Thursday, August 13, 2009

Set Goals For College

College can be a rough transition for students, particularly as they begin to make concrete plans for their future. Setting goals is a core part of this process, and an important one. The path begun in college often establishes a student's career path taken after graduation. Moreover, goal setting helps students to stay focused on what's important while attending school, helping filter out some of the excess aspects of college life that don't actually matter in the end.


Instructions


1. Get organized. When you are in college, you can be overwhelmed with so much information, it can be hard to even know where to start in terms of setting goals. Start by splitting your goals into different areas, such as personal and educational.


2. Set one big goal and several smaller goals for each facet of your life. For example, you might set a goal to get at A's in at least 90 percent of your classes, which is your big goal. Several small goals might be to participate in at least three group projects, give a speech in front of your class and complete at least three extra credit projects during the semester. Personal goals might be to pledge a sorority, which can be your bigger goal, and join at least two other campus organizations and attend at least three home football games, which are the smaller goals.








3. Give yourself deadlines on your goals. You have four years of college, so as you will set new goals for each year, give yourself shorter deadlines to complete your goals throughout each year. Since your direction might change throughout your college years, consider setting goals for each semester.








4. Write down your goals. There is so much information to remember when you are in college, it can be hard to retain even one more piece of it. Don't burden yourself with more memorization. Write down your goals on a calendar or in a planner, or keep a list of your goals in your phone. Refer to it often so you can determine where you are in terms of accomplishing the various tasks.

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