Missing link between talent development and eminence: Why gifted students abandon their pursuit of science

ABSTRACT Talent development in science is a national investment as it is key to enhancing national competitiveness. However, even after undergoing a 3-year training in a science gifted academy, 8.5% of South Korea’s gifted students choose to enter medical school rather than pursuing a science or technology major. By conducting in-depth interviews with five participants, this study determines why talented students who are trained to become scientists at high schools and universities change their major to medicine. The participants were high school graduates gifted in science selected by purposive sampling according to the following criteria: Individuals entered medical school immediately after graduation, majored in a STEM at university and then entered a graduate school of medicine, and have a master’s or doctoral degree in a STEM major but changed their major to becoming a doctor. This study investigates students who have lost motivation for a pure STEM career to reflect on the educational and social driving forces that would have enabled them to continue on their path to become scientists. In addition, as it examines the current controversy over these individuals’ career choices, the study has implications for the development of talent development goals from a macro perspective.