Some people say that college is the best period of one’s life. You’re still young, with lots of opportunities ahead of you, ready to take over the world. But with more freedom, you are destined to make some mistakes while getting used to adolescence. So, what are the most common regrets of former college students?
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Key Takeaways:
- Many former students regret choosing majors based on potential job pay instead of passion, leading to dissatisfaction and financial setbacks.
- Relationships can significantly impact academic performance and future opportunities. College is a unique time to build lasting professional and personal connections.
- Putting effort into studies and being open to changing majors can significantly influence future opportunities. Students should prioritize keeping good grades, yet be adaptable in their educational paths.
One of the users on Reddit decided to ask the community about their biggest mistakes that they still remember. Many users weighed in talking about classes, jobs, and relationships. Let’s dive in and see what they said.
Future Career Opportunities
It is safe to say that one of the main goals of going to college (especially in this economy) is to secure a well-paid position. Interestingly enough, many people have pointed out how they didn’t really get what they wanted. Although it is completely understandable why some students decided to choose money over passion, most of them later stated their regrets in doing so. One of the most upvoted comments said:
“Picking a major solely on potential job pay. Ended up wasting a lot of money and dropping a class at an expensive school because I had 0 passion for my major. Money wasn’t any motivator for me to keep going. Although I did power through and do decently well by the end of that semester, I definitely recommend choosing a major/field that you interested in or already have a passion for.”
However, some input from the other side of the spectrum was also given. A few students mentioned that they were unsatisfied with the payoff from the degree in terms of financial gain.
“Expensive degree for low- paying career. Idealism often doesn’t pay the bills.”
“I wish I had researched various career options before choosing to pursue the thing that sounded good at the time.”
As we can see, it really depends on the situation, so it is only wise to weigh out your options in a broader spectrum, taking into consideration future career prospects and how they relate to your own goals.
Personal Relationships and Making Friends
Who doesn’t like a bit of relationship drama? Some of the commenters shared how their rose-colored glasses got broken because of putting too much emphasis on romance which seemed a lot more important at the time.
“Getting too serious about a guy I was dating less than two years out of high school and caring more about that relationship than my grades. Don’t do that!”
Another person mentioned:
“Getting a boyfriend my jr year and letting him become more important than school”
One other thing that is clear about college is that you will meet a lot of people there. It is a wonderful opportunity to build a network of useful contacts, whether you plan on connecting with them on a professional matter or just forming a friendship.
“I wish that I had understood the first time I’d gone that college is about connections. I’m going back now and participating in every activity that is offered by my specific college (engineering) so that I can make the most of my time there.”
“Not socializing enough”
Besides, as sad as it may sound, building relationships in college is one of the only options you can get in a long time. After a few years, most of you will be dispersed in various parts of the country (or even countries), having different jobs, and life goals, with little to no time and resources to have regular meetups and gatherings, so it is best to get the most out of college mingling.
The Degree Itself
Some people expressed their frustrations about the learning process itself, saying they regret not putting more effort into the classes and assignments since it bit them in the rear later in life.
“Not caring – I wish I tried just a bit harder to keep my GPA up. I didn’t really think I would’ve wanted to go to grad school but it’s coming back to bite me now.”
The same thing goes to listening to your gut and not being afraid to change your educational journey a bit. Even though change is scary, it is oftentimes very rewarding, if you have enough power to do it.
“Not changing my major from engineering to business sooner. Wasted a year or two thinking I could push through engineering when I knew I couldn’t”
You Can’t Prepare for Everything
Regardless of how many tips you read before diving into that long-awaited university life, there is always room for error. You need to understand that it’s completely okay to make mistakes; the most you can do is be honest and kind to yourself, switching things up if you feel that it’s necessary.
“regardless, don’t stress, you’ll make “mistakes” no matter how hard you try, but the biggest mistake is giving up!”
“overcomitting. You may feel like you can pull off doing 100 things – and you probably can for a while – but the burn out is NOT worth it. Prioritize your self-care. Working yourself into the ground isn’t cute”
College is one of those life stages where you discover a whole new world. No doubt it will have its ups and downs, but the thing that matters most is how you choose to handle them. It is truly a learning curve, and college is supposed to be an open field for mistakes – otherwise, how will you get used to dealing with them, if you don’t make any?
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