Some people have the false impression that Rationals are always brilliant in any field. Yes, Rationals can be quite good students, but they may sluff off in classes where they do not find the subject matter interesting.

Jung, a Rational Fieldmarshal, did very well in some business classes, but not so well in others. When he decided in his junior year that he would be best off if he could get an MBA, he decided to polish his study habits so he'd have top grades. He asked how he could improve. When Fieldmarshals study for a test or a quiz, they do best if they alternate between studying quietly and talking to others about the subject. The quiet study gives them a chance to collect information that their peers may not have. When possible, they should mark the text areas they deem important or dates that need to be memorized. Conversations can help them see how much they have actually retained. If conversations with friends are not possible, discussions with parents are useful even if the parents don't know a lot about the topic. This will help solidify the student's knowledge.

Craig, a Mastermind, was very studious and enjoyed the complexity of problems found in Environmental Science. His bugaboo was Chemistry. He particularly hated the smells in the lab and thought it had little application to his goal of working governmental policy. He knew if he didn't get at least a B in the course, it could affect his job eligibility. He talked to a counselor about how to overcome his aversion and get a decent grade. Masterminds usually apply willpower to learn what they want to learn. They want to know things in depth and then put them into operation. Motivating themselves for things they dislike can be difficult. First, they need a quiet space to study. They need to think how the course information could be usefully applied even if they are not going to do the applying themselves. First they read, then they write, and last they practice or at least think or talk about practical application and examples. Getting information from the inside of the brain into an outside form solidifies the information so they can do well on tests or in the lab.

Charlotte, an Inventor, absolutely aced her economics class, but got bogged down in some very detailed accounting courses. She needed help. Tips for Inventors: The Inventor is naturally creative and is excellent at finding new ways to think about things. This asset can be a problem when they need to be very exacting or if they need to parrot back exact data or definitions. They will need to do a combination of quiet study and discussion. They may need to say certain phrases aloud multiple times to get them to come up automatically. They also need to be careful not to over-think a test. They need to judge if the professor wants a repetition of the lecture material or if there a bonus for reinterpretation before they engage in their free-wheeling thinking.

Trina, an Architect, was studying Architecture. She really loved design and had the patience to construct intricate drawings. However, she was not satisfied about how well she was doing in her physics and math class. She sought advice. Architects do best if they find a quiet place to work. It's useful if they ask themselves which pieces of information are likely to be on the test. If they need to memorize and are having trouble, they can write the words or formula on a piece of paper. Repeatedly doing the same 10 problems helps solidify the knowledge so they finally can see the over-all pattern which they can apply to other problems. If they need to give an oral report, they need to practice talking it out so they don't experience themselves as failing or being seen as stupid. If they are asked about a concept, they should be ready to give a concrete example to demonstrate they understand the material.

There is no perfect way to study that fits all types. This series of articles includes midterm studying tips for

• Part 1: Guardians
• Part 2: Artisans
• Part 3: Idealists