Goal Setting

What are goals?

• Goals are the ends towards which we direct our effort.

• In the other word, goals are the thing that we want to achieve, things we aim for as we continue in a certain program.

• You can improve your academic performance in college by learning to set goals that motivate you to do well and that gain your chance for success.

Characteristics of goals

1. Goals Should Be Self-chosen.

•  Goals that are set by your parents, teacher, or friends may not always work for you.
•  You need to determine or choose your own goals.
• You need to decide what you want to achieve. If you set your own goals you will be more motivated to achieve them.

     2. Goals Should Be Moderately Challenging 

• One way to set a moderate challenge goals is to consider what you have done this past years.
• Goals can always be revised, if you discover you can achieve more than you imagine.

      3. Goals Should Be Realistic. 

• Think about whether your goals are attainable. Ex: It will be unrealistic to expect to get a B better in English if you English background was never higher than a C.
• To set realistic goals, you must carefully evaluate your chances of achieving each goals.

      4. Goals Should Be Measurable.

• A goals is measurable if you can determine whether you reach it or not.
• It would be difficult to determine whether you achieved your goal if you just wanted to " do well in a course."
• It would be much easier to measure success if you had aimed for an A or B.

      5. Goals Should Be Specific 

• The more specific your goals are, the more motivate you'll be to achieve them.
• EX: Getting a B in college Algebra is a specific c goals; while, getting a "good grade" in college Algebra is not.

      6. Goals Should Be limits

• Goals need to have the limited time frame.
• EX: If a paper is due by Friday. However, you might decide to have the paper done by Wednesday so that you can prepare for your big Chemistry exam on Friday.
• It's important to set deadlines for all goals.

      7. Goals Should Be Positive

• Negative goals statement tend to make you feel  that you really can't be successful; they aren't motivating.
• Ex: " I don't want to get any lower than a C in any of my classes," "I won't go to lunch until I get this Chemistry work done"
• You'll always do better if you are working towards something- when you have a positive attitude.
• Avoid using words like try, think, hope and should when you describe your goals. 

LONG AND SHORT-TERM GOALS 

• Long-term goals are the objective you set for yourself for the end of the year, for your or five years from now, or even for a lifetime.
• Short-term goals can be set for an hour from now, for the end of the day, week, month or term or semester.
• Think of your short term  goals as steps towards achieving the long-term goals you've set for yourself.

ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL GOALS

• Academic goals relate to your course work. They include things like going to class, completing assignments, and preparing for exams.
• Personal goals, like making new friends, participating in clubs or sporting events, exercising, or even doing your laundry.