student goals examples essay

38 Examples of SMART Goals for Students

The SMART Goals framework, also written as S.M.A.R.T Goals or SMART Objectives, is a template for setting specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based goals.

While originally used in leadership and corporate management, the framework is now extensively used in education to help students to set personal and academic goals for themselves.

The following examples of SMART goals for students show how students can set achievable goals by following the five elements of the framework.

SMART Goals Example

For the SMART framework, a student should set one goal that meets five clear criteria. The goal should be:

• Specific – Be clear about exactly what the goal is and what will be done to achieve it. Consider giving details about what, when, where, why, and how.
• Measurable – Make sure you have a way to assess whether you have achieved your goal.
• Attainable – State how you believe reaching the goal is within your power.
• Relevant – State how the goal will help you to meet your overall goals as a student.
• Time-Based – You need to set a time by which you will complete your goal to keep yourself accountable.

SMART Goals Template for Students

The student should write down their goal in a quote above the table then enter an explanation of how their goal is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.

Get the Google Docs Template Here

Goal: Write your goal above the table. Carefully think about your goal and fill out the sentence with details that will ensure that it is S.M.A.R.T.

SMART Goals for Students

1. get an a in my next essay.

“I will get an A in my current essay in my Psychology class.”

2. Improve my Research Skills

“I will improve my research skills by using library resources and taking notes from the recommended readings for my course. I will do this every Friday afternoon for 3 weeks. I will aim for a subjective statement on my end-of-semester feedback about my research skills.”

3. Type at 60 Words per Minute

“I will learn to type at 60 words per minute within two months.”

4. Study 5 Days a Week for 5 Weeks

“I will study for my math class for one hour each afternoon Monday to Friday for 5 weeks.”

5. Improve my Productivity

“I will improve my productivity by using a Pomodoro timer when studying and closing all other tabs on my computer. I will do this every time I study for 2 months.”

6. Improve my Focus

“I will improve my focus during class this term by leaving my phone in my bag, sitting alone instead of with friends, and ensuring I turn up well-hydrated and rested.”

7. Memorize 100 flashcards within 3 weeks

“I will create a deck of 100 flashcards related to my Spanish course and memorize all 100 flashcards within 3 weeks by spending 20 minutes per day on the task.”

8. Complete my Assigned Book for Class

“I will finish reading the book that has been assigned by my teacher within 5 weeks.”

9. Obtain the Confidence to Give a Public Speech

“I will obtain the confidence to give a public speech by practicing speaking from note cards in front of a mirror and friends for the next 3 weeks.”

10. Re-Submit my Essay for a Higher Grade

“I will use the feedback provided on my essay to re-submit for a higher grade within the 2-week timeframe I have been given by my teacher.”

11. Follow a Study Calendar for the Next 5 Weeks

“I will use a study calendar that states when and what I should study. I will do this for 5 days a week for 5 weeks.”

12. Borrow One Book per Month from the Library

“I will borrow one book per month from the library for six months and read it fully in order to deepen my knowledge of sociology for my sociology class.”

13. Complete my Assignments 2 Weeks Before Due Date

“I will complete all assignments 2 weeks before the due dates so I have 2 weeks of free time to edit the work without stress.”

14. Maintain a Study Journal for 15 Weeks

“I will keep a daily study journal Monday to Friday for 15 weeks that will record what I studied, notes on key things I need to revise, and how long I studied. This will help me reflect on my improvement over time.”

15. Minimize Study Stress

“I will minimize the amount of stress I’m experiencing by exercising an hour a day, only studying for a maximum of one hour per day, and meditating for 15 minutes after each study session. I will do this for 5 weeks.”

SMART Goals Examples for High School Students

16. apply for five colleges.

“I will apply for five colleges within 3 months.”

17. Go to Four University Open Days

“I will go to four university open days within the next 2 months to learn more about the universities and see which one I would prefer.”

18. Study for an Hour Before Class Daily

“I will study for one hour between 8 am and 9 am daily before class Monday to Friday. I will study for the class that I will be sitting that day and keep a journal of progress.”

19. Maintain a Regular Sleep Routine

“I will sleep for 9 hours a day by making sure I get into bed by 10 pm every night and set an alarm for 7 am each morning. This will keep me fresh for classes.”

20. Research Five Potential Career Options

“I will spend 3 hours every Thursday night researching a potential career option for 5 weeks straight. At the end of the 5th week, I will rank all the career options based on my research.”

21. Have Three Meetings with my Careers Advisor 

“I will book in three meetings with my careers advisor over the next six months to check in and re-evaluate my thoughts about what I want to do after I finish high school.”

SMART Goals Examples for University Students

22. decide upon a major for my degree.

“I will lock in a major with my advisor by the end of the month and select the appropriate courses for next semester.”

23. Meet Each Instructor in Open Office Hours Once per Semester

“I will meet each of my instructors during their open office hours on Week 8 of the semester to go over my essay drafts.”

24. Meet with my Advisor for Feedback on my Progress 3 Times per Year

“I will meet with my advisor to check in on my progress in my degree 3 times this year. I will meet her in March, July, and September.”

25. Attend One Library Skills Seminar per Month

“I will attend one library skills seminar per month until I have attended all the training sessions they have on offer. This should take 6 months and help me incrementally develop my academic skills.”

26. Meet with my Study Group Weekly All Semester

“I will meet with my study group at 2.30 pm every Tuesday in the library for one hour to compare notes about our studies. We will also meet to check each other’s drafts during this period when necessary.”

27. Complete All Homework Tasks by Wednesday each Week

“I will complete my homework tasks by Wednesday each week this semester. To do this, I will remain at the university library on Tuesdays from 12 noon onwards.”

28. Turn up to Class on Time

“I will turn up to class five minutes before class begins for the entire semester in order to change my habit of being late. To make this happen, I will take the 8.05 am bus each morning.”

29. Apply for Five Summer Internships

“I will apply for five summer internships by the end of next week.”

See more SMART internship goals here.

30. Apply for Five Part-Time Jobs in my Career Field

“I will apply for five part-time jobs in my career field by the end of next week.”

31. Write 400 Words per Day for my Essay

“I will write 400 words per day for 5 days to get my first draft of my essay complete.”

SMART Goals Examples for Online Students

32. post five forum responses per week.

“I will log into my online course between 4 pm and 5 pm each weekday to read a forum task and post a 100-word response on the discussion board. I will continue this for the rest of the semester.”

33. Re-watch my Online Lectures and Take Notes for my Essay

“I will re-watch the eight one-hour online lectures for my course. I will watch one per day between 9 am and 10 am and take notes daily on anything relevant to the essay I’m writing.”

34. Reply to Three other People’s Forum Comments per Week

“I will reply to three forum comments on my online discussion board per week for the next three weeks in order to engage with other students in my class.”

SMART Goals Examples for International and Exchange Students

35. speak only in spanish for a whole day.

“I will speak only in Spanish for the whole day during my exchange at Barcelona University.”

See a Full List of Communication Goals Here

36. Apply for an Exchange Scholarship by May 1st

“I will apply for an exchange scholarship to get funding to go to Barcelona for a semester. This application will be a 1000 word essay and completed by May 1st.”

37. Join a Cultural Club at my new Unviersity

“I will join one cultural club at my university by the end of the social club sign-up day tomorrow.”

38. Apply for a Work Visa for after I Graduate so I can Stay Here

“My goal is to apply for a work visa by 5 pm on the 30th of December so I can stay in the country after I have completed my degree.”

The SMART framework is valuable when setting educational goals because it helps you to articulate exactly what your goal is. The five criteria within the framework will force students to set goals that can be clearly explained and are achievable. By setting SMART goals, students can see greater levels of success whether it’s short-term goals or long-term goals and have a clearer idea about what they need to do to meet their goals.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Social-Emotional Learning (Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ What is Educational Psychology?
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ What is IQ? (Intelligence Quotient)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University

5 thoughts on “38 Examples of SMART Goals for Students”

I have tried it before but soon forgot about it, which means I have made my calendar or schedule with a goal on top and worked toward it, and then I forgot to do it again for my next semester’s class. but it does not hurt trying again one more time.

This method is useful and essential. That why I have been using it since high school.

This method is very significant in my study I have been using it.

This method is essential and productive, i still use it even today to achieve my goals.

One of the best online learning articles I have come across. Rarely give comments at over 69yrs and a lot working in education. But you are clear, and straight to the point. Good job! Recommended.

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Career Goals Essay For Scholarships (With Examples)

• Apply For A Job
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• Career Goals Essay
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Scholarship programs often want you to write a career goals essay to see that you have a clear plan for how you’ll apply your education to a specific career path. This helps show a scholarship committee why you’re seeking funds for the next step on the path toward your success.

Answering “what are your career goals” effectively can help increase your odds of impressing landing a scholarship opportunity. If you’re a prospective student applying for scholarships, this article will provide tips on how to write a career goals essay, along with essays on career goals examples to help you get an idea of what scholarship committees are looking for.

Key Takeaways:

When you’re writing a career goals essay, make sure to write about the goals that are relevant to the scholarship.

Be honest and use your own voice to stand out in your scholarship essay.

Go into detail about how the scholarship will help you achieve your goals.

What is a career goals essay?

Why scholarship essays ask about career goals, example career goals essay prompts, career goals essay examples, tips for writing a scholarship essay about career goals, what to write in a career goals essay if your goals have changed, career goals essay for a scholarship faq.

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A career goals essay is a personal written explanation that discusses your background, why you’re interested in participating in the program, and what career you’d like this degree to lead into. A scholarship essay functions to explain why you want to achieve your professional goals and how you intend to get there.

In almost every application process, a portion asks the candidate to answer an essay question. When applying to an educational program, like an MBA, the essay prompt usually relates to your career goals .

Scholarship essays ask about career goals to assess your enthusiasm for the program, learn more about how the scholarship will help you, and ensure that you’ve considered how the program will help you achieve your goals for the future:

Assess your enthusiasm. Passion is important for scholarship administrators, and if you’re able to articulate your enthusiasm for a specific career path , it will show that you’re determined to meet the requirements to reach that goal. The most specific and well-thought-out your essay is, the easier it will be for a reader to understand your devotion and commitment to the program and the field it will allow you to enter.

Learn how the scholarship will help you. Having a firm grasp of your career goals is great, but it’s equally important that you express exactly how the specific program relates to those goals. This shows that you’ve researched the merits of the program and understand exactly how it fits into your professional goals.

Show you’ve considered your future. This goes along with the first two points — show that you know how to set goals and consider the path toward achieving those goals, and you’ll have an easier time convincing the reader that you’ll know how to set goals while participating in the program. They’ll see that you know how to prioritize education because you have a clear vision for navigating your career path.

While some scholarships might come right out and simply ask, “What are your career goals?” most will rework the question into something different that still accomplishes the same goal.

Below are some examples of career goals essay prompts that a scholarship program could pose to its applicants:

Discuss your career goals. Many scholarships prefer the most direct approach when giving an essay prompt to their applicants. This type of question gives the candidate a lot of wiggle room to discuss their passions, motivations, and career goals.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years ? This question is often used as a prompt for a career goals essay because it gives the applicant a timeline to describe their aspirations. It forces them to be realistic about where their career will be and how they will accomplish this within the next ten years.

How will this scholarship contribute to your professional success? A scholarship committee wants to be sure that the money they’re giving will contribute to a student’s overall professional success. This question asks about the applicant’s game plan in the long-term and evaluates how this program is going to assist in their future.

What is your dream job ? Since a dream job is often categorized as a person’s career goals, this is a common question phrasing in scholarship essays. Asking about a candidate’s dream job answers whether this program aligns with the student’s long-term career goals.

What matters most to you and why? Sometimes, a scholarship essay prompt won’t ask about your career or future at all. Instead, they’ll ask a question like this that assesses your motivations , values, and character.

Use these examples of career goals essays for scholarships to help write your own. Pay special attention to how they’re organized, rather than the content, to inspire your own career goals essay:

Career goals essay example 1 – Discuss your career goals

When I was six years old, I was riding bikes with my older sister around our neighborhood. She had just taught me how to ride, and I was excited to have to freedom to explore with her. When she was rounding a particularly difficult bend to see around, a car happened to be coming along at the same time. It struck her. That bike ride changed our lives forever. Over the next year, I went with my sister every Tuesday and Thursday to her physical therapist ’s appointments to help her regain walking strength. Watching her physical therapist patiently assist my sister back to becoming herself awoken something in me. A passion for helping others in the same way eventually turned into a career goal of becoming a physical therapist myself. I decided to get my bachelor’s degree in exercise science. After graduating in 2019, I knew that the next step for me was to attend a graduate program in physical therapy. I was accepted to Lassell University Master of Science in Rehabilitation Services. This presented me with my latest goal along my career path, and I’m eagerly waiting to start. This scholarship would help me afford the wonderful opportunity to be a part of the Lassell University class of 2023, allowing me to continue working towards my ultimate career goal of becoming a physical therapist and helping others to become themselves again.

Career goals essay example 2 – Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years, I will have been successfully running my own construction business for about five years. I’m currently a second-year student at the University of Texas, pursuing a master’s degree in business administration. I decided to get my MBA because I knew it would be a positive asset toward my long-term career goal of owning a construction business. In my high school years, I worked as a construction apprentice for a local business. I loved many aspects of the business, such as building something from nothing. I knew that I wanted to incorporate this work into my long-term career, but I didn’t want to work as an apprentice . This led me to pursue business. In ten years and with the help of this scholarship, I will have graduated with my MBA almost a decade prior . After graduation, I plan to take a business administration internship with a carpentry business to help myself get a footing in the field. After about two years of this, I will have started my own construction business.

Career goals essay example 3 – What matters most to you and why?

The people I surround myself with matter most to me. Whether it be my relatives, friends, or professional acquaintances, I always care the most about the happiness of the people around me. Making the people around me happy matters the most to me because I truly because we find our happiness through others. I believe that this drive to make a positive impression on the people around me is what drove me towards a career as a nurse . I always thought of hospitals as places where people need someone to support them and make their day a little happier. I wanted to be one of those who spend their careers positively impacting people in need. This scholarship will enable me to finally afford nursing school and go after my dream job full force.

Career goals essay example 4 – What are your short- and long-term career goals, and how will earning this degree contribute to achieving those goals? Please provide a minimum of 200 words.

My short-term career goals involve working directly with underprivileged young people to increase the literacy rate in my community. As a student of an underfunded and understaffed school, I’ve seen firsthand how much of an impact early literacy education makes on long-term achievement. It broke my heart to see my peers embarrassed at their struggle with reading at an advanced age, and this shame added another dimension to their lack of opportunity. Being a literacy educator for young people would allow me to serve this community directly to show them not only the necessity of strong written communication skills, but the joy of reading for pleasure. This program focuses specifically on early literacy, and would provide me a direct route to a career in serving the community I hope to serve. As for long-term career goals, I hope to one day create a program where socioeconomically parents can bring their children for literacy education, not only to increase their ability to navigate the world of language, but also to instill confidence and joy in the written word. What drew me to this program was that it also has administrative, legal, and business dimensions that would set me on the path toward achieving this goal.

Here are some tips to keep in mind for writing a career goals scholarship essay:

Write about goals relevant to the scholarship. Although you may have many different kinds of goals for your personal and professional future, a scholarship essay only discusses objectives that are relevant to the program you’re applying for.

Be honest. Applying for a scholarship is stressful because the applicant’s education is usually reliant on receiving these funds in one way or another. Even though it’s tempting to exaggerate your skills or pretend you’re more passionate about something than you are to make yourself a more competitive applicant, it’s a bad move.

Use your own, unique voice. The essay portion of a scholarship application is your chance to stand out by using your voice. Nobody else, regardless of their academic or professional achievements, is you. Make this clear in your career goals scholarship essay by keeping your unique written voice engrained in the words you produce.

Be specific. A big reason that scholarship committees ask applicants to write a career goals essay is to determine how prepared they are in planning their long-term professional goals. They aren’t interested in providing a scholarship to students who aren’t going to follow through with their career plans.

Explain long and short-term goals . Even if the essay prompt asks you to describe where you see yourself in ten years, you still need to tell them the steps leading towards this picture of success.

Include the short-term goals that add up to your larger career objectives in your essay response. Explain how accomplishing the smaller goals gives you an advantage when tackling long-term ones.

Explain how the program and scholarship will help you. Before writing your career goals essay, consider how this program and scholarship will help you in your career. The answer to this question is essential.

Follow the essay formatting guidelines. This may sound obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to forget this step when your essay is finally flowing and when you’re scrambling to get it submitted on time.

Check, double-check , and triple-check the essay guidelines for content, word count, and formatting requirements. If you miss any of these steps, your essay may be immediately disqualified no matter how good it or the rest of your application is.

Many times career goals essays are written by students who have already completed at least some college or are applying to a post-graduate program and need more money to continue.

There’s a good chance that your career goals have changed since you started or graduated college. For example, say you wanted to be an engineer , so you got your undergraduate degree in engineering but realized you didn’t like it after working in the industry for a few years.

You decided that nursing would be more up your alley, and now you’re applying for a scholarship for a nursing program. While this isn’t unusual, it can make it more difficult to write a career goals essay since your past work doesn’t necessarily match your future goals.

In this case, you’ll simply need to explain why you changed your career path and why this next one is the best choice for you. Share your decision-making process to show that you haven’t taken the switch lightly, and talk about what you’ve already done to try to pursue this path.

How do you write a career goal for a scholarship essay?

