Personality Traits

With the steady growth of interest in the field of interior design (ID), programs are looking for ways of admitting students into their curriculum that have a higher likelihood of succeeding and persisting in the program. A method beyond the existing high school GPA, class rank, and SAT/ACT scores is needed to help predict entering ID students academic success. The assessment of personality traits as predictors of academic performance coupled with demographic variables and standard admission criteria are proving to be valuable in recognizing non-cognitive factors, which influence success or failure in academic endeavors. Present studies do suggest that personality traits can be reliably assessed and that certain traits do affect students academic performance. The purpose of this research was to determine if personality type, as indicated by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, used in addition to SAT/ACT and high school rank could be useful in predicting academic success in ID students. Personality types are described and compared between freshmen and seniors and a profile of successful senior ID students is outlined. One dimension of the MBTI was found to predict success.