Do those of you with older kids know how to market themselves? I ask because DD 15 is struggling with this. I'm sure much of this is totally normal but I'm also wondering if it's a trap gifted kids fall into after a childhood of downplaying and keeping accomplishments under wraps.

A friend was involved in a recent interview and said that while DD's passion came through and her resume and references are outstanding, she was actively dissmissive of her experiences and accomplishments.... if she'd talk about them at all. "Wow" items on her resume turn into "no big deal" because DD sells them as such. It's confusing to the interviewers. I witnessed this during her middle college interview last spring (that I had to sit in as well.) She sold her schooling career as one of mediocrity. Even her friends have commented on her inability to network in the theatre community... a position she's now regularly in. 

Could it be a total disconnect with what is typical achievement for a girl her age? She says it never occurs to her to talk about past experiences and that they could ever be relevant to current conversation.

We'll do more role-playing and I'm sure experience will help but it seems a lot of kids we are around have no problems taking credit for their accomplishments at appropriate times. Some of the colleges she's looking at have an interview process and I'm hoping we can improve her in this area before they start up next fall.

Just curious about how other gifted teens/young adults are fairing in this arena.