You write a career goal for a scholarship essay by sharing your passion, explaining both your long- and short-term goals, and relating your goals to the scholarship.

Explain why you want to pursue the career you’re pursuing, where you hope to be in the future and how you plan to get there, and how the scholarship will help you do this.

How do you describe your career goals in an essay?

You describe your career goals in an essay by explaining what you want to do in your career, why you decided on this career path, and what you’ve done so far to make that a reality.

You can usually work these factors into any prompt you receive, so think through them before you start writing so that you can use them as an outline of sorts.

What are career goals examples?

Examples of career goals include:

Working as a grant writer for a nonprofit organization.

Becoming a department manager and eventually an executive in your field.

Owning your own plumbing company.

Caring for underserved communities as a nurse practitioner .

What are some goals for success?

Some goals for success include growing in your role, building your network, and finding joy in the job. Most careers don’t just happen overnight and require you to set the right milestones that work best for you. Not everyone will have the same goals for success.

How do you start a career goals essay for a scholarship?

You can start a career goals essay for a scholarship by directly answering the prompt. Most scholarship prompts include a word count of between 200 and 500 words, so it’s essential that you immediately respond to the prompt. Attention-grabbing sentences and narratives can be helpful for setting the scene, but an efficient and direct answer will show a clarity of mind that helps enhance the quality of your answer.

BLS – Career planning for high schoolers

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Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.

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31 SMART Goals Examples for Students of All Ages

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A new school year is underway, and students are facing unprecedented challenges as most are having to “learn how to learn” in a whole new way. Due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, students have brought traditional classroom learning back into their own homes, giving a huge rise to the relatively new concept of online education.

But, despite learning environments taking on a new look, students are still eager to get back into a routine , learn new things , and make some marked progress in their extra-curricular activities of choice . 

While students have always needed motivation and self-discipline to excel in school, this new academic climate takes that requirement to the next level. Students no longer have a teacher looking over their shoulder or instructing them to put their smart phones down and pay attention. It’s now up to all learners to be proactive in their studies and feel a sense of responsibility for their educational outcomes.

Teachers can support students in this endeavor by teaching proper goal-setting techniques so students can focus their efforts appropriately, effectively manage their time , and see the positive results of their work. And setting SMART goals isn’t just important for helping students focus and maintain their momentum during these months of virtual learning–it’s a critical skill they will use for the rest of their lives. 

(If you're a teacher looking for some inspiration in creating your own SMART goals, check out this post .)

Now, if you’re the student, learning the art of setting SMART goals will help you continuously improve yourself, which will help you gain a competitive advantage over your peers once you enter the working world. And, the simple act of setting effective goals will be an integral part of your success.  

According to Locke and Latham’s goal setting theory , two people with the same skills and knowledge can perform very differently on the same task if they have different performance goals because their goals ultimately determine their motivation to succeed. Whoever is more driven to succeed will probably do so.

In this article, we are going to look at the value of SMART goals and why students of all ages should know how to set SMART goals to lay the foundation for their academic success.

Then we will go over 21 specific examples of statements that students can use to improve their performance at school, in their extra-curricular activities, and in their lives in general. (And if you want a simple tool to track these goals, then check out this 13-week goal planner, backed by science and success psychology, that is designed to optimize your day and help you tackle your goals .)

Let’s start by taking a look at what SMART goals are and why they’re so valuable.

Table of Contents

What Is a SMART Goal?

SMART goals are statements that turn your vague intentions into an actionable plan. They provide you with a strategy to achieve your vision by guiding you to set objectives that fit into the “SMART” mold. 

The SMART acronym exists in a variety of forms, but each one touches on the same fundamental ideas. Here, we refer to SMART goals as being Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Let’s look at each one of these characteristics individually.

• Specific : If a goal isn’t explicit and precise, your efforts won’t be either. To be specific, a goal should be written with no wiggle room when asking who, what, when, where, or why.
• Measurable : If your goal is measurable, there will be some way you can measure your progress at any point along the way.
• Achievable : Working toward your goal can either lead to satisfaction, which will motivate you to push yourself even harder –or it will lead to frustration if you don’t see any progress, which can make you want to quit. After taking all other factors into consideration, ask yourself how realistic it is to attain your goal. This will help you determine if it’s achievable. 
• Relevant : It’s important that your goals matter to you or else you will be quick to abandon them after hitting an obstacle. If your goal is relevant, you will answer “yes” to these questions: Is working toward this goal worthwhile? Is now the right time? Will achieving this goal move me closer to my ultimate vision ?
• Time-Bound : Your SMART goals need a deadline so you stay focused and prevent other less important tasks from taking priority and becoming a distraction . With a sense of urgency, you will know what you can do today, next week, and next month to make progress toward achieving your goal. 

( Check out this post on action verbs that you can use to create your SMART goals. )

Let’s take a quick look at what these goals do not look like to help further your understanding of them:

• Not Specific: I’m going to be happier .
• Not Measurable: I’m going to increase my savings .
• Not Achievable: I will go on 30 job interviews per month.
• Not Relevant: As an 8th grader, I’m going to get ahead of the game and apply to ten colleges this year.
• Not Time-Bound: I will be at a healthy weight someday.

SMART goals set you in the right direction, push you to take that critical first step, and keep your goals organized so you can achieve them.

Why Is It Particularly Important for Students to Set SMART Goals?

It’s important for people in any stage of life to set goals, but because students are immersed in a learning environment, which often leads their learning to go beyond the subject at hand, this is the perfect time to practice setting SMART goals. Also, with so much being expected of students, there is a lot of material to work with (so to speak) for setting goals and maintaining order in life.

One longitudinal study looked at the relationship between goal setting and student achievement in over 1200 high school students learning Spanish. The researchers performed a correlational analysis that revealed a statistically significant relationship between the process of setting goals and students’ proficiency in Spanish.

The researchers went on to explain that setting goals gave the students a greater sense of autonomy in their learning, which lead to higher levels of motivation to succeed in their studies.  ( Check out our compilation of the best motivational movies for students. )

This suggests that students who set goals are more motivated to learn than those who don’t, which leads to better educational outcomes. Seeing as autonomy is an integral part of today’s learning culture, there’s no better time than now for students to become pros at setting SMART goals.

Now, let’s look at 31 examples of SMART goals that you can use if you’re a student to increase your chances of being successful in school–not only for this year, but for many years to come as well.

31 SMART Goals Examples for Students of All Ages 

1. meet each of my teachers.

“I will meet with each of my teachers individually within the first two weeks of class to start building a rapport and gain clarity of their expectations so I will feel comfortable going to them with future questions throughout the year.”

S : This statement answers all of the questions: who, what, when, where, and why.

M : Each meeting with a teacher acts as one unit of measurement and progress can be measured at any point during that two-week time frame by counting the number of meetings left to do. 

A : The goal setter has all of the tools they need to achieve this goal.

R : This goal is relevant to the student’s success in class.

T : The goal setter has set a two-week deadline for achieving this goal.

2. Complete Assignments One Day Before the Deadline

“I will complete all of my assignments this year at least one day before they’re due to avoid rushing through any work. To do this, I will list all of my assignments in order of their due date and work through them accordingly. I will spend 30 minutes every Sunday night determining which projects need attention during the week ahead.”

S : The specific goal set is to complete all assignments one day before they’re due.

M : The goal setter will know his progress with the passing of each assignment’s deadline.  

A : By being organized with a list of assignments and a schedule for completing them, the goal setter has made an achievable goal. 

R : Finishing projects before they’re due is an appropriate way to avoid turning in work that has been hurried.

T : The deadline for this goal is threefold: 1) one day prior to each assignment’s due date 2) every Sunday night 3) the end of the school year.

3. Raise my Hand at Least Five Times Each Week

“To keep myself accountable for my learning, I will raise my hand at least five times each week in class to answer a question posed by the teacher.”

S : The clear objective is to answer at least five of the teacher’s questions in class per week.

M : Each time a question is answered, the goal setter has made progress toward meeting his goal.

A : The student will stay on top of his assigned reading, homework, etc in order to be prepared to answer the teacher’s questions.

R : It’s worth the goal setter’s time to participate in class if he wants to stay accountable for his learning.

T : The deadline for this goal is every Friday at the end of the day. 

4. Improve my Grade in English

“To improve my grade in English to a B or higher, I will complete all of the grammar, punctuation, writing mechanics, and word usage modules in the writing center, scoring at least a 92% on each within the next 4 months.”  

S : The unambiguous nature of this goal makes it specific. 

M : Progress can be tracked as each module has been completed with a score of 92% or above.

A : As the student becomes more skilled at using proper grammar and punctuation, his English grade will improve accordingly.

R : Spending extra time completing English modules is a worthwhile way to improve an English grade.

T : The deadline for this goal is 4 months from the starting date.

5. Practice Reading for 20 Minutes Per Day

“I will demonstrate growth in my reading accuracy and fluency by the last day of school by reading 70 words per minute with 95% accuracy. I will practice reading for a minimum of 20 minutes per day.” 

( Note : This SMART goal is designed for a student at the third grade level. While this may seem like a young age to write such an articulate goal, many teachers offer fill-in-the-blank worksheets to help younger students practice setting goals such as this one.)

S : This student wants to be able to read 70 words per minute with 95% accuracy.

M : Progress can be checked by doing reading tests throughout the year to look for improvement.

A : By practicing reading every day, the student will improve his reading skills.

R : It is appropriate and relevant for a child this age to learn how to read to set himself up for future success.

T : This goal’s deadline is the last day of school. 

6. Practice my Lines with a Fellow Student

“By September 15th, I will have found another student who also enjoys theater with whom I can practice lines in order to audition for the school play. We will practice for three hours per week together and I will practice for four additional hours per week alone until auditions on November 5th to land a role in the school play.”

S : This student has set a specific plan to improve his chances of earning a role in the school play.

M : There are two measurable parts to this goal–one is finding a partner by September 15th and the other is completing seven total hours of practice each week.

A : By practicing, this student will have a higher chance of achieving his goal.

R : Because theater is this student’s extracurricular activity of choice, practicing for the play’s audition is relevant.

T : This goal has two deadlines: September 15th to find a partner, and November 5th, which is the day of tryouts. 

7. Complete 10 College Applications

“I will complete ten college applications by January 1st to help ensure I get accepted into a school.”

( Note : This goal would be for a high school senior.)

S : This goal statement is clear and to the point.

M : With each application completed, the student will become closer to achieving this goal.

A : While ten college applications may have seemed unreasonable 15 years ago, it is not uncommon for high school seniors to apply to 20 or more colleges today .

R : Applying to college as a high school senior is a relevant goal.

T : The deadline for this goal is January 1st.

8. Work with a Tutor and Take Practice Tests

“To earn an SAT score that is over the 75th percentile range for my target colleges, I will work with a tutor weekly and take practice tests every 2-4 weeks to measure my incremental progress until the test date in December.”

( Note : This goal would be for a high school junior.)

S : This student wants to get a better score on his SATs than 75% of his peers applying to similar colleges.

M : His progress can be measured with the results of his practice tests.

A : By dedicating so much time and energy to studying for the SATs, this student will increase his chances of achieving a high score.

R : All students must take the SATs, so preparing for them is relevant for this student’s stage in his education.

T : This goal’s deadline is the date of the test in December.

9. Receive a Job Offer

“I will receive a job offer in my field of study by May 1st to make a seamless transition from college to working in the professional world.”

( Note : This goal would be for anyone finishing up a degree-seeking program.)

S : This student wants to accept a job offer before graduating from their program.

M : Each job application and interview this student completes will show measurable progress toward his goal. 

A : Because this person is graduating with a degree in the field in which they’re job searching, this is an achievable goal.

R : Job searching is relevant to people’s lives who are nearing graduation from a degree-seeking program.

T : The deadline for this goal is May 1st.

Check out our post on SMART goal examples for college students to help you achieve success in college!

10. Develop New Peer Relationships

“I will develop 5 new peer relationships by the end of the year with people I’ve never interacted with at school before. I’ll do this by sitting with an unfamiliar group of people for lunch at least once per month, asking one person in each of my classes to be my accountability partner for that class, and interacting with the other students who engage in the same extracurricular activities as I do outside of those meetings.”

S : This student wants to develop 5 meaningful connections or relationships with peers before the end of this year.

M : Each new relationship this student cultivates will show marked progress toward his goal.

A : By putting himself out there and being proactive about meeting new people, it is probable that this student will develop friendships that go beyond that of an acquaintance.

R : This goal is worthwhile because as students graduate over the years and move to other cities, it will always be useful to have connections, whether that ends up being for personal or professional purposes.

T : The deadline for this goal is the end of the school year. 

11. Prioritize My Assignments

“I will accurately prioritize my work every night to avoid having to stay up late to complete my assignments. I will do this by setting aside ten minutes before starting my homework each night to rank my assignments in order of importance and due date. “

S : The goal is to maintain a proper study/sleep schedule.

M : The number of nights the student goes to bed on time can be measured.

A : Ten minutes is a reasonable amount of time to spend planning.

R : Time management is relevant for all students.

T: This goal offers a chance for a weekly check-in.

12. Attend my Classes on Time

“I will not be late to any classes this semester, nor will I have an unexcused absence. I will make sure I am on time by getting up 15 minutes earlier every morning. “

S : The goal is to show up to class on time.

M : This goal is measured by the number of times this student is late or absent from class.

A : Fifteen minutes is a reasonable amount of time to add to the morning to ensure timeliness.

R : Leaving early is relevant to showing up on time.

T : The deadline for this goal is every day.

13. Read at Least 400 Pages Every Month

“To expand my knowledge base, I will read at least 400 pages every month of material that is not assigned in class. I will do this by reading for two hours on the weekends and 30 minutes daily Monday through Thursday.”

S : This student wants to read for pleasure to learn more outside of the classroom.

M : The number of pages read per month and the time spent reading are both measurable.

A : The amount of reading desired to be completed is achievable.

R : Reading more is a relevant goal for any student who is trying to grow their knowledge base.

T : There is a monthly reading benchmark of 400 pages for this goal.

14. Find a Spanish-Speaking Pen Pal

“By February 1st, I will have found a Spanish-speaking pen pal through social media to supplement my studies and increase my fluency.”

S : This student wants to make a friend who speaks fluent Spanish to enhance their communication skills.

M : This goal is measured by meeting one fluent Spanish-speaking friend.

A : Given the fact that social media spans the world, this goal is achievable.

R : Communicating one-on-one is an effective way to learn a foreign language, which makes this goal relevant.

T : The deadline for this goal is February 1st.

15. Join a Local Professional Association and Networking Events

“To become active in my industry at a local level, I will join the local professional association student chapter by February 1st. I will then attend at least two networking sessions every month.”

S : Getting involved with a professional association is a clear step students can take to help get a job.

M : The number of networking events attended each month can be measured.

A : Attending two sessions per month is achievable.

R : This is a relevant goal for gaining experience and networking.

T : The deadline for this goal is February 1st, as is the number of sessions attended per month.

16. Apply to Scholarships

“By March 1st, I will have applied for five scholarships to help cover my college tuition.”

S : This student wants to apply for scholarships with the hope of reducing the financial burden of college.

M : The number of scholarships applied for by March 1st can be measured.

A : Applying for five scholarships is achievable with proper time management.

R : This is a relevant goal for most students.

T : The deadline for this goal is March 1st.

17. Limit Social Media Use and Gaming

“To stay focused on my studies, I will limit the use of social media and gaming to Friday and Saturday nights until the end of the year.”

S: This student wants to restrict their social media and gaming time to Friday and Saturday nights to prevent distraction from school during the week.

M: This goal can be measured each week.

A: This is an achievable goal for any student.

R: This is a relevant goal for students who want to focus on their grades.

T: The deadline for this goal is the end of the academic year.

18. Meet with Guidance Counselor Once a Month

“I will meet with the guidance counselor once per month to make sure I’m taking care of myself , engaging in stress management, and tending to my emotional wellbeing.”

S : This student wants to ensure their personal wellness by regularly meeting with a guidance counselor.

M : This goal is measured by one meeting per month.

A : This is an achievable goal.

R : This is a relevant goal for students who are frequently under stress.

T : The deadline for this goal is the end of every month.

19. Establish Myself as a Leader

“By the end of the third week of school, I will have found a leadership role to take on to boost my resume, whether that’s for a class project, on a sports team, or in the community.”

S : This student wants to develop their leadership skills by finding a leadership role to hold.

M : This goal is measured by the number of leadership roles this student has found in the set time frame, with the goal being one.

R : This is a relevant goal.

T : The deadline for this goal is three weeks into the semester.

20. Maintain a 3.8 GPA

“I will maintain a 3.8 GPA this year by meeting with my teachers monthly to ensure I am on the right track.”

S : This student wants to maintain a 3.8 GPA this school year.

M : This goal can be measured by the student’s GPA at any given time.

A : Keeping in close contact with teachers makes this goal achievable.

R : This is a relevant goal for any student.

T : The deadline for this goal is the end of the academic year.

21. Secure a Professional mentor

“I will secure a professional mentor by Jan. 15th to help me with my post-graduation job search. I will do this by joining my school’s mentorship program and then meeting with my mentor weekly to offer guidance.”

S : This student wants to receive guidance in their job search by having a professional mentor by January 15th.

M : This goal is measured by securing a professional mentor.

A : This goal is achievable and resources are offered by the school.

R : Having a professional mentor is relevant to getting a job.

T : The deadline for this goal is January 15th.

