include a stamped, self-addressed envelope, too.

If you have questions about recommendation letters, please contact Vicki Weyforth at vaweyforth@jhu.edu or (410)735-6120.

Is there an online update form for SET members?

There are online forms for older SET members:

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