Session 2 • Goal Setting

“Beginning college is a time of tremendous change and transition. In fact, the sheer number of changes and adjustments can be a bit disorienting. For this reason, it can be helpful to set goals as a way of establishing one’s direction and purpose.” SMART Goal-setting for Your First Year of College, Dr. Daniel Terry

Mapping My Goals for Academic Success Semester Goals My goal for this semester is to earn a _______________ GPA Examine the courses are you taking this semester and complete this chart. Course

What Skills I Need to do Well in this Class

Grade I Want

Possible Challenges

COLLEGE 101 MENTOR USE: Student’s current cumulative TCU GPA: _________ To improve your GPA to a _________, you (the student) must earn __________ points with _______ credit hours. * Use the GPA calculator on the Registrar's website for assistance (www.reg.tcu.edu)

Taken from The University of South Carolina's ACE Coaching Program

Goal Setting Take some time and use the outline to determine long-term goals for your college career and short-term goals for the spring semester. What is a goal? ♦ Goals are “the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end” ♦ Goals focus your energy and effort towards something you want to accomplish and therefore, increase your level of motivation. ♦ Goals are always evolving as your lives, values and priorities evolve and need to be revisited periodically. ♦ And finally, goals must be YOUR goals, not your parents’ or others’ goals for you.

Goals must be SMART: (taken from www.topachievement.com) Ask yourself who is involved? What do I want to accomplish? Identify a location. Specific Establish a time frame. Identify requirements and constraints. Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal.

Measurable

When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort needed to reach your goal.

Achievable

When you identify what‘s most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true by developing the necessary attitudes, abilities and skills.

Relevant

Your goal must be something that you are both willing and able to work toward. It is important to you and is connected to your values.

Timely

Goals should be grounded within a time frame. Without a time frame, there is no sense of urgency.

Additional SMART tips: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Consider short- and long-term goals Develop several goals Utilize “action steps” Write down your goals and keep them in a visible location Share them with someone who cares about you and can hold you accountable Review your goals frequently

My Original Goal:

Specific

Have I stated the what, why and how? If no, rewrite:

Measurable

Is my goal clearly defined? If no, rewrite:

Achievable

Do I have the skills needed to achieve this goal? If no, rewrite:

Realistic

Is this goal important to me? If no, rewrite:

Timely

Do I have a specified time period for my goal? If no, rewrite:

This is your final goal! Taken from the Academic Success Center at Iowa State University

As a final step to adopting this goal, consider the obstacles you are likely to encounter in your pursuit of this goal. While you cannot anticipate every challenge that will present itself, chances are that you have a pretty good idea of some complicating factors that are likely to emerge along the way. Some obstacles are internal (self-doubt, procrastination, etc.), and other factors are external (people, resources, etc.). Try to anticipate some of these factors and consider how you might overcome them. (Prepared and adapted by Daniel Terry, Ed. D. SMART Goal-setting for Your First Year of College)

Additional Questions Goal Setting •

What is your ideal future? What is your future perfect?

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What would you do if you knew you would not fail?

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What do you not want to do?

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What can you do today to bring you one step closer to your goals?

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How might you apply your best self to achieve your perfect future?

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Identify people in your life who can help you reach your goal.

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What resources might you use to meet your goals?

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What will you do if you encounter roadblocks?

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How can I help you carry out your plan toward your goals?

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What in your personal or professional life might need to change in order to meet your goals?