MBTI® Test and Collegiate Decisions: Complete The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® and Choose a College Major

MBTI® Test and Collegiate Decisions

Generally, college and university students choose majors in specific ways that adhere to what they believe will be their best choice at landing a post-graduate job and career. According to the text, Introduction To Type in College, the first and last letters of your Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® personality test type usually equate to how you go about choosing a college or university major (The process of choosing and the major itself).

The Extroverted or “E” letter is one of the first two letters of your MBTI Type and includes The Introverted-Extroverted Dichotomy, meaning a pair of MBTI opposites – one type being Extroversion the other Introversion (E-I). The last two MBTI opposites, or dichotomies, include your Judging (J) and Perceiving (P) preferences.

Regarding these Types, for example the Extroverted-Judging (E-J) individual generally feels the need to “decide and get on with their major and collegiate decisions”, while an Extroverted Perceiving (EP) Type, “wants to experience it all”, (P.1 Hammer et al). Furthermore, the Judging Type usually prefers to be organized and does not like to waste time. The E-J student is systematic and seeks career counseling at the onset of his or her college stint. The Extroversion-Perceiving (E-P) Type on the other hand, prefers and tends to keep “their options open” when choosing a major as well as with extra-curricular college activities. E-P Types usually change their mind several times regarding a college major as this reassures them that they have options. In addition, Extroverted-Perceivers do not usually do well with strict guidelines. (Di Tiberio, J. & Hammer, A.) Furthermore, Extroverted-Perceiving Type’s do not like concrete decisions, and they do not like decisions “written in stone.” As with all Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Types, E-P Type characteristics have their upside, however, if over-used, the Extraverted-Perceiver will often feel that they have too many options and will therefore have difficulty making a final decision. As a result, their decision-making will suffer.

The Perceiving and Judging Type’s have extreme differences, and taking The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Assessment helps to understand where you fit in and can help a great deal with college decisions. Furthermore, The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator makes you aware of your strengths (your Myers-Briggs Type) as well as your weaknesses (or less-preferred functions). It is important to mention that though it is good to function within your true personality type (in-preference) as we go through life, we learn to use some of our out-of-preference types, or what we are not used to doing and improve in these areas.

Career Counselors believe that out of all the 16 Myers-Briggs® personality types, the E-J Type individual is the most likely to plan and be a good candidate for Counseling. Although, there are some problem areas that can manifest with the EJ Type during his or her major and career choices. For example, the EJ type might feel so concrete in his or her college major choice and decide well ahead of time to such a great extent that after the first semester his or her mind is made up. As a result, the EJ can make major and career choices without knowing that he or she lacks the ability and skill-set to complete a high expectation major.  Furthermore, Allen Hammer suggests that at such time the EJ will be very quick to choose another major so as not to “waist-time” and in-turn will likely choose impulsively and once again act too fast.

In terms of the Introverted Types, the Introverted-Judging Type “wants to be sure” when choosing a college major, and tends to think decisions through a great deal by way of research and reflection prior to committing. On the other hand, the Introverted-Perceiving Type (IP), often think of “what he or she would want for the future.” They also tend to delay a decision and consider all of their options prior to picking a major and hesitate and resist deadlines imposed by others and often need outside support to make a final decision.

With all of this said, once you know your Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality type, you can learn and review your decision-making process, and improve. Perhaps you are an IP Type and have a difficult time with commitment? You can be sure that once you learn about yourself, you clearly will have an easier time giving-in and finalizing decisions. Going through your college career without understanding your behavioral patterns is difficult.  You can, and students often do, lose years and sometimes college credits, as they do not know themselves well enough to decide on their own. This is where college assessments come in. So learn about whom you are, and the college majors that coincide with your Type by purchasing and completing The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test, Strong Interest Inventory® test and FIRO-B® test  today. Also, pertinent college-packages are available on our website. The packages we offer are life changing and I highly recommend them. These packages are located under the assessments tab of this site in the College Advising category for very reasonable prices.

Next week I will discuss, list, and explain what areas of study students tend to and should choose according to their MBTI Personality Type. I will also explain how and what different study habits best suit individuals and include an explanation of college test-taking style by personality type.

Develop a new understanding on how you work and think to benefit your college experience with the MBTI test below:

Plan your collegiate and career future based on your interests with additional analysis and guidance from the Strong Interest Inventory Report below:

Choose a college major that works best with your interests, and then plan a rewarding career to follow your college career with the report below:

Find a fulfilling career that matches with your personality and interests, and develop a College plan for achieving that career with the MBTI Combined report below: