If you could start over... 
(Senior Monkey, 81 
Points) on 7/28/10 at 8:07pm
If you could start over, right from the 9th grade, what would you do differently?
Would you still go into your career in banking/consulting/finance - and if so, what kind of decisions would you make to maximize your chances and set yourself up for the future?
I understand that a lot of efforts begin early, and an early start gives a HUGE advantage to students who start off knowing what they want to do. If you were to have another chance, or the opportunity to talk to yourself when you were just beginning high school, what advice would you have for the younger you?
Might help if you describe your current background as well.
I've done fairly well, but I know there's certainly a lot of things I would change in retrospect - for starters, determining a major earlier, reaching out for work opportunities, and working my ass off (as the benefits of partying diminish very quickly).
The title of this thread
by San FranciscanThe title of this thread makes it seem like you're a middle schooler asking for advice, haha. I was about to freak out.
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“Anyone can be a millionaire, but to become a billionaire you need an astrologer.” -John Pierpont Morgan
In order: High School: -I
by San FranciscanIn order:
High School:
-I would have picked one of my two HS sports to do and done only that one. I was good at both of them but never truly spectacular at either. Furthermore, they both killed a ton of my time.
-With the new found time from quitting one of my sports, I would have studied way more.
-I would have taken the SAT one more time.
-I would have volunteered more.
-I would have tried to get a summer internship at my Dad's AM firm.
-I would have petitioned one of the schools that denied me and gone to a better University.
First year of Undergrad:
-I would have taken a few econ/accounting classes sooner.
-I wouldn't have worked at a Law Firm or a non-profit the summer after first year.
Second year of Undergrad:
-I would have done better. Taken a couple classes more seriously, etc.
____________________________________________________________________
“Anyone can be a millionaire, but to become a billionaire you need an astrologer.” -John Pierpont Morgan
I would've bang as many 16
by SirBankalotI would've bang as many 16 year olds as I could
I wouldn't have been a huge
by futurectdocI wouldn't have been a huge jerk to the hottie who I could have gotten with. I would have done homework. I wouldn't have broken a girl's heart junior year, as I'm stuck in the friend zone now. I would have hit up the CEO of an MM that went to the same HS/ Country Club for an internship. I would have hooked up with the 2 MILFs at said country club rather than being conscientious.
I would've tried, actually
by BigBucksI would've tried, actually done homework, and probably finished top 10 overall in my class if I gave any effort. I was lazy and finished top 10% but not that high at all. Oh yea, then I would go to a target school instead of this current non-target.
I would change absolutely
by mendeleafI would change absolutely nothing. Wouldn't be who I am now if not for the fuck-ups/mistakes/bad-decisions I made.
^ o ya if I had actually
by BigBucks^ o ya if I had actually tried in HS and early college I would still be trying to do Biomed engineering/pre-med... haha I quickly realized that wasn't the path for me.
I would of played lacrosse
by Anthony .I would of played lacrosse and joined a frat.
Thats probably it.
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I would have had sex with
by evilbyaccidentI would have had sex with erica, vanessa, sandra, skai, melissa, melissa, maja, kate, laura, larissa, jenna, courtney, alessandra, liliana, amy, martina, martina, nicky, katie, bianca, magda, natalie, taylor, steph, paula, natasha, and mimi....
I'm sure there are more but I can't think of them off the top of my head.
Oh and I would NOT have had sex with krisha.
Joining a fraternity was one
by trackstar2k2Joining a fraternity was one of the best decisions of my life.
I would of gone out with this girl who I later found out was a virgin at the time she liked me. She later lost her virginity to her next boyfriend. The best part of it all would of been 4 years later interviewing with her dad at a financial advisory firm before I actually knew what they did there.
I would of tried to convince my parents to send me to a top notch prep school.
I would have studied harder
by Trojans11I would have studied harder freshmen year and join either a business or social frat.
High School: - Stopped being
by walkioHigh School:
- Stopped being a complete waste of time and actually done a lot more studying.
- picked better courses and focused more on joining clubs.
- Instead of doing the British system, done SATs and APs and gone to an American College where 'education' is better.
- Worked towards getting into an Ivy College.
