Heading off to college? Set goals for social & academic success!

Congratulations! You got into the school of your dreams!

But now the hard work starts. How do you maintain your GPA? How will you find time to make new friends? How do you make these years count?

Well,setting goals for both social and academic success is one step of many to help you have the best college experience ever!

To find social and academic success in your first year of college, you need to take a step back and figure out what you really want to happen this year.

Imagine yourself one year from now. What type of second-year student do you want to be?

• Do you have a 4.0 GPA?

• Have you made some new cool friends?

• Do you have a great study/homework system?

• Are you organized?

• Are you healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually?

Once you have your vision for social and academic success, make it plain! Write down what you want.

So, you've created your vision for yourself, but now you need to set some goals so your vision doesn't remain a dream but becomes a goal where you can see the desired outcome in a year's time.

I highly recommend the SMART goal system because it sets a time limit and it has helped me in all areas of my life. The video below explains what SMART goals are:

What would a SMART goal look like for a college student?

Vision: I want to be organized and stay on top of my assignments.

SMART Goal for Academic Success

"On the 23rd of each month, I will create a calendar that shows my classes, deadlines, and important activities for the following month. I will attend all of my classes and complete my assignments on time."

To stay organized you, can use your Google calendar, physical calendar, or any other organizational templates that works for you.

For my neurodivergent friends, SMART goals are still useful! Check out this website for tips on adapting SMART goals for neurodivergent people.

If you find SMART goals too rigid, try a vision board instead — but be sure to include a timeline so that you achieve your goals!

Photo by Duy Pham on Unsplash

While academic goals are important, creating social connections during your first year is crucial for your mental and social well-being.

Building friendships can help reduce stress and provide accountability for your goals if you share them with others.

As my mother always says, "Your life is what you make it."

So, take the opportunity to explore:

• Clubs and other extracurricular activities

• Student council events

• Sports

Engaging in these activities can help you meet new people, develop new skills, and create a more balanced and fulfilling college experience.

But make sure your friends help to build you up and do not distract you completely from your SMART goals. You want to balance your social health and your academic success.

SMART Goal for Social Success

"I will participate in at least one social event every week for the next semester, unless I have a conflict with an upcoming assignment. I will plan my schedule each Sunday to find any conflicts and make sure I attend at least 12 events by the end of the semester."

A SMART goal can help you put yourself out there to meet new people. Check out how to make friends for more tips.

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Your tuition includes a variety of resources that can help you find academic success in your first year.

• Career services: This department can help review your resume and cover letter for part-time jobs, co-ops, or your first career job.

• The library: The library usually has a multitude of resources to help you learn how to find the research that you will need for your papers. They may also have resources for the dreaded citation lists!

• Writing center: The writing center has tutors who can help you through the writing process, be it draft, research, or final draft.

• First-year resources: Many colleges have resources just for first-year students, such as mentorship programs, study tips, and much more.

• Academic advisor offices: The staff there can help you build a plan for academic success and give you some insightful suggestions.

• Spiritual chaplains: Many campuses provide spiritual support that you could benefit from.

  

SMART Goal for Academic Success

"I will visit the career services office at least once per semester, seek resume and cover letter assistance, and attend two workshops or events. I will schedule one hour per month for these activities and record them in my planner."

I hope you've found these tips helpful. When I started my first year at college, I felt really lost and overwhelmed by all the resources available. However, as soon as I waded into the chaos and created some goals, I started to really enjoy my college experience. I hope these will be some of the best years of your life, as they were for me.

You can have academic success during your first year in college if you: