Choosing the right course:
Many of the respondents, consisting of both current university students and graduates hailing from a variety of careers, said they wish that they'd researched their course in more detail. By merely reading a course description in the university's prospectus is not enough - if it's the worst course in the world, they will do their very best to market it to the young and naive. Bear in mind, you're 17/18 years old when applying for your course, so it's understandable if you feel pressured to choose quickly. Alice, a former Fashion Design undergraduate, explains: "I rushed into it from school and chose the wrong course'. But after changing her course and university, she says that she is much happier. Jess, a soon-to-be Language & Linguistics graduate from Brighton also agrees, saying "I didn't really research what my course entailed' which she feels has "dented my academic confidence massively'. Alistar, a Journalism and Digital Media graduate, also regrets choosing his course "on a whim during clearing,' but despite this, he is currently working within the music industry as a freelance writer.<br/><br/>
"I just wish I'd really thought about what I wanted to do as a career before choosing my course"<br/><br/><br/>
Not planning ahead:
Most students are pretty sick of being patronised by older generations saying things like "university is the easy part' and "try working 9 hour days to pay the rent'. Maybe these points are valid, but university is still incredibly challenging, even if you only have 8 hours of contact time. The trickiest part perhaps is being able to think outside of the university bubble that students reside within. As getting a degree is seen as a key part of setting yourself up for the future, it's easy to forget that there are so many other aspects to later life that need to be figured out. Tamsyn, a TV and Broadcasting graduate from University of Portsmouth explains "I just wish I'd really thought about what I wanted to do as a career before choosing my course", while Achal, a Law grad from Queen Mary's regrets "not realising soon enough that life actually continues after uni and planning accordingly.'
Choosing the right University:
To cut down costs, many students decide to stay at home whilst they study. However Cenk regrets this decision and feels he missed out on "the full experience". Other students mentioned that staying at home, for them, was an economically-viable decision, but the softer aspects like making new friends and learning to be independent seemed far more important at the time. As well as rushing into a course, graduates also regret not looking at more university options - either because they were nervous about being far away from home or because they decided on a location too quickly and didn't carry on looking. Plus, travelling 200 miles for an open day is both expensive and time-consuming, especially when trying to study and actually get the right grades.<br/><br/>
"If I went back now I'd be a total bookworm. I had a great time, but I wish I had thrown myself into the academic side just as hard."<br/><br/>
Not getting involved in clubs/societies:
Perhaps one of the most cited regrets from students and graduates is not getting involved in extra-curricular activities. Chris may now have a degree in Business Studies from Bournemouth, but being involved in a society "could have been a really useful way to help make friends early on". Charlotte agrees, but regrets not being proactive as University College Falmouth "was so tiny it didn't really have any, but I should have started one!" It's great if you're able to keep on top of deadlines and spend time socialising with friends, but by contributing to your SU's clubs and societies, you in turn make yourself more employable, helping to replace any work experience that you may lack.
Not studying abroad:
Ellen, a soon to be Geography graduate from Sussex, points out that a year spent abroad or within her chosen industry "would've made finding a job much easier". On a personal level, this is my biggest regret. By taking a gap year, I missed out on the degree I really wanted to do which included a year studying in Spain. As the department had to cut back on the variety of degree combinations, but I knew that I wanted to stay in Brighton and study at Sussex, I chose to study English Language & Linguistics without Spanish. I also filled out an application during first year to study for 3 months in Melbourne, Australia, but never handed it in because I was scared; scared to lose the friends I had just made and scared about the logistics of moving so far away. My advice? Don't be scared; you'll never succeed unless you leave your comfort zone.<br/><br/>
"certainly wouldn't even entertain the idea at £9k tuition fees; degrees are a dime a dozen, tenaciously driven people aren't."<br/><br/>
Missing lectures/seminars:
Ben, a History graduate from Kent University, says that his biggest regret is taking the learning aspect for granted: "If I went back now I'd be a total bookworm. I had a great time, but I wish I had thrown myself into the academic side just as hard." Kathryn agrees, saying "I wish I had attended all my lectures and finished all the books I was meant to read. I did English Literature and really miss studying now". As well as poor attendance, putting in the right amount of effort was a big regret for many. Elle regrets "not trying as hard as I should have" after studying Media at Brighton. "I could have got a first but I didn't put in the effort when I had the chance'.
Actually going to university:
We're all very aware of the high cost of university, but a few graduates hinted that the debt wasn't worth it. Matthew, after being lumbered with £25k debt from his Psychology degree, explains "I probably could have just as easily got to where I am today without the degree" and that he "certainly wouldn't even entertain the idea at £9k tuition fees; degrees are a dime a dozen, tenaciously driven people aren't."
Others:
Other regrets worth mentioning include: Not asking for help, not using all available resources, not meeting the right people early enough, not travelling before/after university, living with the wrong people or in the wrong place.
So we hope that these points will help you to make an informed decision. Oh, and good luck.
