The Best Short Term Goals For Students To Set In College

Short term goals for students can help maintain focus, manage time effectively, and achieve success both academically and personally. 

Some of the best short term goals for students to set in college are more common than you think. In fact, your college goals may look very similar to the ones you set in high school.  

If you practice a healthy lifestyle, have effective study habits, and know how to balance your academic and social life, you’re already halfway there. 

The first step is setting smaller goals for your college years. 

Long-term goals are great for the bigger picture, but they can feel overwhelming when you’re just starting out. It’s best to set short-term goals that are realistic and achievable first. 

Contrary to belief, goals that many people consider low-hanging fruit are some of the best wins. The end results can be very rewarding.

Short-term goals help college students to form good habits, follow routines, and develop a tangible action plan.

College students who excel academically set goals every year. They also possess a unique set of skills that they have honed overtime. 

For example, some students walk into their college years with advanced communication, public speaking, and time management skills. 

These skills allow them to transition into their college careers with ease. 

While others may need to set a few short-term goals to develop those skills individually. 

Success in college is more about learning discipline and responsibility than being a knowledge expert in your prospective career field.

Not all students are bringing home straight As with high GPAs. Academic performance doesn’t have to be the primary focus of your goal setting, either. 

There are other areas of your life that require personal and professional development. Just think of the short-term goals as action steps that you’ll take to get to your desired outcome.

Before we explore the best short-term goals for students to set in college, let’s distinguish the difference between short term and long term goals.

What are short-term goals?

A short-term goal is an objective that you aim to achieve in the near future, usually within a few days to a few months. 

Short-term goals are often specific, actionable, and help build momentum toward larger ambitions. 

However, individuals typically achieve long-term goals by pursuing broader objectives over an extended period. 

These goals can take up to several years to complete and require sustained effort and planning. However, they often involve completing multiple short-term goals along the way.

On average, short-term goals should take a maximum of 3-5 action steps to achieve. 

Think about it. If you want to lead a more active lifestyle within the next 90 days, what are some things you would do to change your habits?

One of the action steps may be exercising 30-minutes to an hour every single day. The next action step could be signing up for a sports activity or class that requires you to move your body several times a week. 

For women, these classes could consist of cycling, pilates, tennis, or bachata dance classes. 

Incorporating activity into a daily routine, such as walking or biking to work, is another action step to take. 

Your daily activities at work or home can change as well; like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or opting to do daily chores or gardening instead of watching television. 

If you have a sedentary job, taking more breaks to stand up, stretch, walk around, or do 15-minute workouts counts as an action step as well.

You can also join a fitness group for ongoing motivation and accountability purposes. Last but not least, you can choose leisure activities that include physical movement, such as hiking, camping, or swimming, to achieve your short-term goal.

Short-term goals are easier to set than long-term goals, because they require action, consistency, and deadlines.

Long-term goals are easier to push back or procrastinate on. While short term goals keep you focused and disciplined, which makes meeting long-term goals is a breeze.

RELATED POSTS:

Goals After High School – 75 Audacious Ideas

What Is The Most Important Step In Prioritizing Goals

What is an example of a short term goal for students?  

Students can set short-term goals for various areas of their lives. Whether it’s personal, academic, social, or professional, there’s always room for growth. 

I’m sharing various examples of short-term goals you can make as a student in college. Selecting 2-3 short-term goals in each area of your life is a good start. 

In college, your development should be holistic. 

Keeping your head in the books is commendable, but connecting with others, fostering relationships, learning different cultures, and becoming a well-rounded person is just as important.

The short-term goals you set should be unique to you. What desired outcomes are you looking for on a personal and professional level when your college career ends?

Reflect on what college success looks like for you. 

Here are a few helpful questions to get your gears going while you come up with a list of short-term goals on your own.

• Do you want to have a certain number of internships under your belt before you graduate?  
• Are you hoping to grow your professional network through your professors, peers, and counselors?
• Do you plan on studying abroad for a semester?
• Do you need to maintain a high GPA for your academic scholarships?
• Would you like to learn a new language or musical instrument?
• What extra-curricular or social activities would you like to get involved with?

