Weekend Academy at Vanderbilt University (WAVU)

March 2007 Application (PDF)

Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth is proud to offer its first WAVU weekend on March 3-4, 2007. This exciting overnight program is designed for current 7th through 10th grade students who would like to spend a weekend at Vanderbilt University learning from Vanderbilt professors, exploring new ideas, and making new friends.

Course Offerings

Banned Books and Readers' Rights Take a close look at literary censorship with the executive director of the First Amendment Center, Gene Policinski. Explore the constitutional rights of readers while discussing why some parents and others object to books such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Harry Potter.

Eureka! How to Think Like an Inventor Learn how new products are developed by designing, prototyping, and test-marketing your own version of a product with Owen Graduate School of Management professor David Owens. Hands-on activities will give you insight into managing yourself and those around you as you bring an idea into reality.

The Language of the Heart: Biomedical Engineering Explore the concepts of biomedical engineering through an in-depth study of the Electrocardiogram (ECG) with Professor Stacy Klein. Hands-on activities include the opportunity to take and analyze your own ECG to focus on understanding the underlying anatomy, physiology, and physics of biomedical engineering.

How to Influence Others Learn and practice successful leadership strategies with Leadership, Policy and Organizations professors Michael McLendon and Mark Cannon. Challenging group and individual projects will sharpen your skills at problem solving, teamwork, public speaking, and influencing and motivating others.

Do you WAVU?

Weekend Academy at Vanderbilt University is a residential academic program for gifted 7th to 10th grade students. Students engage in an intensive two-day course of study designed and taught by Vanderbilt University personnel. WAVU offers four fast-paced, rigorous courses on topics not usually included in school. WAVU is an opportunity for students to come together to study with a group of talented peers and exceptional teachers on Vanderbilt's campus.

Schedule

Students check in between 9:15 and 9:45 Saturday morning and depart campus after the parent meeting at 4:00 on Sunday afternoon.

Accommodations

Students spend the night in individual rooms at the historic Scarritt-Bennett Center adjacent to Vanderbilt's campus.

WAVU residential advisors supervise students when they are not in class.

Qualifications

Students who have achieved ninety-five percent on a grade-level examination such as TCAP or who have been invited to participate in the Duke Talent Search are qualified to enroll.

Tuition

$400 tuition includes food, housing, academic course, and all course materials.

Financial aid is available for students with demonstrated need.

Children of Vanderbilt employees qualify for a 20 percent discount.

Contact Us

To learn more about WAVU contact Jay Watson (615) 322-8261 or by e-mail.