The 10 Biggest Regrets Of College Seniors

Nicholas Trimble, Emory University (Goizueta)

5) Always Said “Yes”: “Eager and excited to become a student leader at Emory, I said “yes” to everything from one-off projects to on-campus positions to unpaid work. It took time to learn and understand that by reflecting on existing commitments and priorities before accepting new work, I was able to better channel my time, energy, and skills to what I valued most. Those downtimes created incredibly motivating and empowering moments of self-growth, and I learned to appreciate them. I do not like to look back on my past asking “what if”, so I am instead focused on continuing this improved mindset moving forward.”
Nicholas Trimble, Emory University (Goizueta)

6) Didn’t Attend Enough Events: “I would attend more professional conferences. I had the opportunity to go to the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers conference last summer, and I found the experience both fun and enriching. I always think that exposure to more viewpoints is valuable, and conferences provide this exposure by introducing you to people in your line of work that approach problems completely differently. They are also a fun way to build rapport with colleagues.”
Adam Ferrarotti, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

7) Declined Study Abroad Opportunities: “One thing I wish I had done is a study abroad program. Studying abroad was at the top of my bucket list when I entered college, but the COVID-19 pandemic and other external factors complicated this. Studying abroad is an exciting experience to immerse oneself in a different culture, and it provides a new perspective on business and an understanding of the international market.”
Dana Skerker, Rutgers Business School (New Brunswick)

Mackenzee Balzer, University of South Carolina (Darla Moore)

8) Didn’t Get Involved Soon Enough: “I wish I had been more aggressively involved in the business school my freshman year. I have found that I enjoy school more when busy, and I am more successful when surrounded by people with a similar drive and interest. While I was able to rectify this sophomore year, I wish I would have done it sooner. I learned to be a yes person and it has led me to many wonderful opportunities.”
Mackenzee Balzer, University of South Carolina (Darla Moore)

“One thing that I wished I would have done earlier was join a wider variety of extracurricular activities. Coming into college I knew that I wanted to focus on academics and starting my professional career off on the right foot and so I put my personal interests on hold. If I could do it over, I would want to have a more balanced college experience by joining organizations outside of the business school purely for fun. Looking back on my experience, the moments I remember with the most joy are times spent hanging out with friends and trying new things. Being an undergraduate student is a privilege that not everyone gets to experience. For once, you have the time and the chance to really explore your interests. Losing approximately a year-and-a-half to COVID-19 really put things into perspective for me; it’s so important to take advantage of the opportunities and time while you can. While I don’t regret joining any of the organizations that I have been a part of, I would recommend to any incoming student to take advantage of their valuable undergraduate time and make the most of it.”
Maddy Whirledge, University of Illinois (Gies)

JaJa Tong, USC (Marshall)

9) Pursued Narrow Experiences: “In business school, one thing I would do differently is to join business organizations outside of accounting. Unlike most, I entered USC directly as an accounting major, declaring my concentration from day one. I focused on becoming extremely involved in our accounting school, Leventhal, holding leadership positions in the tax volunteer organization VITA and the accounting/finance honors society BAP. However, if I could go back, I would take my first few semesters to get to know other aspects of business and the students within them. I would join the consulting, finance, and entrepreneurship clubs at Marshall to learn the basics of each and gain a more holistic perspective of business. All the business fields are closely intertwined, so I would love to broaden my understanding and networks in areas beyond just accounting.”
Jiaying “JaJa” Tong, USC (Marshall)

10) Didn’t Engage Enough With Professors: “One thing that I would do differently is make more of an effort to talk with my professors about their professional and career backgrounds. It took me until later in college to realize that all of my professors were in my seat before and that they clearly had valuable advice to share given the effort they put in to get to where they are. Many times, professors had career changes, setbacks, and accomplishments that are very impactful to learn about. I have had professors who had worked on major deals or sit on a board of directors. When I made attempts to learn more about my professors, I was very intrigued with how versatile their careers were and how much I had to learn from them. If I could go back and do something differently, I would make more time to talk with my professors to hear about their career and get advice on mine. Learning and growing as a business professional comes in so many different forms. Creating these relationships and hearing from numerous business professionals may offer new perspectives or motivation. This is so meaningful and something that I wish I took advantage of more.”
Lauren McNichol, University of Pittsburgh

DON’T MISS: 100 BEST & BRIGHTEST BUSINESS MAJORS OF 2023