22. Research Volunteer Opportunities

“Before October 15th, I will spend 20-30 minutes every night for 1 week, researching 10 volunteer opportunities of interest to me. This includes visiting websites and sending email queries. By November 1st, I must have committed to a cause and started my volunteer work to improve my college application.”

S:  The goal is to begin volunteering.

M: Once they’ve contacted and heard back from 10 organizations.

A:  Setting a timer, or adding a reminder to your smart calendar, for 25 minutes – repeating daily for one week makes this achievable. 

R:  The goal is relevant to make their college application more appealing.

T: The goal setter has a firm deadline of November 1st to begin volunteer work.

23. Meet with a Therapist to Help Me with My Anxiety

“By the end of the first month of school, I will arrange to meet regularly with a licensed therapist or counselor to address my social anxiety issues, in order to better prepare for my post-graduate job interviews. I will then begin scheduling interviews by January 1st.”

S:  The goal is to obtain counseling service, online or in person.

M: Each appointment with the therapist marks progress.

A:  With help, the student will gain confidence and succeed in scheduling interviews.

R: The counselor will ensure they are prepared to secure interviews

T: Emails and phone calls, queries must be sent on or before January 1st.

24. Improve my Math Grade

“I will increase my math grade from a B to an A by the end of the 2nd marking period by taking advantage of the free online tutoring program, offered through the township. I will meet once per week for one hour with my tutor, as well as take advantage of supplemental materials my teacher posts on Google classroom. I will check in with my teacher halfway through the marking period to ensure I’m on track for a full grade improvement. I will also ask for extra credit work, need be.”

S:  The goal is to improve their math grade.

M:  Weekly meetings with the tutor will track progress.

A:  There is a support system of tutoring, supplemental materials and teacher input.

R:  The vast amount of resources make it possible to improve the grade and obtain a better GPA.

T: The timeline is the end of the 2nd marking period.

25. Save Money for my Backpacking Trip

“I will raise $4500 this school year to be able to backpack through Europe for 45 days over the summer. I will replace one social activity or hobby in order to increase hours spent working at a part-time job, babysitting, landscaping, freelancing or tutoring. I will work at least 15 hours per week and deposit my entire paycheck (minus $25) until I’ve reached my goal.”

S:  The student will raise $4500 to cover a trip to Europe.

M : Each deposit will confirm the student is on track.

A:  The average school year is 10 months long. The student only needs to earn $450 per month, or $112.50 per week. The average minimum wage across the US is roughly $12.00 per hour. At this calculation, the student technically only needs to work about 10 hours per week. They will surpass that and leave money in their budget for incidentals and other living expenses.   

R: Winter and Spring breaks make it possible to work more hours, allowing for flexibility in reaching this goal. 

T: The student has approximately 10 months (September – June) to reach this goal.

26. Increase my Awareness of Current Events

“I will increase my awareness of current events around the world by subscribing to 2 reputable news outlets – print, podcast or online – by September 1st. I will replace 30 minutes of time usually spent on social media catching up. I will start a blog to discuss these matters intelligently, posting 1 article each Sunday.” 

S:  The goal is to be aware and be able to speak competently about what’s going on in the world.

M:  Confirmation of two subscriptions and setting a calendar reminder to block out 30 minutes daily to read or listen.  Then posting 1 blog post each Sunday.

A:  Subscriptions are instantaneous and easily accessible for any smart device or computer.

R:  Starting a blog is public confirmation of what you’ve learned.

T:  September 1st deadline for subscribing and starting to blog by the following Sunday.

27. Get at Least 8 Hours of Sleep Each Night

“By the end of the first month of high school, I will commit to getting at least 8 hours of sleep each night. I will do this by utilizing an online calendar to prioritize assignments and activities. I will also turn off my cell phone one hour before bed and practice meditation and breathing exercises to fall asleep faster.

This goal is geared towards middle and high schoolers.

S:  The goal is to get more sleep, preferably the recommended daily amount for 13-18 year olds. 

M:  Having a set bedtime and using an alarm, set for 8 hours later.

A:  Organizing the student’s calendar during the day or at the start of each week, eliminating distractions make this goal achievable.

R:  Proper sleep is crucial for your brain and body to function at its highest level, increasing academic performance.

T:  The routine must start by the end of the first month of school. This gives the student time to get to know their schedule and work it to account for additional sleep.

28. Learn to Play a Musical Instrument

“I will make myself more appealing to colleges by taking a risk and stepping out of my comfort zone. I will learn to play the guitar by taking private lessons 1 day per week, as well as utilizing apps in my spare time.  I will secure a teacher by Sept. 21st and commit to practicing at least 15 minutes each day.”

S:  The goal is to learn to play guitar.

M:  Each private lesson is validation, as well as completing 15 minutes of practice daily.

A:  The teacher and plethora of online apps make this goal possible.

R:  This is relevant for improving one’s appeal on a college application.

T:  The student must have a teacher by September 21st.

29. Run my First Marathon

“I will run my first marathon in 6 months. I will register for the marathon ahead of time. Starting today, I will begin my training with an easy 30-minute run. I will follow my run, strength training and diet plan as outlined. I will find myself a partner to keep me accountable.”

S:  The goal is to run a marathon.

M:  A printable training plan, or app tracker, will mark his progress each day. The accountability partner (virtual or in-person) will help motivate the student to stay on track.

A:  The average time to train for a marathon is 16-20 weeks. The student is allowing himself 24 weeks to account for any physical or personal setbacks. 

R:  Running a marathon is both a personal achievement, as well as impressive on a college application. It involves physical and mental strength to succeed.

T:  The student must be ready to race within 6 months in a predetermined marathon.

30. Improve my Memory and Retention

“I will improve my memory and retention by the midway point of this school year by developing daily habits that support and increase brain function and capacity. This will result in better grades. I will eliminate distractions when studying, and avoid cramming. I will use visual tactics. I will write notes on index cards, instead of typing them on a computer. I will spend 30 minutes each Sunday morning reading over my index cards.”

S:  The goal is to improve memory function and information retention.

M:  Setting a timer or calendar event for 30 minutes each Sunday.   

A:  By turning off smart devices for a few minutes, to one hour, during the week in order to commit a few minutes to improving memory function with the tools and tips available. 

R:  Studies show improved brain function will result in better academic and career performance. It can also help you live longer and age slower. 

T:  The student should see improvements in their school work by the middle of the school year (January/February).

31. Keep my Apartment Neat and Clean

“I will keep our apartment neater in order to foster a better, and more productive, living and study environment. To do this, I will work with my roommate to come up with a schedule or chore chart.  We will agree to set aside 15 minutes each day (alternating days) to spot clean all high-traffic areas (ie. kitchen, bathroom, living room). We will work together for a full-house clean (dust, vacuum, mop) 1 day per week for 1 hour. We will each do our laundry one day per week, on different days.”

S:  The goal is to have a neat apartment.

M:  Progress will be measured when each item is checked off the chore chart, or marked as completed on the shared calendar.

A:  This goal is achievable by working together and holding each other accountable. Also, advanced scheduling makes things simpler and eliminates the back and forth of whose turn it is.

R:  This is a relevant goal, as a messy living space fosters distraction and discomfort. 

T:  The goal is for each roommate to spend approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes each week clearing the apartment, accounting for one day “off”.

Final Thoughts

Younger learners who are at the beginning of their life’s journey are at an opportune time to build their skills in setting goals. These SMART goal-setting skills will benefit them for the rest of their lives and developing them now will help students design their futures in whatever unique way is personally meaningful to them. 

Very young students can benefit from learning how to set goals because it will give them the opportunity to experience small wins, which will help them develop self-confidence and belief in themselves. 

If you're looking for examples for kids, check out these SMART goals examples for children .

For specific examples related to physical education, check out this article .

And, for students of all ages (and also those with ADHD ), writing a carefully considered goal is only the first half of the battle. Intentional actions need to follow in the footsteps of these powerful statements in order for any goal to be met. 

Consider your strengths and weaknesses when drafting your SMART goals for education and think about strategies that have worked in the past for reaching your goals.

For example, some people find it’s most effective to identify the end goal and then work backwards to the beginning to create a schedule of objectives.

You just need to find what works best for you–and in the meantime, if you start working toward a goal and realize your strategy isn’t productive, don’t shy away from changing it.

Want to get started? Here are some SMART goal templates you can download and print.

And if you want more SMART goal ideas and examples, be sure to check out these blog posts:

• 9 SMART Goals Examples for Mentoring (Both Mentor & Mentee)
• 7 Internship SMART Goals Examples to Set
• 15 SMART Goals Examples for Kids

Finally, if you want to take your goal-setting efforts to the next level, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step process that will help you set effective SMART goals .

Connie Mathers is a professional editor and freelance writer. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. When she is not writing, Connie is either spending time with her daughter and two dogs, running, or working at her full-time job as a social worker in Richmond, VA.

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Essay Samples on Goals

My academic goals: nurturing dreams, pursuing excellenc.

Academic pursuits form the foundation of knowledge, growth, and the pursuit of a meaningful life. In this essay, I open the doors to my aspirations, offering a heartfelt exploration of my academic goals. Through a combination of focused objectives, unwavering dedication, and a thirst for...

• Education Goals

What Are Your Academic Goals: Charting a Course for Excellence

The realm of education is a canvas of possibilities, a space where aspirations, knowledge, and growth intertwine. In this essay, I provide an intimate insight into my academic goals, offering a glimpse into the dreams that fuel my educational journey. Through a combination of focused...

Professional Goals for Graduate School

Graduate school represents a pivotal juncture in one's academic and professional journey, offering a platform to refine skills, acquire specialized knowledge, and embark on a trajectory of achievement. In this essay, we delve into the realm of professional goals for graduate school, exploring how these...

My Goals in Life as a College Student

The college journey is an exciting chapter in life that holds immense potential for personal growth, academic excellence, and shaping future trajectories. In this essay, I delve into the aspirations and ambitions that define my goals in life as a college student, highlighting how these...

Educational Goals: Charting the Path to Personal and Academic Excellence

Setting clear and achievable educational goals is an essential foundation for personal growth and academic success. In this essay, we delve into the significance of educational goals, particularly in the context of college, where they serve as a roadmap for academic achievement, personal development, and...

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What Are Your Goals: A Glimpse into My Aspirations

The journey of life is marked by dreams, ambitions, and the pursuit of personal growth. In this essay, I offer a candid glimpse into my aspirations, answering the question, “What are your goals?” By delving into my educational, professional, and personal dimensions, I share the...

Explaining Why Dreams and Goals Are Valuable

Human existence is marked by an innate yearning for progress, fulfillment, and purpose. At the core of this drive lies the pursuit of dreams and goals, powerful constructs that transcend cultures, backgrounds, and ages. In this essay, we delve into the profound value of dreams...

For or Against Setting Long-Term Goals to Land a Dream Job

The pursuit of a dream job is a journey that ignites aspirations, ambitions, and the desire for professional fulfillment. At the heart of this endeavor lies a critical decision: should one set long-term goals to navigate the path towards their dream job? This debate has...

• Dream Career

SMART Goals: A Blueprint for Achieving Success

In the pursuit of success, setting goals is a cornerstone of personal and professional development. However, not all goals are created equal. Enter SMART goals: a structured and strategic approach to goal-setting that enhances the likelihood of achievement. In this essay, we delve into the...

Personal Health Goals: A Journey Towards Optimal Well-Being

The quest for well-being is an enduring journey that we embark upon with the intention of leading healthier and more fulfilling lives. In this essay, we delve into the realm of personal health goals, exploring how these aspirations empower individuals to take charge of their...

• Personal Goals

How Will Our Understanding of Who We Are Shape the Goals We Develop for Ourselves

The journey of self-discovery is a profound exploration that transcends the boundaries of time and circumstance. In this essay, we delve into the intricate interplay between our understanding of who we are and the goals we develop for ourselves. By examining the ways in which...

Goals of Social Work: Empowering Communities and Fostering Change

Social work is a profession deeply rooted in the principles of compassion, empathy, and advocacy for vulnerable populations. In this essay, we explore the profound goals of social work, examining how social workers dedicate their efforts to empower individuals, families, and communities, and create lasting...

• Social Work

Goals and Aspirations: Pioneering the Path to Personal Fulfillment

Human existence is fueled by the pursuit of dreams and ambitions, encapsulated within the realm of goals and aspirations. In this essay, we delve into the profound significance of setting goals and nurturing aspirations, uncovering the essence of how they shape our lives, drive our...

My Personal Financial Goals in Life: Financial Freedom

As I embark on the journey of life, I recognize the profound impact that my personal financial goals will have on shaping my future. In this essay, I delve into the aspirations and plans that define my financial path, highlighting the importance of setting clear...

• Personal Finance

Why Do You Want to Achieve Your Goals

Setting and pursuing goals is an inherent aspect of human nature, driven by our desires, aspirations, and ambitions. In this essay, we delve into the profound question of why do you want to achieve your goals, exploring the underlying motivations that fuel our determination to...

Insights about Achieving Goals in Life

Setting and striving to achieve goals in life is a fundamental aspect of personal growth and fulfillment. It allows individuals to envision their desired future, create a roadmap to success, and work diligently to turn aspirations into reality. The journey of achieving goals in life...

How Will College Help Me Achieve My Goals

Entering college is not just a stepping stone to higher education; it's a transformative experience that can significantly shape and propel one's future. In this essay, I will delve into how college will help me achieve my goals by providing a platform for academic growth,...

How I Plan to Achieve My Goals: A Strategic Approach

Embarking on the journey of realizing our dreams requires more than just aspirations; it demands a clear and strategic plan. In this essay, I will outline how I plan to achieve my goals, highlighting the steps, strategies, and mindset that will guide me towards success....

Best Way to Achieve Goals: Strategies for Success

Setting and pursuing meaningful goals is an essential part of personal and professional growth. To truly realize our aspirations, it's crucial to understand and employ the best ways to achieve goals. By embracing effective strategies, we can navigate the path towards success with confidence and...

Examining How Goal Setting is Important for Success

Goal setting is a fundamental practice that plays a pivotal role in achieving personal and professional success. By setting clear and achievable goals, individuals can channel their efforts, track their progress, and maintain focus on their aspirations. In this essay, we will explore how goal...

Pursuing My Passion: A Journey towards a Career in Data Science and Technologies

Since, my childhood, I clearly remember that I have had incredible enthusiasm for the field of mathematics and science. I have found the study of data science and technologies is something that I cherished the most because this major is the blend of two of...

• Career Goals
• Personal Experience

Building a Path to Success: My Journey as an Exercise Physiologist

Presently I am taken on right course which give me some specific abilities which causes me to turn into an activity physiologist.  After completion of my studies, I am skilled to get a stable line of work. As a physiologist, I am ready to keep...

Personal Goal Analysis and Character Traits Consideration

My goal is to earn my Bachelor's degree in Radiography in 3 years. In this paper I will analyse how I can achieve it and also I will reflect on my strengths and weaknesses. To achieve my three years of learning, firstly, I will create...

• Academic Interests

Setting the Right Kind of Goals Without Social Expectations

In the beginning, my motivation and drive to do well in school came mostly from my parents. They were always pushing me to work hard in school so that I could have more options later in life. In the beginning, this was all I focused...

Focus and Main Styles of Distractions: Sensory and Emotional

There area unit 2 main styles of distractions: sensory and emotional. Sensory distractions can be as simple as sounds, shapes, colors, tastes, smells, and other sensations. But on the other hand, the biggest challenge for even the most focused ones, are the emotional distractions. It...

Best topics on Goals

1. My Academic Goals: Nurturing Dreams, Pursuing Excellenc

2. What Are Your Academic Goals: Charting a Course for Excellence

3. Professional Goals for Graduate School

4. My Goals in Life as a College Student

5. Educational Goals: Charting the Path to Personal and Academic Excellence

6. What Are Your Goals: A Glimpse into My Aspirations

7. Explaining Why Dreams and Goals Are Valuable

8. For or Against Setting Long-Term Goals to Land a Dream Job

9. SMART Goals: A Blueprint for Achieving Success

10. Personal Health Goals: A Journey Towards Optimal Well-Being

11. How Will Our Understanding of Who We Are Shape the Goals We Develop for Ourselves

12. Goals of Social Work: Empowering Communities and Fostering Change

13. Goals and Aspirations: Pioneering the Path to Personal Fulfillment

14. My Personal Financial Goals in Life: Financial Freedom

15. Why Do You Want to Achieve Your Goals

• Perseverance
• Personality
• Actions Speak Louder Than Words

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29 Personal Goals Examples for Students (Academic, Life, Money, etc.)

By: Author Amanda L. Grossman

Posted on Last updated: March 14, 2024

My personal goal examples from when I was a student, plus tons of other personal goal examples for students and high school seniors.

Setting goals and attempting to achieve them teaches teenagers and students so much about themselves, about the world, and about life.

But picking meaningful goals (the kind that will motivate them to see the goal process work) can be difficult for someone so new to the process.

That's why I'm sharing both my personal goal examples from when I was a student, and other examples of personal goals your students can adopt for their own growth in their academic, money, and other areas of their lives.

Personal Goals Examples for Students

Below are tons of personal goal examples for students.

I want to give you an example of what setting one of these goals can look like so that they can get a better idea of what the goal-setting process looks like.

Psst: you’ll definitely want to use one of these free teen goal setting worksheets pdfs and free goal setting worksheets for kids once you choose a goal to go after from below.

