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Setting
Goals
What do you
want to do with your life? This is a
question high school and college graduates
are constantly asked. This question
is much easier to answer if broken down
into smaller parts. That is what
goals are.
How do I
begin?
- Start
with a long-term or short-term desired
outcome. This becomes your goal
statement.
- Now
break your goal statement into smaller
parts or steps that describe an
action that will contribute to
achievement of a goal. These are objectives.
It is important that your objectives
are specific and measurable.
- Then to
fulfill an objective, you need to have
an action plan. The
action plan is made up of the steps
that lead to completion of an
objective. It is helpful to
include target completion dates in
your action plan.
- Finally,
make sure you complete the steps listed on
your action plan.
Once you
begin to take the steps to achieve your
goals you may find out that you need to
revise and add to your original objectives
and action plan.
Set
a minimum of three (3) goals followed by a
minimum of two (2) objectives, and then
the action plan, or the actions that
will actually get the objectives
accomplished. You might think of
your goals in terms of one academic, one
personal and one professional.
Example:
Academic
goal:
Go to graduate school to get a PhD in
Clinical Psychology.
Objective: To get an undergraduate
major in Psychology.
To
graduate with at least a 3.5 GPA in
order to be selective regarding
graduate schools.
Action
Plan:
Speak
with the Chair of the Psychology
Department to get advice regarding course
selection (October).
Speak
with my Academic Advisor about my plan
(September).
Set
aside time and stick to a study plan
(August).
Join
Psi Chi, the psychology club (August).
Get
help from the Writing Center whenever
I have a paper to write because that
is my weakest area academically (As
needed).
How
to set S.M.A.R.T. Goals
S
–
specific.
(Does your goal provide a direction
as well as a means?)
M
–
measurable.
(How will you measure the progress
of your goal?)
A
–
attainable*/active.
(Is your goal within reasonable
reach? Do you provide a means to achieve
your goal?)
R
–
realistic*/relevant*.
(Can your goal be achieved?
Does your goal keep you on task?)
T
–
timetable.
(What is the time frame in which
you will achieve your goal?)
*
Not necessarily stated in goal—it is
something you keep in mind while creating
the goal.
Example
of a Smart Goal:
Fall semester 2000 (time table), I
will obtain a GPA above 3.8 by
increasing study time through dedication
and time management (specific and active).
My progress will be measured
through set evaluations (measurable).
Go
to Goals Worksheet
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