• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

A Plus Topper

Improve your Grades

High School Goals Essay | Short Term and Long Term Goals Essay for Students

August 6, 2021 by Prasanna

High School Goals Essay: All goals are significant and fundamental. Much more modest transient goals since they lead to huge long-haul goals. All of them make up one huge dream. My significant goal is to graduate and have passing marks. Quite possibly the main thing about laying out goals while in school is that everyone should be unmistakable, reachable, and compensating to keep me pushing ahead. Prior to defining any significant goals for myself, I should attempt to guarantee they adjust to the accompanying models.

Secondary school and undergrads frequently get tasks about composing a paper on life goals. A daily existence goals paper is a portrayal of what an understudy needs to be later on and what individual life goals and expert goals he has. You may be thinking ‘yet how would I compose an exposition about my goals?’ Whether you need to seek after a vocation to turn into an instructor or specialist, later on, composing life goals papers can be very difficult. The fundamental reason for such an exposition is to tell your perusers about your professional goals and your arrangements to accomplish them.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Essay on High School Goals

In life, you have numerous goals. My goal during the current year is to accomplish passing marks. I need to have the option to do well this year and get great investigation propensities. I’m exceptionally engaged and prepared to start another year.

This year, there are numerous things I need to achieve. Quite possibly the most significant is getting passing marks. I need to have the option to get off at a decent beginning and keep up with my grades. Last year I made some unpleasant memories. I loosened a ton. I believed that each time I missed a task or got an awful grade, I could get up to speed, however, I continued releasing it. This year was not really set in stone to raise my GPA and improve my study propensities.

There are a ton of steps to attempt an accomplish my goal. A primary one is should be more dependable. I need to monitor my schoolwork and record all my task and when there do. I additionally need to accomplish better examination propensities. With the goal for me to well I need to stay on track and not let different things in my public activity occupy me. I need to have the option to do this load of things, and figure out how to become acclimated to them consistently. I accept this load of steps will assist me with accomplishing my goal this year.

Secondary School to some is the most amazing aspect of their lives and to others is the most noticeably awful piece of their life. Concerning me, I accept secondary school is just about defining goals and accomplishing them. By and by, I set up three significant and spurring yet recognizable individual goals to get me through secondary school. My First Goal is to not miss over two days of school in the whole school year. My subsequent goal is to complete my secondary school vocation with the 26 credits that I am required if not possibly more.

At last my third secondary school goal I intend to end secondary school with a 4.2 Grade Point Average. I accept participation is fundamental for an understudy comprehension and accomplishment overall in school. This is my first goal. Going to class consistently not exclusively does extraordinary for your grades yet in addition without you, in any event, seeing it works in you a solid hard-working attitude and discipline. The best part about going to class routinely is that you make amazing companions while you are there.

My subsequent secondary school goal is to complete secondary school with my necessary 26 credits. This is vital to me since, supposing that I don’t have these 26 credits I can not go on to school. Presently numerous understudies underestimate this and simply don’t keep track of their grades. At the point when it comes time to graduate and they cannot graduate with their docks, it won’t be so interesting. On the off chance that you need more credits to graduate and you discover it time.

You can in any case fix the issue by just going to night school or take additional classes at your school. My third goal is the most significant. That is the reason I saved it for last. I need to keep a Grade Point Average of 3.8 or higher. This is vital to my future. This number is fundamentally what represents the moment of truth you in a school application (besides your S.A.T. scores). Having a passing mark point normal is basic in each understudy’s profession as it opens entryways for you with grants, awards, and so on

In Conclusion, I accept that secondary school can be an extremely compensating time for each youthful grown-up whenever oversaw appropriately. Make sure to define substantial and sensible goals for yourself. It is exceptionally significant for you not to define up goals that are out of your compass since when you do that. You are setting yourself up for calamity and disappointment.

High School Goals

FAQ’s on High School Goals Essay

Question 1. What are some goals for high school?

Answer: Some of the common high school goals are:

  • Learning time management
  • Developing interpersonal skills
  • Master leadership and team-leading qualities
  • Be an active participant
  • Always taking care of self
  • Follow your passion

Question 2. How do I write an essay on my goals?

Answer: We can select many topics to write about your goals essay:

  • Short term and long term goals
  • My 10 years goals
  • Education required to reach my goals
  • My experiences and goals

Question 3. What are some school goals?

Answer: Think positive to keep on track, Stay tough, Make time to peruse, Deal with your time, Figure out how to unwind, Make progress toward greatness, Assemble a solid organization and Assemble great examination propensities.

Question 4. What are long terms goals for high school students?

Answer: Some of the long term goals are:

  • Get a degree and become graduate
  • To become a leader
  • Find an interesting job
  • Focus on career
  • Buy your dream house and car
  • Save for retirement
  • Picture Dictionary
  • English Speech
  • English Slogans
  • English Letter Writing
  • English Essay Writing
  • English Textbook Answers
  • Types of Certificates
  • ICSE Solutions
  • Selina ICSE Solutions
  • ML Aggarwal Solutions
  • HSSLive Plus One
  • HSSLive Plus Two
  • Kerala SSLC
  • Distance Education

Celebrating 150 years of Harvard Summer School. Learn about our history.

How High School Students Can Set — and Accomplish — Their Goals

Setting and achieving goals can contribute to developing skills for future success.

Valerie Kirk

The start of a new year is a good time to reflect on things you would like to accomplish, or areas of your life you would like to improve upon or change. This reflection often leads to setting resolutions or goals. But a recent survey by the University of Scranton found that only 8 percent of adults manage to achieve their goals; that’s a staggering 92 percent failure rate.

Setting — and accomplishing — goals is important as they help to guide our decisions and motivate us to become the best versions of ourselves. They drive us to achieve the things we feel are important. 

Benefits of Setting Goals in High School

Goal setting isn’t just for adults. It’s also critically important for high school students to learn how to set and achieve goals. Practicing this skill early in life can help you stay motivated through school and to guide you in the direction you want to take in life.

Learning to set goals is also a skill that will carry over into your adult life, making it more likely for you to achieve any future goals you set for yourself.

Other benefits of learning how to set goals in high school include the following: 

Achieving a desired result

Goals help students work towards a desired result. For example, you could set a goal to earn a high result on an AP exam or to make your high school’s field hockey team. You know what you want to achieve, and by setting a goal, you can make a plan on how to achieve the outcome.  

Developing a strong work ethic

Students who set goals learn how to work toward achieving them. This builds the foundation for a work ethic that will carry over into your future career, helping you to find greater success throughout your adult life. 

Building resiliency and problem-solving skills

Achieving goals doesn’t always go as planned. Students who set goals learn how to overcome barriers by solving problems to help them achieve their desired results. If a plan falls through, this teaches resiliency, accepting setbacks, and how to adapt to change.

Knowing how to take action

It’s easy to say you want to accomplish something; it’s much harder to actually do it. Setting a goal shows commitment to what is important to you and motivates you to take action to keep that commitment.

How to Set SMART Goals

Hope is not a strategy, and it takes more than just a wish to achieve a goal. There is a process to setting and achieving goals. While people should do what works best for them personally, following the “SMART” goal process can offer guidelines if you don’t know where to start. 

“SMART” is an acronym for the steps needed to create and accomplish goals.

Goals should be clearly defined to help you focus your efforts. For example, having a goal to start jogging is very broad. Instead, set a goal to start jogging to participate in a 5K by a future date. Having a more specific goal can also make it more tangible.

When goals are specific, they are also measurable. Students can define and track results based on success criteria, which will help you stay motivated and improve the likelihood of achieving  your goals.

Setting a goal that is too lofty or out of reach can be discouraging instead of motivating. Ambition is admirable, but if you experience feelings of failure because what you want is out of reach, this may also  lead to an unwillingness to attempt other goals in the future. 

Identify what goals are realistic and what may be simply inaccessible. Think about what resources you have available to you, such as how much time you may have to devote to the goal, and what elements can and cannot be changed. 

