(are you a talent, a lifer, or a mandarin?)

Tomorrowland

In the mid-90s, in articles in The Atlantic and Time Magazine, Nicholas Lemann introduced the idea of three paths to success in American society -- that of Talents, Lifers, and Mandarins. He later went on to write a book, The Big Test, about the SAT as the Mandarin path to success.

Which path are you on? That's what this test aims to find out.

Would you consider working for a startup company?
Yes
No

Is your retirement plan is high priority?
Yes
No

A good education is the most important thing a parent can give a child.
Agree
Disagree

Do what you love and the money will follow.
Agree
Disagree

You have to follow the rules even if you don't like them.
Agree
Disagree

Top-ranked colleges provide better educations than your average college.
Agree
Disagree

Are you passionate about your job?
Agree
Disagree

Should the most senior employees have the most job security?
Yes
No

Are street smarts more important than book smarts?
Yes
No

Does it excite you to work in dynamic industry?
Yes
No

Do you have a graduate degree?
Yes
No

Are people in your field promoted on the basis of ability?
Yes
No

Are you an optimist?
Yes
No

Are you counting the years until you can retire?
Yes
No

Have you ever considered starting your own company?
Yes
No

Do you have a wide network of professional contacts?
Yes
No

Do you find risk exhilarating?
Yes
No

Would you take a dream job with a company that had difficulty making payroll last month?
Yes
No

Is the opinion of your professional peers very important to you?
Yes
No

Do you hate being managed?
Yes
No

Do you find financial instability frightening?
Yes
No

Do you consider yourself one of best at your chosen career?
Yes
No

Do you find the prospect of tenure appealing?
Yes
No

Fortune favors...
The Bold
The Careful
The Smart

Hold on to your...
Dreams
Principles
Wallet

The most important part of my job is the...
Steady paycheck
Intellectual challenge
Creative freedom

My role model is...
Albert Einstein
Steven Spielberg
Homer Simpson

Which is more important to you?
Career
Family

Which movie do you like best?
Office Space
The Fountainhead
The Paper Chase

Did you always know what you wanted to be when you grew up?
Yes
No

Did you take the SAT?
Yes
No

Did you take the GRE, MCAT, or LSAT?
Yes
No

Which would you rather have?
Wealth
Fame
Prestige

Were you a bookworm growing up?
Yes
No

Which is more important to you?
Learning
Creating
Sleeping

If you could only have one, which would you pick?
Books
Music
Beer

Do the ends justify the means?
Yes
No

Do you currently have your dream job?
Yes
No

If you won the lottery tomorrow, would you keep working in your current job?
Yes
No