The INTP's Guide To Making the Most of College
14 October 2015 / By Scott Stafford Clinically Reviewed by Steven Melendy, PsyD. on October 14, 2015As an INTP, it can be a struggle to get through college. Deciding on a major when you want to learn a bit about everything can be stressful. Combine that with going to classes that are sometimes stale and uninspiring, and you are likely to see some apathy set in.
Now, I can't tell you there's a quick fix solution to the problem, but I do have some tips for what helped me get through it.
Figure Out What You Like
Take some time to truly figure out what you want to major in. Work is the rest of your life, so find something that you enjoy. You might feel guilty about taking an elective that doesn't count towards your major, but there's probably something drawing you toward that interest, so why not go for it?
Use the university as a place to explore your interests and talents. Many teachers and counselors want to see their students excel, and many are willing to go out of their way to help if they see that you are interested.
Get Involved in Clubs & Recreational Leagues
Sure, it's easy to head back to your dorm or drive back home after class and crash, but that will quickly become boring. Make at least a day or two a week to get out and meet some new people that share similar interests. This will make the college experience much easier and it helps having others to vent with.
This may seem forced or a bit unnatural as an INTP, however. You might not have gone out to meet new people often in high school, but fortunately, everyone else here is in the same boat. People will be surprisingly open and willing to get to know you, so just showing up and being friendly will help expand your social circle a bit.
Don’t Stress Yourself Out
As an INTP, it's easy to get caught up in the fear of impending doom if you miss an assignment or bomb a test. You might think that it is something that is unrecoverable, but not doing something about it will surely make it a self-fulfilling prophecy. Figure out steps to correct a problem rather than focusing on the worst case (and highly unlikely) scenario.
Take some time to relax and live in the moment. You don’t need a clear vision of what your future will look like in the next 3-5 years. Things will work themselves out. Enjoying the moment will not only help you create lasting memories, it will also prevent you from stressing so much.
Talk To Your Teachers
I can’t stress this enough. As much as you might think your grade in class might solely depend on your knowledge, it helps to get to know the teacher a bit. Teachers are not as impartial as you might expect them to be (it's just human nature to have a bit of unconscious bias). Just showing interest and enthusiasm in the class will help the teacher realize how smart and capable you are.
Take some time after class in the first week or two to ask a question or discuss a bit more about the topic. Having a good relationship with your teacher might even help boost an essay you turn in from an 85% to a 90% if they better understand how much you know a topic.
Studying Tips
As an INTP, you might procrastinate on assignments. In this case, it helps to keep an assignment calendar and start on projects early. Obviously that's easier said than done, but at least attempting to tackle the assignment will set you up on a path to solve any problems that come your way.
Use other sources of information besides just your textbook to understand your subjects. Using Google and Youtube, for example, will help you better understand a topic if your teacher isn't explaining it well. There's tons of free alternative learning sources out there that will help you pass your classes.
And finally, take some time and reward yourself when you tackle that particularly difficult assignment. You don't want to burn yourself out, so these little victories will keep your energy and effort going.
Sticking With a Major
Once you decide on a major, don't stress yourself out about changing it. INTPs are known to have plenty of interests, so don't see your major as placing yourself in a box. There are plenty of people that have changed careers or found a job with an unrelated major.
Your life and pursuits are still flexible, so focus on doing well in your major and learning as much as you can. Focus on finding ways to enjoy your time in college, get your work done, and live more in the moment. Everything else will sort itself out!