1. True Colors for College Choice: Counseling to Students’ Preferred College Style
Jane Webber, New Jersey City University
B-Gr-Go-O INFP
J.Barry Mascari, Kean University, NJ
O-B/G----Go ENFP
Vincent Varrassi, Fairleigh Dickinson University B—Go/Gr/O

2. Learn how identifying students’ styles using True Colors and Myers Briggs Type Indicator reveal and improve college choices and planning
Ditiberio, J.K., & Hammer, A.L. (1993). Introduction to type in college. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Kalil, C. (1999). Follow your true colors to the work you love. Malibu, CA: DreamMaker Publishing.
Miscisn, M. (1991). Showing our true colors. Riverside, CA: True Colors
Tieger, P., & Barron, B. (2007). Do what you are: Discover the perfect career for you through the secrets of personality type. 4th ed.. NY: Little, Barron, and Company.

3. The College Going Experience
Most students commute to college within 50 miles of home, but going away to college is an American rite of passage– “the college experience”
Liberal arts vs. Career preparation is misunderstood
2/3 change their major at least once; many change majors every semester
Most HS students choose a major and college without career counseling self awareness exploration/assessment, or decision making skills
Undecided college applicants and undecided majors need specialized decision making programs

4. Today’s Goals for Your Preferred Type
Gold: Detailed information about how to use True Colors and MBTI with students to improve college choice, step by step directions, and organized handouts
Orange: Fun hands-on activities for True Colors, games, and new jokes to make your work exciting
Green: Research about student’s color preferences, theory about MBTI and True Colors, and ideas for you to consider in the future
Blue: Getting to know your colleagues, affirming your true self, sharing experiences, and expanding ways to connect with your students

5. TRUE COLORS

6. Sam chose a large highly-ranked public university primarily for financial aid. She first loved the excitement of campus life and football weekends although she felt out of place at parties--like an observer. She preferred reading novels to parties, or talking with one student in a quiet setting. Large lecture classes with 600 students overwhelmed her; she was uncomfortable asking questions. Sam hated multiple choice tests and she rarely had to write papers-- which she loved. Her roommate stayed out late partying and Sam missed the close knit support in her high school. Although she made the dean’s list, she did not return the second semester.

7. Sam’s primary color is Blue
Sam’s type is an INFP
Needs time for self; the outside environment can be overwhelming—needs small groups
Needs affirmation and support with strong advising

8. BEN, now in his first year at an art institute, had art eight hours a day. He wished he had considered other majors like theater or education, or a college with more majors, but his parents were successful artists. Most students commuted to the institute; his dorm was a boarding house that emptied on Thursday night. He missed the camaraderie of his high school teams and the radio station where he had been a DJ. His roommate practically “lived” in the art studio, and Ben wished he had friends to hang out with.

9. Ben’s brightest colors are Orange/Blue
His type is ESFJ
Makes quick decisions to close out choices
Need for affiliation, friends, and campus support
Lack of career exploration
Bored with early career foreclosure

10. Cam applied to 18 “top” colleges, worrying more about getting in to the best school than finding a good match. At the accepted student open houses, most described how wonderful their college was and how great it was to be in the Class of He gained little understanding about which college was the best fit for him. At one school, reps facilitated discussions about how to make a good personal decision about college and what qualities this college had that matched his interests and style. He learned his type, and he met students with similar colors. Cam reevaluated the colleges based on their colors. He chose a roommate from his brightest color group and reconsidered his early choice of becoming a computer engineer by investigating blue and orange majors.

11. Cam’s brightest colors are Blue/Orange and Green
His type is ENFP
Unable to narrow down choices
Unfamiliar with his E, Blue and Orange needs
Needed specialized college counseling to structure his search

12. Five-point plan to choosing the best college fit
Choose the best college:
That you can get into
That you can afford financially
That you can succeed at academically
That you can be happy at socially
That fits your needs and goals

13. True Colors Brief personality style assessment
Brightest to palest color
Persons/environments with opposite color push our buttons
Helps us make decisions based on knowledge of self
Person-environment fit
Palest color is our weakest style

14. Using True Colors or MBTI: Helps to answer major questions
What do I want to get from college?
How will I learn best at college?
How will I spend your free time at college?
How will I live at college or commute to college?
How (and where) will I study at college
When do I want to go to college?
Why do I want to go to college?
Where do I want to go to college?