Unrealistic goals are often wishes and may include factors that are beyond your control.

A critical element in setting goals is setting an achievement date, along with dates for any key milestones. Short-term goals can be broken down into actions to achieve over a short period of time. Long-term goals can be broken down into milestones that can be tracked and measured over specific dates to help keep you on track. 

Following Through

While creating goals using the SMART process will help set students up for success, there are other things you can do to help you achieve your goals.

Make a plan

A critical element to finding success is to build a plan with actionable activities. Consider what may best help you along the way and include those factors in your plan. A goal calendar with  important dates and reminders for completing different tasks and activities may also provide structure and  help you  achieve your goal. 

Find a buddy

Students should seek a buddy to help motivate them and hold them accountable. This could be a trusted friend, mentor, or parent who offers encouragement and can help you work through any barriers. 

Celebrate milestones

It’s also important to celebrate milestones along the journey! Celebrating accomplishments can give you a sense of pride and help you set and achieve future goals. 

Know When to Pivot

Life moves fast, and students today have a lot on their plates. It’s okay if busy schedules and other setbacks get in the way of achieving a desired goal. It’s better to take a step back from a goal and pick up the process when the time is right than to experience stress or anxiety when attempting to achieve a goal. Remember, aim for progress, not perfection.

It’s also okay if you realize that the original goal might not be something you enjoy doing. High school is a time of discovery — students discover what they like and what they don’t like. If the goal isn’t bringing you joy, then it’s okay to stop working toward it. 

Goals for High School Students

There are many goals that high school students can set to build their confidence and help them learn about things they might want to do after high school, such as trying a new sport, practicing self-care, volunteering, or learning a new skill or language. 

Goals don’t have to be grand ideas, or even long-term goals. Short-term goals are a great way to learn the process of setting goals and can offer quick wins. When you experience a sense of accomplishment through achieving short-term goals, this can boost your self-confidence to set other goals that are more long-term or outside of your comfort zone .

Harvard Programs for High School Students

Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education offers programs that can help high school students work toward achieving their goals. 

For students who want to explore college while in high school and strengthen their college applications, they can attend a Harvard Summer School college program for high school students . 

These programs run from two to seven weeks and offer high school students the opportunity to challenge themselves in college-level academics. During the program, students will build skills that will help them be successful in college and beyond. Learn more and apply to Harvard’s Secondary School Program or Pre-College Program.  

Explore Summer Programs for High School Students

About the Author

Valerie Kirk is a freelance writer and corporate storyteller specializing in customer and community outreach and topics and trends in education, technology, and healthcare. Based in Maryland near the Chesapeake Bay, she spends her free time exploring nature by bike, paddleboard, or on long hikes with her family.

How to Jump-start Your Business Career in High School

Get a head start on your journey by exploring summer business programs for high school students.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education Logo

  • Applying For Scholarships

Writing Tips for a Career Goals Essay (2023)

Jennifer Finetti Mar 1, 2023

Writing Tips for a Career Goals Essay (2023)

Get our best scholarship practices, insights & tips delivered to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

For your college scholarship essay, you may be asked about your career goals. The scholarship committee wants to see how investing in your education will help your career. Do you have a definitive plan? Will a college education fit into that plan? These are the answers they want to see.

In this guide, we will provide some scholarship essay examples about career goals to jumpstart your essay writing.

Writing tips for career goals scholarship essays

Here are some quick tips for writing career goal scholarship essays:

  • Write about career goals that tie into the scholarship. This doesn’t mean you have to lie about your career goals to make them fit. Find a way to relate them to the scholarship committee or other elements of the scholarship.
  • Be precise about your career goals. Avoid vague statements that suggest you do not have a plan. Judges like to see determination because it shows they’re making a worthy educational investment.
  • Discuss how your education will help you achieve your career goals. The scholarship will assist with your education. Show a connection between the two so they can see why you deserve this scholarship.
  • If you mention multiple goals, indicate which one you feel most strongly about. Longer essays may allow you to mention a backup plan, but the committee needs to see where your focus lies.
  • Avoid cliché statements. Describe how your specific talents, experiences, and degree pursuits will help you succeed.
  • Point out solutions, not problems. You may mention struggles you’ve had in the past, but pinpoint how you will learn from them. Moreover, show how those struggles led to your career goals.
  • Organize your thoughts in a fluid manner. This will most likely be in chronological order, starting with your degree and progressing through your career growth.
  • Write, revise, rest, revise. This goes for any essay writing. Write the first draft from start to finish. Then read through it and edit any grammar or flow errors. Take a break, preferably overnight, and then re-read your content with fresh eyes.

The fastest path to earning scholarships

Simplify and focus your application process with the one-stop platform for vetted scholarships.

Writing tips for college students

Example 1: Scholarship essay about career goals (100 words)

In a 100-word scholarship essay, you need to quickly make your point. There is not enough room for a lengthy intro or backstory. Use concise, comprehensive statements to deliver the most information in the fewest words.

I’m a sophomore at Texas Tech University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Companion Animal Science. After graduation, I hope to attend Texas A&M to become a veterinarian serving rescue organizations and animal shelters. I was born and raised in the south, where it is common for people to abandon animals in rural areas. Those animals then go into a rescue – emaciated, frightened, and confused. I want to work with rescues to provide affordable veterinary medicine to the animals they save. This scholarship would help me continue my education and potentially save thousands of abandoned animals in the future.

Word count: 99

Example 2: Scholarship essay about career goals (250 words)

With a 250-word scholarship essay, you have a little more room to discuss the details of your career goals. You can explain situations from your past that inspired your career pursuits. You could use one paragraph to talk about your short-term goals and another to talk about your long-term goals. Just make sure the big picture ties into the scholarship.

My name is Patrick Holden and I am a freshman at the University of Michigan, majoring in English and minoring in linguistics. I plan to become an English teacher, but this wasn’t always what I had in mind.  When thinking about my future, I always saw myself in some sort of corporate office, perhaps as an executive assistant or a loan officer at a bank. My father works in the finance office for a car dealership and my mother works at a call center. I assumed I would follow a similar, albeit boring, path in life. In my junior year of high school, everything changed. My English teacher inspired me in ways I could have never imagined. She got me to love writing, literature, etymology, and everything about the English language. She made me want to be a better student in all of my classes, and she helped me see the value of education. I decided then that I wanted to inspire other students just as she did for me. My parents are unfortunately not able to contribute much toward my college expenses. I have earned a tuition scholarship based on my ACT score, but I still need additional funding for books and supplies. English majors have particularly high book costs because we have to purchase multiple books for each class. With the help of this scholarship, I could afford to continue my degree and become an English teacher.

Word count: 240

essay on my high school goals

Example 3: Scholarship essay about career goals (500 words)

With 500 words or more to play around with, you have plenty of space to talk about your career goals. Maintain the same theme throughout the scholarship essay. Each paragraph should connect to the next, and they should all work together to describe your career plan. Avoid making disconnected statements for the sake of word count. In the end, the scholarship committee should have a clear view of your educational plans and professional aspirations.

