Program for the Exceptionally Gifted
The Program for the Exceptionally Gifted (PEG) is an immersive academic experience for high school-aged young women.
A supervised living-learning community, PEG offers young, gifted women a significant jumpstart on college and post-graduate education in a safe, supportive environment.
About Us
PEG is a unique academic and residential program designed to support gifted young women. The program allows these students to take college-level coursework and graduate before the traditional college age.
Students live and learn together on MBU’s secure, Staunton campus. Their all-female residence hall provides supportive environments to foster the unique emotional, social, and educational needs of PEG students.
Strong test scores and high GPAs aren’t the only markers of PEG candidates. PEG students should be responsible, mature, and self-driven in pursuit of their education.
Hear for yourself what the Program for the Exceptionally Gifted means to students and faculty at Mary Baldwin!
MBU has given me so many opportunities to pursue different ideas and directions…that kind of intellectual freedom is extremely important to me.
Katie KeeganClass of ’22
Learning Her Way
PEG students take the same common curriculum and elective courses, complete the same work, and earn the same degree as traditionally aged MBU students.
PEG students also work one-on-one with professors, undertake internships and practicums in their field, and conduct original research.
Live and Thrive Together
For more than forty years, MBU’s Program for the Exceptionally Gifted has provided a home away from home for bright and accomplished girls.
We offer support and supervision while giving students the freedom to exercise their independence.
Financial Aid
100% of PEG students receive financial aid.
We believe that a college education should be within reach for all. That’s why we offer an affordable tuition structure, with merit awards, along with need-based aid and other opportunities for financial assistance. Our commitment to accessibility extends to studying abroad, attending conferences, and accessing donor-funded scholarships.
Ready to Apply?
The Program for the Exceptionally Gifted Living Learning Community is open to applications from all young women ages 12 to 16. Applicants will need to:
- A full transcript (homeschool transcripts must have parental authorization)
- Two teacher recommendations
- One recommendation from a principal, counselor, gifted coordinator, or equivalent position
- Two essay responses
- Achievement test scores in the 90th percentile (SAT or ACT preferred; SSAT scores are also acceptable)
- Geometry must be completed before joining PEG
Once you’ve completed the application and submitted your additional materials, the PEG director will reach out to schedule personal and family interviews. In-person interviews are preferred and can be arranged to coincide with campus visits.
Our Staff
Carla Van Devander, MEd
Assistant Professor, Education; Director, Program for the Exceptionally Giftedcvandevander@marybaldwin.edu
FAQ
Students are accepted based on:
- Intellectual capacity and motivation
- Consistent academic achievement
- Social and emotional maturity
- A serious sense of purpose
PEG is a highly selective program in the MBU College for Women and is not appropriate for all students. Our application process is intended to make certain all of our students are right for our program and that our program is the right fit for each of our students!
Despite our name, being a perfect match for the Program for the Exceptionally Gifted is about more than being super smart. Strong test scores and GPAs are a good start, but drive, maturity, and excitement about starting college early is even more important.
PEG students are often bored in middle or high school classes, feel misaligned with their peers, have an insatiable academic curiosity, and are eager to advance to graduate school or a career. They want to be challenged while at the same time supported and have opportunities to build meaningful connections with other young teenagers.
Sixteen and seventeen-year-old high school students of any gender who are ready for college, but too old for PEG, should check out our Early College program.
Our alumnae go on to attend graduate school at prestigious universities, including Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, and Harvard Law School. PEG graduates pursue a variety of advanced career fields. They save lives as medical professionals, advance higher-education as university deans, and promote justice as attorneys.
PEG is perfect for students who have big plans to earn an advanced degree or get started early in a career.
Contact Us
Carla Van Devander
Director, Program for the Exceptionally Gifted
Email: cvandevander@marybaldwin.edu
Phone: (540) 887-7183