15. True Colors – MBTI Connection
Amiable Blue Compassionate NF
Interactive
Analytic Green Conceptual NT
Independent
Driver Gold Conventional SJ
Structured
Expressive Orange Courageous SP
Active

16. Who is like me? Orange 35-40%: Gold 35-40% Green 12-15% M 70% F 30%
Blue %
M 30% F 70%

17. Famous Color Types Green Hillary Clinton Rosalyn Carter Columbo
Orange
Michael Jordan
Elvis Presley
Ronal Reagan
Marilyn Monroe
Billy Graham
JFK
Lee Iacocca
Winston Churchill
George Patton
Gold
George H. Bush
Walter Cronkite
Connie Chung
Johnnie Carson
Green
Hillary Clinton
Rosalyn Carter
Columbo
Socrates
Moses
Carl Jung
Blue
Mother Theresa
Julie Andrews
Princess Diana
Jimmy Carter
Pope John
Caesar
Ronald Reagan
Ghandi

18. CAREER PREFERENCES Orange Sports Entrepreneurs Enterprising Gold Nurse
Teacher
Principal, Supt.
CEOs, Managers
Green
Lawyer
Computer Engineer
Scientist
Architect
Blue
Counselor
Psychologist
Social Worker

19. Color Slogans Green A penny saved is a penny earned Think! Blue E=MC2
To thine own self be true
A mind is a terrible
Reach out and touch someone
thing to waste
Rome was not built in a day
Did you get a hug today?
I’ll think about it.
Show your true colors
Orange
Go for it!
The thrill of success, the agony of defeat.
Everybody loves a winner.
Where’s the action?
Gold \
Honor thy parents
Be prepared

20. Orange sees self as Fun-loving, enjoy life Spontaneous Flexible
Adaptable
Carefree
Proficient, Capable
Hands-on
Practical
Problem solver
Quick witted
Confident
Good negotiator
Do many things at once
Eclectic
Can deal with chaos
Curious
Welcomes new ideas
Superior ability to discriminate among options
Sees shades of gray
Great in crisis/emergency

21. Gold sees self as Stable Providing security Dependable, Responsible
Firm
Always has a view
Efficient
Realist
Dignified, cultures
Generous
Executive type
Strong work ethic
Orderly, neat
Good at sorting, weeding out
Organized
Punctual
Goal-oriented
Seeking closure

22. Green sees self as Abstract thinker Superior intellect
Calm, not emotional
Under control
Precise, not repetitive
Able to find flaws
Objectives
Seeking justice
Firm-minded
Able to reprimand
Intelligent
Superior intellect
98% right
Powerful
Creative
Visionary
Original
Eminently reasonable
Rational
Complex
Competent

23. Blue sees self as Affirming Great Communicator Caretaker
Promoting growth, well being
Relates current experiences to past experiences
Likes people
Sympathetic
Nurturing
Warm
Compassionate
Romantic
Spiritual
Idealistic
Willing to work tirelessly for a cause
Unselfish
Empathic
Loving

24. Orange needs Freedom Flexible environment Challenge Humor Independence
Spotlight
Stimulation
Excitement
Expression
Fun/Play
Variety
Applause
Support
Change
Results
Affirmation

25. Gold needs Stability Order To be productive Organization
Expectations met
Recognition
Following of directions
Loyalty
Completion of tasks
Procedures
Detailed Information
Respect
Rules
Consistency

26. Green needs High achievement Big picture Mental challenges Facts
Autonomy
Strategic plans
Brevity in speech
Time for reflection
Succinct discussion
Few directions
Time to process
Recognition for intelligence
Being in charge
Global concepts

27. Blue needs Empathy Warmth Nurturing Intimacy Approval Understanding
Recognition
Affirmation
Affection
Sensuality
Warmth
Intimacy
Understanding
Physical touch
Inspiration
Compassion
Romance

32. Matching roommates by type
Roommate change requests down 65%
Residence damage costs down 36%
Similar roommates are more satisfied
Opposite roommates have lower GPAs

34. P or J? Check their car interior (or their dorm room)
Perceiving
Clutter
Like a personal suitcase
Less organized
Judging
Clean like new
Precise
Out of sight

35. Extroverts’ Dorm Room External environments stimulate them
Choose bright exciting paint
Often not very organized—too busy

36. What will stress students out in college?
What stresses you out on the job?
At home?
With your friends and family?
In classes?
Who is not stressed when you are stressed?

