Avoid These Regrets Of College Students Past

While college is an exciting time in a young adult's life, it could also produce some regrets...

Grace Rappazzo

lifestyle · 4 min

College is the final stepping stone in many people’s education before they set off for the working world. In college, they’re expected to study their field, learn how it functions, and what part they’re going to play in their careers. However, life isn’t about the destination: it’s the journey. Many college students enter college only thinking about the future without realizing that they’ll miss everything that is in the present.

So, what are some college-grad regrets?

1. Learn how to study effectively

It’s a common regret among college students that upon their first year of college, they realize they don’t know how to study. It’s not that they couldn’t study, they just didn’t know how to effectively absorb the information in their notes from their readings and lectures. This is because for many students, some glide through high school without having to study for their exams or their quizzes because they’re naturally bright.

However, talent won’t save their grades in college. This is where students who have always needed to study for their high school classes have a serious advantage: they’ve already developed a system that works for them, so their college courses won’t be as humbling for them as it is for those who barely picked up a book in high school. Start hitting the books and attend review sessions and tutoring.

2. If you don’t know what you want, don’t rush

While many students have a career in mind from the time they’re children, many high school grads come to university without a single clue of what they want to do when they grow up. Most universities address this by mandating a liberal arts general education for the first two years of a student’s studies. Not only does this not work at times, but it’s also incredibly expensive. College tuitions in the United States continue to climb higher and higher every year.

So, what are your other options? Community colleges are much cheaper than universities due to public funding, and they teach you the same exact material that would be taught in a fully accredited university. It’s a good idea to get your Associate's degree after two years at community college and then transfer to a four-year institution. That way, you spend less money as you figure out what you want to do and you still get a Bachelor’s degree from a university.

Photo by Veerasak Piyawatanakul on *Pexels*

3. Go on trips and explore

The college will be one of the last few years where you are given large amounts of free time (even if it doesn’t feel like it). Once you’re working full-time, it’s going to be hard for a few years to plan that trip to Italy you have always wanted to go on. This is why many college graduates highly recommend current students to travel as much as they can, money allowing. It’s believed that exposure to different cultures through means such as studying abroad for a semester or even a small trip can hugely benefit a student’s worldview.

Many universities offer trips throughout the year, as well as programs for studying abroad. Take advantage of these opportunities if you can.

4. Network with your professors

University is an excellent opportunity to start networking right away with professionals in your desired field. Professors, advisors, even representatives at career fairs are excellent resources to gather information about what kind of work you will be doing after graduation. Not only that, but they’re also great resources for spreading information about you. Professors can write letters of recommendation that can help you earn internships and job opportunities, company representatives might not hire you but recommend you to someone else, and professors may even offer you a research position if they really admire your work in their class.

5. Stepping out of your comfort zone

The biggest regret many college grads suffer from is looking back and regretting missed opportunities. These opportunities can be things such as not networking with a professor, not going to career fairs to talk to possible employers, or not joining clubs and having jobs to boost their resumes while they’re there.

6. Not making enough friends

Many college grads even regret not making enough friends. Since college is for adults of varying ages and doesn’t have the same consistent structure as high school schedules, it’s much harder to make friends if you only see them once or twice a week. The easiest way to prevent this is to join clubs that match your interests, but to also just strike up a conversation with your classmates from time to time and to make the effort to get to know them a little bit. Even scheduling a study group can produce friendships.

College is a time where many people find themselves and decide their course of action in their first steps into adulthood. It’s a busy and difficult time, but it is also a liberating time as students are allowed to live without their parents for the first time and can take their future into their own hands. If you make the right choices without any regrets, you’re bound to find success.

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Opinions and Perspectives

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GenesisY 3 years ago

Making an effort to connect with professors really paid off in the long run.

Lindsey_Daydream 3 years ago

The study tips are helpful but everyone needs to find their own method.

Grounded-And_Glowing_99 3 years ago

Taking time to explore different paths helped me find what I really wanted to do.

Eliza-Nash 3 years ago

Professional connections from college still help me in my career today.

JosephBennett 3 years ago

The friendship advice is crucial. College friends often become lifelong friends.

