The Rocky Mountain Talent Search 1984 Summer Institute participants, consisting of 12 through 15-year-old, highly able, high achieving students, are described in this study. The Harter Perceived Competence Scale for Children was used to measure feelings in the areas of cognitive, social, and physical competence and general self-esteem. An Adolescent Survey Form on Counseling Needs was designed to investigate the students' characteristics, affective needs, common coping styles, and preferred counseling techniques. Characteristics used by these students to describe themselves, as well as ratings of perceived competency, indicated this group was curious, independent and perfectionistic. They felt highly competent in cognitive areas, and less so in social and physical areas. Common concerns and preferred coping strategies were summarized. Students reported school counseling services were rarely used except for gathering information and scheduling courses. Preferences for counseling techniques were listed. As a group the Rocky Mountain Talent Search students had a profile of characteristics and needs which suggests specific counseling approaches to enhance affective development. (CL)