If you could go back in time to your college days what would you do differently?

Question

I want to be able to learn from other peoples mistakes so i dont have to make them. I am looking for wisdom and honesty. Would you have partied more? Less? Would you have studied more? learned more about money? Enjoyed it more? Taken less classes to make it last longer? Or more classes to make it quicker? Etc, etc... What would you do differently or the same if you had a time machine?

Answer 1

There just seem to be so many things. Where to start. I guess a lot of it would have to do with what degree I'm going after.

Quite frankly my degree is hardly worth the paper it's printed on, I make only slightly more than I owe in college loans. (I'm in IT).

Had I done what I really wanted (coin toss between journalism and history) I think it would have been a much better time for me all around. So priority 1, make sure you do what makes you happy, not what someone else tells you to.

Would have definatly partied a little more, taken more risks, and been a little more out there. Might as well get it out of your system now while the consequences aren't as major. I spent way too much time worried about the future to party, so I very rarely did.

From the lessons learned while I was in college, don't take anything over a 300 level until after freshman year. Do not put off any 100 levels until your senior year. (Both sides of this coin will frustrate you to no end.)

To be extremely honest, the only things you will learn about money in college are business related concepts. Most of which have very little effect on your personal life. May I suggest you go shopping in the self help section for books on personal finance management.

As stupid as it sounds, the better you learn to manage the little money you have now, the better you will be in the future, no matter what you end up doing. If you have financially responsible parents, ask them for help and advice. Stay away from credit cards, as they are a certain death trap for your finances.

If you're taking out loans for college, research the loan companies before signing anything. Your college should not tell you what loan to choose, but they will make it obvious which one they "prefer". That's also the one that gives kick backs, lots of free gifts, free lunches, and every other surprisingly legal item they can to the school and their employees. They are also the ones that won't work with you.

Just keep in mind when you go into a Financial Aid office that they are not there to assist you as the name would imply. They are there to assist the college in collection of the debt you owe them and nothing more. These people are not your friends or your advisors, they have ZERO personal interest in your life, your finances, or your future.

As for classes, go at your own pace and accept that a 4 year education is not what it used to be. Most people end up there longer, expect and plan to be. If you want to take more classes, take them. Just make sure to keep it as balanced as possible. Most of college is about the experience, classroom and personal. Focus too much on the classroom and you're leave college as messed up as if you focused too much on the personal.

Final advice, before you go into college, make sure you really want to. If not, don't go. It's expensive, time consuming and stressful enough if you want to do it. If you don't want to and you're doing it for someone else or to take advantage of 4 more years of "party time" get a crap job and live at home or with some friends, back pack around europe, or do whatever it is that you want to do. Then go to college.

It's not a right, an entitlement, or a requirement that you go to college, always remember that. It's a privilege to do so, treat it as such. And one last comment, if you're parents are paying for this, helping to pay for this, here's some key points to keep in mind. They don't have to pay for it, they don't have to help pay for it, they are trying to help you and ensure a good future for you. This is expensive, and will probably keep them working for a few extra years to pay it off. Just because they didn't take out a loan doesn't mean it didn't cost them anything.

Reducing 401(k) contributions, putting off vacations, changing their spending habits, putting less into savings, and/or selling stock are all things that they are doing that are "hurting" themselves to help you. Be respectful that this is a gift and treat it as such.

Oh and the big one. Call. At least once a week. And if you have nothing to call about, then start keeping a list of "cool stuff" to mention. It's not about what you say, it's about just calling. It also makes calling for money a lot easier, and sometimes helps with random money showing up in your account for no reason. :)

Perhaps I should have just written a book and told you to buy it . . . . Sorry . . . .

Answer 2

I would have partied a little less. I would have made sure I took all 100 classes early and not wait until my senior year. I would probably have gone on to receive my masters degree right out of school instead of waiting. All in all I don't really regret anything I did do, but see ways it could have been easier at the time. I loved college.

Answer 3

I would not have partied more. I would have had sex with more women, though.

Other than that, I would have done very little different. I might have taken a few economics and finance classes as an undergraduate. I was a pretty serious students, but wanted nothing to do with the real world.

Answer 4

Taken a different major. I'm about to graduate and can't find much to do without having years of experience.

Answer 5

I would have planned better and stayed to get masters in five years rather than bachelors in 4. I would not have commuted as I did and borrowed to stay at school.