Each one of us has goals. To get an “A” in a course, to buy a new car, to retire by 65, etc. There’s not really any right or wrong goals, but you can go about acheiving them in a smart way… or should we say S.M.A.R.T way?

What is a S.M.A.R.T. goal?

A S.M.A.R.T goal is specific, measureable, attainable, realistic, and timebased.

• Specific – What is your specific goal? Be as precise as possible. Answer who, what, when, where, and why. 
• Measurable – How do you measure success? How will you know when you have reached your goal? Your measurement needs to be precise and answer the question of “how many” or “how often.” 
• Attainable – Make sure your goal is attainable and realistic. If it isn’t, it will always remain a dream. While setting high standards is important, if the standards are unrealistic, then they probably will not be achieved. 
• Realistic – Does your goal align with your other goals and your values? If it conflicts with your vision of yourself or your short- or long-term plans, then you should reassess the goal. 
• Time-based – Set a deadline for achieving your goal. If your goal includes steps or milestones, make a timeframe for them as well. Again, be precise. If your deadline is a vague “sometime in the future,” then your goal may always remain a dream. 

Goals in Action

Let’s take a look at an example. Riley has never attended college, he did not take high school dual credit classes, and he graduated from high school over 10 years ago. He has been working for a popular retailer as a sales associate. He wants to move into a management role, but he needs a college degree to do so.

Riley’s goal? Get a degree as quickly as possible.

Is this a good goal? Sure. Is it a S.M.A.R.T. goal? Not really.

 

Why wasn’t Riley’s goal S.M.A.R.T? He didn’t specify what degree he wanted to pursue, didn’t set a timeframe, and didn’t consider his lifestyle needs.

Make it S.M.A.R.T

Riley was on the right track but here’s how he can improve:

• Make the goal specific: Riley wants to finish a degree at Missouri State that compliments his career goals in 4 years so he can apply for management positions in the future.
• Make it measurable: He needs to complete 15 credit hours a semester for 8 consecutive semesters (excluding summer) to graduate in 4 years.
• Consider attainability: 4 years is the “typical” time to complete a bachelor’s degree. There are many support services at Missouri State to s
• Is it realistic?: Riley will need to keep working full-time to support himself (limited availability for seated classes), and he still wants to have free time to travel. It is possible to work and go to school full time, but this isn’t conducive to Riley’s desires. By extending his timeline or reducing his fall/spring course load to take 1-2 summer classes can help create that “free time” to relax, spend time with loved ones and enjoy himself. He can also consider pursuing his degree online so he can work towards his degree on his own time from just about anywhere!
• Time-Based: By the end of each academic year, Riley will need to have completed 30 credit hours (15 hours in the fall, 15 hours in the spring or 6 hours in the fall and spring and 3 hours in the summer) to maintain his 4-year completion goal.

Even with this S.M.A.R.T.-er goal, it could be improved by taking costs into consideration and setting goals for his GPA. This plan also doesn’t account for any fluctuations such as changing majors or needing to retake a class. If your circumstances change, it’s okay (and smart!) to reevaluate your plan and make tweaks to keep yourself on track. Riley could choose to extend his timeline to take fewer classes each term, or he could decide to sacrifice travel opportunities to take additional credit hours.

Takeaways

We’re here to help you set S.M.A.R.T. goals and achieve them, even as life circumstances change. We are here to help you succeed and take all the factors into consideration.

Through advisement, financial aid, and dozens of student support services – Missouri State is here to help you every step of the way.

Meet with an Adult Student advisor to see how you can get started.