When college kids "Feel like a Fraud"

MaryGJ
Tue, 11 Jul 2017 04:12:42 +0000

Have been a bit bemused this summer talking to a niece and nephew who’ve gotten their feet wet in college this past year.

Without exception…these kids tell me that they “feel like a fraud”…like the whole environment and pace of college is so much more demanding than expected, that they’ve had to be more adult than expected, make more sacrifices, manage time better.

“I mean I’m doing ok. The classes are hard, but really cool. I’m working so much harder than I ever did in high school. Sometimes I feel like someone made a big mistake…and one day they’re going to tell me I was sent the acceptance letter by mistake. None of this is what I expected. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE college, but sometimes I feel like I really don’t belong here and one day someone’s going to notice.”

I remember having this same talk with my kiddo in her Sophomore year.

I just wanted to know…are other people familiar with this syndrome? Have your own kids ever said they feel like impostors?

Seems to be a sophomore thing?