Internet marketing has gone from an optional method of advertisement to a vital step in business outreach. Even small businesses in remote towns look to the internet to attract customers and spread the word about their services. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing with an emphasis on Digital Marketing. With this training, I will be able to enter a profession that will only grow year by year. When I was younger, I found print advertisements to be fascinating. I loved reading the newspaper with my father just to see the full-page ads in between stories. When I got older though, those ads became less appealing because they were not adaptive. They seemed dated, static and ill-fit for changes in society. That’s when I discovered internet marketing. It was still in its infancy when I was in middle school, but by the time I graduated high school, it had become a staple in business development. I loved the way internet marketers had to constantly adjust to fit Google’s algorithms, new mobile devices, and new audiences. I knew this was the career for me. Originally, I planned to focus solely on business marketing because there were not many digital marketing degrees available. Over the last two years though, several schools throughout the country have developed internet marketing courses that explain fundamental methods of search engine optimization, website analytics, and more. These are the foundations I will build my career around. The best part about internet marketing is that there is always something new to learn. I can use my creative mind and exploratory nature to try new advertising methods that help businesses succeed. Every time they do well, I do well. This is the kind of job fulfillment most people can only dream of, but my educational plan and job prospects will allow me to achieve it. I have picked up some freelance jobs online to supplement my studies and help pay for my education. It is difficult to maintain a steady stream of income in freelance because I spend so much time on my school work. This scholarship could offset some of the costs and reduce my workload as a whole. While I will still work throughout the semester and full-time in the summers, having extra financial aid would greatly reduce my stress in college. I look forward to a future where I can use my marketing skills to help business owners achieve their career goals. I plan to spend the first few years after graduation working for a successful, long-standing digital marketing company. After I have enough on-the-job training to feel confident in my abilities, I will open my own internet marketing company in Chicago, where my family lives. I have a clear picture of where I will be in the next 10 years, and I know this degree is going to help me get there.

Word count: 481

  • Scholarship Essay

Jennifer Finetti

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.

Related Stories View All

Types of Financial Aid

Types of Financial Aid

Need Aware Colleges

Need Aware Colleges

Getting a ROTC Scholarship for College

Getting a ROTC Scholarship for College

Get started with scholarshipowl.

Simplify and focus your application process with the one-stop platform for vetted scholarships

  • May 29 Setting the Bar for Academic Excellence: Valedictorian Gavin Kim and Salutatorian Luke Martin Headline Class of 2024 As Singular Representatives
  • May 29 “Over Time, You Find Yourself”— Three Freshmen Reflect on Their First Year at La Salle
  • May 29 Craftsmanship for Charity: La Salle Holds Annual Art Sale for Oregon Food Bank
  • May 29 With Gen Z Set To Play Influential Role in 2024 Election, La Salle Seniors Weigh In As First-Time Voters
  • May 29 Sharing Secret Talents: La Salle's 2024 Talent Show
  • May 29 La Salle Builds ‘Connections’ through NYT Games
  • May 29 Athlete of the Week: Malia Crimin
  • May 29 Student of the Week: Aidan McBride
  • May 29 Video Feature: La Salle Prepares for Summer Life on Campus
  • May 29 Next Level Seniors: Milan Cieslak Continues His Athletic Journey at Washington State University

The student news site of La Salle Catholic College Preparatory.

The La Salle Falconer

The high school experience: a personal reflection.

Filled with growth and life lessons, the high school experience has been a journey worth the climb.

Filled with growth and life lessons, the high school experience has been a journey worth the climb.

Anna Waldron , Editor May 4, 2022

High school is arguably the most transformative time of a person’s life. My own experience has been filled with more memories, laughter, stress, and — most importantly, growth — than I ever could have anticipated when I began. 

The lessons I have learned about myself, about others, and about the world in the last four years have shaped who I am today, and that person is far from the naive 14-year-old girl who walked through those glass doors of La Salle nearly four years ago. I was oblivious to the overwhelming emotional distress that I would feel when I started high school. 

In some ways, it feels like an everyday battle. 

As a freshman, the struggle began with adjusting to what felt like a whole new world. I was desperately trying to make friends, considering I had only one. I never knew what it was like to feel alone in a school with so many people. I felt like I had to act a certain way or be a certain person in order to maintain a basic conversation with people in my classes or on my soccer team. 

Every day, my head was filled with an overwhelming concern about how I could manage to make myself look like someone with more friends than I actually had at the time. 

I remember constantly thinking, “I’ll start enjoying this at some point, right?” 

The truth is, I did. 

To anyone who is feeling the way I once felt, please know that those feelings do go away. By the end of my freshman year and into the next, I enjoyed myself. School wasn’t particularly challenging, and I was spending my weekends having fun with my friends and going to basketball games and sleepovers. I had finally created a routine and felt mostly content with my life, aside from daunting thoughts in my head telling me it was all a lie.

I think that’s something that all teenagers deal with. It comes with the age, the questions, “do my friends actually like me?” or “am I enough?” — “do people worry about me or have I tricked myself into thinking they do?” 

I continued to move throughout my sophomore year feeling a new level of comfort with my life. Then, the pandemic hit. 

The original two weeks of quarantine turned into two months, and then two years. The predictable high school experience I had become accustomed to was no longer my reality, and instead, high school turned into an atypical rollercoaster of isolation from all the essential parts of the experience. 

To say it was hard would be an understatement, but after the initial forced adjustment to a remote life, I was forced to be content without relying on others.

Without having to fear other people’s judgments of me or having to conceal myself in social situations to appear more “acceptable,” I gained independence and confidence within myself that I didn’t know existed.

Then finally — after over a year — the long-awaited return to school arrived. 

I rejoiced in my ability to thrive academically again and I was so relieved to feel like I was really learning. I reconnected with my friends, ate lunch outside, took finals, and then — after a blur of two months — the year ended. My junior year flew by like no other. 

When senior year rolled around, I felt out of place. I couldn’t imagine a world where I belonged to the oldest class at the school. In the beginning, it was odd getting used to, but after a few weeks, it was nothing but a thrill as I planned what the next weekend alongside my friends would hold. 

My friendships were flourishing and I was becoming closer and closer with people I had never really gotten to know. 

Unlike the three years prior, my senior year has felt like a stereotypical high school experience, and I could not be more grateful for it. 

I always thought of myself as someone who was above enjoying things like attending soccer games, getting ready for homecoming with my friends, singing karaoke in someone’s basement, or going to a trampoline park for an 18-year-old’s birthday party. 

The truth is, I’m not. 

I regret that I spent so long depriving myself of the things I love in order to fit a narrative that I created for myself. 

I love that I will graduate high school happier and more fulfilled than I ever felt during my other three years here. It feels like everything has finally come full circle, after all these years of feeling so alone. 

So yes, it was transformative. I am finally content with the person I have become and the life I have chosen to lead. I wouldn’t be the same without La Salle and I wouldn’t be the same without the people I’ve gotten to know here. 

I know that I will look back on my high school experience here, not feeling critical of the insecurities I have felt, but feeling grateful for the memories and lessons that came regardless of them. 

Photo of Anna Waldron

Senior Anna Waldron has lived in Portland, Oregon her whole life, in the same neighborhood as nine members of her extended family.  Outside of The...

Comments (0)

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The student news site of La Salle Catholic College Preparatory.

  • The Editorial Board
  • Athlete of the Week
  • Student of the Week
  • Entertainment
  • Best of SNO

PrepScholar

Choose Your Test

  • Search Blogs By Category
  • College Admissions
  • AP and IB Exams
  • GPA and Coursework

How to Be Successful in High School: Complete Guide

author image

Other High School

feature_planning

There's a lot of pressure in high school to prepare for the future, but between classes, extracurriculars, and trying to have a social life, thinking about what comes after high school can feel like being told to climb a mountain with no help.

Instead of fixating on the future, success in high school means thinking about what you can do now . Being on top of things in high school is a great foundation for success in the future.

But what does being successful mean? How can you get started today? What should you worry about, and what should you let slide?

This guide will help you learn how to be successful in high school no matter where you are in your education . With tips and goals to strive for, you'll be prepared for the future at any point in high school—it's never too late to start getting a plan together.

What Does Being Successful in High School Mean?

"Success" is a tricky thing to aim for—everybody has different goals and priorities, so the first step of how to be successful in high school is to determine what your goals are .

It's important to understand that success won't look the same for everybody. Not only is every person coming from a different background with unique abilities and hindrances, but people also don't all want the same thing . Some have high career aspirations and income goals, while other people want to travel the world, and still others want to improve their own communities. Every one of those things is a kind of success. 

