The Importance of SMART Goals for Academic Success in College

This essay discusses the significance of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based) goals for students aiming to achieve academic success. It highlights the importance of well-defined and realistic goals, emphasizing the need for quantification, attainability, relevance, and time-bound targets. The essay outlines five specific goals a student can implement within a semester, including creating a structured study plan, forming a study group, diligently following a timetable, creating useful footnotes for study review, and setting realistic grade targets. By applying the SMART method to these areas, students can enhance their academic performance and achieve their desired outcomes effectively. The essay concludes that using the SMART method makes goals more achievable by providing a clear framework for students to follow.

Running head: SMART GOALS 1
High-level goals using the SMART method
Name
Institution

SMART GOALS 2
High-level goals using the SMART method
In order become successful one has to set a clear and well-articulated goal to achieve the
said objectives. With this understanding, as a student one can use the SMART aim setting
method by instilling its principles to daily routines to fast-track a person to achieve goals. To
further explain, SMART is acronyms that stand out as Specific, Measurable, Achievable,
Relevant and Time-based goals. Noticeably, this simple tool has over the years been applied by
businesses and students in order to go beyond the juvenile idea of goal setting to a more
actionable plan with fruitful results (Zwikael et al. 2018). Nonetheless, this paper gives an in-
depth assessment of the importance of SMART goals on a student and how they will be applied
in this semester to achieve academic goals.
Importance of SMART goals
To begin with, it is necessary to first understand the importance of the method to an
individual and its worth in achievements. Evidently, goals can be viewed as maps to where one
wants to go and to reach the destination one has to set direct and realistic goals to arrive.
However, while evaluating, it is imperative to further understand the elements of the acronyms in
the SMART method.
 Specific; Goals that are well defined and focused tend to be more achievable. As a
result, the goals are well set and focused.
 Measurable; the goals must be quantifiable by the outcome to be able to weigh the
targeted results that were to be triumph.
 Attainable; Students often set goals that are way past their reach. Consequently, it
is advised to work with realistic targets for growth.

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 Relevant; however a student’s wants can be too ambiguous in their thoughts, it is
advised for one to be relevant to the realities in order to achieve the set goals.
 Time-based; a goal has to be set within a specific time-based period in order to
measure the outcome of the goal. For instance, a student can measure their goals
in semesters. Moreover, it is essential to break down one's goals into specific set
of tasks that make it easy to review and make necessary adjustments.
With this under consideration, the article highlights five goals that I laid down to be
achievable within the semester.
STUDY PLAN
According to Jacob et al. 2018, in creating my study plan schedule strategy as a student it
will be more comfortable and competent to carry out my day's schedules which include classes,
among other activities, needless to say, it is crucial that the study plan follows the SMART
method in order to be achievable.
Evidently the schedule that I put in place is focused on the classes that I feel frail. The
plan that I aim to achieve within the semester is measurable. I aim to be loyal to my strategy,
which should be realistic and attainable so as not to be dissimilar to my study plan.
CREATE A STUDY GROUP
From this point of view, in creating my study group, I gather moral support from my
fellow group member. This in return, reflects on how we can gain from each other since we are
driven by the same goals. On this basis, over the semester I’m likely to acquire my set of goals
because of it’s in line with my fellow set of group members. What is more, I will be able to get a

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broader understanding during the semester for I now will have different perspectives into the
academics.
DELIGENLY FOLLOW THE TIME TABLE
This article brings to light the benefits of a timetable. Palpably, I consider writing down a
time table the process by itself is actualising my goals. Accordingly, I set down duties and
responsibilities that are geared towards the relevant goals that I’m willing to attain during the
semester. The timetable is specific to functions over a measurable duration, and this is what the
SMART method dictates. Irrespective of this, if the time table is not followed promptly then my
academic goals that we set earlier when the semester initialised will not be accomplished ed.
FOOTNOTES FOR STUDY REVIEW
From my point of view, when making notes during attendance of my lessons, it is
important to create footnotes that will act as guides or aids used during the revision of the notes.
Consequently, by the use of the SMART method my goal is attainable for, during lectures, the
instructor will often pass footnotes that might be used in the examination setting.
Due to this, while reviewing my exams or small testes it will be more comfortable due to
my highlighted points that I gathered during the lecture hence simplifying and easing the study
time.

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SET TARGETS FOR GRADES THAT ARE STRUGGLING
Following this SMART methods, I need to set realistic targets. These goals should be
reflected in my efforts towards the grades that I had set at the beginning of the semester.
Obviously, through highlighting the affected I have the chance to put in place relevant measures
and attainable parameters that will boost the affected grades.
I can pinpoint that, through self-acknowledgment of weaknesses I fully face and
understand the effort needed towards attaining the set goals.
CONCLUSION
In summary, in every aspect of an individual setting a strategic goal is essential. However
by using the SMART method the goal is more achievable for the guidelines that come with this
particular method.

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References
Zwikael, O., Chih, Y. Y. & Meredith, J. R. (2018). Project benefit management: Setting effective
target benefits. International Journal of Project Management, 36(4), 650-658.
Jacob, J., Edbrooke-Childs, J., Lloyd, C., Hayes, D., Whelan, I., Wolpert, M., & Law, D. (2018).
Measuring outcomes using goals. Working with goals in counselling and psychotherapy,
111-137.