Define Your Project

Step Three: Details

The following questions may help you frame your thinking and define your project.

What?

• What exactly is the project I am going to be doing?
• How would I describe my project to other people?

When?

• When will I be carrying out my project?
• Does this time-frame make sense, not only for me but also for the other people or organizations involved?
• How much time do I have to carry out my intended project and is that enough?

Why?

• What are the motivations behind my project?
• Is there a genuine need for this to take place?

Scope

• What are the goals I have for this project?
• How do my project goals feed into my longer-term goals for my time at Yale and beyond?
• What is the scope of my project?

Tip: In defining the scope of your project, defining what the project will not be can be just as helpful as defining what the project will be.

Challenges

• What challenges can I reasonably expect?
• Are there steps I can take now which may help me to meet challenges in the future?

Practicalities

• What are the practicalities of making something happen in the region I have identified?
• What are the ethical considerations I need to be aware of when planning and carrying out my project?
• What kind of support networks do I hope to have?
• What steps can I take, before and during my experience, to earn money, save and budget effectively?

Preparation

• Am I ready to take on this project? Will I be ready by the time I undertake it?
• Do I have the language skills needed to carry out this project effectively?
• What preparation should I be undertaking between now and the time I leave?

Tip: Use the Planning Toolkits to prepare for your project.