This whole application process has led to a lot of introspection and soul-searching for a lot of us (I think). It has really put everything I have done with my life in perspective. And I guess that perspective is kind of framed like, "Are you a worthy person? Have you made the most of opportunities available to you? Or did you squander them?" For instance, I definitely feel like I should have gotten more out of my undergrad, but I never really thought too much about it until I started gearing up for b-school. If you could travel back to your freshman year of college and explain to your 18-year old self what you know now, what three pieces of advice would you give? What would be your three recommendations? Here are mine: 1. Study harder, you need to get at least a 3.5, and while you're at it get involved with some clubs and get a leadership position. 2. When you graduate, get involved in community service. It will make you a better person and it will help you w/ b-school apps. 3. When you meet a girl named Nicole your junior year, avoid her at all costs. I think if I had those three little gems my freshman year, I would be better positioned for b-school and better positioned in general.

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Three Regrets

1 2 3 4 5 6

xerox

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08 Oct 2008, 13:19

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While you're in undergrad or between BA and MBA

1. Take Economics and do a really good job.
2. Take Accounting and blow off the exam to put the Prof to shame.
3. Study, use and love Statistics.

brandonslee

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16 Oct 2008, 12:34

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I hope we didn't run into same Nicole. I dearly hope so...

thequest

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25 Feb 2009, 15:03

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Unfortunately, I'm probably one of the older people on this post.....so my answers will be a little different.

1. Get B.A. and complete graduate school before starting your
life. I received B.S. at age 42 (2007) and will enter grad school this year (if I can pass the GMAT) at 45. Should graduate about the time my son finishes is grad work and my daughter starts hers.

Ahh what the heck, it'll make us relate to one another better...right?

2. "Boot Camp" is much worse than math, so go ahead and take the advanced classes.

3. I'd like to say ignore the girl, but after she gives you two children and 20 great years it would be rather unappreciative. However, I've told my son to ignore the girl. Does that count??

mickster402

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25 Feb 2009, 15:35

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And here are my three regrets...

1) Not getting a better GPA in undergraduate - taking Ochem and Biology were major mistakes.

2) Going to Case Western instead Wash U. for a girl. :cry:

3) Not taking Chinese classes for more than 2 years (I can order a meal at McDonald's in Beijing fluently, but that's about it).

liubhs02

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25 Feb 2009, 18:01

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I don't like to live with regrets, so I only have one regret: focusing too much on grades and not enough on enjoying life.

The difference between a 3.95 and a 3.5 is only 0.45 points, but that's hell of a lot more Bs. Making half Bs and half As is exponentially easier than trying to make all As. Because of this I didn't get to experience the culture that my college town has to offer, which is renowned for its live music, eclectic population, and diverse culture. Only after I graduated did I find more time to experience life. But I'm glad for that regret, because it changed my outlook on life. The ultimate goal in life for me is to be happy and not make money. I find it ironic that many people work at jobs they dislike so they can have a 2-week vacation and retire at the end of their life. I decided to enjoy everyday of my life by working only at jobs that I like, even if it makes considerably less money. Life is too short to waste my precious youth.

cdnaudit

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26 Feb 2009, 09:19

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Wow, extremely useful thread. Thanks to you all for sharing your very personal regrets.

I myself am taking a year off (12 month intern w MSFT) from my undergrad - this after finishing my third year. It's amazing to look at everything around me and how life is happening so so fast all of the sudden.
Hopefully this one year will help me steer the ship enough in a good direction so that my regret list is not so long. So far though here is what I could come up with:

1-Coming to Canada straight out of HS and not knowing much about the educational system - with my marks I couldve entered Queens but settled with Rotman.
2-Not being focused enough during my first two years in school to know that time spent studying would pay off exponentially better than working at that minimum wage job I had.
3-Not training harder to make the Volleyball Varsity team - I kicked ass in highschool and even trained at the state level, but that stopped when I got to Uni.

Wow this is therapeutic.

sajal09

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26 Feb 2009, 10:54

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Wow! Your experience hits the bulls eye because my number one regret is so similar. Having said that here goes the list:

1) Taking academics and GPA waaay too seriously. Sure I wanted to do double degree (or double major as they call it now) but trying to get As in all classes while overloading every single semester did not leave much time to do anything else (at least not very well). I should have focused on just one degree (with the other as a minor or sth.) and would have a had great time putting time on my various interests.

2) Trying too hard to avoid personal debt. Sure working in that low wage job for crazy number of hours did save me couple of thousand bucks, but now all that effort for so little value sounds laughable :-)

3) Not spending enough time with friends/family etc... (now that I think about it was all due to number 1 and 2, but oh well..)

Not to go all Dr Phil here but damn that was therapeutic!!

liubhs02

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08 Jan 2010, 00:43

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does the gmat club class of 2010 want to add to this thread?

csino

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08 Jan 2010, 08:01

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Sure:

1. I should have thought more about my undergrad school. I only applied to one and while it was a great experience and I got a good job after, I always wonder if I should have tried for something better. I'm glad I tried for a reach Bschool. I didn't get in, but at least I'll never wonder.

2. Been more involved after school - in both community service and personal interests. It would have been hard considering I was working like crazy and managed to somehow get through the CFA program, but all work and now ECs doesn't make for a good balance. I literally spent two years of my life = work, gym, study, sleep, repeat. I missed out on a lot of what NYC had to offer and I may not ever get the opportunity to live there agian.

Glad I didn't avoid the boy. While it didn't work out, the entire experience helped lead me to the MBA path. I'm very excited for a new chapter and hopefully wiill have learned from my mistakes.

Good luck to all!

3underscore

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08 Jan 2010, 08:05

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Man, I should drop johnnyx9 an email. I haven't seen him in months. For those that may be interested, he did good.

Praetorian

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23 Aug 2010, 22:21

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anyone else?

FutureHBS

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26 Jul 2011, 19:45

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Bump. I love this thread. I'm even taking notes.

Any more regrets guys?

losttraveler

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27 Jul 2011, 05:24

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Interesting thread...

Regret 1 - Not doing well in high school. What a sham. I was in every honors class, group, advanced placement and just straight up didn't do any of my homework so that I could spend time trying to "get it in" with all the hot chicks... had I spent more time on some of my HW and less time thinking about my "mini-me", I probably would of followed my fellow classmates to one of the ivy's.

Regret 2 - Not getting more involved during undergrad. I played sports in high school but did not in college... wish I had. Went from captain of soccer team to nothing and those team skills and leadership would help my essays.

Regret 3 - Also not being as involved in the community as I could have been. I've done quite a bit in terms of ec with my company but not that much outside the organization.

Ultimately, we are who we are and did the things we chose to do. It's about shaping YOUR story so hopefully I've shaped mine well enough for Tuck or MIT. We'll see!

MBAji

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27 Jul 2011, 05:46

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ha ha this is brilliant.

1. not really pursuing the girl I felt was the 'one' with everything I got. Funny, I still remember her birthday... oh well..

2. not becoming a man of 'science' during undergrad... I did some arty stuff... With hindsight I do think you are better off with math and science. It opens more doors and you can do more things in life - profession-wise anyway. People may not agree but thats what I think after all these years

3. not winning that neighborhood lottery... I've tried so many many times... aah... I'm sure I'll finally hit it! someday... lol