What Happens To Gifted Kids When They Grow Up?
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What Happens To Gifted Kids When They Grow Up?
Having talent early in life doesn’t guarantee long-term success—what matters is how that talent is nurtured and supported over time. Two recent studies published in Gifted Child Quarterly shed new light on the academic outcomes and experiences of gifted students.
The first study, recently published in Gifted Child Quarterly, led by Al Mansor Helal at the University of Arkansas, analyzed over 184,000 student records from Arkansas (2014–2019). Results showed that gifted students were significantly more likely to attend college—especially selective institutions—compared to their peers.
The second study, also published in Gifted Child Quarterly, led by Gabriella Noreen at Vanderbilt University, followed highly gifted individuals from the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth. Findings revealed that accelerated learning (moving faster through school) was not only academically beneficial but also socially meaningful for these students. As adults, they reflected positively on these experiences.
Together, these studies highlight the importance of challenging and supporting gifted students. When their academic and social needs are met, they are better able to thrive and reach their full potential.
PHOTO CREDIT:
UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 19: DOOGIE HOWSER, M.D. – Season One – Pilot – 9/19/89, Neil Patrick Harris played 16-year-old child prodigy Douglas “Doogie” Howser, a second-year resident at Eastman Medical Center who zipped through high school in two months, graduated from Princeton at 10, and medical school at 14. At the end of each episode, Doogie entered his experiences in his electronic diary, on his computer. , (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
