A Longitudinal Examination of Life Choices of Gifted and Talented Young Women 1

Abstract

The present study examines the reported achievements of 126 gifted and talented young women approximately 14 years after being identified by Project CHOICE staff. The examination is undertaken from an ipsative as well as a nomothetic perspective. The results indicate that (a) the educational and career attainment of these young women compare quite favorably both with other cohorts of gifted women and with criteria reflecting social expectation; (b) personal and relational accomplishments are identified almost as frequently as educational and career accomplishments as being their "greatest achievements"; and (c) a substantial number of these young women at age 29 have yet to achieve the educational, career, and lifestyle aspirations they identified in adolescence. Implications for counseling gifted young women are discussed.