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High School Students > Career Planning > Assess Yourself > Interests Assessment

Interests Assessment – High School Students

Below is a simple interests assessment exercise that may help you learn more about your preferences. It is based on John Holland's Theory of Vocational Choice. This theory maintains that people can be loosely classified into six categories: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. College majors and careers can also be sorted into these same categories. This assessment will help you learn about which of the six areas tend to relate to your interests. Next, you can look at college majors and careers that may be consistent with your preferences. You are more likely to be satisfied with career choices that are consistent with your skills, interests, and values.

Rate the level of interest you think you have for each area listed below from 0 (very little interest) to 9 (a high level of interest). Don't worry about your skill level. Just consider how much you enjoy each activity.

	Participate in athletic activities
	Spend time working outdoors
	Use your hands and tools to build something
	Operate machinery to manufacture a product
	Take care of animals
	Help plants grow and stay healthy

Click for Total Realistic Score:

INVESTIGATIVE

Rate the level of interest you think you have for each area listed below from 0 (very little interest) to 9 (a high level of interest). Don't worry about your skill level. Just consider how much you enjoy each activity.

	Calculate and solve math problems
	Study scientific issues and problems
	Research scientific topics independently
	Analyze numerical and quantitative data
	Invest your time to understand complex concepts
	Investigate new mathematical or scientific projects

Click for Total Investigative Score:

ARTISTIC

Rate the level of interest you think you have for each area listed below from 0 (very little interest) to 9 (a high level of interest). Don't worry about your skill level. Just consider how much you enjoy each activity.

	Design a new picture, flyer, or poster
	Generate innovative ideas and solutions to a problem
	Perform in a drama production
	Write a creative story or essay
	Play a musical instrument
	Express your emotions freely and openly

Click for Total Artistic Score:

SOCIAL

Rate the level of interest you think you have for each area listed below from 0 (very little interest) to 9 (a high level of interest). Don't worry about your skill level. Just consider how much you enjoy each activity.

	Advise a friend with a personal problem
	Counsel youth in a community group
	Teach people new skills
	Participate in activities which benefit society
	Join a group discussion and share ideas, thoughts, feelings
	Help others less fortunate than you

Click for Total Social Score:

ENTERPRISING

Rate the level of interest you think you have for each area listed below from 0 (very little interest) to 9 (a high level of interest). Don't worry about your skill level. Just consider how much you enjoy each activity.

	Manage a group to complete a project
	Persuade others to adopt your beliefs
	Sell products or services to the public
	Determine program goals and motivate others to achieve them
	Lead a team to victory
	Work in an upscale, plush environment

Click for Total Enterprising Score:

CONVENTIONAL

Rate the level of interest you think you have for each area listed below from 0 (very little interest) to 9 (a high level of interest). Don't worry about your skill level. Just consider how much you enjoy each activity.

	Follow an organized set of procedures
	Work in a predictable and structured environment
	Process data or records in an orderly manner
	Perform numerical calculations
	Use a computer to complete work assignments efficiently
	Work in an office where expectations and goals are clear and definite.

Click for Total Conventional Score:

Summary of Interest Assessment Scores

Below is a summary of your scores. Click on the 3 areas in which your scores are highest to develop a better understanding of that type and learn how it relates to Rutgers University college majors and career options. Print out this page and discuss your findings with your guidance counselor, parents, teachers and/or friends.

Realistic		Social
Investigative		Enterprising
Artistic		Conventional

Print out this page for future reference. After you complete the interests assessment, go to the next section, "Generate Options," to brainstorm ideas of Rutgers University college majors and related careers that might be suitable for you. If you already have enough ideas of college majors and/or career options, go to "Gather Information" to learn more about those options.

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