S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Establishing clear and concise goals are a critical part of the academic process during your undergraduate education.  They are like destination points on a map.

SPECIFIC  

Goals should be straightforward and emphasize WHAT you want to happen.  Be keenly specific and use action words such as “organize”, “develop”, “complete”, “earn”, etc.  

MEASURABLE  

If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.  Goals should include a specific measure for success – success is goal accomplishment. Make every effort to reduce a goal to its most quantifiable form so you can stay on track, reach your targets, see the change occur, and experience a sense of accomplishment.  

ACHIEVABLE & ATTAINABLE   

A goal must be within your authority, skill, and knowledge level.  The appropriate resources need to be available to achieve it.  Goals set too far out-of-reach or are otherwise unrealistic will negatively affect your level of commitment.  You may start with the best of intentions but most likely will not be able to maintain momentum.  Achievable means "do-able."  

RELEVANT  

A goal should directly relate to your vision for future success.  A goal of passing all of your math courses is fine, but this vague goal does not directly relate to your succinct vision to complete a double major in History and Anthropology and enter a Ph.D. program in History by Fall 2014.  

TIME-SPECIFIC  

Set a definitive timeframe for the completion of your goal(s).  Establishing an end point or other specific timeframe gives you a clear target to work towards.  Without a quantifiable timeframe, there's no urgency to begin taking action.  Time must be measurable, attainable and realistic.

SAMPLES OF GOOD S.M.A.R.T. GOALS

“By the end of my first year at Ithaca College, I will have earned a cumulative gpa of 3.0 or more, with no grades in any course below C-.”

“I will request recommendations and complete and mail the applications for four summer internships by December 1st.”