3 Back to School Tips for Choosing a College Major Test, from Career Guidance Leader Career Key
Portland, Oregon (PRWEB) August 31, 2014 -- As students head back to high school or off to college, many will face an important education decision: what should I major in or study after high school? Career guidance leader, Career Key, http://www.careerkey.org, offers three back to school tips for choosing a high-quality college major test students can safely rely upon to make a good decision.
Taking a valid college major test is an important part of how to choose a college major or training program. A high-quality, scientifically valid test can help people learn more about themselves, narrow options, and provide college major matches likely to lead to future success. While results from one test should not be the sole basis for a college major choice, taking assessments are a valuable part of science-based career counseling.
Career Key recommends three tips for choosing a high quality assessment:
1. Choose a scientifically valid career and college major test.
2. Choose a career and college major test that shows close “personality major matches.”
3. Seek advice from a professional counselor; scientifically valid college major tests may be offered free or at low cost from a school, non-profit, college, or private career counseling practitioner.
1. Choose a scientifically valid career and college major test.
“Scientifically valid” means that the test has been shown, in studies published in scientific journals, to accurately measure what it says it measures. Any test should offer an online professional manual with citations or proof of its claims. To make such an important life and financial choice of college major or training program, it makes sense to use an accurate, valid test. Students and parents can learn more by reading “Beware of Misleading Career Tests” in the Career Tests section of the Career Key website. The page contains a list of other valid tests, in addition to Career Key’s career test with college majors.
2. Choose a career and college major test that shows close “personality major matches,” based on Holland’s Theory of Career Choice.
A close personality-major matchTM is one where a student chooses a college major or training program that matches their strongest Holland personality types. Holland’s Theory is the most researched and widely used career theory by professional career and education counselors. The test should show college majors and training programs scientifically classified by Holland’s six personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. Career Key’s “How to Choose a College Major” page gives examples.
Unfortunately, many students are unaware of established research showing a close personality-major match predicts success in college (higher grades, sticking with a chosen major, and on-time graduation). Career Key’s popular, free eBook “Choosing a College Major Based on Your Personality” explains how to take advantage of this research in choosing a major.
Students need the help; according to a recent ACT college choice report, only 1 out of 3 high school graduating students are planning on college majors that are a good fit with their interests or “personality major match.”
3. Seek help from a professional counselor; scientifically valid tests may be offered free or at low cost from a school, non-profit, college, or private practitioner.
Students should make sure to take advantage of resources offered free or at low cost through their school or college. Often, private career counselors include testing in their services.
Regardless, any assessment counselors’ offer should be scientifically valid as explained earlier; some may use invalid measures like the O*NET Interest Profiler that is offered free by the government. Students and parents need to be good consumers and ask questions about any assessment’s validity.
Individuals can also purchase and take the Career Key test directly on the Career Key website. It is designed for self-interpretation and includes guidance through a 4 step, science-based decision-making process.
About The Career Key
The Career Key was developed by nationally recognized counseling psychologist Dr. Lawrence K. Jones, NCC, a Professor Emeritus at N.C. State University. The Career Key website is advertising and registration free, designed to help people make good career and education decisions based on the best science and practices of career counseling. In addition to being earth-friendly, Career Key donates 10% of website sales to charity.
Juliet Wehr Jones, The Career Key, http://www.careerkey.org, +1 (206) 850-6195, [email protected]
Share this article