SustainableSoul 3 years ago

Building good study habits early makes the whole college experience better.

Yglesias_Yarns 3 years ago

Those general education requirements exposed me to subjects I never knew I'd love.

HarmonyAndHappiness 3 years ago

Stepping out of comfort zones is easier when you remember everyone else is new too.

Olivia-Kate 3 years ago

Making friends through shared interests in clubs made college so much better.

Littleton_Lines 3 years ago

The article should mention more about mental health resources on campus.

Mitchell_Media 3 years ago

Networking seems daunting but starts with simple conversations after class.

ShadowSage 3 years ago

Finding study methods that worked for me took time but was worth the effort.

Cassidy_Dunn 3 years ago

The community college path isn't talked about enough. Great option for many students.

EvelynRodriguez 3 years ago

Balancing social life and academics taught me valuable life skills.

Carmen99 3 years ago

Professors can be intimidating at first but most really want to help students succeed.

Avery99 3 years ago

Learning to study effectively was a game-changer for my college experience.

Francesca_Skies 3 years ago

The article's right about missing opportunities being a big regret. Get involved early!

ChristianDiaz 3 years ago

Taking time to explore different subjects helped me find my true passion.

Thiessen_Thoughts 3 years ago

Study groups helped me both academically and socially. Great way to make friends.

EvanRussell 3 years ago

The networking advice is crucial. Those connections really do matter later.

Cheerful-Spirit_28 3 years ago

Actually disagree about needing lots of free time in college. I learned better time management working part-time.

SophiaJ_23 3 years ago

The friendship point resonates. Some of my closest friends today are from college.

VenusJ 3 years ago

Wish I'd known earlier how important office hours could be for understanding material.

Alex_Walker 3 years ago

The comfort zone advice is spot on. College is the time to reinvent yourself.

PixelRevolution 3 years ago

Community college was my best decision. Saved money and got personalized attention.

HolisticEats 3 years ago

Building relationships with professors isn't just about recommendations. They can become genuine mentors.

GoalGetterMindset 3 years ago

Finding the right study method took time but made such a difference once I did.

DreamChaser 3 years ago

The article could mention more about financial literacy. That's something I wish I'd learned earlier.

Energized-Being_101 3 years ago

Study habits from high school definitely didn't prepare me for college-level work.

ChristinaVibes 4 years ago

Professional networking seemed scary at first but gets easier with practice.

AnnabelleH 4 years ago

The friend-making advice is good but should mention quality over quantity.

Kristof_Chronicles 4 years ago

Agree about not rushing into a major. Took me time to find my passion and that's okay.

Fatima_Griffin 4 years ago

I found career fairs more helpful than the article suggests. Got two internships that way.

Michael-Patrick 4 years ago

The study abroad experience changed my life. Worth every penny if you can manage it.

Valerie_Twilight 4 years ago

Making friends gets harder each year in college. Freshman year is really the time to put yourself out there.

BlairRichardson 4 years ago

Time management was my biggest challenge. Wish I'd learned that before college.

JadeXO 4 years ago

The article should emphasize more about building practical skills alongside academic knowledge.

Simon_Spotlight 4 years ago

Professors really do want to help if you make the effort to connect with them.

Harlow99 4 years ago

Looking back, I wish I'd taken more classes outside my major just for fun.

Nora 4 years ago

The comfort zone advice is good but needs balance. Don't feel pressured to do everything.

Klein_Keynotes 4 years ago

Study groups saved my GPA. Can't stress enough how important collaborative learning is.

Blow_Brief 4 years ago

The networking part is crucial. My current job came from maintaining those college connections.

Herbal_Vibes_XO 4 years ago

Interesting perspective about community college. I went straight to university but sometimes wonder if I should have taken that route.

Hailey-Kate 4 years ago

The article's point about missing opportunities resonates. I was too focused on grades and missed out on experiences.

Amelie_Flutter 4 years ago

I found joining clubs helped with both networking and making friends. Wish I'd done it sooner.

SashaM 4 years ago

The studying advice is spot on. I had to completely relearn how to learn in college.

