12 Biggest Regrets Of Business Majors

She got an internship at McKinsey and I don’t have anything lined up yet.

My classmates elected him club president and I’m stuck being a VP.

I got a B in Corporate Finance. There’s no way I can compete with my classmates.

Fear. Resentment. Worry. Frustration. Nothing good comes when you compare yourself to others. Still, we’re trained to measure ourselves against others. The top performers show us what’s possible; they set the bar to assess our abilities and growth. More than that, they show us just how far we still need to go. Taken too far, these comparisons lead us to agonize over whether we’re inadequate or dwell on opportunities missed and spotlights denied.

James Collett, New York University (Stern)

Looking back on his time at New York University’s Stern School, James Collett regrets such toxic self-talk. A 2024 graduate who joined the Sia Partners as an associate consultant, Collett believes he wasted too much time and energy on those voices that made him doubt his path and what he could achieve.

“I would spend far less time trying to benchmark myself and figure out whether I was ahead, on time, or behind,” he tells P&Q. “I’m not referring to knowing deadlines or personal intermediate goal-setting, but rather the innate tendency we all have to compare ourselves to others. Especially during peak recruiting months, I had the tendency to constantly worry that I was behind my peers. Not only did this cause me a large portion of unnecessary stress, but I believe it also reduced my effectiveness in achieving the goals I had set for myself. If I had the opportunity to do it again, I would seek to insulate myself from most of the recruiting talk that goes on around that time of the year and focus on developing and executing on goals I set for myself.”

Each year, P&Q asks Best & Brightest Business Majors like Collett to share what they had done differently in business school. From living in the moment to stepping out of their comfort zones, this is what the Class of 2024 see as their biggest regrets during their time as business majors.

1) Been More Selective: “Something I wish I learned sooner is that it’s okay to not do everything. I have the tendency to want to fill up my schedule with everything it can possibly fit and learned the hard way what overcommitment looks like. If I had focused on a few things I was extremely passionate about – and dived all-in to those – I would have saved myself a lot of stress (and maybe some tears) my first few years of college. It is very easy to feel like you need to take advantage of the number of opportunities, clubs, and jobs that come your way in business school, and the all-too-real imposter syndrome often makes it feel like your 110% effort isn’t enough. Over the past few years, I have had to learn that rest isn’t just good, but necessary in order to truly invest in the organizations and people around you. Building meaningful connections and diving into topics you are passionate about is what will set you up for success in both your professional and personal journey later on.”
Kalieann Wetherington, Georgia Tech (Scheller)

2) Got Involved Earlier: “The one thing I would do differently was to get involved in community service and community-uplifting activities earlier on in my college career. As I rose to the level of an upperclassman, these experiences became so transformative that I wish I had engaged in them sooner. As an underclassman and new student at a university, it can feel daunting but overcoming this fear earlier on would have provided even more time to do the things that I have come to love the most.”
Daniel S. Croce, Binghamton University

Brenna Yingling, Bucknell University (Freeman)

3) Lived In The Present: “While it is important to be seeking out new opportunities and getting involved, it is equally important to take a step back and appreciate where you are at, because college flies by faster than you think! I also would have been more eager to truly take advantage of all that the Freeman College of Management has to offer. Being a student in a business school is a unique opportunity, and allows you to engage with other students, professors, alumni, and business professionals in a close-knit community setting that is not readily accessible in the real world.”
Brenna Yingling, Bucknell University (Freeman)

4) Stepped Out of My Comfort Zone: “I consider myself more risk-averse, as I like to make calculated decisions with predictable outcomes. Looking back, I wish I had made bolder choices, like taking Investments or applying to case competitions that seemed daunting at the time, because I know they could have resulted in valuable learning experiences.”
Keri Gilligan, Bucknell University (Freeman)

“One area I would have approached differently is taking more risks. These foundational years serve as a platform for exploration and innovation, yet I wish I had embraced uncertainty. I regret not venturing into entrepreneurial endeavors or pursuing unconventional paths that may have seemed daunting at the time. Looking back, I see missed opportunities for growth and learning through bold initiatives. Taking more risks is not about recklessness, but embracing ambiguity and pushing boundaries to uncover new possibilities. In hindsight, I recognize the value of embracing uncertainty and seizing opportunities as they arise, knowing that it’s often the risks we didn’t take that we regret the most.”
David Melgoza, University of Washington (Foster)

Priya Shah, Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)

