Life Outcomes of Gifted Adolescents After Radical Acceleration

Scientific

Profoundly gifted adolescents living in Vancouver, Canada have the unique opportunity to attend a radical acceleration program called the University Transition Program (UTP). Completing traditionally five-year high school programs in two years, these radical accelerands begin their undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia at 14-15 years old. Using a retrospective survey questionnaire, this study aims to answer the questions: What are radical accelerands’ experiences of and retrospective reflections on radical acceleration? How has radical acceleration impacted these accelerands’ life outcomes? By examining the academic, professional, and socioemotional outcomes of these gifted accelerands, the use of radical acceleration as an educational intervention can be evaluated. Alumni (n=250) were invited to participate in a retrospective survey which inquired into their experiences with radical acceleration. Possible gender differences in life outcomes will be explored and common themes of radical acceleration will be analyzed through the qualitative data.