Does anyone regret it?

[Leherself]

That is true. There are parents who pressure their children to study a STEM field, accounting/finance, to complete the pre-med sequence, or various other things. The child may not have the aptitude for the field and/or may not have an interest in the field. This happens with parents sending their kids to traditional schools. So, there are controlling parents among homeschoolers and non-homeschoolers, but the reason for controlling their children might be different.

I think there's a tendency for a lot of people (parents and otherwise) to want to try and direct young people toward fields of study that are considered a "sure thing". People like simple formulas - do this, this, and this and you'll be a successful member of the high income class in this country. The trouble with that is usually that for one, the formula doesn't work as well as people think it does (how many broke out of work law school grads do you know? I know several). And for another, even if following the guided path gives people a decent shot at financial security, it doesn't necessarily make them happy or fulfilled.

Young people making their own choices aren't necessarily going to choose better than their parents, but at least they'll be learning from their own results rather than being able to blame others for any of their misfortunes. I think the biggest thing I would encourage a young person to do is not just assume that the most obvious choice is the best option - a criminal justice degree isn't necessarily the best route into a CJ career, a biology major isn't necessarily the be the best route to med school, and an expensive professional credential isn't necessarily the best way to achieve financial security and success in life.

The first career path I chose as an 18 year old didn't really suit me, but it gave me the opportunity to learn about the kind of work I do enjoy. I learned that I care more about lifestyle than I do about money, like working with people, hate spending all day sitting at a desk, love learning new things, etc. I had no idea what I wanted to go to college for when I was 18 - I just didn't have the life, work, or other experience that would give me perspective on the issue. I'm glad no one forced me to stay in college when I clearly wasn't ready for it.