Video

Setting S.M.A.R.T. goals

2:00 minute watch

Setting goals is the first step to turning the invisible into the visible. However, setting a goal is not just about writing down something you wish to achieve.

It is about making a plan and ensuring that your goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. In other words, it should be a S.M.A.R.T. goal.

S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. These are the five criteria that a goal must meet in order to increase the chances of success.

Help Topics > Motivation

Deciding when—or whether—to go back to college as a working adult can be tough. Here are some questions to help you make the right choice for you.

Why do you want to earn your degree?
How will you juggle coursework with work and family?
Can you learn and grow without returning to college?
Can you afford it?

Consider your responses to the above questions about your motivation, time, energy, flexibility at work, finances, and learning preferences. Are you in a place with those resources that make school realistic for you right now? Think also about whether you have your ducks in a row at school, such as unblocking any holds on your student account and a clear sense of which requirements you’d need to meet to graduate. Then, ask yourself whether you have what you need to succeed or whether you still have work to do. This can help you determine your timeline on returning.

Reach out to a ReUp Coach via the sidebar on your dashboard if you ever need help deciding when a return to school would be best for you.

This depends on how many credits you have remaining and whether or not you'd like to return part-time or full-time. Reaching out to your school to discuss this with an admissions counselor or your academic advisor will provide you with the most accurate timeline that works best for you.

This depends on your previous major and the progress you've made during your previous attendance. This would also be a great question to ask your admissions counselor or your academic advisor.