SMART Goals: Specific

Good goals are SMART: SPECIFIC, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timebound.

John is a freshman majoring in Biology. He’s confident that he’ll do well in his science classes, and probably in math, too. He’s very nervous about his English class. We’ll use some of John’s thinking to provide examples in the pieces that follow.

Your goals need to be SPECIFIC — “My long-term goal is to become a doctor.”

Let’s break it down:

Why: Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal.

“I’ve always wanted to help people, and I want to be able to make a difference in people’s lives.”

Who: Who is involved?

“I’ll need support from family, professors. Need to find mentors in undergrad and med school, too.”

What: What do I need to accomplish?

“I need to be a strong enough student at UD to get into med school, plus do the right extracurricular things and meet the right people as mentors to help me make good decisions. In med school, I’ll have to continue to be an excellent student and have a lot of stamina in order to get through the heavy workload and long hours.”

Where: Identify a location.

“I’ll start at UD, then go to the med school that’s the best match for me.”

When: Establish a time frame.

“I’ll finish my Bachelor’s in 4 years, then spend the time in med school and beyond to become a doctor in the best field for me.”

How: Identify requirements and constraints.

“I will study hard in school, develop relationships with potential mentors, and become involved in activities and service that will prepare me for the future. When I have a problem, I will find the resources I need to overcome it.”