McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Objectives: This chapter will: Address individual reasons students go to college. Differentiate between and identify long-term and short-term goals and steps to achieve them. Part One, Motivational Skills Setting Goals for Yourself

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Why go to college? Think about the reasons why you are here. If you do not have one or more solid reasons for being in college, you may have trouble motivating yourself to do the hard work that will be required. When difficult moments occur, your concentration and effort will lag unless you remember that you have good reasons for persisting.

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Long-term goals For many students, a main reason for being in college is to prepare themselves for a career goal- the specific type of work they intend to do in life.

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Four specific steps to formulate a career goal: 1. Visit the college’s counseling center. The staff there can help you decide on a possible major. Interest inventory: identifies what you like and can do well Vocational preferences test: points to careers that match your interests and abilities 2. Make an appointment to talk with a faculty member in the department of your intended major. Ask the following questions: What courses are required in the major? What courses are recommended? What courses, if any, offer practical work experience?

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 3. Go to the placement office sometime during your first year to get specific information on careers. It is important for beginning students to speak to the placement staff to obtain updated information about the future of specific fields. This is available online at /ocohome.htm 4. See if your counseling center has a copy of the Occupational Outlook Handbook, which is an invaluable source of information about the many kinds of jobs currently available and the best job prospects for the future.

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Short-term goals A long journey begins with a single step. To achieve your long-term career goal, you must set and work toward a continuing series of short-term goals. You can help yourself success in your present semester of college by setting a series of personal and study goals. A series of definite targets will give you direction and motivation during the semester. A list of specific goals will help you do the consistent work that is needed for success. What are your short-term goals for this semester?

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Set goals that are real and meaningful for yourself, not goals that you think you SHOULD have. Also, be realistic about how much you can achieve in one semester. At the same time that you set short-term goals, you should decide on specific steps you must take to achieve those goals. By looking closely at what you must do to reach your goals, you can determine whether or not they are realistic and practical. You can also get a good sense of just how you will reach them. What specific steps are involved in your current short-term goals?