I am an INFJ Gryffindor. For many people who are not fans of random quizzes on the internet, these words mean nothing, though they mean everything to me. In fact, they represent exactly who I am as a student, an employee, a family member, and a contributor to society. These random letters and words are the results from two major personality tests (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and The Harry Potter Sorting Hat, respectively). Discovering the internal core of what makes us tick through personality tests can make college life much easier (and can also be a great excuse to procrastinate). With that, here is a brief description of the two personality tests that every college student should take before graduating.

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By far, the most popular personality test is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). There are sixteen possible results and four parts to each result. The first part will either determine if someone is an I or an E (introvert or extrovert). Someone who is an extrovert may find that he or she feels more energetic after spending time with other people, whereas an introvert may need some time alone to feel relaxed. The next part shows whether someone is an N for intuitive, or an S for sensing. Intuitive people tend to look at the bigger picture when solving problems while sensors are more detail-oriented. Next, the test decides if someone is an F or a T, which stands for feeling or thinking. If someone makes decisions based on how current feelings, he or she would be a feeler as compared to a person who uses a more logical approach to problems. The last letters, J or P, show whether someone is more judging or perceiving. The titles to this part of the test are somewhat misleading; judgers are not necessarily judgmental, they just tend to be more organized and deadline oriented than perceivers. However, the MBTI test can be more complicated than this, so picking one letter over the other is not exactly the best way to get results. Finding an MBTI test is the easiest option to find results. Though there are people who are trained to administer the MBTI test for $15-40, a simple Google search can provide a free test with accurate results (the one from 16personalities.com is my personal favorite).

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Made popular by the Harry Potter series, the Sorting Hat quiz has made a name for itself in the personality realm. Though it does not have as much psychological research as the MBTI test, the Sorting Hat quiz is less complicated with only four possible results. After answering questions such as, “Would you rather be trusted, liked, imitated, praised, envied, or feared?” and “Moon or stars?”, the quiz will determine whether a person is a Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Those who define themselves as even slightly courageous and bold will likely receive a Gryffindor result. Gryffindors are extremely passionate beings who are usually brave enough to wear their hearts on their sleeves. Those known for being loyal and hardworking students will likely be a Hufflepuff. Hufflepuffs are grounded, kind, and very honest people who tend to tell the truth for the benefit of others. For those who get a result in Ravenclaw, they do not have to be the smartest people, but they are creative and love gaining knowledge. A Ravenclaw will follow their own interests gain their knowledge through their own experiences and love new concepts and ideas. Lastly, ambitious individuals will probably be in Slytherin. Those in Slytherin seem to be right about most of their instincts and tend to stand by a belief once deciding upon something. Pottermore.com is the easiest and more accurate test to discover the Hogwarts houses.

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These personality tests have taken up hours of my life, and these descriptions are so brief, they barely skim the surface of how deep these quizzes are. These personality tests can help show the best forms of communication, learning styles, and even relaxation preferences based on the answers to a few simple questions. The best decision I ever made was finding out who I really am; it even helped me choose Penn State Behrend. Instead of using those few extra minutes between class to scroll through Instagram or Facebook, take the time to know yourself instead of everyone else around you.