5) Connected More With Professors: “The one thing I would do differently is make more of an effort to build longer lasting relationships with my professors. Because each entering class in Tepper is pretty small, the professors are more likely to get to know you. I wish I took advantage of that. I have some great relationships with faculty, but I wish I had gotten to know more, especially when I was going through my internship search sophomore and junior year.”
Priya Shah, Carnegie Mellon (Tepper)

“I would have done research with a professor at the Moore School. Not only would this have given me more real-life skills, such as analyzing data and working with a team to complete a task, but it would have expanded my network and allowed me to learn more about the world. So many of our professors do such interesting research, such as research on multinational corporations in China, and econometrics studies in Rwanda. I wish I would have gotten involved with this more!”
Jordyn Osofsky, University of South Carolina (Darla Moore)

6) Became More Globally Fluent: “Looking back, I would have joined more international organizations to immerse myself in different cultures. Having an international background allowed me to gain a unique perspective on global business dynamics. I now realize, however, the value of actively participating in international organizations in order to immerse oneself in diverse cultural environments; enhance cultural understanding; and develop crucial skills such as cross-cultural communication, adaptability, and a global mindset”
Alina Furman, Fordham University (Gabelli)

7) Slowed Down and Reflected: “I’m proud of how I went about business school. One thing I’d do differently is reflect more on my early years. At this stage in my life, I spend a lot of time reflecting on the things that I learn, how they apply to the business world, and what implications they have. In my earlier years, I didn’t spend as much time being as intentional through critical thinking, and sometimes sped through things.”
Emily Slaven, University of Wisconsin

8) Spoke Up More In Class: “I was always the student who sat back and listened because I felt that allowed me to internalize as much as possible. However, while I still believe you learn the most when you’re listening, there is also a lot of value to be gained from active participation. I would have liked to have done a better job demonstrating my engagement in courses by asking thoughtful questions and participating in class discussions.”
Mohan Desai, Southern Methodist University (Cox)

9) Taken Action Sooner: “We spend so much of our lives waiting to be told we are ready to take the next step, make the big leap, or start out on our own. If I could go back in time and do one thing differently in business school, I would dispel of this idea of “readiness” entirely. Business school is intended to be a period of growth and refinement. The fact of the matter is you are never truly ready to do anything so you might as well stop waiting to be told that you are. The relationships that I developed with my peers and professors after accepting this truth made my business school experience worth treasuring. My only regret is that I waited almost two years to be “ready” to make the leap”
Jordan Fowler, University of South Carolina (Darla Moore)

Xavier Shankle, Wharton School

10) Adopted A More Flexible Approach: “Reflecting on my journey at Wharton, if there’s one thing I’d do differently, it’s shed the rigid, formulaic mindset I initially harbored. I entered with a predetermined roadmap, fixated on ticking off specific classes, activities, and organizations to secure my desired path to law school post-graduation. However, I soon realized the limitations of this approach. I would instead opt for a more holistic perspective, identifying areas for personal and professional growth and pursuing diverse opportunities and courses aligned with those aspirations. This shift is crucial because I’ve learned that success in business school—and beyond—doesn’t adhere to a singular formula. Embracing a broader, more exploratory mindset enriches the learning experience and unveils unexpected avenues for growth and discovery. It’s a realization that navigating one path up the mountain shouldn’t come at the expense of exploring the wealth of knowledge and opportunities on others.”
Xavier Shankle, Wharton School

 

11) Documented My Learning: “Retrospectively, I would have kept a written log of my insights and learnings. No one prepares you for how exponential the growth in your thinking, writing, and argumentation can be. Your future self will thank you for documenting what you discover, synthesizing it, and making connections where others might not. For illustration, as a marketer and theologian, I reflect deeply about the aesthetics of branding and the meaning we construct through the products we buy and the organizations we associate with.”
Myles Forgue, Providence College

12) Gone Easier On Myself: “Reflecting on my journey through business school, if there’s one thing I could do differently, it would be to practice more self-compassion. The drive to immerse myself in every possible opportunity was overwhelming, leading me to hold up to seven jobs and internships simultaneously. At times, I still led myself to believe that my efforts were never quite enough. Looking back, I now realize the significance of balance, and of finding a blend between striving for excellence and recognizing the value of rest and reflection.

If I had the chance to do things differently, I would encourage my past self to take a step back occasionally, to appreciate the journey, and to understand that making mistakes is a natural and invaluable part of learning. I would hope to understand sooner that true success in business school, and in life, is as much about the journey as it is about the destination.”
Melissa Atanasio, University of Pittsburgh

 

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