Personal Goal Example: Set Up and Consistently Use a Study Block System

A student might want to establish great study habits as prep for college, or to get better grades by X date, or to be able to apply to certain schools and scholarships.

Various action steps a student might take to meet this goal include:

• Research a Few Study Systems : You first will need to find a study system that you want to set up and do, consistently.
• Choose and/or Create Your Own Study System : Pick a study system, or create your own from scratch, and make tweaks as you use it. For example, you could set up a study block system that closely resembles a block schedule , or you could use the Pomodoro technique when you study.

How a student might measure their success with this goal:

• Habit Tracker Checkoff to Measure Consistency : You’ll want to figure out what “consistently use” means, such as 3 days per week, and then use a habits tracker to check off each time you use the system as part of measuring your success. You can also simply put an “X” on each calendar day that you use your new system.
• Measure Grade Improvement : The second way to measure success with this goal is to compare your grades after using it for X number of months, with your grades before using it.

Alright, next up I’ll give you a sneak peek at my own list of various goals I had as a student (what a fun trip down memory lane I had creating this list!).

My Own Personal Examples of Goals in the Life of a Student

Guess what? I had many goals when I was a student.

I’d love to share them with you now to show you some great ones to go after.

Examples of goals in the life of a student:

• Type 60 words per minute
• Study abroad in a foreign country
• Get accepted to a college with a Japanese language program
• Study abroad in Japan
• Graduate college in the top 10 of my class (actually made the top 3!)
• Save up enough money to buy my prom gown
• Get a paid internship
• Buy my first car
• Get to go to Senior Week at the beach
• Redo my bedroom as a high schooler
• Pass a Spanish fluency test to get a certification (just barely missed this one)
• Volunteer 2-3 hours per week

I could go on – setting goals has always kinda been my thing – but let’s move on to more in-depth examples of student goals.

Personal Life Goals for Students

Here are some personal life goals students might want to add to their list of what they want to achieve.

1. Start a Growth Journal

You’re reading a blog from someone who has been journaling since kindergarten. Seriously – my uncle bought me a journal in kindergarten and I have crayon-written, half-sentences all over it.

It’s such a pleasure for me to go back through the 17 or so journals I have to reflect on my past, to gain a better understanding of myself, and to remember times of good and times of bad.

Not to mention, it’s extremely therapeutic to be able to write my thoughts and feelings out on paper – it always gives me more clarity.

Here’s an excellent growth mindset journal for teenagers .

Psst: here are 39 journal topics for high school students .

2. Make a Goal to Use Social Media Less

Social media can take over a person’s life. Little by little, you spend more time on your phone or computer checking statuses and making updates…until before you know it, you’re spending more time online than in real life.

Your student could set a goal to cut down their social media use by half.

Set phone reminders or use their phone’s stopwatch to time themselves, and just allow two 15-minute slots in their day on social media (or whatever other timeframe you want to use that is considerably less than what they’re doing now).

Do this for one month, and have them journal about the changes they’ve seen in their life and in themselves.

3. Read a Book Every Month

Set a goal to read one book – outside of assigned ones – every single month for the next 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months.

Pssst: Here’s a bunch of teen books about money , and 7 investment books for teens .

4. Accomplish Their First Individual Goal

Set a goal (there are plenty of ones here to choose from!), give it a deadline, and then actually accomplish it.

That, in and of itself, is a huge goal!

Pssst: you can use these teen goal setting worksheet PDFs for help

Academic Goals for Students

Some fun and productive academic goals for students to set are included here.

1. Enter a Competition

When I was 16, I entered a pageant for the Chester County Dairy Princess. I worked really hard on my speeches, prepped for the interview, and created a presentation.

And you know what? I won!

That year spent as the Chester County Dairy Princess was transformative in my life and for my resume.

Encourage your student to try entering a competition for something – they may not win, or even get close. But they'll learn so much about themselves and from others just going through the process.

Here are 19 youth entrepreneurship programs that include competitions as well, to get you started.

2. Set Up and Consistently Use a Study System

We discussed in the personal goal examples above how to set up and consistently use a study system. Definitely a worthwhile goal to set.

Money Goals for Students

Check out this section for money goals students can go after – all act as money training wheels to help teach them how to manage their future job paycheck.

Psst: you'll also want to check out my article on short term financial goals for high school students .

1. Create Your First Budget

Budgets are like living, breathing things – the budget you set to begin with is not likely to be the same one you go into young adulthood with. And that’s perfectly fine!

BUT, what’s not fine, is failing to set a budget at all.

Get your students to take the time to create their very first budget with one of these free teen budget worksheets . Help them learn from budgeting each week, make tweaks, and get really good at this before they reach their early 20s.

2. Create a Savings Goal to Reach By 18

Ever wondered how much a teen should have saved by 18 ?

That really depends on what their life situation is going to look like right after graduating high school.

I’ve got an entire article to help you + your teen calculate an estimated savings goal. Sit down, figure out an estimated amount, and then start looking at how to meet that savings goal.

How much time does your teen have between now and when they turn 18? What would they need to save each month, or each week, in order to meet that savings goal?

All great questions to answer when setting their savings goal.

3. Get Their First Job

My first real job (I lived on a dairy farm, so I had been earning extra cash and “working” for quite some time) was mucking horse stalls at a local veterinarian’s clinic.

And wow, was it an eye-opening experience!

A teen getting their first job is exciting, as it creates a new level of independence and learning.

Some things to think about (all in my free teen first job guide):

• They’ll need to figure out if you are old enough to work
• They’ll need your parent’s permission
• They’ll need to figure out how many hours you can work per week
• They’ll need to do a teen job hunt

Don’t forget that if they can’t get a traditional job right now, there are ways to make money on the side as a teen with these online apps that pay teenagers .

Parents? Here’s my guide on money conversations to have with your child once they receive that first paycheck .

Career Goals Examples for Students

In this section, you’ll find either career goal examples for students, or goal examples for stuff that will help your teen start their career.

Also, definitely check out these resources for career exploration for students .  

1. Work on the Congressional Youth Award

Have you heard of the Congressional Award Program for Youth ? Frankly, I’m blown away – and if I had heard of it when I was a teen, I definitely would’ve gone after it.

You can start at the age of 13.5, and you have until 24 years of age to complete the various levels.

2. Get Their First Media Appearance

Media appearances can stick with you – and your resume – for years to come. They also help you to cement a viewpoint you have, or become more knowledgeable on a topic.

Have your student set a goal to do one of the following:

• Get interviewed by your local news station
• Get interviewed by your local newspaper
• Get interviewed by a blogger
• Write a story and submit it for publication
• Write a press release and submit it for circulation
• Write a magazine article and submit it for publication

3. Work with a Group on a Goal

Working in a group and being able to accomplish a goal is quite different than working on a goal by yourself. And, it’s a really, really, important trait to have. Because if you end up working for a company or organization one day? You’ll likely be thrown into groups and have to accomplish certain tasks.

Goals for High School Seniors

High school seniors are about to enter the real world – whether that’s getting their own apartment, starting college in the fall, getting that first real-paying job, or having to help pay rent at home for the first time.

Because of all the transitions and changes that come right after this year of high school, there are tons of great goals high school seniors can set for themselves.

Help ease your senior’s transition with these teen personal goal examples:

1. Apply for One Scholarship or Grant Per Week

I would say this is the minimum goal a high school senior should set if they want to attend college.

And here’s another trick you need to tell your seniors: keep applying for scholarships all throughout college!

Your scholarship and grant search goals do NOT need to end once you get accepted and pay for that first year. You could snag a new scholarship to decrease your overall student loan bill your sophomore year, over summers, and even your last year of college!

2. Book a Senior Week Trip with Friends

When I was a senior in high school, I realized that I didn’t have any plans for where to spend Senior Week (and boy did I want to go somewhere). SO, I gathered a handful of my friends who were interested, and I set about booking a house in Delaware on the beach.

I can’t tell you how many cool memories I have from that week with my senior classmates and friends – one of the last times I saw most of them.

When did I set this goal and start planning for it? In the fall of my senior year, I knew I’d need to:

• Find a location a bunch of people would want to go to
• Price houses
• Get a group of interested people together
• Come up with the deposit money
• Calculate and save up for the cost per person
• Collect funds from everyone
• Plan out meals

Lots involved with booking a trip. And so much learning, too!

3. Learn to Cook One Entire Meal (from Scratch)

Look – seniors are going to have to figure out their own food in short order. SO, the best way to help them not busting their budgets (plus get them curious and interested in cooking for themselves)? Is by teaching them an entire meal from scratch.

That includes:

• Appetizer (optional)

And to accomplish this? They’ll have to pick out a recipe, budget for ingredients, shop for those ingredients, and then get timing down in the kitchen (like, do you cook the side dish first earlier in the day to free up time to focus on the main dish? Can you cook the main dish ahead of time and reheat it while making the salad and dessert? It takes practice).

4. Set Up and Use a Planner for 30 Days

One of the biggest changes that comes when you take responsibility for yourself as an adult is learning how to organize and prioritize your time.

What better way for your students to beef up skills in this area than by setting a goal to set up and use a planner every day for 30 days?

They can try a digital planning system, or use a paper one (you might want them to start with a paper one so that they can wrap your head around things by writing them down, first).

Here’s a free student binder printable to get you started .

5. Volunteer X Hours Per Week or Month

Students can set a goal to volunteer a certain number of hours either per week or in a month.

Places I’ve personally volunteered include:

• Nursing homes
• Agricultural events
• Start-up company
• Habitat for Humanity

Check out my article on volunteer opportunities from home ! Also, here are charities for kids to donate to you can donate to where $12 or less makes a big difference.

My last tip for a student setting a goal: the magic of goal-setting really comes from the lessons learned and from moving on to the next goal. SO, in order to get your students and teenagers interested in setting goals a second, third, and umpteenth time, you want to help them set a really achievable first goal. Build their confidence , and watch them soar over the coming months and years!

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 177 college essay examples for 11 schools + expert analysis.

College Admissions , College Essays

The personal statement might just be the hardest part of your college application. Mostly this is because it has the least guidance and is the most open-ended. One way to understand what colleges are looking for when they ask you to write an essay is to check out the essays of students who already got in—college essays that actually worked. After all, they must be among the most successful of this weird literary genre.

In this article, I'll go through general guidelines for what makes great college essays great. I've also compiled an enormous list of 100+ actual sample college essays from 11 different schools. Finally, I'll break down two of these published college essay examples and explain why and how they work. With links to 177 full essays and essay excerpts , this article is a great resource for learning how to craft your own personal college admissions essay!

What Excellent College Essays Have in Common

Even though in many ways these sample college essays are very different from one other, they do share some traits you should try to emulate as you write your own essay.

Visible Signs of Planning

Building out from a narrow, concrete focus. You'll see a similar structure in many of the essays. The author starts with a very detailed story of an event or description of a person or place. After this sense-heavy imagery, the essay expands out to make a broader point about the author, and connects this very memorable experience to the author's present situation, state of mind, newfound understanding, or maturity level.

Knowing how to tell a story. Some of the experiences in these essays are one-of-a-kind. But most deal with the stuff of everyday life. What sets them apart is the way the author approaches the topic: analyzing it for drama and humor, for its moving qualities, for what it says about the author's world, and for how it connects to the author's emotional life.

Stellar Execution

A killer first sentence. You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again: you have to suck the reader in, and the best place to do that is the first sentence. Great first sentences are punchy. They are like cliffhangers, setting up an exciting scene or an unusual situation with an unclear conclusion, in order to make the reader want to know more. Don't take my word for it—check out these 22 first sentences from Stanford applicants and tell me you don't want to read the rest of those essays to find out what happens!

A lively, individual voice. Writing is for readers. In this case, your reader is an admissions officer who has read thousands of essays before yours and will read thousands after. Your goal? Don't bore your reader. Use interesting descriptions, stay away from clichés, include your own offbeat observations—anything that makes this essay sounds like you and not like anyone else.

Technical correctness. No spelling mistakes, no grammar weirdness, no syntax issues, no punctuation snafus—each of these sample college essays has been formatted and proofread perfectly. If this kind of exactness is not your strong suit, you're in luck! All colleges advise applicants to have their essays looked over several times by parents, teachers, mentors, and anyone else who can spot a comma splice. Your essay must be your own work, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting help polishing it.

And if you need more guidance, connect with PrepScholar's expert admissions consultants . These expert writers know exactly what college admissions committees look for in an admissions essay and chan help you craft an essay that boosts your chances of getting into your dream school.

Check out PrepScholar's Essay Editing and Coaching progra m for more details!

Links to Full College Essay Examples

Some colleges publish a selection of their favorite accepted college essays that worked, and I've put together a selection of over 100 of these.

Common App Essay Samples

Please note that some of these college essay examples may be responding to prompts that are no longer in use. The current Common App prompts are as follows:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you? 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of 177 college essay examples responding to current and past Common App essay prompts. 

Connecticut college.

• 12 Common Application essays from the classes of 2022-2025

Hamilton College

• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2026
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2022
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2018
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2012
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2007

Johns Hopkins

These essays are answers to past prompts from either the Common Application or the Coalition Application (which Johns Hopkins used to accept).

• 1 Common Application or Coalition Application essay from the class of 2026
• 6 Common Application or Coalition Application essays from the class of 2025
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2024
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2023
• 7 Common Application of Universal Application essays from the class of 2022
• 5 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2021
• 7 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2020

Essay Examples Published by Other Websites

• 2 Common Application essays ( 1st essay , 2nd essay ) from applicants admitted to Columbia

Other Sample College Essays

Here is a collection of essays that are college-specific.

Babson College

• 4 essays (and 1 video response) on "Why Babson" from the class of 2020

Emory University

• 5 essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) from the class of 2020 along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on why the essays were exceptional
• 5 more recent essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on what made these essays stand out

University of Georgia

• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2019
• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2018
• 10 Harvard essays from 2023
• 10 Harvard essays from 2022
• 10 Harvard essays from 2021
• 10 Harvard essays from 2020
• 10 Harvard essays from 2019
• 10 Harvard essays from 2018
• 6 essays from admitted MIT students

Smith College

• 6 "best gift" essays from the class of 2018

Books of College Essays

If you're looking for even more sample college essays, consider purchasing a college essay book. The best of these include dozens of essays that worked and feedback from real admissions officers.

College Essays That Made a Difference —This detailed guide from Princeton Review includes not only successful essays, but also interviews with admissions officers and full student profiles.

50 Successful Harvard Application Essays by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson—A must for anyone aspiring to Harvard .

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays and 50 Successful Stanford Application Essays by Gen and Kelly Tanabe—For essays from other top schools, check out this venerated series, which is regularly updated with new essays.

Heavenly Essays by Janine W. Robinson—This collection from the popular blogger behind Essay Hell includes a wider range of schools, as well as helpful tips on honing your own essay.

Analyzing Great Common App Essays That Worked

I've picked two essays from the examples collected above to examine in more depth so that you can see exactly what makes a successful college essay work. Full credit for these essays goes to the original authors and the schools that published them.

Example 1: "Breaking Into Cars," by Stephen, Johns Hopkins Class of '19 (Common App Essay, 636 words long)

I had never broken into a car before.

We were in Laredo, having just finished our first day at a Habitat for Humanity work site. The Hotchkiss volunteers had already left, off to enjoy some Texas BBQ, leaving me behind with the college kids to clean up. Not until we were stranded did we realize we were locked out of the van.

Someone picked a coat hanger out of the dumpster, handed it to me, and took a few steps back.

"Can you do that thing with a coat hanger to unlock it?"

"Why me?" I thought.

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame. Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally. My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed. "The water's on fire! Clear a hole!" he shouted, tossing me in the lake without warning. While I'm still unconvinced about that particular lesson's practicality, my Dad's overarching message is unequivocally true: much of life is unexpected, and you have to deal with the twists and turns.

Living in my family, days rarely unfolded as planned. A bit overlooked, a little pushed around, I learned to roll with reality, negotiate a quick deal, and give the improbable a try. I don't sweat the small stuff, and I definitely don't expect perfect fairness. So what if our dining room table only has six chairs for seven people? Someone learns the importance of punctuality every night.

But more than punctuality and a special affinity for musical chairs, my family life has taught me to thrive in situations over which I have no power. Growing up, I never controlled my older siblings, but I learned how to thwart their attempts to control me. I forged alliances, and realigned them as necessary. Sometimes, I was the poor, defenseless little brother; sometimes I was the omniscient elder. Different things to different people, as the situation demanded. I learned to adapt.

Back then, these techniques were merely reactions undertaken to ensure my survival. But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The question caught me off guard, much like the question posed to me in Laredo. Then, I realized I knew the answer. I knew why the coat hanger had been handed to me.

Growing up as the middle child in my family, I was a vital participant in a thing I did not govern, in the company of people I did not choose. It's family. It's society. And often, it's chaos. You participate by letting go of the small stuff, not expecting order and perfection, and facing the unexpected with confidence, optimism, and preparedness. My family experience taught me to face a serendipitous world with confidence.

What Makes This Essay Tick?

It's very helpful to take writing apart in order to see just how it accomplishes its objectives. Stephen's essay is very effective. Let's find out why!

An Opening Line That Draws You In

In just eight words, we get: scene-setting (he is standing next to a car about to break in), the idea of crossing a boundary (he is maybe about to do an illegal thing for the first time), and a cliffhanger (we are thinking: is he going to get caught? Is he headed for a life of crime? Is he about to be scared straight?).

