Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis is a business venture and project planning method. Basically, SWOT analysis is conducted to help you determine, analyze, and interpret the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats involved in a project or venture. You can conduct such an analysis on yourself and your schooling to aid you in finding the right academic pursuit. Here’s how to do it.
Understanding the SWOT analysis
Before you can effectively conduct a personal SWOT analysis, you have to know about the procedure, its objectives, and how to interpret your findings. Taking a personal SWOT analysis will require you to answer a number of questions regarding your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. You can find personal SWOT analysis tools online to help you conduct your own test. For academic pursuit purposes, tailor your questions and answers in a way that relates to education, training, experience, and personal qualities. Here are some questions that you’ll be finding in relation to SWOT analysis:
1. Which subjects am I good at? (strength)
2. Which part of writing an essay or a paper do I think is the most difficult? (weakness)
3. Which colleges or universities offer programs that I’m interested in? (opportunity)
4. What stands in the way of my getting a college degree? (threat)
Getting to know you
When answering the questions on the test, try to answer as honestly as you can. One method to help you in answering honestly is to think of how others view you. The more honest you are, the more you can learn about yourself. This is important, so that you can effectively evaluate and interpret your results.
Interpreting your results
Once you have answered the questions, take some time to go over the results. Analyze your results and think of the connections between your answers and your academic situation. Use your results to find the best possible academic pursuit for your personality. Here are some guidelines:
* Choose a course where your strengths will allow you to shine.
* Avoid academic pursuits may highlight your weaknesses. If you would like to improve on your weaknesses, you can take extra-curricular activities, seminars or certain classes that help in those areas.
* Maximize your opportunities by listing down and mapping out possible directions for your to take academically and professionally. Take advantage of as many opportunities as you can.
* Knowing and evaluating your threats will allow you to get a better perspective on obstacles that may get in your way throughout your academic pursuit. With this information, you can carefully prepare for possible pitfalls and problems along your path.
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