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Intriguing article on Mary Baldwin College's program for young teensBellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

I'm curious about whether they've become more successful about pre-selecting the pegs who will thrive there. Our older daughter did well there, but perhaps half of her class didn't. Our other daughter almost deliberately flunked some classes so she wouldn't be able to go. It's hard to sort out how different personality characteristics (and I include such concepts as drive and extraversion) will have particular effects on a girl's success there.

Wow, HALF of your daughter's PEG class didn't thrive there? That seems like way too many kids falling between the cracks. Can you please elaborate?

Lorel, nice to post with you again. This is Gretchen, the PEG Admissions Representative. I hope that you remember me.

In any event, I'd like to say a word if I could? I can't disagree with Chriscol because I don't have hard numbers. However, I will say that there is a very rigorous admission process in place, in which I feel the family interview is one of the most important aspects.

I realize that that method isn't fool proof, but I would hope that parents and students were telling us the truth about their reasons for being interested in the program. It's all about fit, it really is.

To thrive at PEG a student needs to be diligent, committed and have a drive to succeed. PEG is also about finding some measure of personal responsibility. You really have to want to go to college and want to do well, and that applies to traditional students as well.

Chriscol, what do you feel was lacking about the screening process?

Gretchen, thanks for dropping in here. I wonder if you have data to share regarding the retention rate of PEGs? (or do you call them PEGers or PEGies?)

It must be difficult to find the right balance for young women who are perhaps more advanced academically than they are in social and emotional terms. I would guess that this sort of program set up to support the younger than traditional student would have a lot to offer in terms of services? Otherwise, there doesn't seem to be much point in gathering the younger students together.

You're welcome, Lorel. We call them PEGs.

This program was created to be a resource for academically gifted young women who had attempted every other resource available to them including trying to reason with, for the most part, uncooperative school administrations, summer camps that only offered solace for a few weeks a year and in some cases dual enrollment opportunities that still left students feeling like they could accomplish more.

This program is for the young woman who wants more from her education and has no desire to waste time in their current academic setting, and, for the first time be a part of a peer group that shares their intellect and, in some cases, similar experiences.

It's for these reasons that I say that PEG is all about fit. As I've said, this program is for students who want to be challenged and who are willing to work. We provide tutoring services if they should need them, psychological counseling and an open door policy that allows them to ask any question that they'd like of us. Support services are there in spades and the PEG staff acts as facilitators to provide students with the help that they need in the rare case that we cannot.

As for retention, it remains at about 75%, which is the national average for colleges in the United States.