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What is a Goal?

A goal is an ambition or desired outcome that has personal value. It is more than a wish, it is a dream with an action plan.

Why Should Students Plan Goals?

Online learning in college can be rigorous, requiring more of your time and energy than a traditional face-to-face course. To be successful, you must stay motivated, setting purposeful goals and working towards achieving them.

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What's the connection to study skills?

Study skills are a broad range of abilities that support learning and achievement of academic or vocational goals.

Study skills can include, but are not limited to:

1- Growth mindset attitude and behaviors

2- Time-management and anti-procrastination

3- Active reading and research

4- Effective note-taking

5- Test-preparation

6- Resourcefulness

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How Do I Identify a Goal?

Start with reflection. Answer these questions:

1- What is it that I want to achieve?

2- How will this outcome impact me?

3- Why is this important?

4- Is this a short-term goal that can be completed soon

or a long-term goal that will take longer?

How Should I Describe a goal?

Think SMART. SMART is an acronym that describes five characteristics of the goal to identify when writing an action plan to achieve it.

S M A R T

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S - Stands for Specific

A goal that is specific answers the question, "what do I want to do"? A specific goal clearly defines the behavior or action that you want to achieve.

S M A R T

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M- Stands for Measurable

A goal that is measurable answers the question, "how will I know that it is done"? A measurable goal defines a behavior or action in observable, measurable terms.

S M A R T

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A- Stands for Achievable

An achievable goal answers the questions, "can I really do this?" or "can I do this consistently?" A goal that is achievable identifies steps that you can perform.

S M A R T

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R- Stands for Relevant

A relevant goal answers the questions, "why is this important to me" or "how will this make me happy"? A goal that is relevant will connect to a benefit that you can experience when the goal is met.