37. Orange is stressed by Too much responsibility Rules & regulations
Abstract concepts
Reading manuals & directions
Imposed structure
Personal criticism
Following detailed directions
Routine
Deadlines
Inactivity
Lack of fun
Lack of variety
Repetition

38. Gold is stressed by Incomplete tasks Disorganization Irresponsibility
Changing details or directions
Ambiguous tasks
Broken promises
Waste
Nonconformity
Lack of structure
Haphazard attitude
Too many things going on at once
People who don’t follow through

39. Green is stressed by Not being in charge Lack of independence
Subjective judgment
Emotional displays
Elaborate use of adjectives
Incompetence
Small talk
Routine
Social functions
Lack of recognition of their ability

40. Blue is stressed by Broken promises Too much negativity
Not being involved
Lack of social contact
Too much conformity
Clock watching
Being compared to others
Conflict
Lying
Rejection
Insincerity
Completing paperwork as a priority
Blaming the system before people

41. Campus Community Colors
Blue Macalester, Drew, Hamilton, Hobart, Moravian, Hiram
Green MIT, Cal Tech, Swarthmore, NJIT, Cornell, Stevens, UMDNJ
Orange Sarah Lawrence, Antioch, Syracuse, Full Sail, Emerson, Prescott
Orange/Blue Bard, Oberlin, Northeastern, Hampshire, Colorado College, Pitzer, Paul Smith’s, Lewis & Clark, Grinnell

42. Blue/Gold Landmark, Notre Dame, Principia
Orange/Green Reed, New College, Delaware, Clemson, Cal Berkeley, Drexel, Wesleyan (CT), Carnegie Mellon, RPI
Green/Gold Wellesley, Amherst, Brandeis
Orange /Gold Citadel, Cooper Union

43. Rutgers Douglass Blue Cook Green/Orange Livingston Orange/Blue
Rutgers Green/Gold
Mason Gross Blue/Orange
Pharmacy Gold/Green

44. Others may see Orange as
Irresponsible
Flaky
Goofs off too much
Disobeys rules
Manipulative
Scattered
Not serious
Not able to stay on
task
Scattered
Cluttered
Uncontrollable
Resists closure on decisions
Indecisive
Obnoxious
Not to be trusted

45. Others may see Gold as Rigid Controlling Dull, boring Stubborn
Opinionated
Unimaginative
Judgmental
Bossy, controlling
Uptight
Predictable
Autocratic
System-bound

46. Others may see Green as Emotionally controlled Intellectual snob
Cool, aloof, unfeeling
Critical, fault finding
Devaluing relational aspects
Lacking mercy, unfair
Unappreciative of others
Intellectual snob
Arrogant
Heartless
Doesn’t care about people
Ruthless
Unrealistic
Eccentric, weird
Stingy with praise
Afraid to open up

47. Others may see Blue as Overly emotional Bleeding Heart Mushy
Hopelessly naïve
Too tender hearted
Easily duped
Too touchy-feeling
Too nice
Too trusting
Smothering
Stuck in the past
Groveling
Fawning
Soft
Talks too much
Pushover

48. Who would you ask to
Set up games for the freshman get-acquainted party
Train front desk assistants to greet guests
Develop an analysis of dining hall use on weekends
Manage a computerized system for logging in residence hall visitors
Stay up late to talk with a homesick freshman
Tally surveys for residence hall noise complaints
Organize freshman teams for Spirit Week contests
Welcome new international students when they arrive

49. The Four MBTI Functions
Extrovert – energized by being around others
Introvert – energized by spending time alone
Sensing – taking in information through five senses, focusing on what exists, adding to external perceptions (concrete)
Intuiting – adding ideas to external perceptions through a sixth sense, noticing what might or could be rather than what actually is (insight)
Thinking – prefer decisions that make logical sense (logical-objective)
Feeling – make decisions on how much they care or what they feel is right (personal-values oriented)
Judging – like to have things, orderly, planned or decided
Perceiving – do not want to miss anything and are flexible and spontaneous

50. The older we get, the more like ourselves we become…
Large group types are consistent over time
In a study of 1,764 college students, their type was not significantly different years later
**Individuals’ letters may change on scales close to middle

51. MBTI 1st and 4th position:
Preferred style of choosing courses and exploring major
1st: Extrovert vs. introvert
4th: Perceiving vs. judging

52. E-J: I want to decide and get it over with!
Declares major early
Follows steps to goal
Gets career counseling
Sense of purpose
Makes appropriate plans (counselors love EJs)
Most decisive style
Chooses too early
Premature foreclosure
Decides before knowing self
Interest wanes
When disappointed, chooses another quickly without info

53. E-P: I want to experience it all!
Ongoing process
“Bungee jumpers”
Decision is the
“Jumping off place not a final stop”
Many clubs and courses-wants to try everything
Needs to talk without making decision
Keeps changing mind
Trial and error with majors
Wanders--Dabbler
Forced into default choice
Frustrates their J parents
Doesn’t have a logical college list

54. I-J: I want to be sure! Too thorough Read read read Thinks alone
Study options methodically
Researcher/analyst
Doesn’t consult parents
Data collector
Counselor’s dream
Too thorough
Read read read
Thinks alone
Surprises us with choice
Computer vs. gut feeling
Counselor’s fear