Great, Detailed Opening Story

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame.

It's the details that really make this small experience come alive. Notice how whenever he can, Stephen uses a more specific, descriptive word in place of a more generic one. The volunteers aren't going to get food or dinner; they're going for "Texas BBQ." The coat hanger comes from "a dumpster." Stephen doesn't just move the coat hanger—he "jiggles" it.

Details also help us visualize the emotions of the people in the scene. The person who hands Stephen the coat hanger isn't just uncomfortable or nervous; he "takes a few steps back"—a description of movement that conveys feelings. Finally, the detail of actual speech makes the scene pop. Instead of writing that the other guy asked him to unlock the van, Stephen has the guy actually say his own words in a way that sounds like a teenager talking.

Turning a Specific Incident Into a Deeper Insight

Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

Stephen makes the locked car experience a meaningful illustration of how he has learned to be resourceful and ready for anything, and he also makes this turn from the specific to the broad through an elegant play on the two meanings of the word "click."

Using Concrete Examples When Making Abstract Claims

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally.

"Unpredictability and chaos" are very abstract, not easily visualized concepts. They could also mean any number of things—violence, abandonment, poverty, mental instability. By instantly following up with highly finite and unambiguous illustrations like "family of seven" and "siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing," Stephen grounds the abstraction in something that is easy to picture: a large, noisy family.

Using Small Bits of Humor and Casual Word Choice

My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed.

Obviously, knowing how to clean burning oil is not high on the list of things every 9-year-old needs to know. To emphasize this, Stephen uses sarcasm by bringing up a situation that is clearly over-the-top: "in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed."

The humor also feels relaxed. Part of this is because he introduces it with the colloquial phrase "you know," so it sounds like he is talking to us in person. This approach also diffuses the potential discomfort of the reader with his father's strictness—since he is making jokes about it, clearly he is OK. Notice, though, that this doesn't occur very much in the essay. This helps keep the tone meaningful and serious rather than flippant.

An Ending That Stretches the Insight Into the Future

But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The ending of the essay reveals that Stephen's life has been one long preparation for the future. He has emerged from chaos and his dad's approach to parenting as a person who can thrive in a world that he can't control.

This connection of past experience to current maturity and self-knowledge is a key element in all successful personal essays. Colleges are very much looking for mature, self-aware applicants. These are the qualities of successful college students, who will be able to navigate the independence college classes require and the responsibility and quasi-adulthood of college life.

What Could This Essay Do Even Better?

Even the best essays aren't perfect, and even the world's greatest writers will tell you that writing is never "finished"—just "due." So what would we tweak in this essay if we could?

Replace some of the clichéd language. Stephen uses handy phrases like "twists and turns" and "don't sweat the small stuff" as a kind of shorthand for explaining his relationship to chaos and unpredictability. But using too many of these ready-made expressions runs the risk of clouding out your own voice and replacing it with something expected and boring.

Use another example from recent life. Stephen's first example (breaking into the van in Laredo) is a great illustration of being resourceful in an unexpected situation. But his essay also emphasizes that he "learned to adapt" by being "different things to different people." It would be great to see how this plays out outside his family, either in the situation in Laredo or another context.

Example 2: By Renner Kwittken, Tufts Class of '23 (Common App Essay, 645 words long)

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry's "Cars and Trucks and Things That Go," and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration.

Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear.

I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

In the lab, Dr. Ray encouraged a great amount of autonomy to design and implement my own procedures. I chose to attack a problem that affects the entire field of nanomedicine: nanoparticles consistently fail to translate from animal studies into clinical trials. Jumping off recent literature, I set out to see if a pre-dose of a common chemotherapeutic could enhance nanoparticle delivery in aggressive prostate cancer, creating three novel constructs based on three different linear polymers, each using fluorescent dye (although no gold, sorry goldbug!). Though using radioactive isotopes like Gallium and Yttrium would have been incredible, as a 17-year-old, I unfortunately wasn't allowed in the same room as these radioactive materials (even though I took a Geiger counter to a pair of shoes and found them to be slightly dangerous).

I hadn't expected my hypothesis to work, as the research project would have ideally been led across two full years. Yet while there are still many optimizations and revisions to be done, I was thrilled to find -- with completely new nanoparticles that may one day mean future trials will use particles with the initials "RK-1" -- thatcyclophosphamide did indeed increase nanoparticle delivery to the tumor in a statistically significant way.

A secondary, unexpected research project was living alone in Baltimore, a new city to me, surrounded by people much older than I. Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research. Whether in a presentation or in a casual conversation, making others interested in science is perhaps more exciting to me than the research itself. This solidified a new pursuit to angle my love for writing towards illuminating science in ways people can understand, adding value to a society that can certainly benefit from more scientific literacy.

It seems fitting that my goals are still transforming: in Scarry's book, there is not just one goldbug, there is one on every page. With each new experience, I'm learning that it isn't the goldbug itself, but rather the act of searching for the goldbugs that will encourage, shape, and refine my ever-evolving passions. Regardless of the goldbug I seek -- I know my pickle truck has just begun its journey.

Renner takes a somewhat different approach than Stephen, but their essay is just as detailed and engaging. Let's go through some of the strengths of this essay.

One Clear Governing Metaphor

This essay is ultimately about two things: Renner’s dreams and future career goals, and Renner’s philosophy on goal-setting and achieving one’s dreams.

But instead of listing off all the amazing things they’ve done to pursue their dream of working in nanomedicine, Renner tells a powerful, unique story instead. To set up the narrative, Renner opens the essay by connecting their experiences with goal-setting and dream-chasing all the way back to a memorable childhood experience:

This lighthearted–but relevant!--story about the moment when Renner first developed a passion for a specific career (“finding the goldbug”) provides an anchor point for the rest of the essay. As Renner pivots to describing their current dreams and goals–working in nanomedicine–the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” is reflected in Renner’s experiments, rejections, and new discoveries.

Though Renner tells multiple stories about their quest to “find the goldbug,” or, in other words, pursue their passion, each story is connected by a unifying theme; namely, that as we search and grow over time, our goals will transform…and that’s okay! By the end of the essay, Renner uses the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” to reiterate the relevance of the opening story:

While the earlier parts of the essay convey Renner’s core message by showing, the final, concluding paragraph sums up Renner’s insights by telling. By briefly and clearly stating the relevance of the goldbug metaphor to their own philosophy on goals and dreams, Renner demonstrates their creativity, insight, and eagerness to grow and evolve as the journey continues into college.

An Engaging, Individual Voice

This essay uses many techniques that make Renner sound genuine and make the reader feel like we already know them.

Technique #1: humor. Notice Renner's gentle and relaxed humor that lightly mocks their younger self's grand ambitions (this is different from the more sarcastic kind of humor used by Stephen in the first essay—you could never mistake one writer for the other).

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver.

I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Renner gives a great example of how to use humor to your advantage in college essays. You don’t want to come off as too self-deprecating or sarcastic, but telling a lightheartedly humorous story about your younger self that also showcases how you’ve grown and changed over time can set the right tone for your entire essay.

Technique #2: intentional, eye-catching structure. The second technique is the way Renner uses a unique structure to bolster the tone and themes of their essay . The structure of your essay can have a major impact on how your ideas come across…so it’s important to give it just as much thought as the content of your essay!

For instance, Renner does a great job of using one-line paragraphs to create dramatic emphasis and to make clear transitions from one phase of the story to the next:

Suddenly the destination of my pickle car was clear.

Not only does the one-liner above signal that Renner is moving into a new phase of the narrative (their nanoparticle research experiences), it also tells the reader that this is a big moment in Renner’s story. It’s clear that Renner made a major discovery that changed the course of their goal pursuit and dream-chasing. Through structure, Renner conveys excitement and entices the reader to keep pushing forward to the next part of the story.

Technique #3: playing with syntax. The third technique is to use sentences of varying length, syntax, and structure. Most of the essay's written in standard English and uses grammatically correct sentences. However, at key moments, Renner emphasizes that the reader needs to sit up and pay attention by switching to short, colloquial, differently punctuated, and sometimes fragmented sentences.

Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research.

In the examples above, Renner switches adeptly between long, flowing sentences and quippy, telegraphic ones. At the same time, Renner uses these different sentence lengths intentionally. As they describe their experiences in new places, they use longer sentences to immerse the reader in the sights, smells, and sounds of those experiences. And when it’s time to get a big, key idea across, Renner switches to a short, punchy sentence to stop the reader in their tracks.

The varying syntax and sentence lengths pull the reader into the narrative and set up crucial “aha” moments when it’s most important…which is a surefire way to make any college essay stand out.

Renner's essay is very strong, but there are still a few little things that could be improved.

Connecting the research experiences to the theme of “finding the goldbug.”  The essay begins and ends with Renner’s connection to the idea of “finding the goldbug.” And while this metaphor is deftly tied into the essay’s intro and conclusion, it isn’t entirely clear what Renner’s big findings were during the research experiences that are described in the middle of the essay. It would be great to add a sentence or two stating what Renner’s big takeaways (or “goldbugs”) were from these experiences, which add more cohesion to the essay as a whole.

Give more details about discovering the world of nanomedicine. It makes sense that Renner wants to get into the details of their big research experiences as quickly as possible. After all, these are the details that show Renner’s dedication to nanomedicine! But a smoother transition from the opening pickle car/goldbug story to Renner’s “real goldbug” of nanoparticles would help the reader understand why nanoparticles became Renner’s goldbug. Finding out why Renner is so motivated to study nanomedicine–and perhaps what put them on to this field of study–would help readers fully understand why Renner chose this path in the first place.

4 Essential Tips for Writing Your Own Essay

How can you use this discussion to better your own college essay? Here are some suggestions for ways to use this resource effectively.

#1: Get Help From the Experts

Getting your college applications together takes a lot of work and can be pretty intimidatin g. Essays are even more important than ever now that admissions processes are changing and schools are going test-optional and removing diversity standards thanks to new Supreme Court rulings .  If you want certified expert help that really makes a difference, get started with  PrepScholar’s Essay Editing and Coaching program. Our program can help you put together an incredible essay from idea to completion so that your application stands out from the crowd. We've helped students get into the best colleges in the United States, including Harvard, Stanford, and Yale.  If you're ready to take the next step and boost your odds of getting into your dream school, connect with our experts today .

#2: Read Other Essays to Get Ideas for Your Own

As you go through the essays we've compiled for you above, ask yourself the following questions:

• Can you explain to yourself (or someone else!) why the opening sentence works well?
• Look for the essay's detailed personal anecdote. What senses is the author describing? Can you easily picture the scene in your mind's eye?
• Find the place where this anecdote bridges into a larger insight about the author. How does the essay connect the two? How does the anecdote work as an example of the author's characteristic, trait, or skill?
• Check out the essay's tone. If it's funny, can you find the places where the humor comes from? If it's sad and moving, can you find the imagery and description of feelings that make you moved? If it's serious, can you see how word choice adds to this tone?

Make a note whenever you find an essay or part of an essay that you think was particularly well-written, and think about what you like about it . Is it funny? Does it help you really get to know the writer? Does it show what makes the writer unique? Once you have your list, keep it next to you while writing your essay to remind yourself to try and use those same techniques in your own essay.

#3: Find Your "A-Ha!" Moment

All of these essays rely on connecting with the reader through a heartfelt, highly descriptive scene from the author's life. It can either be very dramatic (did you survive a plane crash?) or it can be completely mundane (did you finally beat your dad at Scrabble?). Either way, it should be personal and revealing about you, your personality, and the way you are now that you are entering the adult world.

Check out essays by authors like John Jeremiah Sullivan , Leslie Jamison , Hanif Abdurraqib , and Esmé Weijun Wang to get more examples of how to craft a compelling personal narrative.

#4: Start Early, Revise Often

Let me level with you: the best writing isn't writing at all. It's rewriting. And in order to have time to rewrite, you have to start way before the application deadline. My advice is to write your first draft at least two months before your applications are due.

Let it sit for a few days untouched. Then come back to it with fresh eyes and think critically about what you've written. What's extra? What's missing? What is in the wrong place? What doesn't make sense? Don't be afraid to take it apart and rearrange sections. Do this several times over, and your essay will be much better for it!

For more editing tips, check out a style guide like Dreyer's English or Eats, Shoots & Leaves .

What's Next?

Still not sure which colleges you want to apply to? Our experts will show you how to make a college list that will help you choose a college that's right for you.

Interested in learning more about college essays? Check out our detailed breakdown of exactly how personal statements work in an application , some suggestions on what to avoid when writing your essay , and our guide to writing about your extracurricular activities .

Working on the rest of your application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying .

The recommendations in this post are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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How to Write a Personal Statement for a Scholarship + Examples

What’s covered:, what is the purpose of the scholarship personal statement, what to include in your personal statement, personal statement example: breakdown + analysis, how to make sure your writing is effective.

Either before or after you’ve gotten into your dream school, you’ll have to figure out how to pay for it. For most students, this involves a combination of financial aid, parent contributions, self-contributions, student loans, and scholarships/grants. Because scholarships are money out of someone else’s pocket that you never have to pay back, they are a great place to start!

Scholarships come in two forms: merit-based and need-based. Need-based scholarships are also often called grants. These designations tell you whether an organization looks at your financial situation when deciding about your scholarship.

Additionally, different scholarships fall under different categories based on the mission of the organization or person providing the scholarship’s financing. These missions typically emphasize different things like academic achievement, specific career goals, community service, leadership, family background, skill in the arts, or having overcome hardship. As you select scholarships to apply for and complete your applications, you should keep these missions in mind.

No matter what type of scholarship you are applying for, you will be asked to provide the review committee with standard materials. This includes your transcript, GPA, and resume/extracurriculars, but also, importantly, your personal statement. A scholarship personal statement is a bit different from your normal college essay, so we’ve put together this guide and some examples to help you get started!

The purpose of your personal statement is to help a review committee learn more about your personality, values, goals, and what makes you special. Ultimately, like with your college essays, you are trying to humanize your profile beyond your transcript, GPA, and test scores.

College essays all have one goal in mind (which is why you can apply to multiple schools at once through applications like the Common App or Coalition App): convince admissions officers that you would be a valuable addition to the university environment. The goal of your scholarship personal statement is different and differs more from one scholarship to the next. Rather than convincing various review committees that you are a generally good candidate for extra funding for college, you need to convince each review committee that your values have historically aligned with their organization’s mission and will continue to align with their organization’s mission.

Common missions amongst those who give scholarships include:

• Providing opportunities for students with career ambitions in a particular field
• Helping students who have experienced unexpected hardship
• Supporting students who show outstanding academic achievement
• Funding the arts through investing in young artists with strong technical skill
• Supporting the development of civic-minded community service leaders of the future
• Providing opportunities for historically underrepresented ethnic communities 

If a specific mission like this is outlined on an organization’s website or in the promotional material for its scholarship, the purpose of your personal statement is to show how you exemplify that mission.

Some scholarships ask for your personal statement to be guided by a prompt, while others leave things open for interpretation. When you are provided a prompt, it is obvious what you must do: answer the prompt. When you are not provided a prompt, you want to write a personal statement that is essentially a small-scale autobiography where you position yourself as a good investment. In either case, you should identify a focus or theme for what you are trying to say about yourself so that your application does not get lost in the shuffle.

Prompts include questions like:

• Why do you deserve this scholarship?
• How have you shown your commitment to (leadership/community service/diversity) in your community?
• When did you overcome adversity?
• Why is attending college important to you?

If you are provided a prompt, develop a theme for your response that showcases both your values and your achievements. This will help your essay feel focused and will subsequently help the review committee to remember which candidate you were as they deliberate.

Themes include things like:

• I deserve this community service scholarship because my compassion for intergenerational trauma has inspired me to volunteer with a local after-school program. I didn’t just sympathize. I did something about my sympathy because that’s the type of person I am. Within the program, I have identified avenues for improvement and worked alongside full-time staff to develop new strategies for increasing attendance.
• I overcame adversity when my mother had to have a major surgery two months after giving birth to my younger brother. I was just a kid but was thrown into a situation where I had to raise another kid. It was hard, but I’m the kind of person who tries to grow from hard times and, through my experience taking care of a baby, I learned the importance of listening to body language and nonverbal cues to understand the needs of others (baby and nonbaby, alike).

Without a prompt, clarity can be harder to achieve. That said, it is of the utmost importance that you find a focus. First, think about both your goals and your values.

Types of goals include:

• Career goals
• Goals for personal growth
• The type of friend you want to be
• The change you want to make in the world

Values could include:

• Authenticity
• And many more!

After you write out your goals/values, write out your achievements to see what goals/values you have “proof” of your commitment to. Your essay will ultimately be an exploration of your goal/value, what you have done about your goal/value in the past, and what you aspire to in the future.

You might be tempted to reflect on areas for improvement, but scholarships care about you living out your values. It is not enough to aspire to be exemplary in leadership, community service, or your academic field. For scholarships, you have to already be exemplary.

Finally, keep in mind that the review committee likely already has a copy of your extracurricular activities and involvement. Pick one or two accomplishments, then strive for depth, not breadth as you explore them.

