How Can I Help My Gifted Child Plan for College?

The earliest version of this article was adapted from the book College Planning for Gifted Students by Sandra Berger, which is now in a third edition. Extensive updates by MCGT member Karl Bunday have now been added.

Berger's advice from the earlier edition of her book included:

Characteristics of Gifted Students That May Affect College Planning

Multiple talents (sometimes called multitalentedness or multipotentiality). Gifted students often have a wide variety of interests, and they may miss opportunities by focusing too early on one academic area. Encourage your child to explore all of the possibilities for his or her talents.
Idealistic thinking. Gifted students often want to find solutions to global problems and become deeply invested in exploring ideas to their limits. To sustain that interest, your child needs strong academic support. In college, he or she will benefit from stimulating courses that integrate disciplines.
Sensitivity to expectations. Gifted children tend to be very sensitive to the expectations of their parents and teachers. To avoid creating feelings of guilt or underachievement, be sure to give your child options and a strong say in every college-related decision that is made. Isolation from other gifted students. Many gifted students are not challenged academically by their peers in high school and enter college unprepared for competition from other gifted students. Emphasize that learning -- not getting the highest grades in the class -- is what college is about.

When Should Gifted Children Begin Preparing for College?

By 7th or 8th grade, many gifted children have departed from their schools' traditional age-in-grade groupings. These students need a broad range of academic options -- such as advanced placement courses -- to supplement their high school curriculum. This is a good time to begin thinking about and preparing your child for the important decisions he or she soon will face.

Some gifted children are not prepared adequately for college because counseling programs differ so much from district to district. To better prepare every gifted child, a program based on the following sequence should begin early in adolescence:

Seventh and eighth grades: Emphasis on self-awareness, time management, work/study skills, and career awareness. Students design a preliminary academic plan that includes courses required by the state and those required for college.
Ninth and tenth grades: Emphasis on decision making and goal setting. Students identify and pursue their interests and learn how their academic talents, values, and goals relate to possible careers. Students begin to recognize that some talents develop into vocational pursuits while others develop into leisure activities.
Eleventh and twelfth grades: Emphasis on the practical aspects of college and career planning, including the college application process, exposure to occupations and job internships, and mentor relationships.

How Can Gifted Children Explore Possible Career Paths?

Because they have such a broad range of interests and abilities, some gifted students have difficulty deciding on a career path. Most colleges, however, expect students to decide on a course of study by their third year. You can help by taking these steps:

How Can I Help My Gifted Child Plan for College?