Gifted Students in College: Suggestions for Advisors and Faculty Members

Abstract

The definition and the need for appropriate services to the gifted college population are not as apparent in the postsecondary environment as in the K-12 schools. Many college educators perceive that college curricula provide the needed rigor and enrichment for gifted and honors students to make continuous progress in their learning. We explore perceptions of college honors students who were in gifted programs in their secondary learning environments. Through focus group discussions, students report that often college courses do not meet their need for more challenging learning opportunities. Based on our findings, we suggest ways that college advisors and faculty members can serve honors students in ways that challenge their learning and address their unique psychosocial needs. Relative emphasis: practice, research, theory