Short term goals for students in college

ACADEMICS

• Dedicate 1-2 hours to studying per day
• Join or start a study group
• Visit office hours and the tutoring center
• Actively participate in class discussions
• Take a leadership role on a group project
• Complete all homework assignments on time
• Take one elective for fun each semester
• Make the Dean’s List 
• Learn a new skill
• Increase your grade point average
• Use an academic planner 
• Use college resources for career advancement
• Maintain perfect class attendance
• Start and complete class projects early
• Declare an academic major
• Apply for scholarships
• Do early registration for classes
• Meet with a financial aid counselor

Personal

• Show up as your best self (i.e. skincare, makeup, outfits)
• Eat breakfast every morning
• Exercise daily
• Drink one gallon of water
• Follow a daily routine (morning and evening)
• Do a mindfulness activity every day through gratitude journaling, meditation, prayer, or yoga
• Set a monthly budget to manage your expenses
• Follow a regular sleep schedule
• Start a new hobby
• Cut out distractions that inhibit your growth
• Discover something new each week
• Enjoy your own company and get to know yourself
• Complete a weekly wellness activity
• Perform​​ an act of kindness for someone else
• Spread awareness or donate to a good cause  
• Read two books a month
• Sign up for community service hours
• Visit the mental health center
• Practice resetting on Sundays
• Schedule regular healthcare appointments
• Tidy up your dorm room
• Do weekly meal prepping
• Add a laundry day into your weekly schedule
• Set a savings goal
• Replace student loans with grants and scholarship awards
• Familiarize yourself with campus resources (i.e. student services, library, or academic support centers)

Professional

• Find a part-time or work-study job
• Improve networking and communication skills
• Join a sorority 
• Complete career assessments
• Run for student council
• Try out for the debate team to improve your public speaking skills
• Pursue a leadership role in an organization or club
• Apply for summer internships related to your field of study
• Attend a career fair or workshop
• Polish your resume
• Create a LinkedIn profile
• Start a side hustle
• Study abroad
• Refrain from accumulating credit card debt
• Make with a career counselor
• Do content creation for a niche you love
• Practice mock interviews
• Seek freelance opportunities to support your finances

Social

• Find different ways to connect with your roommates
• Attend at least 2-3 on-campus events per month
• Get out of your comfort zone and try something new
• Accept event invitations from friends and associates
• Get a college mentor
• Schedule coffee dates with your coworkers or managers
• Schedule appointments with your professors and TAs
• Check in on family and friends from back home
• Go on personalized campus tours 
• Become a residential assistant at your dorm
• Let go of friendships and relationships that no longer serve you
• Start a club for fun
• Meet new people outside of school and work
• Seek volunteer opportunities during school breaks

RELATED POSTS:

Funny Personal Goals That Make Life Worthwhile

Goals In Life For A Woman With Purpose

Short term goals for students in high school

Short term goals for students in high school are easy to set. 

Most high school students still live at home with their parents, so they don’t have to worry about providing food, shelter, or supporting themselves financially.

Additional responsibilities and juggling multiple priorities at once can make transitioning from high school to college challenging. 

Your short term goals in high school should be more straightforward depending on which grade you’re in.

It’s never too early to practice good habits. This may include weekly planning, joining clubs and student organizations, leading a healthy lifestyle, and building your leadership skills.

Personal and social development continues on as we age, but academic goals are most important during our formative years. 

High school students have more autonomy in picking their classes, extra-curricular activities, and friend groups. 

The choices students make in high school have a grave impact on the trajectory of their future. It’s never too early to set and achieve short-term goals that will ensure long-term success. 

Short-term goals examples:

• Turn assignments in on time
• Volunteer in your community
• Ask for extra credit opportunities
• Search and apply for scholarships 
• Try out for a sports team each year
• Complete class projects early 
• Join different committees
• Be open to feedback and constructive criticism
• Ask adults you trust for advice (i.e. school counselors, coaches, teachers, etc)
• Engage in safe social and leisure activities
• Return home before curfew
• Build trust with your parents by being responsible
• Practice note taking and effective study methods
• Don’t get mixed in with the wrong crowd
• Secure a summer job
• Become a content creator for extra income
• Improve attendance
• Prepare for standardized tests (i.e. ACT and SAT)
• Strengthen relationships with your teachers
• Lead by example
• Explore career interests through job shadowing and internships

Setting these short term goals for students in college and high school can help navigate their new environment, build a solid academic foundation, and develop essential life skills. For more help on creating daily routines, download our ‘Daily Planner Printable’ here.

Meg - Planner Me Up

I teach entrepreneurs how to simplify their life and business with less + own their time and maximize productivity towards their personal and monetary goals.