My interest in the field of neuroscience began at a young age.  When I was twelve years old, my sister developed a condition called Pseudotumor Cerebri following multiple concussions during a basketball game.  It took the doctors over six months to make a proper diagnosis, followed by three years of treatment before she recovered.  During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions.  Later, my love of neuroscience was amplified when my mother began to suffer from brain-related health issues.  My mother had been a practicing attorney in Dallas for over twenty years.  She was a determined litigator who relentlessly tried difficult cases that changed people’s lives.  Now, she suffers from a cognitive impairment and is no longer able to practice law.  Oftentimes, she has headaches, she gets “cloudy,” her executive functioning slows down, she feels overwhelmed, and she forgets things.  My mother has gone from being the strong, confident, emotional and financial caretaker of our family to needing significant help on a daily basis. Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.

Due to my experiences with my mother and sister when I was in middle school, I knew that I wanted to make a difference in the field of neuroscience.  I also knew that, to obtain this goal, I needed to maintain superior grades in school while also pursuing opportunities outside of school to further my education.  In school, I was able to maintain superior grades to the point where I am currently valedictorian in a class of 567 students.  In addition, in school, I challenged myself by taking 16 Advanced Placement classes and 19 Honors classes.  Two of the most beneficial classes were AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research.  AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research are research-oriented classes where students are given the opportunity to pursue whatever track their research takes them down.  As a junior in AP Capstone Seminar, I researched the effects of harmful pesticide use on the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children.  This year, as a senior in AP Capstone Research, I am learning about the effects of medical marijuana on the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  

Outside of school, I furthered my education through taking advantage of the Duke TiP summer program. Duke TiP is a summer program run by Duke University where students who score extremely well on the SAT as middle schoolers are able to take college classes at different universities throughout the summers of their middle school and high school years.  I took advantage of this opportunity twice.  First, I went to Trinity University in San Antonio to expand my horizons and learn more about debate.  However, once I was done exploring, I decided I wanted to go into neuroscience.  This led me to take an Abnormal Psychology class at Duke University’s West Campus.  This class opened my eyes to the interaction between neuroscience and mental health, mental illness, and personality.  Years later, I am currently continuing my education outside of school as an intern at the University of Texas Dallas Center for Brain Health.  Through this internship, I have been able to see different aspects of neuroscience including brain pattern testing, virtual reality therapy, and longitudinal research studies.  With this background, I have positioned myself to be accepted by top neuroscience programs throughout the nation.  So far, I have been accepted to the neuroscience department of University of Southern California, the University of Virginia, the University of Texas, and Southern Methodist University, as well as the chemistry department at University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill.  

It is with this passion for neuroscience driven by my family and passion for education driven by internal motivation that I will set out to conquer my career objectives.  My educational aspirations consist of acquiring a bachelor’s degree in a biological or health science that would assist me in pursuing a medical career as a neuroscience researcher.  I decided to attain a career as a researcher since my passion has always been assisting others and trying to improve their quality of life.  After obtaining my Masters and my PhD, I plan to become a professor at a prestigious university and continue performing lab research on cognitive disorders.  I am particularly interested in disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  In the lab, I hope to find different therapies and medications to help treat the 3.5 million people around the world suffering from ASD.  Furthermore, I want to contribute back to underserved populations that struggle because they do not have as much access to medical assistance as other privileged groups.  As such, I hope to do a part of my research in less developed or developing Spanish-speaking countries. This will also allow me to pursue my love of Spanish while pursuing my love of neuroscience.  I think that following such a career path will provide me the opportunity to learn about the medical needs of the autistic community and improve their quality of health.  Furthermore, I hope to train a new generation of students to strive to research and make comparable discoveries.  Whether it be through virtual reality labs or new drug discoveries, I believe that research leads to innovation which leads to a brighter future. 

This student does a great job of making themself appear competent and dedicated to the field of neuroscience. This is primarily because they provided tangible evidence of how they have pursued their dedication in the past—through their AP Capstone courses, their Abnormal Psychology class at Duke TiP, and their internship at UTD. There is no doubt in the mind of a reader that this student is high-achieving. 

This student also engages successfully with a past-future trajectory, where they end with a vision of how they will continue to use neuroscience in the future. This helps the review committee see what they are investing in and the ways that their money will go to good use.

This student has two major areas for improvement. As we have said, the purpose of a personal statement is for a student to humanize themself to a review committee. This student struggles to depict themself separately from their academic achievements. A solution to this would be for the student to establish a theme towards the beginning of their essay that relates to both their values as a human and their achievements.

At the beginning of the essay, the student explores how their interest in neuroscience began. They explain their interest through the following sentences: “During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions” and “Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.” The student made the great decision to tell the backstory of their interest, but they described their research in very mundane and redundant terms. Instead, they could have focused on their value of intellectual curiosity as a magnetic force that encouraged them to research their mother and sister’s ailments. Curiosity, then, could serve as a value-related thematic throughline to taking AP Capstone classes, taking college courses during the summer that weren’t required, and interning before even graduating high school.

A second area for improvement would be avoiding statistics. As the student identifies their valedictorian status and the number of AP classes they have taken, they might turn away certain personalities on a review committee by appearing braggy. Even further, these statistics are a waste of space. The review committee already has access to this information. These words distract from the major theme of the essay and would have been better used to humanize the student.

Throughout my academic career, I have been an avid scholar, constantly pushing myself towards ambitious goals. I held and continue to hold myself to a high standard, enrolling myself in rigorous curriculum, including Honors and Advanced Placement courses to stretch my mental potential. During my junior year of high school, I took four AP tests, two on the same day, and earned the AP Scholar with Honor Award. Additionally, I received the Letter of Commendation for the PSAT/NMSQT, and qualified for Rotary Top 100 Students both my freshman and senior year, a sign of my commitment to my studies. However, school has not been all about having the best GPA for me; beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem. I always give each class my best effort and try my hardest on every assignment. My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result. It is a major goal of mine to continue to aspire towards a high level of achievement regarding future educational and occupational endeavors; I plan on continuing this level of dedication throughout my educational career and implementing the skills I have learned and will learn into my college experience and beyond.

This fall, I will begin attending the University of California Los Angeles as an English major. I chose this major because I am fascinated by written language, especially its ability to convey powerful messages and emotions. I also enjoy delving into the works of other authors to analyze specific components of their writing to discover the meaning behind their words. In particular, I cannot wait to begin in-depth literary criticism and learn new stylistic techniques to add more depth to my writing. Furthermore, I recently went to UCLA’s Bruin Day, an event for incoming freshmen, where I was exposed to many different extracurriculars, some of which really piqued my interest. I plan on joining the Writing Success Program, where I can help students receive free writing help, and Mock Trial, where I can debate issues with peers in front of a real judge. The latter, combined with a strong writing background from my undergraduate English studies will be extremely beneficial because I plan to apply to law school after my undergraduate degree. As of now, my career goal is to become a civil rights lawyer, to stand up for those who are discriminated against and protect minority groups to proliferate equality.

As a lawyer, I wish to utilize legislation to ameliorate the plight of the millions of Americans who feel prejudice and help them receive equity in the workplace, society, and so on. Though this seems a daunting task, I feel that my work ethic and past experience will give me the jumpstart I need to establish myself as a successful lawyer and give a voice to those who are often unheard in today’s legal system. I have been a Girl Scout for over a decade and continually participate in community service for the homeless, elderly, veterans, and more. My most recent project was the Gold Award, which I conducted in the Fullerton School District. I facilitated over ten workshops where junior high students taught elementary pupils STEM principles such as density and aerodynamics via creative activities like building aluminum boats and paper airplanes. I also work at Kumon, a tutoring center, where I teach students to advance their academic success. I love my job, and helping students from local schools reach their potential fills me with much pride.

Both being a Girl Scout and working at Kumon have inspired me to help those in need, contributing significantly to my desire to become a lawyer and aid others. My extracurriculars have allowed me to gain a new perspective on both learning and teaching, and have solidified my will to help the less fortunate. In college, I hope to continue to gain knowledge and further develop my leadership skills, amassing qualities that will help me assist others. I plan to join multiple community service clubs, such as UCLA’s local outreach programs that directly aid residents of Los Angeles. I want to help my fellow pupils as well, and plan on volunteering at peer tutoring and peer editing programs on campus. After college, during my career, I want to use legal tactics to assist the underdog and take a chance on those who are often overlooked for opportunities. I wish to represent those that are scared to seek out help or cannot afford it. Rather than battling conflict with additional conflict, I want to implement peaceful but strong, efficient tactics that will help make my state, country, and eventually the world more welcoming to people of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. These goals are close to my heart and therefore I will be as diligent as I am passionate about them. My perseverance and love for learning and community service drive my ambition in both education and life as a whole, and the drive to make the world a better place is one that I will carry with me for my entire life.

This student emphasizes two values in this essay: hard work and community service. These are values that go together nicely, and definitely make sense with this student’s end goal of becoming a civil rights lawyer! That said, some changes could be made to the way the student presents their values that would make their personal statement more convincing and engaging.

Structurally, instead of using a past-future trajectory, this student starts by explaining their academic achievements, then explains their career goals, then explains their history of community service, then explains their future desires for community service. This structure loses the reader. Instead, the student should have started with either the past or the future. 

This could look like 1) identifying their career goals, 2) explaining that hard work and a commitment to community service are necessary to get there, and 3) explaining that they aren’t worried because of their past commitment to hard work and community service. Or it could look like 1) providing examples of their hard work and community service in the past, then 2) explaining how those values will help them achieve their career goals.

Additionally, like with our other example, this student shows a heavy investment in statistics and spouting off accomplishments. This can be unappealing. Unfortunately, even when the student recognizes that they are doing this, writing “beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem,” they continue on to cite their achievements, writing “My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result.” They say they are going beyond the numbers, but they don’t go beyond the awards. They don’t look inward. One way to fix this would be to make community service the theme around which the essay operates, supplementing with statistics in ways that advance the image of the student as dedicated to community service.

Finally, this student would be more successful if they varied their sentence structure. While a small-scale autobiography can be good, if organized, every sentence should not begin with ‘I.’ The essay still needs to be engaging or the review committee might stop reading.

Feedback is ultimately any writer’s best source of improvement! To get your personal statement edited for free, use our Peer Review Essay Tool . With this tool, other students can tell you if your scholarship essay is effective and help you improve your essay so that you can have the best chances of gaining those extra funds!

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Essay: How Will This Scholarship Help You Achieve Your Goals? (With Example) – 2023

Jennifer Finetti May 23, 2023

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Many scholarship applicants often have to write a “How will this scholarship help you achieve your goals” essay. This gives the scholarship committee an understanding of how the scholarship will help students pursue their goals.

Needless to say, the essay is very important for the scholarship application. This is where students can show off their personality. Students should make sure to write a unique composition which answers the essay question.

Think About Your Goals

It can be challenging to think about what your goals are after college. This is especially true if you haven’t decided on a major and have no idea what you want to study.

If you find yourself struggling to determine what your career goals are, try brainstorming before you start writing. Think of what your short-term and long-term goals are and write them down. What skills do you need to achieve these goals?

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Writing Tips – Getting Started

When starting to write your essay , make sure you open with a catchy introduction. This can be a question, an anecdote or a personal story. You want to grab your reader’s interest right away. Start with something unique, rather than using a generic sentence that any other student can use.

Explain the Inspiration Behind Your Goals

You’ll then want to explain the inspiration behind your goals. What led you to want to pursue these goals? What experiences have you had in life which have influenced you and your dreams?

Discuss Your Goals

After discussing your past experiences, talk about your education and career goals . Do you have a major? How will it help you achieve your goals?

Do you have long-term goals you can talk about? The scholarship provider doesn’t expect you to have long-term goals set in stone so don’t worry if you don’t. Instead, you can write about how you wish to impact others.

Make a Creative Conclusion

In your conclusion paragraph, you should summarize the major points in your essay.  Then finish with a closing thought. You should try to make it creative and unique. You want to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

After you finish writing your essay, make sure you proofread it several times. The last thing you’d want to do is turn in an essay with grammar mistakes.

Scholarship Goals Essay Example

It was November, 2016, a few days before Thanksgiving. My class took a field trip to a soup kitchen to serve lunch. I poured piping hot soup into bowls while people started to fill the room. It was a great way to warm up on the frigid November day. Their eyes seemed empty and sad. “Happy Thanksgiving” we said to one another, as our eyes locked.

A few days later, as I sat surrounded by family, turkey, gravy and pumpkin pie, I couldn’t help but feel like something wasn’t right. Why was I so fortunate to have access to all this food? I thought of the people from the soup kitchen and wondered where they were. I knew right then and there that my purpose in life was to help people.

I returned to the soup kitchen as a volunteer a week later, and a week after that.

I envisioned the realm of possibilities for these people. “I would connect him with a rehab program, her with daycare for her baby so she could find work,” I thought to myself while volunteering. I have dreams of one day being able to help people make changes in their lives.

For this reason, I will be starting my undergraduate degree in social work at Boston University in the fall. I am certain that my studies will instill within me the skills and knowledge I need to pursue a career as a social worker. I hope to be able to help those who are less privileged find hope in their lives.

This scholarship will help me achieve my educational and career goals. I have been working hard to save up for college, but with the exorbitant costs of tuition, my part-time jobs haven’t been enough. I am planning to work during my undergraduate degree, but I do wish to focus a lot of my time on my studies. This scholarship will help by lowering the costs of college and the amount of hours I’ll need to work throughout my studies. This way, I’ll be able to continue with my academic achievements. It will also give me time to find an internship. I am hoping to find an internship at a homeless shelter in the Boston area.

It has been two and a half years since I first walked into that soup kitchen. That day without a doubt has changed the course of my life. My experiences there, talking with people and hearing their stories, have instilled within me a passion to help people make positive changes in their lives. This scholarship will allow me to pursue the education I need to achieve my goals.

• Scholarship Essay

Jennifer Finetti

As a parent who recently helped her own kids embark on their college journeys, Jennifer approaches the transition from high school to college from a unique perspective. She truly enjoys engaging with students – helping them to build the confidence, knowledge, and insight needed to pursue their educational and career goals, while also empowering them with the strategies and skills needed to access scholarships and financial aid that can help limit college costs. She understands the importance of ensuring access to the edtech tools and resources that can make this process easier and more equitable - this drive to support underserved populations is what drew her to ScholarshipOwl. Jennifer has coached students from around the world, as well as in-person with local students in her own community. Her areas of focus include career exploration, major selection, college search and selection, college application assistance, financial aid and scholarship consultation, essay review and feedback, and more. She works with students who are at the top of their class, as well as those who are struggling. She firmly believes that all students, regardless of their circumstances, can succeed if they stay focused and work hard in school. Jennifer earned her MA in Counseling Psychology from National University, and her BA in Psychology from University of California, Santa Cruz.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Professions & Career — Career Goals

Career Goals Essay Examples

Career goals essay topic examples, argumentative essays.

Argumentative career goals essays require you to present and defend a viewpoint or strategy related to your professional aspirations. Consider these topic examples:

• 1. Argue why pursuing higher education, such as a master's degree, is essential for achieving your long-term career goals.
• 2. Defend your perspective on whether adaptability or specialization is more important in today's ever-changing job market.

Example Introduction Paragraph for an Argumentative Career Goals Essay: The journey toward achieving our career goals often involves important decisions. In this essay, I will argue that pursuing a master's degree is not only personally fulfilling but also a strategic step toward realizing my long-term career aspirations in [your chosen field].

Example Conclusion Paragraph for an Argumentative Career Goals Essay: In conclusion, the argument for pursuing a master's degree underscores the significance of advanced education in shaping our professional futures. As we contemplate our career paths, we are challenged to make choices that align with our ultimate goals.

Compare and Contrast Essays

Compare and contrast career goals essays involve analyzing the differences and similarities between various career paths, industries, or strategies for achieving your goals. Consider these topics:

• 1. Compare and contrast the career trajectories of professionals in two different fields, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities each path offers.
• 2. Analyze the differences and similarities between pursuing entrepreneurship and working in a corporate environment to achieve your career goals.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Compare and Contrast Career Goals Essay: The pursuit of career goals often involves making informed choices about our professional paths. In this essay, we will compare and contrast the career trajectories of professionals in [Field A] and [Field B], shedding light on the challenges and opportunities each path presents.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Compare and Contrast Career Goals Essay: In conclusion, the comparison and contrast of career trajectories in [Field A] and [Field B] reveal the diverse avenues available for achieving our goals. As we navigate our career choices, we are encouraged to explore the unique advantages each path offers.

Descriptive Essays

Descriptive career goals essays enable you to vividly depict your envisioned career, highlighting the responsibilities, impact, and personal fulfillment it offers. Here are some topic ideas:

• 1. Describe your ideal job in detail, emphasizing the specific role, responsibilities, and the positive contributions you aim to make.
• 2. Paint a detailed portrait of the work culture and environment you aspire to be a part of in your future career.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Descriptive Career Goals Essay: Our career goals are often shaped by our dreams and aspirations. In this essay, I will immerse you in the vivid details of my ideal job, showcasing the role, responsibilities, and the sense of purpose it offers on my journey toward professional fulfillment.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Descriptive Career Goals Essay: In conclusion, the descriptive exploration of my ideal job underscores the importance of aligning our career goals with our aspirations. As we envision our professional futures, we are inspired to pursue opportunities that resonate with our passions and values.

Persuasive Essays

Persuasive career goals essays involve convincing your audience of the importance of a specific career path or the value of setting ambitious goals. Consider these persuasive topics:

• 1. Persuade your readers that pursuing a career in [your chosen field] will contribute significantly to societal progress and innovation.
• 2. Argue for the inclusion of career development programs in educational institutions to empower students in defining and pursuing their career goals.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Persuasive Career Goals Essay: Our career choices have the potential to impact not only our lives but also society as a whole. In this persuasive essay, I will present a compelling case for the societal importance of pursuing a career in [your chosen field] and the need for educational institutions to support students in their career aspirations.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Persuasive Career Goals Essay: In conclusion, the persuasive argument for the societal value of careers in [your chosen field] emphasizes the transformative impact individuals can have on society. As we contemplate our career journeys, we are urged to consider the broader implications of our choices.