Regardless of what your individual goals are, one thing is true—the earlier you start to prepare, the better equipped you are to achieve those goals. Whether you're shooting for the moon (literally!) or sticking close to home, planning your roadmap to success means you understand not just where you're going, but how to get there . You don't want to be scrambling at the last minute to finish everything you need to do, so start as soon as you can.

body_goal-3

How to Set Goals for Success in High School

Take some time to brainstorm what you want for the future. Don't be afraid to dream big —if you want to be an astronaut, write it down! If you want to solve world hunger, write it down! You'll figure the rest out later. Brainstorming gets your ideas down on paper, and later you'll refine them into actions.

Once you know for certain what you want, you can start figuring out how to get there . Say you want to solve world hunger—that's pretty abstract, so you need to figure out how you can tackle such a big problem through concrete actions. Do a little research to find out what efforts are already being made. What skills do you have? How can you use those skills to add to the work in progress? 

If you're aiming for a particular career goal, do some research into how the best of the best got where they are . What degrees do they have? What colleges did they attend? What interests do they have that lead to their career? Match these up with your own desires and factor them into your goals.

For example, let's say you want to become an astronaut. You don't just become one by doing a job interview—you need a few more things before you'll be accepted into NASA, like a bachelor's degree in a science or math field . That means getting a degree should be a high priority for you.

Part of goal-setting is determining which colleges best suit your needs . Make a list, and start researching what criteria you need to meet to get accepted. Each item you list will need its own set of goals, such as reaching a certain GPA or getting a particular SAT score. Write all this down—you'll want to keep it for planning concrete steps!

Next, you need either an advanced degree or 1,000 hours of in-command time on a jet aircraft. Consider which you'd rather do, and plan accordingly. 

If you want the advanced degree, repeat the search above for grad schools and doctoral programs. These later goals may not be things you can do right now, but you can break them down into smaller pieces that you can start working on as soon as today .

If you'd rather go for the 1,000 hours of flight, joining the military or becoming a commercial pilot are both options . Again, each of these comes with its own set of goals to accomplish , so keep breaking those into smaller and smaller achievable pieces, such as getting your physics grade up or joining science-related extracurriculars. 

Lastly, becoming an astronaut means you need to be in prime physical fitness. This is something you can start now, especially with NASA's requirement for swimming— if your shuttle makes a water landing, you'll need to be prepared to swim ! Setting physical fitness goals (or any type of goal) now gets you into the habit of practicing them, something that will serve you well as you progress through your life . 

No matter what your dream career is, you can follow these steps. And even if you don't make it into your dream school or you find that the field you once aspired to isn't right for you later in life, you're still set up for excellence! Aim high, and you'll have your pick of options—don't limit yourself now because you're unsure if you can reach your highest goal .

body_prioritize

The #1 Key to Being Successful in High School: Prioritization

Prioritization is one of the most important skills you can have as a student. Being naturally gifted or having a great work ethic doesn't mean much if you can't figure out where to direct your skills . That's why setting goals should always be your first step to success. 

Once you have a list of goals, including ones for the long- and short-term, you can start to prioritize them. Look at where you are in comparison to where you need to be. What can you do to get there? What can you do right now that will make the most meaningful difference?

Obviously, if you're aiming to be an astronaut, you can't just walk into college and ask for a degree. You have to work to get there, which means asking yourself what you can do to get to your dream school. You can apply, of course, but that application needs to be polished. How do you polish it? What can you do  right now to get your application into shape?

For example, say your physics grade has slipped. You need a good GPA—especially in science courses—to make it into a program that will help you become an astronaut. What can you do to fix that?

Studying more is an obvious choice, but "more" isn't a concrete goal. Two hours per week is a good starting point, but you can break that down even further and make it actionable. Two hours per week equates to about 25 minutes per day, so let's round that up to a half hour.   Studying an extra half-hour per day is an actionable goal, one that's not so big that you'll have to entirely rewrite your life to achieve it, but not one so small that it won't make any meaningful difference . 

Upping your study time is more immediately important than being able to swim three pool lengths in astronaut gear. You've got time to work up to that—your Bachelor's degree will take you four years, and whatever training you do beyond that will add on time—so focus on what you can fix  right now . Not only is your physics grade something you have control over, but you also have less time to fix it, so it needs to be higher on your priority list. 

Prioritizing will allow you to plan out milestones and tackle them in an order that makes sense. Rather than trying to do everything—swim three pool lengths, get into college, raise your physics grade, rack up 1,000 hours piloting jets—you confront them one at a time, crossing one off and moving to the next . 

body_planner

How to Keep Track of Everything You Need to Do

All this goal setting is great, but you have to keep track of them or you'll be stuck spinning your wheels without direction. Consider getting a planner or making use of a calendar to stay on top of everything.

Passion Planners are a great choice. They're goal-focused and contain lots of tools for getting inspired and breaking your goals into actionable items. This structure is great for those who have big dreams but struggle with getting started and following through. There's even an academic version that only covers school months, and there are tons of tutorials online for how to best use (and decorate) them .

If the structure of Passion Planner doesn't work for you, plenty of other people swear by Bullet Journaling. This system uses a series of symbols to dictate what should be done now and what should be done later, as well as encouraging you to break tasks into actionable items. If you prefer to be a bit more free-form in your planning, Bullet Journaling may be for you.

Whatever route you end up taking, the important thing is that you give yourself structure and a means to execute your goals. 

Set due dates. If you need to raise your physics grade, set that goal sometime in the future—say, raising your B- to an A by the end of the quarter. Since you've already asked yourself what you can do to get there, you can assign your goals, such as studying an extra half hour per day, joining a study group, or turning in missing assignments, to specific dates. Write that extra half hour down on every day, and write another reminder once per week, for example, to complete a missing assignment. 

Essentially, keeping track of everything means setting goals, breaking those goals down into actionable items, setting deadlines, and following through. Aim high, but all the little stops on your roadmap are important, too. Think of the small tasks as steps in a large staircase with your goal at the top—you can't leap directly to the top, but you can get there one step at a time .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?   We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download them for free now:

How to Be Successful in 9th Grade

Planning for specifics is how you achieve big goals, but general planning is great too. Even if you're not sure what you want to do with the rest of your life yet, there are still big steps you can take to make sure you're on track for success later in life. It's never too early to start thinking about college , even if you're not ready to settle on one school or field of study yet . 

One of the best ways to ensure that you're ready for college, even as soon as ninth grade, is to make sure you're taking challenging, useful courses . If you don't know what you want to do with your life, that's okay! Elective courses can help you figure that out. 

Your course load in ninth grade should be a mixture of required classes, electives, and challenging classes. There's no magic number of AP or honors courses that will magically get you into your dream school , but colleges do want to see you making the most of what's available to you . 

That said, if you find yourself struggling to keep your grades up, it's okay to reassess. You need to pass the classes in order for colleges to take them seriously, so be sure you're taking on a workload that you can handle. For a freshman, one to two AP courses is a great place to start. 

Ninth grade is also a great time to start getting involved—really involved—in extracurriculars . If you're into journalism, you may not get a coveted editor position as a freshman, but you can start taking on additional responsibilities and writing stories that matter to you. To return to the astronaut example, you can consider joining a science or math club at school, and going for a leadership position down the road. 

Don't be afraid to start thinking about college choices . That doesn't mean you have to make concrete plans, but doing some research into what requirements schools have and what features appeal to you is a great way to start narrowing down your choices early on. Instead of looking through every conceivable school junior year, you'll already have a possible list narrowed down.

body_tenth

How to Be Successful in 10th Grade

Tenth grade is a time to start thinking seriously about your future plans . It’s a good time to research schools and potentially start narrowing them down. You have plenty of time to apply, so don’t stress about whether or not you’ll get in— use this time to think about how you’ll set yourself up for success rather than worrying about whether or not you’ll succeed .

As with ninth grade, you’ll want to focus on keeping your grades up, getting involved in extracurriculars, and taking honors and AP courses in tenth grade.

