- 2. Are my short-term goals still planned across time in a way where they will meet my long-term goals?
- • so, continue your path. • so, continue your path.
- • not, reconsider the steps you need to take to meet your long-term goal. If you • not, reconsider the steps you need to take to meet your long-term goal. If you have gotten off track or if you have learned that other steps must be taken, set new short-term goals with timelines appropriate to each step. You may also want to seek some additional advice from others who have successfully met long-term goals that are like your own.
- 3. Are my long-term goals still relevant, or have my values changed since I set my goals?
- • your goals are still relevant to your interests and values, then continue your path, • your goals are still relevant to your interests and values, then continue your path, seeking advice and support as needed to stay on track.
- • your goals are no longer relevant or aligned with your values, consider setting • your goals are no longer relevant or aligned with your values, consider setting new goals.

While departing from your original goals may seem like a failure, taking the time to reflect on goals before you set them aside to develop new ones is a success. Pivoting from one goal to new, better-fitting goal involves increased self-awareness and knowledge about the processes surrounding your specific goal (such as the details of a college transfer, for example). With careful reflection and information seeking, your change in plans may even demonstrate learning and increased maturity!

### Types of Degrees

To set goals for your academic and career path, you must first understand the options available for you to pursue and the requirements you will need to meet. The next section provides an overview of academic programs and college degrees that are common among many colleges and universities in the United States. Please note that each institution will have its own specific options and requirements, so the intention of this section is both to help you understand your opportunities and to familiarize you with language that colleges typically use to describe these opportunities. After reviewing this section, you should be better able to formulate specific questions to ask at your school or be better prepared to navigate and search your own college's website. Whereas in most states high school attendance through the 12th grade is mandatory, or compulsory , a college degree may be pursued voluntarily. There are fields that do not require a degree. Bookkeeping, computer repair, massage therapy, and childcare are all fields where certification programs - tracks to study a specific subject or career without need of a complete degree - may be enough. However, many individuals will find that an associate's or bachelor's degree is a requirement to enter their desired career field. According to United States Census data published in 2017, more than one-third of the adult population in the country has comp leted at least a bachelor's degree, so this may be the degree that is most familiar to you.

#### Questions to consider:

- • types of college degrees or certifications can I pursue? • types of college degrees or certifications can I pursue?
- • is the difference between majors and minors? • is the difference between majors and minors?
- • do preprofessional programs differ from other majors? • do preprofessional programs differ from other majors?