You can cross every item off your list. Lead clubs, ace classes, and travel abroad. Build a formidable network, stack up awards, and land a dream job. In the end — no matter the good times you have or the goodwill you create — you’ll still have regrets after graduation.
That’s life. It’s a learning curve. Regardless of research and planning, you’ll waste time and miss opportunities. Sometimes, you’ll fall short — and people are bound to disappoint too. Call it the admission price to the real world: the nagging aches and bruises that remind you what to prioritize — and appreciate.
“DEAD ENDS” PART OF THE JOURNEY
Daniel Babalola, Wharton School
Daniel Babalola, a senior Economics major at the Wharton School, boils his biggest regret down to six words: “So much curiosity, so little time.” By that, Babalola means that he became “overwhelmed” by the possibilities in business school — and sometimes misjudged where to best invest his time. Still, he adds, his mistakes taught him what really mattered to achieve greater success and fulfillment.
“With the benefit of hindsight, I know what pieces fit me best, but, unfortunately, I was only able to discover them by pursuing dead ends. If I could do it all again, I would spend more time speaking with student leaders, professors, and alumni to understand their holistic journey. So many of my early conversations were too narrowly focused, and I missed the opportunities for self-reflection that would have led me to understand what I wanted out of business school sooner.”
Since freshman year, Rami Bazan had focused on achieving the highest grades at IE Business School. Looking back, he wonders how his prospects could’ve improved if he’d devoted more time to the experience over the outcome.
“I’m job searching right now and (especially in marketing) companies seem to care way more about where I’ve worked and interned than my grades in college,” Bazan tells P&Q. “Obviously, being a good student comes with many perks. I’m a top student from a big university, and these things count. However, in my experience, being a top performer in a big internship program of a renowned company helps open many doors.”
YOU’RE READY: BELIEVE IT!
Confidence comes with experience. That was the big takeaway for Audrey Meyering, a Business Analytics and Information Systems major from the University of Denver’s Daniels School. Ticketed to graduate school this fall, Meyering began to flourish when she set aside the doubts she had and started to believe in herself.
Audrey Meyering, University of Denver (Daniels)
“I wish I went into business school with the confidence I possess now,” she admits. “I overlooked several opportunities because I didn’t believe I had the necessary skills or qualifications; however, what I have come to learn is that we are always smarter than we think we are and more loved than we could ever imagine. The voices in your head may not always believe in you, but I can promise that your community always does.”
Not knowing where to devote time or lacking the confidence to pursue opportunities are two of the biggest regrets of graduating seniors. As part of Poets&Quants’ Best & Brightest Business Majors survey, we asked 100 of the top students to share their biggest regrets. From self-care to setting boundaries, here is what the Class of 2025 wishes they had done sooner — or better.
1) Study Abroad: “One thing I would do differently in business school is to study abroad and take business courses at international universities. I have always enjoyed traveling, experiencing new cultures and expanding my global perspective. Studying abroad would have been a great opportunity to combine those interests. Exposure to different business environments, teaching methodologies, and global markets would have given me a broader understanding of how business operates beyond the U.S.
“Additionally, building an international network would have provided valuable insights and connections that could prove beneficial throughout my career.”
– Adam Bandler, Binghamton, University
2) Ask For Help Sooner: “I have always been a hardworking and driven person, often taking on more than I could realistically handle. As a freshman, I hesitated to reach out for support because I didn’t want to burden others. I felt that I needed to prove I could manage everything on my own.
“I eventually realized that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a crucial part of growth and success. When you surround yourself with the right people, you are never an inconvenience to them. Instead, they genuinely want to see you succeed and are willing to offer their support. Embracing this mindset allowed me to avoid burnout, strengthen my relationships, and become an effective leader.”
– Lily Peterson, University of Wisconsin
3) Be More Intentional Early On: “I think that often, especially during the latter half of my college experience, I felt like I was playing catch up. I wish someone had pulled me aside freshman and sophomore year and reminded me to not necessarily spend more total time working, but to spend more time intentionally focusing on my goals after college.”
– Nicholas Arbes, Bucknell University (Freeman)
“I think I would set more time aside early in my undergraduate career to really understand the ‘why’ behind the things I choose to involve myself in. I feel like when I first started as a business student, I was overly concerned with going for experiences, internships, or opportunities that were not directly related to my goals or what I wanted to end up doing at the end of my four years. It was a very quantity versus quality mindset.
“Eventually, when I stepped back and started looking at the ‘why’ behind each of the items I was involved in, I was able to see very clearly where my passions were and what options served me best. I think adapting the quality over quantity mindset was so helpful and allowed me to get back to giving 110% to the things that I truly valued and cared about.”
– Jillian Buenger, University of Minnesota (Carlson)
4) Prioritize Sleep: “As a student, the world is your oyster filled with opportunities and choices. However, looking back, I wish I had spent less time in analysis paralysis and more time trusting my decisions, giving me the time to adhere to a consistent sleep schedule from the beginning.
“Over the past year, I’ve had a great time tracking my sleep and health data, and I’ve found that my capacity to handle stress and think critically drastically improves when I’ve had consistent sleep over several days. Had I realized this sooner, I would have built better habits from the start.”
– Jasper Lee, Alliance Manchester
NEXT PAGE: Setting Boundaries, Embracing Failure, and More
