10 Biggest Regrets From Our Best & Brightest Grads

Chike Okonkwo: ‘If I could do anything differently in business school, I would have taken more risks.’

7) Not taking more risks

“If I could do anything differently in business school, I would have taken more risks. During my freshman year, I played it safe in the clubs I joined, the internships I applied to, and even little things such as expressing my ideas in group settings. This reserved nature in taking risks was due to a sort of imposter syndrome I had where I believed I wasn’t good enough to inhabit these spaces or present my ideas. Later, I realized that this attitude was only holding me back in terms of my growth and the worst-case scenario in these situations was my inaction that led to a possible missed opportunity.” – Chike Okonkwo, University of Minnesota (Carlson)

8) Not competing in more case competitions

Julia Renee Lower: ‘I wish I would have competed in more case competitions earlier in my college career. They are a great opportunity to work with different peers outside of your organization and give you the chance to showcase your talents.’

“Personally, I wish I would have competed in more case competitions earlier in my college career. They are a great opportunity to work with different peers outside of your organization and give you the chance to showcase your talents. Also, case competitions allow you to solve new problems and provide a different environment to practice both soft and technical skills. I participated in Start-up Weekend, a local pitch competition for the Entrepreneurship & Innovation minor, and loved it! I worked with non-business-related students to create and pitch a business to a distinguished panel of entrepreneurs. It was amazing to see how the diversity of majors effectively contributed to the overall creativity and finished product. Not to mention, my team won!” – Julia Renee Lower, Michigan State University (Broad)

9) Not studying abroad

“The one thing I regret the most through my four years in college is not studying abroad. Studying abroad is a great way to learn about different cultures and how business is done differently in different places. If I could do college over again, I would’ve studied abroad in Europe; on the weekdays I’d go to class and study and on the weekends, I’d go to neighboring countries with friends.” – Eric Zhang, New York University (Stern)

10) Not taking advantage of research opportunities

“You learn as much outside the classroom as you learn inside. I wish I had engaged with research opportunities much earlier to enrich my understanding of classroom material. Research is an avenue that fosters creativity and critical thinking skills. Moreover, it’s an enjoyable experience once you find a topic you are passionate about. ” – Allan Njomo, University of Notre Dame (Mendoza)

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