College allows students to grow intellectually and socially. College can be much fun, but don’t forget to expand your intellectual boundaries. Setting goals can help you achieve all that. It ensures that apart from keeping up with your social life, you also cope easily with hectic schedules, deadlines, and all the stress that comes with it.
To achieve this, every student should set S.M.A.R.T goals. They should be realistic, achievable, productive, and rewarding.
Specific– have a clear definition of what these goals are. For example, finishing an assignment a day before the deadline instead of rushing on the night before its due.
Measurable– It’s important to know whether you achieved a goal you set or not. Did it benefit you?
Achievable– be realistic when setting college goals. It’s not enough to have them written down; they must be feasible.
Result focused– there must be a clear expected outcome from every goal you set. It’s also great to hold yourself accountable so that you can see each goal through and achieve the result.
Time-bound– establish achievable deadlines for every goal you set. You can choose to break the essential goals into micro goals. These mini-goals allow you to achieve your goals within a shorter time frame.
It’s important to be yourself while in college. Do not compare yourself to others or try to assimilate to other people’s lives. Ask yourself, what is it that you want to achieve in life? What are your goals and how do you meet them? Every college student has their path. Do not compare yourself to others. Everyone around you is confused just like you are, wondering if they will be somebody someday. The key is to do the best you can by putting in the effort. You can do this by setting smart goals and working to achieve them.
There are so many things to do in college that skipping class sometimes becomes a norm. Being in class and taking notes helps you become familiar with the study material. Also, this helps you when studying for your exams. Skipping course sessions means that you must learn the information on your own, which can be difficult, since the reading materials can have technical terms which may be difficult to understand. Rereading class notes is more comfortable, and you never know, your lecturer may decide to set exams from lecture notes rather than the textbooks, putting you in a better position to pass the exams. Also, you will be reviewing something you already learned, and not trying to learn new material.
Many students in college do not study, and why would you even consider reviewing when there’s an awesome party down the block or a road trip. Usually, college students wait until the last day or two before exams to cram assigned readings. Preparing early for your examinations and classes will be a smart college goal. It will allow you to familiarize yourself with the materials.
Set aside time to study and review notes each day. This will mean that during the exam, you will have a high retention rate. You will remember what you revised or studied for with ease. Setting aside even an hour or 30 minutes each day to review your course is the first step to familiarizing yourself with your classes. It also ensures you are stress-free during the exam period.
Do not just follow the crowd, choose your courses carefully. Find out what course will help you achieve your career goals. It’s also important to identify how each class is essential to your degree, and how you can reach the expected cut off points for a career path or future education plans. Depending on the subject and level of the course, set a realistic grade you want to achieve.
Being in college means that you cannot always rely on your parents to satisfy all your financial needs. It also means that you must manage whatever money you have wisely. Avoid getting into debt and only borrow for essentials. Don’t go into debt because of unimportant activities, such as entertainment or an expensive lifestyle. Live within your means and if possible get a part-time job. It will also expand your networking opportunities and limit borrowing.
Soft skills such as how to build your resume, how to dress for success, how to attend interviews etc. will polish you professionally. Take advantage of such classes because they are often free in college. Attend job fairs too. This will expand your network, and allow you to learn about new career opportunities and the relevant skills that you’ll need for these industries.
Start thinking about what you want to do after college. It is the first step into the job market. Look for an internship opportunity whether paid or unpaid. They prepare you for the job market and are opportunities to build on your experience and skill set. By the time you are graduating, you will have branded yourself and networked with different professionals. You will have relevant experience that sets you apart from your fellow graduates.
This will help you get out of your comfort zone. You can make it one of your elective courses. This will challenge you and keep you intellectually engaged.
Professors are wise. They have experience and advice that could help you choose the correct career path. They will also guide you in how to achieve your goals and to prepare for the future. If they know you very well, they can write you recommendations letters, when it’s time to get a job.
Additionally, you can choose a professor to be your mentor, to help you throughout your career path or provide the relevant networks that will do the same.
Participate in activities that interest you. This could be a club, student government, the school paper, a sports team, a job or even a volunteer position. These are always free in college. Take advantage of them and create experiences outside the classroom. Remember, do it if it excites you. If it doesn’t, ditch it and look elsewhere. There is so much to discover out there, as long as you are willing to get out of your comfort zone!
It’s no use setting goals and then not making an effort to achieve them. Consider writing down and defining your goals clearly to allow yourself to evaluate how and whether you met them. Be realistic and set achievable time frames, because this will only be a dream if you don’t take action. Avoid wasting time. When you set a goal, stick to it.
College is a great place to learn and expand your horizons. It’s also a great time to surround yourself with good people and enjoy every moment. Set smart college goals and if possible, find a goal buddy so that you can do this together and be accountable to each other. Take responsibility for your actions and decisions with regards to the time you need for sleep, to study, and to have fun. The decisions you make while in college will define you. You will have to face the consequences of each. Be responsible and make smart choices. Determine your success and work towards achieving it! Take the first step, set your goals, and most importantly work towards achieving them.
Leave a comment below about your college goals and how you plan to achieve them.
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