A summer program at Cal

Every summer, highly motivated students come to UC Berkeley's Academic Talent Development Program from all over the Bay Area and beyond to participate in a variety of stimulating and challenging classes designed for academic advancement and enrichment. Administered through the Graduate School of Education, ATDP invites students with exceptional academic promise to a six-week session in the Secondary Division (grades 7 through 11) and a three-week session in the Elementary Division (grades K through 6).

When selecting students for acceptance, we consider indicators of academic talent, including a report card, standardized test scores, an essay, and a teacher recommendation. ATDP faculty members are carefully chosen from a pool of exceptionally talented university, public school, and private school instructors. In addition to their demonstrated excellence in the classroom, our instructors share a commitment to the education of gifted and talented youth. Classroom staffing also includes instructional associates, teacher's assistants and mentors. The low teacher-to-student ratio, as well as the counseling and administrative staff support, ensures instruction of the highest quality.

Visit the links on the left (or below) to find out more about ATDP and its activities.

  • At our Research... page, you will find information about the array of research and writings that have been done through ATDP. You'll also find a brief list of suggested readings if you are interested in learning more about the ideas that have shaped and complimented ATDP's unique educational outlook.

  • Read about ATDP's round-the-year activities in our quarterly eNewsletters (this link is to the latest issue).

  • Get a feel for ATDP courses in The Virtual ATDP, with links to many classes' online spaces and networks during the summer. There you will also find Yearbooks for courses in the Secondary Division.

  • Get a sense of the life of ATDP over a quarter century, with its 25th anniversary Timeline, encompassing the years 1981—when the UC Berkeley Gifted Program was started—through 2006.

  • Last but not least, consider a tax-deductible gift to ATDP. We are seeking your assistance in assuring ATDP's continued growth and development. Your gift will support ATDP's ability to serve academically talented students, ones like yours, and to help them to develop their academic talent by choice not chance, regardless of lack of family resources. The need is great, and ATDP aspires to meet it with the help of our extended ATDP family of former students, parents, grandparents, and friends.