Narrative Essays

Narrative career goals essays allow you to share personal stories or experiences related to your career aspirations and the journey toward achieving them. Explore these narrative essay topics:

• 1. Narrate a personal experience that shaped your career goals and ignited your passion for [your chosen field].
• 2. Share a story of overcoming obstacles and setbacks on your path to realizing your long-term career aspirations.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Narrative Career Goals Essay: Our career goals are often inspired by personal experiences and pivotal moments. In this narrative essay, I will take you on a journey through a defining experience that ignited my passion for [your chosen field], shaping my career aspirations and determination to succeed.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Narrative Career Goals Essay: In conclusion, the narrative of my journey toward realizing my career goals underscores the resilience and determination required to overcome obstacles. As we reflect on our own experiences, we are reminded that our career aspirations are within reach with dedication and perseverance.

10 Most Popular Career Goals Essay Topics in 2024

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Examples of Scholarship Essays for the “Career Goals” Question

Emily Wong is a writer at Scholarships360. She’s worked as a social media manager and a content writer at several different startups, where she covered various topics including business, tech, job recruitment, and education. Emily grew up and went to school in the Chicago suburbs, where she studied economics and journalism at Northwestern University.

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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Writing an essay is often the trickiest part of the scholarship application, not to mention the most time-consuming. However, the essay section also allows room for creativity and individuality. If you can communicate effectively, you can use the essay portion to stand out from the crowd. Let’s go over some tips for writing, as well as a couple of scholarship essay examples about career goals.

How to write a scholarship essay 

At this point, you’ve probably gained plenty of experience writing papers for school. However, it may still take a couple of tries to nail the scholarship essay. Since scholarship teams often have to get through a lot of applications, it’s important to stand out while staying concise. Here are some simple guidelines for writing scholarship essays.

See also: How to write a winning scholarship essay (with examples!)

Take five minutes to brainstorm

Before you even start your essay, take some time to gather your thoughts. Think about what you’ll want the paper to focus on. Why did you choose to pursue your career path in the first place? Where do you want to be in five years? How would this scholarship help you further your studies and work toward your goals?

Once you’ve jotted down a few ideas, choose one or two to center your essay on. Identifying the focus of your paper, it’ll make it easier to keep your thoughts organized. In turn, it’ll make it easier for the reader to follow.

Related : How to start a scholarship essay (with examples!)

Stay within the word limit

Unlike the four-page essays that you may have written in English class, scholarship essays are often only a paragraph or two. In order to respect the selection committee’s time, be wary of going too far about the specified word count. A general rule of thumb is to stay within 20 words above or below the limit. That may entail a few rounds of edits to get the wording just right.

Stay positive!

Feel free to use part of your essay to talk about your life’s challenges. After all, the selection committee often wants to give the award to a candidate who needs it. However, make sure your anecdote doesn’t devolve into a sob story. If you’re going to bring up hardships you’ve endured, try to balance it by talking about how you’ve overcome them. By demonstrating resilience, you can show readers how you would use the scholarship to succeed in your current situation.

Leave time to proofread

Especially for a short scholarship essay, proofreading can take as little as 5-10 minutes. Still, it can be tempting to just hit “submit” after your first draft. However, being too impulsive can leave your essay riddled with typos and grammatical errors.

Try to avoid unnecessary mistakes by finishing your draft at least 24 hours before the scholarship deadline. That way, you can proofread it with fresh eyes before you submit it.

If you’re struggling to close out your essay, read how to end a scholarship essay in five steps .

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How to write a 100-word “career goals” essay.

When writing a 100-word essay, you’ll have to choose your content carefully. Since space is limited, you’ll want to identify the most important details to include beforehand.

First and foremost, make sure to clearly communicate your current pursuits. Talk about your academic and extracurricular activities related to your career goals. Additionally, it’s important to be specific about what you plan to do in the future. Then, if you have extra room, you can talk about how the scholarship will help you reach your goals.

My name is Alison MacBride, and I’m a sophomore at the University of Illinois. I’m currently pursuing a major in Journalism with a minor in Natural Resource Conservation. After completing my program, I plan to combine my areas of interest to become an environmental journalist.

During high school, I volunteered at an eco-conscious farm, where I learned about how our actions affect the earth. Since then, I’ve been set on raising awareness for the environment. This scholarship would go a long way in helping me finish my degree with the skills I need to investigate and report about critical issues.

Word count: 100

How to write a 250-word “career goals” essay

For the 250-word essay, you can go into more detail. Give the readers some context by talking about how you first got interested in your chosen career. Storytelling can be especially effective in engaging your audience. Try to capture their attention by choosing one or two concrete examples and relaying them vividly.

Additionally, you can spend more time talking about the scholarship and how it’ll make a difference in your studies. Go into more detail about how and why you need the award, but remember to keep it positive! For more help, check out how to write a 250 word essay . 

I first decided that I wanted to pursue a career in environmentalism in early high school. The summer after my freshman year, I joined a volunteer program at an eco-conscious farm in my community. In addition to helping out with the operations, I learned about current environmental issues related to farming and other consumer industries.

After learning about the agricultural industry’s impact on the planet, I was inspired to make a difference. The next year, I started a monthly earth magazine at my high school in which we broke down environmental issues and offered tips on how to be more eco-friendly. When I started college, I founded an on-campus publication with the same mission.

In recent years, I’ve been troubled to see how some media outlets downplay the gravity of issues like climate change and deforestation. I’ve admired reporters who publish trustworthy and comprehensible information about environmental issues, and I aim to follow in their footsteps.

When I entered college, I was initially concerned that I wouldn’t have enough money to finish my degree. Fortunately, I’ve been able to cover most of my tuition using merit scholarships and paychecks from my part-time job on campus. Receiving this scholarship would allow me more time to focus on acing my classes and pursuing environmental advocacy work on campus.

Word count: 261

Final thoughts

Planning is essential in making your “career goals” essay clear and concise. Hopefully, these scholarship essay examples about career goals can be your guide to writing a scholarship-winning essay. Good luck!

Additional resources

Maybe you need to write a longer scholarship essay? We can help with our writing a 500 word essay guide ! Be prepared and learn how to write essays about yourself and how to craft an impressive personal statement . Learn the differences between a personal statement and a statement of purpose as the terms might come up on college websites. If you haven’t decided on a college already, check out our guide on how to choose a college . No matter where you are in your educational journey, make sure that you apply for all the scholarships you qualify for!

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Examples of SMART Goals for Students with Autism

Discover effective examples of SMART goals for students with autism to foster academic and social growth.

Understanding SMART Goals for Students with Autism

In the educational realm, setting clear and attainable objectives is paramount. This is especially crucial for students with autism. One method that has proven effective in this regard is the setting of SMART goals.

Importance of SMART Goals

The acronym SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These goals can be an effective tool for helping students with autism reach their full potential. By setting objectives that are clear, assessable, and within reach, students are more likely to stay motivated and engaged in their learning journey [1].

For example, an academic SMART goal for a student with autism could be to improve communication skills by using complete sentences in classroom discussions. This goal is specific (using complete sentences), measurable (the teacher can track the number of times the student uses complete sentences), achievable (with practice and guidance, the student can learn to use complete sentences), relevant (communication skills are crucial in the classroom and beyond), and time-bound (the student could aim to achieve this goal within a semester).

Benefits of Setting SMART Goals

There are several advantages to setting SMART goals for students with autism. Firstly, these goals provide clear expectations. This can help to reduce anxiety and confusion, common challenges faced by students with autism. Secondly, the measurable nature of SMART goals enables educators and caregivers to objectively assess a student's progress. This can assist in identifying areas where more support or intervention might be needed.

Furthermore, SMART goals can help improve social and communication skills. Goals such as initiating conversations with peers or participating in group activities can help students with autism to better navigate social situations [1]. Similarly, behavioral SMART goals can aid in managing behaviors and enhancing social interactions. This can include using appropriate greetings and practicing turn-taking during conversations.

In conclusion, SMART goals offer a structured and effective approach towards helping students with autism to achieve their potential. By setting and working towards these goals, students can make significant strides in their academic, social, and personal development.

Examples of Academic SMART Goals

When setting academic goals for students with autism, it's crucial to make them SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This approach can be an effective tool for helping students reach their full potential [1]. Here are some examples of academic SMART goals for students with autism.

Improving Communication Skills

Communication is a key skill in any academic setting. For students with autism, a SMART goal could be improving communication skills by using complete sentences during classroom discussions. This goal is specific, focusing on the use of complete sentences. It's measurable, as educators can track the number of times a student uses complete sentences in discussions. It's achievable and relevant as it directly impacts their ability to communicate effectively in an academic setting. Moreover, the goal can be time-bound, aiming to achieve a certain level of improvement within a given academic term.

Enhancing Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension is another vital academic skill. A SMART goal in this area could be to understand and summarize the main ideas of a text after reading. This goal is specific and measurable, as it requires the student to demonstrate understanding by summarizing the main ideas. It's achievable with proper support and is indeed relevant to academic success. It can be time-bound by setting a goal for the student to reach a certain level of comprehension within a semester.

Developing Math Problem-Solving Skills

Math problem-solving is a critical skill for students with autism to develop. A SMART goal here could be to solve a certain number of math problems correctly each week. This goal is specific, focusing on solving math problems. It's measurable, as the number of correctly solved problems can be tracked. It's achievable with dedicated practice and is relevant to the student's academic performance in math. Lastly, it's time-bound, aiming to achieve the goal on a weekly basis.

Improving Writing Skills

Writing is another essential academic skill. A SMART goal for improving writing skills could be to write clear and concise sentences in essays or assignments. This goal is specific, focusing on the clarity and conciseness of writing. It's measurable, as educators can assess the clarity and conciseness of the student's writing. It's achievable with practice and is relevant to academic success. This goal can also be time-bound, aiming for improvement within a school year.

These examples of SMART goals for students with autism aim to enhance their academic skills in a structured, measurable way. Remember that the most effective goals are tailored to the individual needs and abilities of each student, and should be adjusted as the student grows and develops.

Examples of Social and Communication SMART Goals

Developing social and communication skills is crucial for students with autism. SMART goals provide a structured framework to help these students enhance their social interactions, build meaningful relationships, and improve their self-confidence. Here are some examples of SMART goals focused on social and communication skills for students with autism.

Initiating Conversations

One of the key areas of social communication that can be challenging for students with autism is initiating conversations. A SMART goal focused on this skill might be: "By the end of the academic year, the student will independently initiate a conversation with peers at least 4 times during a school day, as observed by the classroom teacher."

This goal is specific (initiating conversations), measurable (at least 4 times a day), achievable (with practice and support), relevant (a crucial social skill), and time-bound (by the end of the academic year).

Using Appropriate Nonverbal Cues

Nonverbal communication forms a significant part of our daily interactions. For students with autism, understanding and using appropriate nonverbal cues can be a challenge. A SMART goal for enhancing nonverbal communication skills might be: "Within the academic year, the student will accurately use three appropriate nonverbal communication cues (like eye contact, nodding, and facial expressions) during conversations with peers, as observed by the classroom teacher" [2].

This goal is specific (using nonverbal cues), measurable (three appropriate cues), achievable (with practice and support), relevant (an important aspect of social interaction), and time-bound (within the academic year).

Practicing Turn-Taking in Conversations

Turn-taking in conversations is another important social skill. A SMART goal targeted at this skill might be: "By the end of the semester, the student will wait for his turn to speak during classroom discussions, demonstrating this behavior in 5 out of 5 opportunities, as observed by the classroom teacher."

This goal is specific (waiting for turn to speak), measurable (in 5 out of 5 opportunities), achievable (with practice and reinforcement), relevant (a key communication skill) and time-bound (by the end of the semester).

Through the use of SMART goals, students with autism can make significant strides in their social and communication skills. These examples serve as a starting point for educators and caregivers to tailor goals to the individual needs and abilities of each student. The ultimate goal is to enhance their social interactions and achieve increased self-confidence and independence.

Examples of Behavioral SMART Goals

Setting behavioral SMART goals for students with autism can be a powerful tool for helping them manage their behaviors and improve their social interactions. These goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound, and can lead to significant improvements in a student's behavior and social skills [4].

Reducing Disruptive Behaviors

One of the areas where SMART goals can be particularly effective is in reducing disruptive behaviors. For example, a SMART goal could be: "By the end of the academic year, the student will reduce instances of disruptive behaviors, such as interrupting or yelling, by 50% during class time." This goal is specific, measurable (disruptions can be tallied), attainable (with appropriate interventions), relevant (disruptive behavior impacts learning), and time-bound (by the end of the academic year).

Improving Self-Regulation Skills

Another area where SMART goals can be beneficial is in improving self-regulation skills. For instance, a SMART goal could be: "Within six months, the student will demonstrate improved self-regulation skills by utilizing strategies to manage emotions, transitions, and behavioral responses in various settings," as described by ABTaba . This goal is specific (it focuses on self-regulation skills), measurable (the use of strategies can be observed and recorded), attainable (with the right support and practice), relevant (self-regulation is important for success in various settings), and time-bound (to be achieved within six months).

Enhancing Social Interactions

Improving social interactions is another area where SMART goals can be useful. A relevant goal could be: "Within the academic year, the student will enhance nonverbal communication skills by using appropriate gestures, eye contact, facial expressions, and body language in social interactions." This goal, mentioned in ABTaba , is specific (it targets nonverbal communication skills), measurable (use of appropriate nonverbal cues can be observed), attainable (with instruction and practice), relevant (nonverbal communication is crucial for social interactions), and time-bound (to be achieved within the academic year).

These examples of behavioral SMART goals for students with autism demonstrate how this goal-setting approach can be used to target specific areas of need and track progress over time. By setting and working towards these goals, students with autism can make significant strides in managing their behaviors and improving their social interactions.

Implementing SMART Goals Effectively

Implementing SMART goals effectively requires careful thought and detailed planning. By focusing on measurability, tailoring goals to individual needs, and monitoring progress, educators and therapists can help students with autism achieve their goals and improve their skills.

Measurability in Goal Setting

Measurability is a key aspect of SMART goal setting for students with autism. It allows educators to objectively assess a student's progress by tracking specific indicators. For example, educators can track the number of times a student participates in class discussions or their scores on tests. This objective data provides a clear measure of the student's progress and highlights any areas that may need additional focus or intervention [1].

Measurable goals also provide a clear endpoint or target for the student to work towards. This can be motivating for the student and help them see the value of the skills they are learning.

Tailoring Goals to Individual Needs

Each student with autism is unique and will have different needs and abilities. Therefore, it's important that SMART goals are tailored to the individual needs of each student.

For example, SMART goals can help students with autism improve their social and communication skills. Goals could include initiating conversations with peers and participating in group activities. Other students might have goals focused on managing behaviors and improving social interactions, such as using appropriate greetings and taking turns during conversations [1].

By creating personalized goals that are meaningful and relevant to the student, educators can increase the likelihood of the student's engagement and success.

Progress Monitoring and Adjustments

Progress monitoring is an integral part of implementing SMART goals. Regular check-ins can provide valuable information about the student's progress towards their goals, and highlight any areas that may need additional support or intervention.

Additionally, it's important to remember that goals may need to be adjusted over time. If a student is struggling to meet a specific goal, it may be necessary to modify the goal to make it more achievable. On the other hand, if a student is consistently meeting a goal with ease, the goal may need to be made more challenging to continue promoting growth and learning.

Setting and implementing SMART goals is essential for the educational growth and development of students with autism. By focusing on measurability, individual needs, and progress monitoring, educators can create effective learning plans that help students with autism reach their full potential.

[1]: https://www.totalcareaba.com/autism/smart-goals-students-with-autism-examples/

‍ [2]: https://www.abtaba.com/blog/examples-of-smart-goals-for-students-with-autism/

‍ [3]: https://www.adinaaba.com/post/examples-of-smart-goals-for-students-with-autism

‍ [4]: https://www.totalcareaba.com/autism/smart-goals-students-with-autism-examples

Steven Zauderer

CEO of CrossRiverTherapy - a national ABA therapy company based in the USA.

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15 Best Examples of Professional Goals [+Tips to Achieve Them]

Published: May 01, 2024

“So, where do you see yourself five years from now?” Oof, that can be a tricky interview question, especially if you’re unsure of your professional goals.

When I graduated from college and started interviewing in my chosen field, I felt like I needed to plan my entire professional life, complete with one concrete end goal.

To be honest, it was overwhelming. I desperately needed actionable advice to plan steps to reach my professional goals.

In this post, we’ll define professional goals, provide examples, and give you tips so you can plan, meet, and exceed the goals you set for yourself.

What are professional goals?

Professional Goals Examples

Tips for Achieving Professional Goals

Work Towards Your Professional Goals

What Are Professional Goals?

Professional goals are achievements or milestones you hope to achieve in your career. These include personal and professional development, skill development, salary increases, career advancement, and switches.

Professional goals are often personal, but they don’t have to be. You can set professional goals for yourself and your team to help improve your organization and elevate it to the next level.

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What makes a good professional goal?

What separates a professional goal from a wish is that professional goals are attainable and achievable when designed with the appropriate framework.

