Students qualify for SET by scoring at least 700 on either the SAT-Math or SAT-Verbal (Critical Reading) 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 or fraction of a month of age after their 13th birthday. Thus, a student who takes the SAT two 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.
Yes. See previous question.
No. We still use 700 as the qualifying score on the SAT-Math and SAT-Verbal (Critical Reading) tests. The new SAT Writing test is not used for SET eligibility.
No. Students may qualify for SET by taking the SAT I through CTY, through another Talent Search (such as CTD, RMTS, or TIP), or on their own. - Students who qualify for SET through CTY's Talent Search will be invited to join SET in March of the school year in which they qualify.
- Students who qualify for SET (a) through CTY's International Talent Search, (b) through a Talent Search other than CTY, or (c) by taking the SAT on their own must send a copy (photocopy, fax, or pdf file) of their SAT I score report to SET in order to be invited to join. We encourage qualified students to send a copy of their SAT score report to:
Vicki Weyforth, SET
JHU Center for Talented Youth
5801 Smith Ave Suite 400
Baltimore MD 21209-3611
Fax: (410) 735-6200
Email: setcty@jhu.edu
Yes, we welcome international students and American students living abroad. If you send us a copy of your SAT score report, we will be happy to invite you to join.
Yes. We do not accept other tests (ACT, PSAT, Stanford-Binet, Stanford Achievement Test, 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. Top
To become a member of SET, a student must complete and return the SET registration materials sent with the invitation. (At this time, these registration materials are not available online.) 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.
SET members receive SET's publications, as well as individual educational counseling from the SET staff if they so desire. SET members may also join the members-only 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.
No. SET's services are free to qualified students who join SET. We do, however, welcome donations from individuals who value our services.
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 are mailed 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.
Yes. If you qualified for SET through CTY, we should have a record of your SAT score. If we do, we will send you another registration packet 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 mail you a registration packet. Top
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.
Some students who score above 700 receive a one-course scholarship to a college or community college near their home if a nearby school grants CTY's Talent Search 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.
No. Instead, we refer students to a wide variety of programs that may be appropriate to develop their interests and exceptional abilities.
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. 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. Be sure to give three 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. Address your request to: Vicki Weyforth, SET
JHU Center for Talented Youth
5801 Smith Ave Suite 400
Baltimore MD 21209-3611
If you want the letter to contain information other than a recognition of your exceptional SAT test score(s), please tell us what other information you want the letter to include. For example, if you want us to mention that you had the highest SAT-Math score in your state in that year's CTY Talent Search, tell us that in your cover letter. We don't automatically mention state rankings in CTY's Talent Search. If you ask that such information be included, please enclose a photocopy of the certificate you received from CTY for that distinction. If you have any other questions about recommendation letters, please call Vicki Weyforth at (410) 735-6120. Top | 