SirBankalot wrote: I would've
by 2226416I would've bang as many 16 year olds as I could
+1
unqwertyfied wrote: I would
by 2226416I would change absolutely nothing (excluding the banging hot girls thing). Wouldn't be who I am now if not for the fuck-ups/mistakes/bad-decisions I made.
+1
I would have actually pushed
by eating926I would have actually pushed harder for my case to play football, since I knew all the coaches and all my friends played too (my parents would only let me play one sport- basketball)
trackstar2k2 wrote: I would
by CitySophisticateI would of gone out with this girl who I later found out was a virgin at the time she liked me. She later lost her virginity to her next boyfriend. The best part of it all would of been 4 years later interviewing with her dad at a financial advisory firm before I actually knew what they did there.
You would have dated her solely because she was a virgin? What was wrong with her when you didn't know that she was a virgin?
I pledged a frat and I wish I
by NikkisixxI pledged a frat and I wish I hadn't. Guess it's one of those grass is greener things.
I had a pretty dazed and
by weeds499I had a pretty dazed and confused type of high school - no question it shaped who I am, and I've had a great time from hs to college. Prob would have gone to a bigger party school for college - but ive done pretty damn well career wise so i cant complain (and I got a huge scholarship, so debt free living in nyc now)
Kids - banking will always be here for you - your youth and period of carelessness will not. When I was an intern, I had every miserable associate and VP tell me how lucky i was to go back to college for a year. When I went into M&A full time - the only times I felt good were when I thought about the fun I had in high school and college.
No job, degree, salary can seriously replace the fun, carelessness, recklessness and joy of being in high school. The shenanigans I pulled and insane stuff (for a 17 year old) is priceless - and most importantly, those experiences shape who you are later in life.
For the record - in one of my interviews, an MD asked me what was the craziest thing I had ever done. Story about some absurd high school prank had him in tears laughing - offer shortly after.
weeds499 wrote: For the
by NikkisixxFor the record - in one of my interviews, an MD asked me what was the craziest thing I had ever done. Story about some absurd high school prank had him in tears laughing - offer shortly after.
Nice - care to share?
i would have aced every
by nutsaboutWSi would have aced every class, regardless of the partying
-
I'm money hungry
-I would have done all my
by barboon-I would have done all my homework in HS to get all A's since most of our grades came from it and I never did any of it.
-I should have banged the teacher that asked me out to dinner.
-I wish I took all my engineering courses at an acredited school, never thought I'd be persuing finance until I got a partner position at a Mechanical company and realized I wanted way more.
"I'm climbing a mountain that is only getting steeper"
-Barboon
This thread just makes me
by Edmundo BravermanThis thread just makes me sad.
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Edmundo Braverman wrote: This
by MoThis thread just makes me sad.
+1
Maybe I do not have quotes under my name on google, but I KEEP IT REAL
unqwertyfied wrote: I would
by fully_amazingI would change absolutely nothing. Wouldn't be who I am now if not for the fuck-ups/mistakes/bad-decisions I made.
agreed!!! only thing would probably have to be is not have stayed with my girlfriend for as long as did...missed out on other poon
2226416 wrote: unqwertyfied
by acrew09I would change absolutely nothing (excluding the banging hot girls thing). Wouldn't be who I am now if not for the fuck-ups/mistakes/bad-decisions I made.
+1
+2 - One of the saddest parts of leaving college for me was that it was the first time in my life I wouldn't have done anything differently. My experience was awesome, it had its ups and downs, but I had great profs, great friends, a great team, and an amazing fraternity.
If anything I'd go back and do it all over again exactly the same because I enjoyed it so much. For everyone still in college, you should definitely work hard, but also enjoy your time there. One of my best friends, who's now at M/B/B, is really happy he's there, but if he could go back he said he'd go out more. To each their own though.
I would've went ahead and got
by Im with BuseyI would've went ahead and got that prescription for adderall back in 8th grade.
CitySophisticate
by trackstar2k2I would of gone out with this girl who I later found out was a virgin at the time she liked me. She later lost her virginity to her next boyfriend. The best part of it all would of been 4 years later interviewing with her dad at a financial advisory firm before I actually knew what they did there.
