Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

I am a freshman in high school and still haven't decided on a specific career. Can you recommend any sources to help me decide?

By Dave Berry on Monday, August 13, 2001 - 07:59 pm: Edit

I like people who plan ahead, Sarah! One of the best resources for finding out about potential careers is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The MBTI is a psychological instrument (some people mistakenly refer to it as a "test") that discerns your preferences for living your life. The results convert into long lists of possible careers that may bring you happiness and success, based on "who" you are as a personality and temperament. Search the Web for "MBTI" and you'll find a million hits that will give you more information.

Another, perhaps quicker way to find out about possible careers is to read "Please Understand Me" by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates. Read my review here on College Confidential at:

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/please_understand.htm

This book includes a little device known as the "Keirsey Temperament Sorter," which is kind of a mini-MBTI. The Sorter is also available at

http://www.keirsey.com/

Take it there and let us know your results, if you want to. We might be able to lead you to more information about careers once we know your type and temperament. Just tell us the four-letter code for your personality. It will be something like "ISFJ" or "ENFP," for example.

Good luck, Sarah. Keep us posted.

By Roger (Roger) on Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - 10:28 pm: Edit

Hi, Sarah. Just to add a little different perspective, keep in mind that instead of choosing a career and then a college, many students do the reverse. That is, they attend a college without having a definite career in mind, and use that time to explore different areas of interest.

In addition to those who start college in an undecided mode, there are many students who change majors. In fact, the last statistic I saw showed that more than half of all college students end up changing majors at least once.

Both of these possibilities argue for choosing a school with a variety of options, and treating college as an overall learning process, not a "trade school." Good luck!