The one regret (well sort of a regret) I have is that I chose to do Biological Sciences at degree level rather than a physics degree. I think the problem at school is that we only get taught the more boring aspects of physics. Now I sometimes daydream about going back and doing a physics degree and then a research degree in theoretical physics. How sad is that!?
I found my physics degree was dull and uninteresting, I wish I had done PPE degree (philosophy, politics & economics) instead. Problem is that grass is always greener, and we change as we get older. Although in my case I was pressured into taking sciences as my dad had done that to.
The subject you mentioned reminds me of this one guy (who has since disappeared) who joined last year & had quite an inspirational story (anyone remember his name?). His had run away from home and in his mid-teenage years was living in some self-catering bedsit and on social support. Anyhow he managed to gain admission into Cambridge University to study Theoretical Physics and just started in September ..