Goal Setting Tips For College Students

College life is completely new for students ascollege in four years.
compared to the protected one they are used to inIt has been seen that people who have set goals,
school. It involves freedom, and a chance to see thecommitted to in writing, and being worked upon, are
world from close quarters. But the students are nomuch more likely to achieve, than those who only have
longer shielded by a protective covering of school anda notion about it. This is the power of goal setting- it
parents, and the freedom brings a lot of responsibilitymakes us achieve what we want to, and thus makes
with it. Students learn, often in a harsh way, that thingsus endeavor for it till it is finally achieved. This is
do not necessarily go as they might have planed.because while the human brain is very good at
According to a study by W. Haley (cited in Upcraft andprocessing huge amount of information, it needs
Kramer, 1995), students decide on their majors evendirection so as to give importance and priorities to the
before their classes begin and 12% expect to changevarious choices that are available to a person. This is
it at some point of time. But 65%-85% actually changewhat keeps a person from straying to do
their plans for majoring. While 8% of undergradsunnecessary things.
expect to spend more than 4 years to complete theirHowever, still people find that they do many things that
degrees, 60% end up taking more time. Further, whileare not required, at least at the moment, or which can
2% expect to fail a course, 16% actually do; and whilewait. To keep the mind focused on a particular
only 1% of students expect to drop out, 40% actuallyachievement that is desired, it is important to have
do drop out!goals that will always ensure that the brain gives first
This trend clearly shows the lack of goal setting bypriority to the actions resulting towards the fulfillment of
college students. If you want to succeed in yourthose goals.
college life and also after that, the direction your lifeIt is desirable to break down the goal into smaller
takes, and the way you go about it should be clearlysub-goals, which can be achieved one at a time. This
defined by your goals. While all of us have notions, ofwill keep a person from being overwhelmed, especially
what we want to do, and where we want to be in life,by large goals that takes a longer period of time to
these are clearly different from goals. Notions are onlyachieve. This also keeps a person from straying away
a rough idea about the way we feel. Goals are morefrom the goal due to the goal seeming unattainable. A
specific and concise than notions. They clearly defineseries of short-term goals ensure that the person
what we want, in an accurate manner, so that weremains on the track of achieving the long-term goal.
have a perfect vision and a direction. Thus, while everySmall, but continuous success with a series of
student has a notion that he/she wont drop out ofshort-term goals also acts as a motivation factor,
college, a goal would be more like; I will completewhich keeps a person going.