An action plan is basically a plan containing step-by-step actions for achieving a certain goal. These plans provide you with a visual overview of what you’re going to do. They are extremely useful for students.
Below we provide 30 excellent sample student action plan examples that you can use as templates for achieving various goals. Let’s dig right in!
| Studying Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Low grades | Increase my grades. Try to get an A grade or an A+ | Action plan for student achievement | Getting a higher grade than before. Getting an A grade | |
| Actions | Do homework every day |
Takes notes in class
Create a daily study schedule
Ask teachers for help
Participate in class
Find a group of students to study with
| Transfer Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Needing to transfer to a new college | Successfully enrolling in a new college | Get the following done in a 1-2 week time frame | Enroll in a new college by my chosen target date | |
| Actions | Look for a new college |
Speak to my advisor
Visit chosen college, speak to admissions officer
Check which credits transfer
Get what I need for the application like transcripts, etc.
| Study Abroad Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Wanting to study abroad | Successfully enrolling in a college abroad and studying there | Personal action plan for studying abroad | Successfully enrolling in a college abroad | |
| Actions | Draw up a budget for studying abroad |
Decide where I want to study
Choose a study program
Book a study abroad program through my college
Confirm my place
Apply for a student visa if needed
Find student accommodation
| Summer Job Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Needing to find a summer job so that I can earn money | Successfully finding a summer job | Complete the following steps before Summer begins | Completing first day of work | |
| Actions | Contact temporary staffing agencies |
Check job sites
Approach local business
Businesses aren’t looking for workers
| Class Project Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Needing to complete a class project | Successfully completing the class project | Do the following | Getting a good grade for the project | |
| Actions | Pick a topic to focus on |
Complete the planning process
Decide what materials that I’ll need
Break up tasks and allocate time to them
Research the project
Write out the project
| Grade Increase Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Needing to improve my grades | Getting higher grades. Moving from a C to an A average | Complete the following activities | Achieving a higher grade by one letter | |
| Actions | Create a space for studying |
Research study techniques
Go over notes every night
Learn to relax during exams
Always do homework on time
Find a small group to study with
Talk to my teachers about grades
| Social Life Improvement Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Not having friends, feeling lonely | Make at least one new friend | School improvement plan for my social life | Making at least one new friend | |
| Actions | Join a club or team |
Go to social events
Volunteer or get a job
Be more active on social media
Make small talk with strangers
Learn to listen
| Spiritual Life Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Wanting to become more faithful | Move closer to God | Do the following | Feeling closer to God | |
| Actions | Prioritize my relationship with Jesus Christ |
Go to church once a week
Pray every night
Join Christian organizations on campus or school
Read Bible once a day
| Mental Health Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Poor mental health, problems with depression and anxiety | Feel better and improve my mental health | Start doing the following | Seeing positive changes in my mental health | |
| Actions | Get enough sleep |
Limit social media
Talk to people, connect with them
| Physical Fitness and Diet Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Being overweight and unfit. Feeling bad because of it | Lose weight 5lbs. Increase strength and fitness | Complete these necessary steps for my diet and exercise plan | Getting on the scale and seeing that I’ve lost 5lbs. | |
| Actions | Create exercise program |
Make diet program
Quit eating junk food and overeating
Get enough sleep
Being too busy to exercise
| Sports Achievement Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Not achieving my sporting goals. Not making the football team | Get onto the football team | Work on the following action items | Getting onto the team | |
| Actions | Train on my own time |
Talk to the coach, ask what he’s looking for, or needs
Try out for team when it’s time
| Extracurricular Activities Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Not being able to get into the marching band | Get accepted into the band | Start doing the following | Becoming a member of the band | |
| Actions | Talk to band director about joining the band |
Ask director what instruments they need
Make friends with band members
Start getting private music lessons
| Earning Money Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Needing to earn money | Find a job or way to make money | Experiment with the following activities | Successfully find a way to make money | |
| Actions | Get work at a restaurant or bar |
Find something I can sell online
Try get a housesitting job
| Family Connection Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Having a bad relationship with family | Developing a better connection and relationship with family | Do the following | A deeper more fulfilling relationship with family members | |
| Actions | Set aside time for my family every day |
Arrange a day out with family members
Check in with members who need support
Find activities we can do together
Call family member
| Social Change Advocate Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Students who are being bullied | Stop bullying in my high school | Engage in the following activities at school | No more bullying in my school | |
| Actions | Talk about bullying with students, teachers, etc. |
Teach students how to spot the signs of bullying
Increase bullying awareness among students
Speak privately with bullying victims
| Leadership Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Right wrongs in my community | Become a better leader and create change in my community | Engage in the following activities | Successfully overcoming injustices in my community | |