It’s important to point out that you might have one overarching professional goal, like “become professionally bilingual.”

However, under your overarching goal, you might have smaller, more manageable goals with a specific, actionable framework attached to them to help you reach your biggest goal.

The SMART goal framework is the perfect framework to apply to reach your big and small goals. The letters of SMART stand for:

Let’s examine each letter so that you understand how to structure your goals for maximum achievement.

When writing your own professional goals, you need to be specific. For example, if you want to become bilingual to position yourself ahead of your competition in the job market, you need to be specific about the language you’ll need to learn.

There are over 2,000 languages worldwide, but only one or two will be relevant to your job market. Take some time to research your field before choosing your second language.

In other words, you need to ensure your smaller goal is specific enough to help you reach your overarching goal.

If your goal is measurable, you can easily track your progress. You can make your goals measurable by including a number. For example, if your goal is to learn Spanish, a more measurable goal would be, “Learn five new Spanish vocabulary words.”

The difference between “Learn five new Spanish vocabulary words” and “Learn Spanish” is that you now have something to work on. Making your goals measurable can help break down the task, too.

If your goals aren’t attainable, there’s a good chance they’ll fall into the “wishes” category. By adjusting your goals to your ability, you have something to work towards.

Once you reach your initial goal, you can change your objectives for continued improvement.

Attainable goals are helpful because they help you see how far you’ve come from your baseline. Small wins are encouraging and can help you push through to the end.

The trick to the SMART goal framework is to keep your objectives relevant. For example, if I wanted to learn Spanish as a global sales rep, I would need to focus on learning vocabulary specific to my job.

While watching Spanish comedians might be a great way to learn new slang, it won’t help me communicate effectively and professionally with my clients.

Before setting your goals, ask yourself, “Will this goal help me reach my desired objective?” If the answer is yes, make sure it’s specific enough, measurable, and attainable. If the answer is no, this might be a goal you set aside and pick back up later.

Putting a time frame on your goal helps you increase your motivation and stay accountable for your progress. Plus, when your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, and relevant, you can track your progress and better visualize your wins.

If you’re like me and tend to get off track, SMART goals are your best friend.

Writing and implementing SMART goals can help you reach your professional goals much faster because you can break your ultimate objective into actionable steps. Think of them as your plan for success!

Professional Goal Examples

Ready to set a goal for yourself, but you need some examples? Here are FIFTEEN examples of professional goals:

1. Land an internship

If you’re a college student looking for work experience or want to enter a new industry, landing an internship is an excellent goal. Internships are a great way to gain the skills you need to be successful in your industry.

Plus, you’ll gain insider knowledge. You can acknowledge your experience on your resume, giving you a leg up on your competition.

Pro tip: Check with your local labor unions or your university’s Student Success Center for leads on potential internships.

2. Grow Your Network

When I decided to become a freelance writer, I knew I needed to grow my network and connect with others.

Growing your network is a good idea for many reasons, including collaborating with like-minded people and uncovering career opportunities.

Becoming active on social media platforms, like LinkedIn, and attending in-person meetings is a great way to make yourself available and gain new connections.

Pro tip: If you want to grow your network online, commit to regularly posting updates on social media. Social media management tools can help you keep up with your posts and nurture relationships with your followers.

3. Learn a New Skill

Increasing your skill set is a fantastic professional goal. Think about the skills you need to be successful in your work. Are there any skills you need to brush up on?

Or, if you’re looking to change careers or get a promotion, which skills will make your transition easier? Make a list and find ways to gain those skills, like taking a class or attending a seminar.

Pro tip: After making your list of desired skills, use the SMART goals framework to create an actionable learning plan.

4. Start a Podcast

Kaitlin Milliken, Senior Program Manager HubSpot, made starting a podcast one of her professional goals. Podcasting is a great way to gain technical and interviewing skills.

Milliken says, “One of my professional goals was to start a podcast. I was lucky enough to work as a multimedia producer at a startup that was looking to kick one off. I started by listening to other shows for inspiration — Reply All, The Journal, and Post Reports were really big at the time.

Miliken says she spoke with a few folks who had started their own hobby shows to get a sense of what gear was available within her budget.

"After that, I pitched ideas, wrote scripts, and started booking interviews. The big challenge was finding the time," she says. "I was still reporting stories, making newsletters, and creating videos in my role."

She explains, "I had to be very intentional about blocking off time on my calendar so I could accomplish this professional goal.”

Pro Tip: If starting a podcast is one of your professional goals, listen to related podcasts for inspiration for your own.

5. Earn a Professional Certificate

Depending on your job, you may need a professional certificate to advance your career. As a teacher, I needed to become licensed to teach my chosen subject. So, I spent a lot of time taking education courses to gain licensure.

If earning a professional certificate is on your list of professional goals, look for classes that offer relevant certifications. Then, commit to signing up for and completing the course.

Pro tip: Many companies offer continuing education courses for their employees. Take advantage of these offerings to advance your career and deepen your knowledge base. HubSpot Academy is also a great resource for learning new skills and receiving certifications.

6. Start a New Business or Company Initiative

Your personal goals can double as a company initiative, too. Not only will you benefit from gaining new skills, but your company benefits from your efforts, too. Caroline Forsey, Principal Marketing Manager at HubSpot, made starting a new company-wide initiative one of her professional goals.

Forsey says, “A professional goal I set for myself was to own the first thought leadership program at HubSpot -- I succeeded in doing so by leaning into team and company-wide goals and ensuring my program became indispensable to hitting those goals."

She explains, "So, for instance, I knew our team-wide goals were to grow organic traffic on the SERPs."

Rather than leaning into social or email views for my program, Forsey ensured she kept organic views top-of-mind with each piece of content she created for the program.

"I continued to ask myself: Does this have search intent? Is there MSV? Can I make it more SEO-optimized?" she explains. "It's always tempting to lean into personal interests when creating and working towards a goal, but it’s critical you keep the larger picture top-of-mind if you want it to gain buy-in from stakeholders.”

7. Become a Pro at Time Management

If you’re anything like me, the workday can slip by before you know it. And in times like that, productivity seems to go out the window. Becoming better at time management is an excellent professional goal and a necessary skill for many jobs within any industry.

To improve your time management, you might need to reduce your distractions or use a planner to schedule your workday.

Pro tip: Time blocking is a fantastic way to stay on task. At the start of each day, write down your to-do list and break it into smaller chunks that you can complete in a certain amount of time. Then, commit to completing those tasks during your given timeframe.

8. Increase Your Sales

If you’re in sales, you know how important it is for your company to reach your sales and revenue targets yearly. So, setting “Increase My Sales” as a personal and professional goal is not a bad idea. Take a look at your numbers, then determine where and how you need to improve it.

Pro tip: Check with your managers about their sales enablement program. Sales enablement can help you learn how to manage your sales more effectively.

9. Be a Star Employee

Becoming a star employee is really about advancing your career within your company. Erica Santiago, Marketing Manager at HubSpot, made this one of her professional goals and told me how she did it.

Santiago says, "A professional goal of mine at HubSpot was to really own a lane in terms of content so that I could be a go-to for certain projects and really get my name out in the company."

She says she noticed other writers and contributors seemed to really own a topic, and it helped them stand out.

"I wanted to do the same to set myself up for opportunities," she says. "I achieved this by taking a moment to ask myself what my strengths are, what topics I enjoy, and how these things tie in with HubSpot's greater goals."

Eventually, Santiago realized that the creator economy is a topic that she's really familiar with, thanks to the content creation she does outside of HubSpot.

She then realized there are content creators who could benefit from HubSpot’s marketing products and blog content.

"From there, I took it upon myself to write more content centered on creators and eventually started my series 'The Creative,'" she explains. "It‘s still getting off the ground, but the content that’s come out so far has proven it to be a promising project."

She continues, "Now, I‘m regularly assigned creator economy-based content, and I’ve carved my own niche within the marketing blog.”

10. Become a Mentor

If you feel you have a lot of industry experience and knowledge to share, consider making "Become a Mentor” one of your professional goals. As a mentor, you’ll gain leadership skills, like teaching, while positioning yourself as a leader in your field.

Pro tip: If you want to become a mentor, consider partnering with your manager to design a mentorship program for new employees. If your organization already has a mentorship program, sign up to share your knowledge with others.

11. Create a Work-Life Balance

As someone who works from home, it can be tempting to work 24/7. But one of the biggest reasons I started my own business was to have time for the things I wanted to pursue—like running a half marathon and working on my personal blog.

So, making it a goal to create a better work-life balance was a must! Time to refresh and recharge is critical to decreasing the chance of burnout.

Pro tip: Commit to keeping your work at work. That means getting into the habit of leaving unfinished tasks on your desk for the next day. You can always pick up on your tasks later.

12. Get a Promotion

Many people share the professional goal of working towards a promotion, which often comes with a salary increase.

Martina Bretous, Editor of HubSpot’s Next in AI blog, made getting a promotion her goal. But she didn’t sit idly by and wait for her managers to notice her. Instead, she made a plan and shared it with me.

Bretous says one of her professional goals was to become a blog editor at HubSpot.

"The first thing I did was ask blog editors to shadow them. This was a key part of my learning," she recalls. "I had to understand the day-to-day of the role and ask questions to understand initiatives, goals, and challenges.

She then took any opportunity to fill in when an editor was out of the office. This gave her the hands-on experience she was looking for before she was actually in the role full-time.

"All of this prep work set me up nicely so that when an opportunity presented itself to fill in that role, I was a shoo-in because I knew the property very well," she says. "Other editors could recommend me as someone who understood the blog and confirm that I had hands-on experience."

13. Become a Pro at Technology

Technology is constantly changing, which sometimes means our jobs change with it. If using technology is integral to your job, consider becoming a pro or super user of your tech stack.

This will help keep your skills current and set you up as the office go-to for assisting others in learning, too.

Pro tip: Depending on the tech you use in the office, many organizations offer training courses on how to use their products. Sign up for their email newsletter to stay on top of their training and product releases.

14. Publish Your Research

Publishing your research can set you up for success and position you as an industry expert. Consider writing and publishing your work in industry publications if this is a career goal.

You’ll gain new writing skills and learn how to promote your work to experts in the field.

Pro tip: Research industry publications and their submission guidelines. Each publication may have different submission guidelines, and it’s helpful to know them upfront to save time in the submission process later.

15. Receive an Award

It’s nice to be recognized for your dedication and hard work. Plus, recognition can add to your credibility and credentials as an expert. Receiving acknowledgments and an award takes time, though.

But if this is your professional goal, it’s well worth the effort.

Pro tip: Consider the backgrounds of the award winners within your industry. What did they do to stand out amongst the crowd? Use what you learn from their experiences to map your own path to success.

Be sure to make it your personal roadmap, though, to stand out.

Ready to set your goals in motion? Here are five tips from me and our HubSpot experts for achieving professional goals.

1. Lean Into Your Network

Your network is a gold mine of opportunity. Instead of “gold mine,” rebrand it to “goal mine.”

Milliken offers expert advice on using your network to achieve your professional goals:

“Make the most of your network. The chances are there’s someone you already know who has accomplished the professional goal you want to achieve. In my experience, people have been really generous about sharing their advice. You just need to reach out.”

2. Break Your Goals Down

If you’re not careful, your professional goals can become too big to achieve and manage. Instead, follow Bretous’ advice and break your goals into smaller pieces.

Bretous says, “My advice to anyone with a goal is to break it down into bite-size pieces. Because having a goal can get overwhelming when you see how much you have to accomplish to get there."

She explains, "To avoid that, break it into measurable, smaller goals that you can tackle on a daily or weekly basis. And don’t forget to lean on colleagues and managers for help in achieving this goal.”

3. Find a Mentor

You don’t have to tackle your goals alone. Support, especially from a mentor or manager, is invaluable.

Santiago suggests reaching out to your manager. 

“Share your goals with your manager so they can help steer you in the right direction," she explains. "When I first thought of The Creative, I wasn't sure how to pitch it or what direction to take it in. So, I reached out to my manager, and he helped me fill in the blanks."

4. Be Your Own Advocate

Advocating for yourself is a tough lesson to learn. However, if you want to achieve professional goals, you need to learn to be your own advocate.

Forsey agrees and offers two essential tips for advocating for yourself. Forsey says, “My tip for achieving personal goals is a) ensure your personal goals are aligned with larger business goals, and b) be a major advocate for yourself!"

She explains, "Let people across the company know the impact your goals are having on the company— and, equally importantly, make sure your manager as well as leadership is aware of your personal goals."

Forsey says to continue asking your manager things like, “My personal goal is X. What is your advice on how to get closer to that goal?” or “My personal goal is X. How am I measuring up when it comes to meeting that goal?”

"Having leadership aware of your personal goals helps create personal momentum even on the days that you're feeling less motivated," she says.

5. Seek Feedback

My last tip for achieving professional goals is to seek feedback. In my experience, feedback is an invaluable tool for guiding your personal improvement.

If your manager doesn’t directly offer feedback, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Their insights into your work can help you identify areas for improvement that you might not have been aware of.

Work Toward Your Professional Goals

Professional goals are more than things to check off your to-do list. Instead, they help advance your career and give you a purpose for your hard work.

Don’t let your goals get out of hand, though. Set yourself up for success by using the SMART goals framework and breaking your goals into smaller tasks. With this framework in place, you’ll hit your targets in no time!

Don't forget to share this post!

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Here’s How Ivy League Schools Evaluate Student GPAs

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One of the main gates on the Brown University campus, decorated with the University crest. (Photo by ... [+] Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Images)

A stellar GPA is one of the building blocks of a successful Ivy League application, and as the school year winds down, many students are anxiously seeking to give theirs a final boost. While most students and families understand the importance of a 4.0, few are aware of how top colleges evaluate student GPAs or what they look for when reviewing student transcripts. Though your GPA may seem to be a simple metric, nothing could be further from the case—colleges consider more than just the number, accounting for complexities such as diverse grading systems across schools, trends in grade inflation, and level of course rigor.

Here are three important facts to keep in mind about your GPA as you choose your courses:

1. Your GPA doesn’t directly compare to that of students at other schools.

One common misconception among college applicants is that they can compare their GPAs with those of students attending different schools. However, the GPA is not a universal metric but rather a reflection of an individual's academic performance within their specific educational environment. As a result, comparing GPAs from different schools is like comparing apples and oranges. For instance, some schools offer a plethora of AP, IB, and honors courses, while others may have limited options or offer none at all. Additionally, the weight assigned to AP versus honors versus regular classes varies from school to school. So, your GPA may not hold the same weight as those of your peers at different schools, even if you all have 4.0s.

Admissions officers understand that schools vary in their rigor, curriculum, and grading policies. Therefore, they evaluate your GPA in the context of your high school, considering the courses offered and the academic challenges presented. Instead of fixating on how your GPA compares to your friends’ from other schools, focus on challenging yourself and taking advantage of all the opportunities available to you at your school.

2. GPAs across the country are inflated—and colleges know it.

The last few years have seen surges in high school student GPAs nationwide. While GPA inflation has been on the rise over the last decade, average ACT composite scores are steadily declining. “For the 1.4 million ACT test-takers in the high school class of 2023, the average composite score on the exam was 19.5 out of 36, the lowest score since 1991,” according to The New York Times . The parallel differences, coupled with academic differences across schools, suggest that GPA must be considered in tandem with multiple other factors. Simply put, an A no longer means what it used to on a transcript.

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Ivy League and other top colleges are well aware of this trend and evaluate student GPAs alongside other metrics such as standardized test scores and AP exam scores in order to better understand a student’s academic skill sets. While some Ivy League and other top schools remain test-optional , they still place emphasis on course rigor and the context offered by your high school profile in order to understand the grades on your transcript.

3. Colleges will recalculate your GPA.

Given the abundance of variables in GPA calculations, colleges often recalculate the metric to create a standardized baseline for comparison between students across different schools. The recalibration may involve adjusting for variations in grading scales or the weighting of honors, International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced Placement (AP) courses. The University of California system, for example, calculates students’ UC GPAs by converting grades to grade points (an A is equivalent to 4 points, a B to three points, etc.) for classes taken between summer after 9th and summer after 11th grade, and adding one point for each honors class, and dividing by total classes taken to yield final GPA.*

Other colleges also take additional factors that impact academic performance into consideration, and envelop GPA into a broader, holistic consideration. For instance, the Harvard University lawsuit over affirmative action revealed that Harvard rates students on a scale of 1–6 (with one being the most desirable) in academic, extracurricular, athletic and personal categories. A student’s GPA and test scores are folded together into an academic score which “summarizes the applicant’s academic achievement and potential based on grades, testing results, letters of recommendation, academic prizes, and any submitted academic work.”

This process aims to provide a fair and equitable evaluation of students from different educational backgrounds. Keep in mind that Harvard considers not only your grades, test scores, and academic rigor in this score, but also “evidence of substantial scholarship” and “academic creativity,” which can make the difference between a 1 and a 2 in the scoring system. These systems underscore the importance of taking advantage of every opportunity, showcasing your unique personality and creativity, and seeking to maximize opportunities to improve your performance within the academic landscape of your institution.

By understanding the complex way by which colleges evaluate students’ GPAs, you are better equipped to present a comprehensive and competitive picture of your academic achievements on your transcript and stand out in the competitive Ivy League admissions landscape.

*Variations exist for in-state versus out-of-state students and by high school. Be sure to calculate your GPA following the UC issued guidelines.

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