Happy New Year, future Horned Frog! As you reflect on your achievements from last year, we encourage you to set goals for yourself as you begin your journey to TCU. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you begin planning for the year ahead!
Establish Your Priorities
Before brainstorming some goals for yourself, it is a good idea to reflect on your priorities and values. Think about each of these priorities as a different facet or category that you want to focus on throughout the year and for your college career.
These should set the framework for different goals you want to achieve including personal growth, academic and professional goals.
Use the SMART Goal Framework
The SMART goal framework is a popular method used to set goals. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
Specific goals clearly lay out what you want to accomplish. Make sure your goals are measurable, meaning you can track your progress. Goals should be challenging, but achievable. Your goals should be relevant and align with the values and priorities you have established. Finally, goals need to be time-bound with a deadline to keep you on track.
An example of an academic SMART goal could be, “I will earn an A in my history course by the end of the semester by doing quality work on all my assignments and submitting them on time, using my calendar to keep me on track by blocking time to study and work on assignments ahead of time, going to tutoring at least once a week for additional help as needed.”
Adjust Your Goals as Needed and Track Your Progress
Life doesn’t always go according to plan, and that’s OK! Your goals may need to change as different opportunities and challenges arise. Tacking your progress on a regular basis by using an app or journaling your achievements and areas for improvement can be helpful and gives you a bird’s-eye view of your progress.
Stay Committed!
It’s easy to go into a new year with a long list of goals, but often the hardest part is staying committed to your goals.
Accountability is one step you can implement that will help you achieve success. You can ask a friend, roommate or mentor to check in with you on a regular basis to ensure that you remain on track for small milestones and deadlines.
Celebrate the Milestones Along the Way!
When you complete a small step towards a goal or successfully complete a goal, reward yourself! You should celebrate the little and big victories throughout the year in a way that brings you joy. Whether it’s a meal out with friends or treating yourself to something you enjoy, celebrating your goals makes the process even more fun!
At TCU, we are committed to helping you achieve all your personal, professional and educational goals. We want to be one of the first to wish you a happy, healthy and successful new year!
Sophia Vargas ’25 studies strategic communication at TCU with a minor in political science, and is from Northern California. She is a social media intern and operations intern for the Office of Admission. Sophia is also involved with her local church and the Turning Point USA chapter on campus.