| Actions | Establish goals for leadership |
Become a better listener
Volunteer for community action projects
Create an email blast list for people in my community
| College Entrance Exam Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Needing to get into a good college | Successfully getting into college | Complete the following steps | Achieving my target scores on tests | |
| Actions | Choose either the ACT or SAT test |
Start preparing 3-6 months ahead of time
Set targets for scores
Take practice tests
Get additional tutoring if I need it
Not studying hard enough
| GED Exam Student Action plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Having to take the GED exam | Successfully getting my GED | Do the following before writing exams | Getting my GED certificate | |
| Actions | Choose a date to write exams |
Focus on material I don’t understand
Develop a study schedule
Start studying early
Try to find tutors who can help me
| Trade School Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Needing to get into trade school | Get accepted into a trade school | Complete the following activities | Successfully getting a trade school | |
| Actions | Find a trade school with the programs I need |
Get my high school diploma
Complete my trade school application
Interview with the admissions representative
| College Acceptance Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Needing to apply for and get into college | Successfully getting accepted into college | Complete these specific actions | Getting accepted into college | |
| Actions | Take the ACT or SAT |
Decide where I’m going to apply / visit colleges
Think about how I’m going to pay for college / find a scholarship
Submit my application
Get letters of recommendation
Write my college essay
| College Financial Aid & Tuition Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Needing money for college | Get financial aid and money for tuition | Complete the following steps | Receiving financial aid for college | |
| Actions | Get the documents I need |
Complete FAFSA application
Talk to my college’s financial aid officer
Apply for PLUS loans and Grad PLUS loans
| College Move Preparation Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Needing to move away to college | Successfully move away to college | Complete the following | Successfully move into a new place for college | |
| Actions | Come up with a monthly budget |
Decide if I’ll stay in dorms or off-campus, and alone or with roommates
Talk to landlords / sign rental agreements
Set up utilities
Buy furniture / take furniture from home
Get things like utensils / plates, etc.
| Career College Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Needing to find a job after college | Successfully find a job | Do the following before graduating | Successfully finding a job before graduation | |
| Actions | Write my resume and tailor it for each job |
Check job boards and newspapers
Talk to people who I went to college with / use my alumni network
Prepare for job interviews / do mock interviews
| Career High School Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Needing to find a job after high school | Find a job | Complete the following action steps | Successfully finding a job | |
| Actions | Try to find a place to work before the end of my school year |
Apply for jobs where I don’t need a college degree or vocational school (e.g., fast food, retail)
Research interview techniques
Practice answering interview questions
Apply to and go to interviews
| Gap Year Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Wanting to take a gap year and finding something to do | Successfully take a gap year | Investigate the following | Starting my gap year | |
| Actions | Apply for internships |
Look for volunteer abroad opportunities
Look for a job at a summer camp
| Financial Management Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Lack of money due to mismanagement | Manage my money better | Do the following | Having more money, spending money better | |
| Actions | Prioritize money management |
Set financial goals
Create a budget
Open up a savings account
| Learn a New Language Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Wanting to learn a new language | Successfully learn a new language | Do the following | Speaking fluently with a native speaker | |
| Actions | Choose a language to learn |
Research the best learning resources and methods
Learn the grammar
Try to memorize 1-5 words or phrases per day
Watch TV shows, listen to music, read books in the language I’ve chosen
| Reading More Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Not reading | Read at least one book every 1-2 weeks | Implement the following habits | Achieving my specific goal of reading one book every 2 weeks | |
| Actions | Read before I go to bed |
Try to read for 15 minutes after I wake up
Read on the bus
Stop watching TV and read instead
Join a book club
| Time Management Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Not having enough time. Managing my time badly | Improve time management skills | Sample action plan for better time management | Having more spare time. Completing projects on time | |
| Actions | Create a master schedule |
Set high goals for each study session
Start working on projects before due dates
Make project plans
| Rest and Relaxation Student Action Plan | Problem | Goal | Action Plan | Evidence of Success |
| Feeling stressed out. Not being able to relax | Take time off to rest and recuperate | Do the following | Feeling more relaxed. Sleeping better | |
| Actions | Start an exercise program |
Meditate and do yoga
Practice deep breathing exercises
Find a hobby that is relaxing
Listen to music
Spend time with friends
These examples give you a template for developing your own action plans. You can then create a plan for your own goals. Doing this should make it easier to achieve your goals as well as give you a better idea of what has to be done.
About The Author
Although millions of people visit Brandon's blog each month, his path to success was not easy. Go here to read his incredible story, "From Disabled and $500k in Debt to a Pro Blogger with 5 Million Monthly Visitors." If you want to send Brandon a quick message, then visit his contact page here.