You would have dated her solely because she was a virgin? What was wrong with her when you didn't know that she was a virgin?
didn't want a gf at the time
I think I would apply to
by rachmaninoff3rdI think I would apply to HYP...
Tell parents to send me to a
by runthetownTell parents to send me to a prep high school that places well into top universities
Know about the field of consulting or finance in high school
Study hard in high school and go to a target univ on a scholarship, grants, minimized loans
Major in economics/finance
Graduate with no student loan debt
Meet more girls
I would have used a condom..
by KilgoreTI would have used a condom..
1. get to know more ppl in HS
by ambition561. get to know more ppl in HS and focused on one sport 2. been more on my toes at the start of college 3. get interested in finance earlier(rather than start of last winter break)
Man this question opens up so
by TrollMan this question opens up so many old wounds and memories. I have so many regrets in life. I really do not want to go there.
But I'm looking towards the future now.
And I have already managed to accomplish the no.1 goal in life of coming to America, so I should be happy.
But those small thing still hurt sometimes.
KilgoreT wrote: I would have
by TrollI would have used a condom..
Wanna tel us what happened?
-Stuck to my internet
by Mezz-Stuck to my internet business instead of selling it for a couple thousand bucks back in the 10th grade. The guy who owns it now is rolling in dough...that piece of shit. I wouldn't even need to be in I-Banking now (probably wouldn't even be working at all).
-Volunteered more during all that free time
-Taking up a major that I would have found enjoyable (Astrophysics, history, philosophy, etc..) instead of finance
-Be nicer to all the kids I picked up
-Not be a complete jackass to my parents during my teen years
Theres more but those are the major ones.
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Mezz wrote: Stuck to my
by mendeleafStuck to my internet business instead of selling it for a couple thousand bucks back in the 10th grade. The guy who owns it now is rolling in dough...that piece of shit. I wouldn't even need to be in I-Banking now (probably wouldn't even be working at all).
This is probably the only regret-worthy thing I've read in this whole thread (well, apart from the condom thing...but that's just plain stupid too). Guys posting about not going to HYP or getting average grades - you do realize 95% of the population regrets not being in your position, yea?
@Troll PREGNANCY
by KilgoreT@Troll
PREGNANCY
SirBankalot wrote: I would've
by WarpI would've bang as many 16 year olds as I could
This thread just makes me sad.
Best comments so far.
Actually drove by a Delorean
by Midas Mulligan MagooActually drove by a Delorean yesterday. Past is prologue. This weekend I'm baggin an 18 year old and punching some random in the grill. Long live testosterone and acting "stupid".
I would have worked harder in
by jc100021I would have worked harder in college. My undergrad GPS has created an uphill battle since, though I was able to overcome it.
SirBankalot wrote: I would've
by cphbravo96I would've bang as many 16 year olds as I could
What exactly does being back in high school have to do with banging down 16 year olds?? Still seems achievable to me.
Regards
"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so."
- Ronald Reagan
I am depressed now
by SACI am depressed now
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I wouldn't have pumped 80
by NGLI wouldn't have pumped 80 grand of my parent's money into the dot-com bubble while experimenting with salvia one night....
I wouldn't have been a Bills
by CapToedI wouldn't have been a Bills fan.
Just kidding. Go Bills!
I would've done everything
by midnight_oilI would've done everything exactly the same. Except for clicking in this thread.
I still bang 18 yr olds just
by barboonI still bang 18 yr olds just because its legal
"I'm climbing a mountain that is only getting steeper"
-Barboon
Midas Mulligan Magoo
by NikkisixxPast is prologue.
I thought about this and I really like it. +1 for Shakespeare reference.
Established stronger bonds
by Bottles and DCF...Established stronger bonds with my buddies
Made more female friends
More strategic in my dating selection
Take 9 hours a semester in college instead of 15 hours
Play more basketball, spend less time just lounging around
Take boxing lessons
I really regret impregnating
by TheKingI really regret impregnating Troll's mom. I'm sorry WSO, I am the reason Troll posts here.
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I would borrow money and buy
by sparticusI would borrow money and buy google like a mofo.
TheKing: I was quite happy
by TrollTheKing:
I was quite happy just leaving my scum in your mom's mouth.