AngelCooper 4 years ago

Wish the article mentioned more about mental health and self-care during college. That's something I really struggled with.

TaliaJ 4 years ago

Actually, I made some of my closest friends in community college before transferring. It's what you make of it.

PearlH 4 years ago

The community college suggestion is practical but I worry some might miss out on the full university experience.

Giana-Peterson 4 years ago

Those professor connections really do matter. Mine helped me get into grad school years after graduating.

Kristina-Barnes 4 years ago

Something the article doesn't mention is the importance of learning to balance social life with academics.

HyperSpaceX 4 years ago

Working while studying taught me more about time management than any class ever did.

UrbanShadowX 4 years ago

The traveling advice is good but not always practical. I had to work through college and couldn't afford trips.

ZoeL 4 years ago

I found the opposite about making friends. Classes were actually great for meeting people since we already had shared interests.

MichaelMiller 4 years ago

The comfort zone point is crucial. College is literally the best time to try new things with minimal consequences.

Wendy_Hope 4 years ago

Totally relate to the studying issue. First semester was a wake-up call that memorization wasn't going to work anymore.

SoulFlow_Vibes_222 4 years ago

I think the article misses mentioning the importance of internships. Those were more valuable than any classroom experience.

BrittanySimpson 4 years ago

The friendship aspect hits hard. It's way harder to make close friends after college. Wish I'd put myself out there more.

Piper_Watson 4 years ago

My approach was opposite to what the article suggests. I had everything planned out and wish I'd been more open to unexpected opportunities.

Noelle_Miracle 4 years ago

The part about free time in college being precious is so true. I miss having random afternoon adventures with friends between classes.

GhostlyVibes 4 years ago

I actually loved my time at community college more than university. Smaller classes meant better discussions and more professor interaction.

Namaste-Everyday 4 years ago

The networking advice is spot on. My internship came directly from a conversation after class with a professor who remembered my work.

Good_Vibes-Only 4 years ago

Honestly, I think the article understates how valuable those general education requirements can be. They helped me discover interests I never knew I had.

Jeremy_2006 4 years ago

I found study groups to be game-changing. Not only for better grades but also for making friends who understood the struggle.

Vivian_Light 4 years ago

The study habits point really resonates with me. I was that kid who never studied in high school and got demolished in my first semester.

Jacob_1985 4 years ago

Completely agree with stepping out of comfort zones. Some of my best college experiences came from trying things I was initially scared to do.

UrbanShadows 4 years ago

Can't stress enough how important those professor relationships are. Letters of recommendation from engaged professors who actually know you are gold.

ZoeyCarter 4 years ago

Sometimes I think we put too much pressure on students to have everything figured out right away. It's okay to take time exploring different paths.

ClarissaH 4 years ago

The advice about community college is solid. I did two years there before transferring and honestly got more attention from professors than my friends at universities.

RheaM 4 years ago

I actually found high school harder than college. Having the freedom to choose my schedule and study style made a huge difference for me.

Bryn_Moonbeam 4 years ago

My biggest regret was rushing into declaring a major without really exploring other options first. Ended up switching twice and losing time and money.

VictoriaH 4 years ago

The point about making friends is so true. It's much harder to build relationships after college when everyone's busy with work and family.

RyleeG 4 years ago

Reading this made me realize how many club opportunities I missed out on. Really wish I'd joined more groups beyond just my major-related ones.

Optimist_Daily_111 4 years ago

That's interesting you say that about study abroad! While expensive, I found it gave me unique perspectives that actually helped me stand out in job interviews.

Carlson_Commentary 4 years ago

I strongly disagree about the studying abroad part. It's incredibly expensive and not really necessary for career development.

Lenora_Dawn 4 years ago

The article makes a good point about networking with professors. I'm still in touch with my favorite professor who helped me land my first job through their connections.

Alina_Wonder 4 years ago

Community college was such a smart choice for me. Saved tons of money while figuring out what I actually wanted to do with my life.

SilentWatcherX 4 years ago

I wish someone had told me about effective study habits before starting college. Had to learn the hard way that my high school approach wouldn't cut it anymore.