Supporting students in choosing the right career path based on their interests, strengths, and values.
As a top-ranked liberal arts institution, Colorado College encourages students to explore a wide variety of academic and personal interests. This broad, exploratory approach is a core strength of the college—but it also leads many students to feel overwhelmed when it’s time to choose a major or plan a career path.
The Career Center saw increasing numbers of students unsure about which direction to pursue—especially around sophomore year, when declaring a major becomes a pressing decision. Many were conflicted about abandoning childhood ambitions, struggling with family expectations, or simply unsure how to align their passions with practical career options.
Students who had once felt confident about becoming doctors or engineers, for example, often found themselves disillusioned after encountering difficult coursework or discovering their interests lay elsewhere. The Career Center’s challenge was to support these students in finding clarity and purpose—without adding to their stress or rushing their decision-making process.
Solution
Using MBTI® Step II™ and Strong Interest Inventory® assessments to support meaningful career exploration.
Career counsellor Darlene Garcia led a comprehensive effort to guide students using psychological tools that promote deep self-reflection. The MBTI Step II and Strong Interest Inventory instruments became central to the College's approach, offering students a structured yet supportive way to explore their interests, preferences, and personality traits.
Students typically complete the assessments in their sophomore year, when career planning becomes more relevant. Garcia ensures they are well-prepared by introducing the underlying theory behind each tool before sharing results. She guides students through a structured conversation—beginning with MBTI Step II to establish a foundation of self-awareness, followed by the Strong assessment to explore career directions that align with their personality and values.
Each session includes detailed type descriptions, contextual handouts, and discussions that challenge students to reflect on how their strengths show up uniquely. Garcia encourages students to think beyond conventional job titles and focus instead on the daily tasks and environments that suit them best. For those navigating difficult decisions—like shifting away from a lifelong goal of becoming a doctor—the insights can transform confusion into confidence.
Key Programme Elements:
MBTI Step II assessment for personality self-awareness foundation
Strong Interest Inventory for career direction exploration
Structured counselling sessions with theory introduction
Focus on daily tasks and work environments rather than job titles
Results
Increased confidence, clearer direction, and stronger alignment between values and career paths.
The Career Center's assessment-led process has helped hundreds of Colorado College students gain a clearer understanding of their goals and motivations. Many report a renewed sense of confidence and a shift in how they talk about their future—not just with themselves, but with parents and mentors.
Students frequently discover that the mismatch between their studies and their satisfaction has a clear explanation, giving them permission to pivot without guilt. Garcia notes that some students even use the assessments to help frame difficult conversations at home, using phrases like, “I’m exploring” or “I’m working with a counselor” to reduce tension and assert their independence.
According to Garcia, the combination of MBTI Step II and Strong can bring about “a two-year jump in maturity and confidence in two weeks.” Parents have echoed this, expressing gratitude for the insights and focus the tools provide—saving not just time and money, but also emotional energy.
Ultimately, the programme empowers students to make intentional, informed decisions about their futures—while helping the college deliver on its promise of fostering creative, reflective, and career-ready graduates.
