Wayne State University

AIM HIGHER

University Advising Center

Setting Goals is the Key to Success

The key to success in any venture, including your academics, is planning. Effective planning begins with setting goals. Follow these guidelines to set your personal goals and increase your effectiveness, improve your GPA, and decrease your stress level.

  • Make sure the goals are your own.
    Don't let someone else choose what is right for you. Think about what fits your aspirations for the future and set your goals accordingly.
  • Create both immediate and long-term goals.
    Make goals for today, next week, next year, and for life, and make sure they fit together. Immediate goals should lead to long-term goals.
  • Make sure the goals is acheivable.
    A goal should allow you to stretch and grow, but not be so lofty that you can't reach it. Be realistic about what is possible.
  • Target an area where growth is desired.
    In order to be meaningful, a goal should target an area of your life where your potential may not be fully developed (eg., writing or speaking skills).
  • Make achievement of your goal measurable.
    Be specific about both the time frame and the level of achievement required to meet your goal. Saying you want to do well in a course is not setting a goal. An example of a goal would be to earn an "A" on a specific exam or paper.
  • Create a plan for reaching your goal.
    Goals are achieved step-by-step, a process that takes planning. Be sure to think through each step that needs to be accomplished before putting your plan into action. Achieving an "A" in a college course requires a daily plan of study and review. Don't neglect the day-to-day tasks that will make your goal possible.
  • Visualize meeting your goal.
    As you work on the tasks that will accomplish your goal, keep your motivation high by visualizing the goal being met and imagine the feeling of pride that will result.
  • Review your goals and revise on a regular basis.
    Making a habit of reviewing your goals will keep you in a better postion to accomplish what you want to achieve and will provide you with a written record of your achievements.