55. I-P: I wonder what I’ll be when I grow up
Stays true to their inner world
No decision is final
*undecided major
“Wanderers of career decision-making”
Journey-own pace
Travel, semester abroad
*likes special advising programs
Outside world info is overwhelming
Needs strong advising
Forced choice
*Least decisive style
Counselor’s nightmare

56. Roommate
Extrovert/introvert roommates need balance between activity outside and quiet time
Over-stimulated Introverts retreat into self
Introverts may not be shy
Extroverts may not be socially skilled
Extroverts need more stimulation and make demands of introvert roommates

57. Roommate Types Judging roommates follow schedule, get to destination
Perceiving roommates choose spontaneous activities (never decide), meander
Feeling want thanks for personal—caring, helping
Thinking want thanks for doing a task well—cleaned car, bought tickets
Sensing or Intuitive similar roommates may have fewest problems
Sensing roommate needs stability but iNtuitive roommate needs constant change and excitement

58. RELATIONSHIPS & ROOMATES
ETJs
Most assertive
Set boundaries
Control environment
Disrespect others’ boundaries
IFPs
Nonassertive
Don’t set clear boundaries
Lack self confidence
Give in to others

59. Dating an INTP
The only problem with dating is that you have to do it with another person

61. MELINDA Spring 2005 Attended local college, lived at home
Was unsuccessful
Left school; worked various jobs for a few years
Reentered community college, took courses in culinary arts, worked with a caterer
Worked in day care, enjoyed children, was successful

62. True Colors and MBTI BLUE GOLD Need to feel unique & authentic
Look for meaning in life, warm
Need to contribute, care
I value Integrity & unity in relationships
A natural romantic, poet & nurturer
Follow rules & respect authority
Strong sense of right and wrong
Need to be useful & belong
Value home, family, tradition
Good citizen and helpful

63. MBTI TYPE: ENFJ Extraversion (Where you focus attention)
People who prefer Extraversion tend to relate easily to the outer world of people and things.
N Intuition (How do you ‘take in’ information)
People who prefer Intuition focus on the big picture & try to grasp the essentials-focus on possibilities for the future.
Feeling (How you make decisions)
People who prefer Feeling like to decide things by considering what is most important to them. Base their decisions on person-centered values.
Judging (How you deal with the outer world)
People who prefer Judging tend to like to have things decided; life is likely to be planned and orderly

64. EJ types · Decisive, quickly move to implement decisions
“I want to decide and then get on with it.”
·Put selecting a major on their ‘to do’ list soon after getting on campus.
·If a major doesn’t work out they want to quickly pick a new one and ‘get on with it’.
· Have a clear set of logical standards, systematically follow them and want others to also
· Forceful in implementing their plans 

65. NF Types Typical fields of study: Counseling, human services
Art and Music (she strongly dislikes this idea)
Behavioral Science
Education
Writing/Journalism (Enjoys writing)

66. Tests/Papers S N Inferences/meaning Facts/practical applications
Creative writing
Expansive, long
Embellish, goes off on tangents
Guess/hunch is right on multiple choice
Skips over detail questions
Philosophical-abstract ideas, S
Facts/practical applications
Don’t like multiple choice-second guess
Needs the right answer
On essays write every fact they know but not integrated “mind dump”
Write simply and directly—no frills

67. P J Tests/Papers Linear-finish one paper
Calendar, break down tasks
Follows specific directions –exact
Use texts, current resources P
Multitasks—several papers/projects
Deadline-crunch time
Digresses, new themes emerge
Library/internet search unending

68. N Study S What it all means What it is Ideas, themes Memorize facts
Relationships between concepts/events
Hard to support ideas with specific facts, data, or evidence S
What it is
Memorize facts
Plow through text
Hard to put pieces together into themes and relationships
“nitpicky details”

69. J P Study Breaks down study agenda days/weeks ahead Reads, skims
Organized study desk/career
Goes to extra review sessions
Types notes over
Asks exactly what is on the test
Study group-too social and time waster P
Reads, skims
All nighters
Cogitates
Bed, couch
Lacks notes/study guide
Study groups are philosophical and social

70. ST SF Management/business Accounting/banking Engineering
Law enforcement
Skilled trades
Health care
Teaching
Community service
Religious service
Office work

71. NF NT Counseling Human services Writing/journalism Behavioral science
Education
Art and music
Law
Computers
Physical science
Research
Management

72. Improving College Choices
Use True Colors/MBTI
for individual planning
in small group and classroom sessions
Parent-student evening college planning programs
In family sessions to compare college environment or narrow down the college list
For faculty/staff in-service for writing letters of recommendation or teacher advisor programs
For comprehensive career/college curriculum
Practical applications for
Common language
Communication-parents
Self-assessment
Career decision making
Understanding conflict when other types push our buttons
Comparing college environments
Identifying potential college stressors
Matching learning style to instructional style
Rehearsing for social life