Shoot for one to three AP courses in your schedule, but always keep in mind that your grades come first. If you’re struggling in your regular classes, it’s okay to cut back . You want to find a healthy balance of schoolwork and extracurriculars, which may sometimes mean letting something go to fix where you’re struggling. It may feel a bit like playing Whack-a-Mole, but prioritization and goal setting will help you focus on what’s most important .

Now is a good time to take the PSAT or PreACT for the first time. If you have a sense of where you’re starting from, you’ll know where to focus your studying efforts as you get closer to taking the real thing. Even better, you’ll have more time to study. Instead of crunching junior and senior year, you'll be able to focus on weak points rather than trying to bring all your scores up at once. 

If you’re not 100 percent on track with where you want to be, that’s okay! Spend some time thinking about how you can correct course and get back on schedule . There are no hard and fast rules for success, as every person is unique.

How to Be Successful in 11th Grade

Eleventh grade is why it’s important to start planning early . Suddenly you’re faced with the very real task of college applications and standardized tests, and it can feel like things are closing in on you.

Still, don’t panic . Even if you haven’t started preparing yet, you can get yourself back on track .

In eleventh grade, it’s time to start thinking seriously about college applications. That doesn’t mean filling them out—though you can start early, applications won’t be due until the next year, even for early decision.

Instead, focus on your standardized test scores . Take an SAT or ACT test if you can and see where you’re at, compare that to your college of choice’s average score, and start working to make sure your score is at that level. If it’s already there, great! You can instead work on getting a higher than average score to look even more impressive in your application.

Junior year is the most important one for your GPA . Every year is important, but junior year is the last full year you have to impress colleges before applications , so make it count.  To be competitive for college, aim to take two to four AP courses in eleventh grade, and keep those grades up.

If you struggle your junior year, it’s not the end of the world. You will need to explain things to colleges you apply to, and also demonstrate that you’re working to fix anything that’s slipped. That’s why it’s important to have a plan— when you know where you’re going, getting back on track is far easier.

body_twelfth

How to Be Successful in 12th Grade

If only senior year was the time to relax after all your hard work. Instead, now is the time you’ll be putting all that hard work into action , applying to colleges, seeking leadership positions in the extracurriculars you’ve been involved in, and continuing to maintain your GPA.

If you’ve been on track until this point, congratulations! Just keep doing what you’ve been doing, with the added responsibility of applying to colleges .

If you’re coming at this a little late and are worried about your odds, don’t panic—you still have options. Maybe you slipped in junior year, or maybe you just didn’t know that you had to get started early. You can still achieve success, even if you’re a little late to the game .

Identify any weak points in your grades, extracurriculars, and courses. What can you correct? What will make the biggest difference right now?

If you haven’t started SAT or ACT prep, do so now . Take a practice test and start working to get your score up to your target. Though your social life might suffer with these additional demands, it’s important to make the most of the time that you do have. Don’t burn yourself out, but do be sure you’re putting in the work.

No matter what, don’t feel like it’s the end of the world. Maybe you don’t get into your dream school. Maybe you don’t get into most of the schools you apply to. That doesn’t mean a great future is out of reach—it just means you need to reassess . Consider enrolling in community college and transferring to a four-year school when you’re ready, or starting at a lower volume school and transferring later. These are perfectly legitimate options that can lead to a wonderful and lucrative future for you— getting started late is better than never getting started at all .

It’s important not to let yourself give up. You might run into obstacles and need to change plans, but it’s never too late to strive for more. Keep making goals and reaching for new milestones, because there are always options .

body_gardening

5 Tips for How to Be Successful in High School

Making goals and prioritizing them is a great way to be successful in high school.  But there are other skills you can cultivate , too, that will help you on your path to success.

#1: Start Planning Early

The earlier you start getting your plans together, the better. Your plans can change over time—don't be afraid to be flexible—but you simply can't achieve your goals if you don't have any.

Making goals early and breaking them down into digestible pieces gives you clear milestones to achieve . It's far easier to hit a bunch of small goals leading to a larger one than to jump right from a C to an A, so the earlier you can start, the smoother your path to success will be.

#2: Follow a Schedule

Figure out what you need to do, how long you have to get it done, and break that into smaller achievable goals. "Raise my grades," is a good goal, but you can't jump right there—instead, commit to studying two hours per week or completing one missing or extra credit assignment per week. 

Set a schedule for when you need to get things done, but also schedule in time for work  and for breaks . If you work at a specific time every day, you'll find yourself settling into a more efficient pattern. And giving yourself regular breaks ensures that your brain is always performing its best rather than struggling to focus after hours of studying.

#3: Designate a Study Space

It sounds strange, but picking one particular place to study in can actually be a big help in focusing better. If you have a desk or a quiet place in your home, decide that that's your studying zone and clear it of distractions—no phone, no magazines, no video games. When you sit down there, you'll start to associate it with studying, and your brain will find it easier to shift into work mode . 

If you can avoid it, don't make a place that has a different purpose, such as your bed, your dining room table, or your noisy living room your study space. If you try to use the same place for multiple purposes, it loses its association with studying . Find somewhere that you can get work done and  only use it to get work done. 

#4: Find Unique Ways to Practice

Studying is good, but you have to study smart . Reading the same things over and over again won't necessarily help, so find ways to really engage with what you're learning. 

Flashcards are a popular study method for a reason—writing the information down and quizzing yourself on it repeatedly can drill it into your mind a whole lot easier than reading and re-reading the same page of notes. But you can try other things, too, such as coming up with your own mnemonics or even teaching the material to somebody else . If you're struggling to understand or memorize something, get creative with it rather than forcing yourself to keep studying in a way that isn't working for you.

#5: Find a Study Buddy

Not only is studying easier when you have somebody to quiz you, but accountability is also a great way to motivate yourself. It's far harder to cancel plans with somebody else than to cancel plans with yourself .

Of course, be sure you find somebody who isn't just there to hang out. Your ideal study partner should be somebody who  also has goals and who isn't going to distract you when you're trying to work. Tell each other what you're going to get done, and hold each other accountable for achieving it. Check in to see what their progress is, and tell them what you've achieved. When you share your goals with others, you get them involved and invested in your success, making you more likely to keep going when you feel like giving up .

What’s Next?

All these tips for success will help you prepare for college, but you still need to apply to actually get in. This guide to college applications will help you understand exactly what schools are looking for.

Even if you don't want to go to Harvard, you can still study like you do . If your application is Harvard-ready, you're also ready for most other schools— the higher you aim, the better your chances are no matter where you want to go .

Grades are a crucial part of a successful college application. This guide to getting a 4.0 GPA will help you plan effective studying habits, giving you a better chance at getting into your dream college. 

Want to build the best possible college application?   We can help.   PrepScholar Admissions combines world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've guided thousands of students to get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit and are driven to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in:

Trending Now

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Get Your Free

PrepScholar

Find Your Target SAT Score

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing

How to Improve Your Low SAT Score

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing

Find Your Target ACT Score

Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer

Get a 36 on ACT English

Get a 36 on ACT Math

Get a 36 on ACT Reading

Get a 36 on ACT Science

How to Improve Your Low ACT Score

Get a 24 on ACT English

Get a 24 on ACT Math

Get a 24 on ACT Reading

Get a 24 on ACT Science

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Follow us on Facebook (icon)

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Explore Jobs

  • Jobs Near Me
  • Remote Jobs
  • Full Time Jobs
  • Part Time Jobs
  • Entry Level Jobs
  • Work From Home Jobs

Find Specific Jobs

  • $15 Per Hour Jobs
  • $20 Per Hour Jobs
  • Hiring Immediately Jobs
  • High School Jobs
  • H1b Visa Jobs

Explore Careers

  • Business And Financial
  • Architecture And Engineering
  • Computer And Mathematical

Explore Professions

  • What They Do
  • Certifications
  • Demographics

Best Companies

  • Health Care
  • Fortune 500

Explore Companies

  • CEO And Executies
  • Resume Builder
  • Career Advice
  • Explore Majors
  • Questions And Answers
  • Interview Questions

Career Goals Essay For Scholarships (With Examples)

  • Apply For A Job
  • Applying To Multiple Jobs At The Same Company
  • Applying for a Job In-Person
  • Personal Mission Statement
  • Corporate Titles
  • Career Goals Essay
  • Internal Applicants Only
  • Vision Statement

Find a Job You Really Want In

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. In This Article    Skip to section 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 References Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs Show More What is a career goals essay?

