What regrets do you have about your own college experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had picked a more useful major than Communications.

May I pushback on this? I also chose an easy major — because it was easy and a match to my academic preparation at that point. Do you really think you’d be able to hypothetically handle something much harder, ie something with a lot of math and science? Unless you’re able to go all the way back to 9th grade, it’s unlikely. I would have loved to have been able to major in engineering, computer science or especially pre-med, but unless I have a time machine to re-do high school, that wasn’t in the cards at age 18, even with the benefit old age wisdom.

[Anonymous]

Nothing because I don't live in the past. I live in the present and that is why it is a gift. Corny but true

[Anonymous]

I regret that I had to work for a fairly high GPA to keep a merit scholarship. Meant that I did not take harder classes for me in economics or science disciplines so I could keep my grades up. Wish I had also done more activities than I was able to do.

Things I did right: going away to college, going to a smaller college where I could get to know professors and have a better shot at getting involved in clubs, and studying abroad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had picked a more useful major than Communications.

May I pushback on this? I also chose an easy major — because it was easy and a match to my academic preparation at that point. Do you really think you’d be able to hypothetically handle something much harder, ie something with a lot of math and science? Unless you’re able to go all the way back to 9th grade, it’s unlikely. I would have loved to have been able to major in engineering, computer science or especially pre-med, but unless I have a time machine to re-do high school, that wasn’t in the cards at age 18, even with the benefit old age wisdom.

It depends on why one chose that "easy" major: because you didn't have the preparation or because you wanted more time to party? Those are two very different reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had picked a more useful major than Communications.

May I pushback on this? I also chose an easy major — because it was easy and a match to my academic preparation at that point. Do you really think you’d be able to hypothetically handle something much harder, ie something with a lot of math and science? Unless you’re able to go all the way back to 9th grade, it’s unlikely. I would have loved to have been able to major in engineering, computer science or especially pre-med, but unless I have a time machine to re-do high school, that wasn’t in the cards at age 18, even with the benefit old age wisdom.

It depends on why one chose that "easy" major: because you didn't have the preparation or because you wanted more time to party? Those are two very different reasons.

I think both probably go hand and hand. Unlikely either kid was academically prepared to handle something hard. And genetics play a part as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had picked a more useful major than Communications.

May I pushback on this? I also chose an easy major — because it was easy and a match to my academic preparation at that point. Do you really think you’d be able to hypothetically handle something much harder, ie something with a lot of math and science? Unless you’re able to go all the way back to 9th grade, it’s unlikely. I would have loved to have been able to major in engineering, computer science or especially pre-med, but unless I have a time machine to re-do high school, that wasn’t in the cards at age 18, even with the benefit old age wisdom.

It depends on why one chose that "easy" major: because you didn't have the preparation or because you wanted more time to party? Those are two very different reasons.

I mean, easy major teens in 2023 all know that computer science and engineering leads to $100,000 job offers out of college and the most lucrative career trajectory by a mile. They still don’t pursue them. Why? Because they’re really freaking hard! The average easy major kid would literally fail out of college if they tried to major in engineering or pre-med.

[Anonymous]

I went to Washington University in St. Louis. I wish I'd been less serious and had spent more money on partying in the Soulard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had picked a more useful major than Communications.

May I pushback on this? I also chose an easy major — because it was easy and a match to my academic preparation at that point. Do you really think you’d be able to hypothetically handle something much harder, ie something with a lot of math and science? Unless you’re able to go all the way back to 9th grade, it’s unlikely. I would have loved to have been able to major in engineering, computer science or especially pre-med, but unless I have a time machine to re-do high school, that wasn’t in the cards at age 18, even with the benefit old age wisdom.

DP. There are lots of majors in between Communications and STEM subjects.

[Anonymous]

I regret going to a big, soulless, impersonal urban university. There was no division between the school and the city, one bar after another, noise, crime, etc. I never felt at home there. I see the schools my own kids are attending and wish I had gone somewhere similar - traditional campuses in suburbs or rural areas, big quads, lovely buildings and settings. Everything I wish I had experienced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had picked a more useful major than Communications.

May I pushback on this? I also chose an easy major — because it was easy and a match to my academic preparation at that point. Do you really think you’d be able to hypothetically handle something much harder, ie something with a lot of math and science? Unless you’re able to go all the way back to 9th grade, it’s unlikely. I would have loved to have been able to major in engineering, computer science or especially pre-med, but unless I have a time machine to re-do high school, that wasn’t in the cards at age 18, even with the benefit old age wisdom.

Communications major here and you are absolutely right. But maybe something just a tad more useful. I could have never done engineering or computer science anyways.

[Anonymous]

I wish I had gotten involved with theater and music groups instead of joining a sorority. My entire freshman hall rushed and I wasn’t brave enough to venture out on my own. I would have been much, much happier with a completely different group of friends.

Also wish I hadn’t been as cavalier with course choices and put a little more thought into it before signing up for random classes that sounded interesting but were freaking difficult and tanked my already-struggling GPA.

Should have also ignored peer pressure and reputation and chosen a school where I’d be ranked towards the top of the stats instead of the bottom. Getting into a hard school from a tiny rural high school was not winning the lottery after all. I’ve had a bad case of imposter syndrome ever since.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had gotten involved with theater and music groups instead of joining a sorority. My entire freshman hall rushed and I wasn’t brave enough to venture out on my own. I would have been much, much happier with a completely different group of friends.

Also wish I hadn’t been as cavalier with course choices and put a little more thought into it before signing up for random classes that sounded interesting but were freaking difficult and tanked my already-struggling GPA.

Should have also ignored peer pressure and reputation and chosen a school where I’d be ranked towards the top of the stats instead of the bottom. Getting into a hard school from a tiny rural high school was not winning the lottery after all. I’ve had a bad case of imposter syndrome ever since.

Sounds like UChicago. The problem with UChicago is the recruiting is atrocious if you’re not a 3.9-4.0 student.

[Anonymous]

I wish I went to a lower pressure southern school and no, I’m not a troll. I went to a prestigious university up north and hated the climate, the school and my major. I switched majors several times and settled for one finally. My career is secure but nothing I would have seen myself staying in. 30 years later I did just that.

I would tell my teen self about seasonal depression and how I thrive in sunlight and warm weather. Go south for the sun and do not wait until retirement to live in warm weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had picked a more useful major than Communications.

May I pushback on this? I also chose an easy major — because it was easy and a match to my academic preparation at that point. Do you really think you’d be able to hypothetically handle something much harder, ie something with a lot of math and science? Unless you’re able to go all the way back to 9th grade, it’s unlikely. I would have loved to have been able to major in engineering, computer science or especially pre-med, but unless I have a time machine to re-do high school, that wasn’t in the cards at age 18, even with the benefit old age wisdom.

It depends on why one chose that "easy" major: because you didn't have the preparation or because you wanted more time to party? Those are two very different reasons.

I think both probably go hand and hand. Unlikely either kid was academically prepared to handle something hard. And genetics play a part as well.

NP. Some of us choose easy majors because we don't like to fail. I was an exceptionally hard worker but it would have been hard to pick up a class that I might have made a B in. At the time I wished I could try out other courses without the pressure of grades. I made the top score in my microeconomics course and wish I had taken more economics courses.

[Anonymous]

Only regret is that I didn't do a semester/year abroad.

I had never travelled, didn't have a passport, didn't see myself as someone who could spend time outside the US (going to college was only the second time I left the state I was born in). Missed opportunity.