Goal Setting
Please complete the questions below to receive credit for the workshop.
What is a goal?
The object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.
Dictionary.comEducational goals take effort, time, and sacrifice as shown in this video.
Set Clear Educational Goals
The first step in setting goals is to clarify them. Consider the following.
Is it YOUR goal?
Make sure the goal you are pursuing is something you really want, not just something that other people think sounds good. If you are really going to put time and effort into it, then make sure that you understand the sacrifices required and the benefits you will experience in the long run.
Balance your goals
It is important to live a balanced life. Therefore, consider setting goals in all areas of life and make sure that they are not in conflict with one another: personal, educational, career, health, social, and spiritual.
How high are you aiming?
Make sure that you aim high. Do not settle for less than you are capable of achieving.
Stay positive!
Write your goals using positive language and write deadlines to keep you on course.
Review your goals daily
Review your goals daily. Post them where you can see them and be reminded. This will help you stay focused and motivated.
Use the SMART goal method
As a college student, what are your goals? Do you know specially what you would like to achieve, or do you have vague goals such as "doing well in class" or "raising my GPA"? Knowing how to set goals is an important skill for students and one that you will need in the working world. A useful goal-setting tool is the S.M.A.R.T model, which was initially developed by Peter Drucker in 1954 and has since been incorporated widely into the business world.
Student success is easier if you follow the SMART model of goal setting.
The SMART model
SMART is an acronym that stands for terms that can be used to evaluate goals. Following the SMART model, goals need to be:
Specific
First, goals need to be specific. That is, you need to spell out exactly what you want to accomplish.
Vague goals can feel overwhelming and unachievable. For example, "I'm going to be a better person," is vague, and someone who sets this goal may not even know where to start. Instead, it's better to set specific steps such as, "I'm going to volunteer twice a month," or "I'm going to be more patient with my family."
Spell out exactly what you want to accomplish
Example: “I am going to study better” = Vague
“I’m going to set aside 2 hours every weeknight to work on schoolwork”
Measurable
Successful goals also need to be measurable or else there is no way to determine if you have achieved them. For example, "I'm going to lose weight" is a popular goal that works better with a measurable outcome such as "I'm going to lose 15 pounds by September."
Setting measurable goals as a student can be easy because you're surrounded by measurements. Instead of "I'm going to get better grades," try, “I am going to raise my GPA to a 3.0 by the end of the year," or "I'm going to get at least a B in all of my classes this semester."
There needs to be a way to determine whether you accomplished your goal
Example: “I am going to get better grades”
“I’m going to get B’s in my classes this semester”
Attainable
When setting goals, it's important to choose ones that you are actually capable of attaining. Eliminate impossible or highly unlikely objectives. "I'm going to bench press 300 pounds" may be a goal that is physically impossible. "I'm going to be in the NBA" is a goal that's possible, but highly unlikely.
Choose goals you are capable of attaining
Example: “I’m going to lose 50 pounds in two weeks”
“I will lose 5 pounds in one month by eliminating sugar from my diet”
Relevant
Goals should be set with the "big picture" in mind and should have a clear purpose. If you're trying to build a table, relevant goals include sanding the wood and carving the legs. If you get side tracked and spend several days shopping for the perfect china, your goal of building a table will be slowed down.
China to put on the table would be nice, but this is not relevant to your overall goal.
The same is true with student goals. If your goal is to ace a calculus test that's three days away, don't get started on a paper that's not due for another week, and don't decide that's it's time to organize your closet. Stay focused.
Goals should have a clear purpose and be set with the ‘big picture’ in mind
Time Based
Finally, it's important to set goals that you actually have time to complete. Losing 20 pounds might be a good idea, but not if you want to do that in three weeks. Planting a garden might be nice, but not if the first frost is due soon.
As a student, be realistic about what you have time to accomplish. Writing a senior honor's thesis might be a good idea, but not if you also have an internship, a part-time job, and lots of other obligations.
Taking on an ambitious group project topic might sound like a good idea, but not if you only have a few weeks to get the work done.
Set goals that you actually have time to complete. And set a deadline
SMART Goals Video
Some things to consider when setting goals are what resistance you will encounter and what assistance is available...
Resistance
For every goal, examine the obstacles ahead that may get in your way:
Are there people that are a bad influence or distract you from your goals?
Are there people who criticize and discourage you from your goals?
Do you have personality traits that get in the way like procrastination, laziness, a bad temper, impatience, etc.?
Are there circumstances that will interfere with your journey such as lack of money or a skill?
Assistance
For every goal, examine the assistance available to you:
Examine what skills and knowledge you need to achieve your goal so that you can develop these important tools to help you be successful in your journey.
Make a list of individual people whom you trust and who are positive and helpful so that you can turn to them in bad times for support and encouragement.
What organizations, agencies, or clubs can provide you with role models and mentors who can help guide and direct you? Surround yourself with people who are headed in the same direction. You can learn from each other and support one another.
Examples of how to make vague goals SMART
Example #1
Vague Goal
I'm going to study hard!
SMART Goal
I am going to study hard by studying Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from 7pm-9pm for my two classes. From 7pm -8pm for Sociology and from 8:10pm-9:10pm for Contemporary Health.
Example #2
Vague Goal
I will do better this semester
SMART Goal
I will do better this semester by aiming to get Bs in my 2 classes. I will study 4 days a week (M,T,W,F) for 2 hours (7-9), and put all the due dates of assignments, tests, and quizzes on my calendar so that I can start working on them 2 weeks before they are due and turn them in on time. I will also get tutoring if needed, and not miss more than one day of class so I won't get behind.
SMART Goal Setting Action Plan
Example
SMART Goal Setting 2020.pdfBlank Form