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 .

Why scholarship essays ask about 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.

Example career goals essay prompts

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.

Career goals essay examples

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.

Tips for writing a scholarship essay about career goals

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.

What to write in a career goals essay if your goals have changed

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.

Career goals essay for a scholarship FAQ

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

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

' src=

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.

Responsive Image

Related posts

essay on my high school goals

To Whom It May Concern: How To Use It With Examples

essay on my high school goals

Questions To Ask Before Accepting A Job Offer

essay on my high school goals

How To Write A Job Application Letter (With Examples)

How to Write an Experience Letter

How To Write An Experience Letter (With Format + Examples)

  • Career Advice >
  • Apply For Jobs >
  • Application >

Develop Good Habits

31 SMART Goals Examples for Students of All Ages

There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.

Last Updated on March 13, 2023 by Glori Surban

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.

Smart goal complete assignments | examples of academic goals for college students | smart goals examples for students pdf

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. 

Smart goal reading accuracy | examples of good and bad smart goals for students | student goals examples

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.

Smart goal great SAT Score | examples of personal smart goals | smart goals for students pdf

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.

smart goals for students | smart goals examples for high school students | smart goals examples for college students pdf

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 .

essay on my high school 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.

student goals examples | examples of academic goals for students | examples of personal smart goals

  • Search All Scholarships
  • Exclusive Scholarships
  • Easy Scholarships to Apply For
  • No Essay Scholarships
  • Scholarships for HS Juniors
  • Scholarships for HS Seniors
  • Scholarships for College Students
  • Scholarships for Grad Students
  • Scholarships for Women
  • Scholarships for Black Students
  • Scholarships
  • Student Loans
  • College Admissions
  • Financial Aid
  • Scholarship Winners
  • Scholarship Providers

Student-centric advice and objective recommendations

Higher education has never been more confusing or expensive. Our goal is to help you navigate the very big decisions related to higher ed with objective information and expert advice. Each piece of content on the site is original, based on extensive research, and reviewed by multiple editors, including a subject matter expert. This ensures that all of our content is up-to-date, useful, accurate, and thorough.

Our reviews and recommendations are based on extensive research, testing, and feedback. We may receive commission from links on our website, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. You can find a complete list of our partners here .

Examples of Scholarship Essays for the “Career Goals” Question

Emily Wong

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.

Learn about our editorial policies

Maria Geiger

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.

Female student eating an apple while sitting at desk with open computer as she writes notes about scholarship essay examples about career goals

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 .

Apply to these exclusive scholarships

$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

“College Here I Come” Essay Scholarship for High School Seniors

“College Here I Come” Essay Scholarship for High School Seniors

“Broad Horizons” Scholarship for High School Juniors

“Broad Horizons” Scholarship for High School Juniors

“Making Waves” Scholarship for Women

“Making Waves” Scholarship for Women

“Tuition Solution” Scholarship for STEM Students

“Tuition Solution” Scholarship for STEM Students

“A Helping Hand” Scholarship

“A Helping Hand” Scholarship

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!

Start your scholarship search

  • Vetted scholarships custom-matched to your profile
  • Access exclusive scholarships only available to Scholarships360 members

Scholarships360 Recommended

Woman sitting on a couch rips apart her essay when she realizes she doesn't need it to apply for these scholarships

Top 69 No Essay Scholarships in September 2024

High school junior reading a book

Top 288 Scholarships for High School Juniors in September 2024

Students walking in a line to graduate

$20k+ in Exclusive Scholarships from Scholarships360

Trending now.

Student who received easy scholarships to apply for smiles in class

Top 53 Easy Scholarships✅ to Apply For in September 2024

Recipient of scholarships for high school seniors smiles in school classroom

Top 2,998 Scholarships for High School Seniors in September 2024

Female college student gets off the phone after finding out she received a scholarship

Top Scholarships for Current College Students in September 2024

3 reasons to join scholarships360.

  • Automatic entry to our $10,000 No-Essay Scholarship
  • Personalized matching to thousands of vetted scholarships
  • Quick apply for scholarships exclusive to our platform

By the way...Scholarships360 is 100% free!

The Classroom | Empowering Students in Their College Journey

Examples of High School S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Maddie Maloy

How to Set Goals for Back to School Time

As a high school student, you likely have at least a basic idea of the road you'd like to pave in life. It is critical to set attainable goals to get there. To achieve your dreams, your goals must be S.M.A.R.T. -- specific, manageable, attainable, realistic, and timely. Be sure your goals satisfy the S.M.A.R.T criteria, and you'll be well on your way toward academic, social, and professional success.

Better Grades

Not every academic subject comes naturally to every student. Some may experience a lack of motivation or performance anxiety related to specific classes. A S.M.A.R.T. goal for a student who wants to improve his English grade might be, ​ "I will get an A on my next English paper by making sure I understand the assignment, letting my teacher read my draft, and completing three revisions before the due date." ​ This is a solid goal that presents clear, manageable steps for meeting a measurable objective in a specific time frame.

Organization

Getting good grades is an admirable goal, but if it takes you forever to find your history notes and your locker is a bottomless pit, the goal will be hard to attain. A goal related to staying organized might state, ​ "I will set up a binder with folders for each class by the end of the first week of school and clean my binder and locker every Monday for the rest of the school year." ​ This goal sets a specific initial time frame for making organization a priority and then states how you will maintain organization once the initial goal is achieved.

Social Relationships

According to the high school goal-setting guide "Roads to Success," a well-grounded social community helps students commit to their education. However, many students are too shy or insecure to talk to new people. A socially-oriented S.M.A.R.T. goal might read, ​ "I will join at least one club by the end of the first month of school and get to know at least one new person a week for the rest of the year." ​ This goal opens up two specific avenues to come out of your shell at different times during the year.

Extracurricular Goals

For many high school students, extracurricular activities like band, drama and sports take just as much commitment as academic achievement. Many of these groups involve performance-based competitions where students demonstrate special skills and talents. A S.M.A.R.T. goal in this category might read, ​ "I will qualify for this year's state speech and debate tournament by attending every weekend tournament, practicing my speech for 30 minutes a night, and learning from feedback I get from judges." ​ This goal sets out a clear action plan that can be sustained throughout the speech and debate season.

Related Articles

8th Grade Graduation Speech Ideas

8th Grade Graduation Speech Ideas

7 Tips to Balance School and Social Life

7 Tips to Balance School and Social Life

The Best Lesson Plan Templates

The Best Lesson Plan Templates

5 Good Short Term Goals for a High School Student

5 Good Short Term Goals for a High School Student

List of Short Term Goals in Education

List of Short Term Goals in Education

High School Tips for Freshmen Girls

High School Tips for Freshmen Girls

What Should a Narrative Essay Format Look Like?

What Should a Narrative Essay Format Look Like?

How to write special education goals & objectives.

  • Cedar Rapids Community School: SMART Goals
  • Roads to Success: Setting Goals

Maddie Maloy is a junior at Indiana University (IU) studying journalism and minoring in marketing and public and environmental affairs. She is passionate about advancing social justice globally through communication and storytelling. At IU, she works as a reporter for the Arnolt Center of Investigative Journalism. She also serve as the vice president and philanthropy chair for Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc.

  • Essay Editor

How to Write an Essay About My Goal: A Comprehensive Guide

How to Write an Essay About My Goal: A Comprehensive Guide

In the ever-evolving journey of life, setting clear objectives and ambitions is crucial. Whether these goals are short-term or stretch into the far reaches of our future, they act as guiding lights in our journey. This guide will assist you in articulating and expressing these ambitions effectively, especially when it comes to writing them down.

