Setting SMART Goals

Follow these guidelines to set some short-term goals and consider how they fall within the framework of setting goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and achievable within a given time (SMART).2 (Figure 1.2 gives you a chance to practice.)

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FIGURE 1.2 image Practice Setting SMART Goals

Using this chart, try to set one goal in each of the areas listed: academic, career, personal, and financial. Follow the goal through time, from immediate to long term. An example is provided for you.

  1. Be specific about what you want to achieve and when.
  2. State your goal in measurable terms.
  3. Be sure that the goal is attainable. If you don’t have the necessary skills, strengths, and resources to achieve your goal, change it to one that is more appropriate for you. Be sure that you really want to reach the goal. Don’t set out to work toward something only because you want to please others.
  4. Know how the goal is relevant to your life and why the goal matters. Be sure that your goal helps your larger life plan and gives you a sense of moving forward.
  5. Consider the time frame and whether the goal is achievable within the period you desire. Allow yourself enough time to pursue it considering any difficulties you might have. Plan for ways you might deal with problems. Decide which goal comes next. How will you begin? Create steps and a time line for reaching your next goal.

For instance, let’s assume that after you graduate, you think that you might want to work in an underdeveloped country, perhaps spending some time in the Peace Corps. What are some short-term goals that would help you reach this long-term objective? One goal might be to take courses focused on different countries or cultures, but that goal isn’t very specific and doesn’t state a particular time period. A much more specific goal would be to take one course each year that helps you build a body of knowledge about other countries and cultures. An even more specific goal would be to review the course catalog, identify the courses you want to take, and list them on a personal time line.

Before working toward any long-term goal, it’s important to be realistic and honest with yourself. Is it truly your goal—one that you yourself value and desire to pursue—or is it a goal that a parent or friend argued was right for you? Given your abilities and interests, is the goal realistic? Remember that dreaming up long-term goals is the easy part. To reach your goals, you need to be specific and systematic about the steps you will take today, this week, and throughout your college experience.