Understanding the Importance of Goal Setting

Setting life goals is a combination of introspection and foresight. It demands an understanding of one's current standing and a clear vision for the future. By penning down your goals, you not only provide yourself a clear road map but also make a commitment to yourself to achieve them.

How To Write An Essay About My Life Goals

  • Introduction : Initiate with an engaging hook—be it a quote, question, or anecdote—that aligns with your goal.
  • State your main goal : Elucidate on what your primary life objective is. Be it professional success, personal achievement, or societal contribution, clarify your aim.
  • The 'Why' behind the goal : Delve into your motivations. Discuss the driving forces behind this ambition.
  • Steps to achieve : Provide a roadmap. Enumerate the steps you'd undertake to transform this goal into a reality.
  • Potential Challenges : Highlight potential obstacles and your strategies to navigate them.
  • Conclusion : Summarize and re-emphasize your dedication towards your objective.

Career Goal Essay Definition

It's essential to differentiate between life goals and career goals. While the former encompasses broader objectives, a career goal essay underscores your professional aspirations, detailing why they matter and how you plan to attain them.

How Long is a Professional Goal Statement?

A professional goal statement's length can vary but should be concise. Ranging typically from 500 to 1000 words, it should capture your aspirations succinctly. Always adhere to specific guidelines if provided.

What to Avoid While Writing Your Career Goal Essay

• Ambiguity: Always be specific. • Unsubstantiated lofty goals: Your ambitions should be grounded in reality. • Neglecting personal growth: Showcase how your past has shaped your future. • Reiteration: Stay succinct and steer clear of repetition.

My Future Goals Essay: 12 Models

  • Entrepreneurial Aspirations : Launching a sustainable fashion startup by 2030.
  • Technological Goals : Developing an AI-driven community healthcare system.
  • Educational Objectives : Attaining a Ph.D. in Quantum Physics.
  • Artistic Pursuits : Holding a solo art exhibition in a renowned gallery.
  • Societal Contributions : Establishing a foundation for underprivileged children's education.
  • Scientific Aspirations : Contributing to renewable energy research.
  • Medical Goals : Becoming a pediatric surgeon and researching rare childhood diseases.
  • Travel Objectives : Visiting every UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Sports Ambitions : Completing an Ironman Triathlon.
  • Literary Goals : Publishing a trilogy of fantasy novels.
  • Environmental Aims : Pioneering a city-wide recycling initiative.
  • Leadership Aspirations : Becoming the CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

Articulating one's life and career goals requires introspection, clarity, and foresight. This guide offers a structured blueprint to ensure your essay not only adheres to academic standards but genuinely resonates with your aspirations and dreams. Whether you're grappling with questions like "what should I write in my college essay?" or "how to draft a goal statement?", this guide is here to light the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the ideal structure for a future career essay? Start with an engaging introduction about your aspirations. In the body, detail the steps you plan to take, experiences that have guided you, and why you chose this career. End with a conclusion summarizing your determination and future vision.
  • How do I ensure my career goals essay stands out? Incorporate personal stories or experiences that shaped your goals. Be specific about your aspirations and how you plan to achieve them.
  • How can I relate my past experiences to my future career in the essay? Highlight skills, lessons, or challenges from your past and demonstrate how they have directed or prepared you for your future career.
  • What should I avoid when writing an essay about my career goals? Avoid being too vague about your goals. Steer clear of clichés, and ensure your goals are realistic and grounded.
  • How long should my essay about my goal be? This depends on the requirement. Usually, personal statements are between 500-700 words. Always adhere to the specified word limit.
  • Can I include short-term and long-term goals in my essay? Absolutely! Detailing both shows planning and vision. Highlight how short-term goals will pave the way for long-term objectives.
  • How do I conclude my essay about my goals effectively? Reiterate your dedication to these goals, reflect on the journey ahead, and end with a note of optimism and determination.

Related articles

Plagiarism: 7 types in detail.

Your professor says that it is necessary to avoid plagiarism when writing a research paper, essay, or any project based on the works of other people, so to say, any reference source. But what does plagiarism mean? What types of it exist? And how to formulate the material to get rid of potential bad consequences while rendering original texts? Today we try to answer these very questions. Plagiarism: Aspect in Brief Plagiarism is considered to be a serious breach, able to spoil your successful ...

What Is Self-Plagiarism & How To Avoid It

Have you ever thought about whether using your own work again could be seen as copying? It might seem strange, but self-plagiarism is a real issue in school and work writing. Let's look at what this means and learn how to avoid self-plagiarism so your work stays original and ethical. What is self-plagiarism? Self-plagiarism, also called auto-plagiarism or duplicate plagiarism, happens when a writer uses parts of their old work without saying where it came from. This isn't just about copying w ...

Top 10 Use Cases for AI Writers

Writing is changing a lot because of AI. But don't worry — AI won't take human writers' jobs. It's a tool that can make our work easier and help us write better. When we use AI along with our own skills, we can create good content faster and better. AI can help with many parts of writing, from coming up with ideas to fixing the final version. Let's look at the top 10 ways how to use AI for content creation and how it can make your writing better. What Is AI Content Writing? AI content writin ...

Can Plagiarism Be Detected on PDF?

Plagiarism has been a challenge for a long time in writing. It's easy to find information online, which might make some people use it without saying where it came from. But plagiarism isn't just taking someone else's words. Sometimes, we might do it by accident or even use our own old work without mentioning it. When people plagiarize, they can get into serious trouble. They might lose others' trust or even face legal problems. Luckily, we now have tools to detect plagiarism. But what about PDF ...

Paraphrasing vs Plagiarism: Do They Really Differ?

Academic assignments require much knowledge and skill. One of the most important points is rendering and interpreting material one has ever studied. A person should avoid presenting word-for-word plagiarism but express his or her thoughts and ideas as much as possible. However, every fine research is certain to be based on the previous issues, data given, or concepts suggested. And here it's high time to differentiate plagiarism and paraphrasing, to realize its peculiarities and cases of usage. ...

How To Write Essays Faster Using AI?

Creating various topical texts is an obligatory assignment during studies. For a majority of students, it seems like a real headache. It is quite difficult to write a smooth and complex work, meeting all the professors' requirements. However, thanks to modern technologies there appeared a good way of getting a decent project – using AI to write essays. We'd like to acquaint you with Aithor, an effective tool of this kind, able to perform fine and elaborated texts, and, of course, inspiration, i ...

What is Citation and Why Should You Cite the Sources When Writing Content

When we write something for school, work, or just for fun, we often use ideas and facts from other places. This makes us ask: what is a citation in writing? Let's find out what this means and why it's really important when we write. What is Citation? Citation in research refers to the practice of telling your readers where you got your information, ideas, or exact words from. It's like showing them the path to the original information you used in your writing. When you cite something, you us ...

How to Write a Dialogue in an Essay: Useful Tips

A correct usage of dialogues in essays may seem quite difficult at first sight. Still there are special issues, for instance, narrative or descriptive papers, where this literary technique will be a good helper in depicting anyone's character. How to add dialogues to the work? How to format them correctly? Let's discuss all relevant matters to master putting conversation episodes into academic essays. Essay Dialogue: Definition & Purpose A dialogue is a literary technique for presenting a con ...

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

one px

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

  • Adapting Career Aspirations in the Age of Automation and AI
  • The Role of Personal Branding in Achieving Career Success
  • Navigating Career Changes: Strategies for Lifelong Learning
  • Empowering Career Goals: The Impact and Importance of Scholarships
  • The Impact of Globalization on Career Opportunities and Choices
  • Mentorship's Role in Shaping Future Leaders and Professionals
  • Success: The Importance of Setting Career Goals
  • The Impact of Cultural Influences on Career Goals and Aspirations
  • The Importance of Work-Life Balance in Career Planning
  • Entrepreneurship as a Career Goal: Opportunities and Challenges

150-word on Career Goals Example

A career in social work: pursuing my passion to make a difference, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

100-word on Career Goals Example

Challenges in achieving career goals: 500-word example, building of my personal leadership plan, my desire to continue learning computer engineering, let us write you an essay from scratch.

  • 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
  • Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Believe in Myself to Achieve Your Goals

Law – a career i want to pursue, a journey to achieve my career goals, planning of my career path, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

What is My Foremost Dream in Life

My ambitions to be a financial advisor, my personal goals and success plan, my career plan to succeed in marketing, my goal to pursue a masters degree in human resource management program, an overview of my business career plan, my further career goals: nurse and science tutor, my motivation for pursuing a career in the film industry, my personal objectives and my career goals, my dedication towards management and marketing to become a successful businessman, my goal to succeed as a doctor, why i chose the clinical psychology psyd program, it passion: the reasons of why i chose it industry, paving the way to my future career trajectory, analysis of the three types of goals in my life, i choose the medical career to help people, career research and career goal: college admission paper, my goal of studying and working in domestic marketing, being good at something doesn't mean you should make it your job, my career and education plans to become a chef, the pursuit of a degree as a special education teacher, relevant topics.

  • Dream Career
  • Professionalism
  • Self Assessment

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Bibliography

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

  • Instructions Followed To The Letter
  • Deadlines Met At Every Stage
  • Unique And Plagiarism Free

essay on my high school goals

IMAGES

  1. High School Essay

    essay on my high school goals

  2. 😎 Goals after high school. 5 Good Short Term Goals for a High School

    essay on my high school goals

  3. 29 Personal Goals Examples for Students (Academic, Life, Money, etc.)

    essay on my high school goals

  4. Goals: high school and personal life essay sample

    essay on my high school goals

  5. High School Essay

    essay on my high school goals

  6. Setting SMART Goals in High School!

    essay on my high school goals

VIDEO

  1. My School 🏫🏫 English Paragraph Writing

  2. paragraph on my dream school in english

  3. 10 Lines on My Dream School // Essay on My Dream School in english

  4. my school essay||10 line on my school in English||school essay 10 lines|| my school essay writing

  5. My High-School Goals from 2023!

  6. Top 10 Quotations From "My School" Essay 📚#quotations #quotes #myschool

COMMENTS

  1. My Goals For High School: [Essay Example], 507 words

    Get custom essay. In conclusion, my goals for high school are ambitious and multifaceted, encompassing academic success, personal growth, and the development of important life skills. By maintaining a high GPA, improving my time management, enhancing my communication skills, and embracing challenges with a growth mindset, I am confident that I ...

  2. High School Goals Essay

    What are your goals in high school? Short and long-term goals in life for students in high school. Prior to defining any significant goals for myself, I should attempt to guarantee they adjust to the accompanying models.

  3. How High School Students Can Set

    Learn the benefits of setting and achieving goals, as well as how to create SMART goals to guide high school students to future success.

  4. Reflections on My High School Experience

    In conclusion, my high school experience was a multifaceted journey that encompassed academic challenges, personal growth, and meaningful social interactions. Each of these elements played a pivotal role in shaping my character and preparing me for the future. The academic challenges taught me the value of perseverance and hard work, while the ...

  5. Personal Essay On My Goals In High School

    The goals I set can change my life and future, so I hope that I can accomplish all of them. This year, I want to become an excellent student by earning and better grades. I currently have A's and B's, but I would like to obtain more A's. To receive higher grades I need to study more, create more time for schoolwork, and ask my peers and ...

  6. Three Killer Scholarship Essay Examples About Career Goals

    Example 2: Scholarship essay about career goals (250 words) With a 250-word scholarship essay, you have a little more room to discuss the details of your career goals. You can explain situations from your past that inspired your career pursuits. You could use one paragraph to talk about your short-term goals and another to talk about your long ...

  7. The High School Experience: A Personal Reflection

    The High School Experience: A Personal Reflection. Filled with growth and life lessons, the high school experience has been a journey worth the climb. Anna Waldron, EditorMay 4, 2022. High school is arguably the most transformative time of a person's life. My own experience has been filled with more memories, laughter, stress, and — most ...

  8. How to Be Successful in High School: Complete Guide

    Wondering how to be successful in high school? Our complete guide walks you through everything you need to do well and reach your goals, plus key study tips.

  9. Career Goals Essay For Scholarships (With Examples)

    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.

  10. College Admissions Essay: My High School Goals

    So, there is one goal I'm focusing on- my profession. High school is the time to explore and find interests of what you want to do, eventually leading up to your final decision. Therefore, I will be talking about the little goals in high school- academics and personal- leading to my long term goal- my career choice.

  11. 31 SMART Goals Examples for Students of All Ages

    These SMART goals examples for students can be used by learners of all ages to improve their performance in school, their extra-curricular activities, and life in general.

  12. My Goals In High School

    My Goals In High School. 514 Words3 Pages. My first goal is to get Honour Roll (A's and B's) This goal is important because it makes you a better student. I say this because currently I have A's, B's, and two C's. I want to fix that problem by making them into a B at least. My two C's are in English 9 and Honors Algebra.

  13. My High School Goals

    My High School Goals Satisfactory Essays 384 Words 2 Pages Open Document Goals are a great way to plan your future, what you want to do or be when you grow up, if you want to go to college and what college, and how you would get there and accomplish these goals from where you are right now.

  14. Examples of Scholarship Essays for the "Career Goals" Question

    Need to write about career goals? Let's go over some tips for writing, as well as a couple of scholarship essay examples about career goals.

  15. What Is My High School Goals Essay

    What Is My High School Goals Essay. Without a doubt my biggest fear is working extremely hard for something I don't really want. So the utmost important goal in my mind is the goal to achieve greatness and fulfillment through enjoying my life. High school has been the part of my life that has shaped me the most so far.

  16. Life after High School: Setting Goals and Exploring Career Options

    Graduating from high school marks a significant milestone in one's life, and it is often accompanied by a sense of excitement and anticipation for the future. However, navigating life after high school can be challenging without clear goals and a well-informed plan. In this essay, we will explore the importance of setting life goals and how they can help individuals prepare for the future ...

  17. Essay On High School Goals

    In the future, my ultimate goal is to be happy in whatever career path I choose. I was always taught to go into a career you love and not for the money, or you will be. Free Essay: At the beginning of my high school career, I had no motivation. I did not set goals for myself so I was average in everything I participated in,...

  18. Examples of High School S.M.A.R.T. Goals

    Maddie Maloy - Updated December 12, 2021 As a high school student, you likely have at least a basic idea of the road you'd like to pave in life. It is critical to set attainable goals to get there. To achieve your dreams, your goals must be S.M.A.R.T. -- specific, manageable, attainable, realistic, and timely.

  19. My Goals And Goals For High School Goals

    Free Essay: High school goals Having a high GPA and a good academic skill set is critical in getting into a good college. All colleges will look at my high...

  20. Essay On High School Goals

    Goals are also crucial in general.A goal can be as simple as the amount of time spent studying or a grade that needs to be improved. Small goals can be set to achieve much larger ones that prosper over time. I have a goal of completing high school with as many challenging classes I can fit into a schedule.

  21. How to Write an Essay About My Goal: A Comprehensive Guide

    How To Write An Essay About My Life Goals Introduction: Initiate with an engaging hook—be it a quote, question, or anecdote—that aligns with your goal. State your main goal: Elucidate on what your primary life objective is. Be it professional success, personal achievement, or societal contribution, clarify your aim.

  22. Personal Goals : My Goals In High School

    Free Essay: Upon entering high school, I made a goal to myself: I wanted to become a better version of myself, realizing my own strengths and weaknesses and,...

  23. Career Goals Essay Examples

    Do you often ask yourself how to write a Great Career Goals Essay? Using our examples and topics you can create a perfect paper about your goals!