Anxiety and imposter syndrome?

[WhaleWhisperer]

The waiting process (and graduation) is starting to really really really increase my anxiety and imposter syndrome is anyone else feeling this way? 

[Elsie1922]

Yes! I have been accepted to one school, waitlisted for one, and heard nothing from the rest but assuming I’ll be rejected as others have heard back already. I feel terrible about being waitlisted, like I just wasn’t good enough. All the worst concerns I’ve always had creeping back up. How’s your cycle going so far? Heard back from programs? 

[CafeConGabi]

Graduated with my MA a couple years ago but remember the imposter syndrome well! I did my undergrad at a University of California and my master's at an Ivy League. That increased the Imposter Syndrome 10-fold. 

Even applying to PhD programs a second time around brought some of it back. 

But I realized it's always going to be there throughout my academic milestones. So, I need to find ways of coping with the internal dialogue. 

[WhaleWhisperer]

Delete what I wrote, I forgot to quote the above people (see next post) 

Edited February 20, 2021 by WhaleWhisperer
I forgot to quote the above people

[WhaleWhisperer]

7 hours ago, CafeConGabi said:

Graduated with my MA a couple years ago but remember the imposter syndrome well! I did my undergrad at a University of California and my master's at an Ivy League. That increased the Imposter Syndrome 10-fold. 

Even applying to PhD programs a second time around brought some of it back. 

But I realized it's always going to be there throughout my academic milestones. So, I need to find ways of coping with the internal dialogue. 

 

7 hours ago, CafeConGabi said:

Graduated with my MA a couple years ago but remember the imposter syndrome well! I did my undergrad at a University of California and my master's at an Ivy League. That increased the Imposter Syndrome 10-fold. 

Even applying to PhD programs a second time around brought some of it back. 

But I realized it's always going to be there throughout my academic milestones. So, I need to find ways of coping with the internal dialogue. 

Whoops rewriting because I forgot to quote

So far I have not heard a thing from any schools 

The last I heard was that a professor is going to speak to the admissions committee about my application "soon" (which is an ivy league and making everything worse), another professor was going to tell admissions to make note of my application, and that I was one of two students asked to apply under a professor.

 

Yes all of this sounds great, but honestly the pressure of all of this (and I posted about it in case schools were watching) is too much, if I don't get in after all that, that is just going to be so horrible.... I have known I really need to go to grad school since at least high school. 

[CafeConGabi]

3 hours ago, WhaleWhisperer said:

 

Whoops rewriting because I forgot to quote

So far I have not heard a thing from any schools 

The last I heard was that a professor is going to speak to the admissions committee about my application "soon" (which is an ivy league and making everything worse), another professor was going to tell admissions to make note of my application, and that I was one of two students asked to apply under a professor.

 

Yes all of this sounds great, but honestly the pressure of all of this (and I posted about it in case schools were watching) is too much, if I don't get in after all that, that is just going to be so horrible.... I have known I really need to go to grad school since at least high school. 

No worries. I hear that. 

I really hope they're fighting for your application to make it to the final round. Unless the professor explicitly says they want to work with you and that they'll do everything in their power to advocate for you, I wouldn't take their words as guaranteed admission. And even if a professor says that there is always a possibility that the rest of the department will say no.  

 

[Keildous]

 I see it’s been a while since you’ve posted, but I just want to say I’ve been feeling really similar lately. Has anyone found small things that help with the day-to-day stress of feeling like you don’t belong? I’ve started journaling my accomplishments, even minor ones, just to remind myself I’m making progress, but I’m curious what’s worked for others here.

[Goegraphy Tutors]

Feeling the same way. The waiting process—especially around graduation—really messes with your head. It’s like everything you've worked for suddenly hinges on a few unknowns, and that makes the impostor feelings come in stronger than ever. I keep second-guessing whether I deserve to be here, even though I’ve put in the work.

You're not alone. I’ve been trying to remind myself that self-doubt doesn’t mean I’m not capable—it just means I care deeply. Talking to peers and mentors helps a bit, too. Hang in there, we’re in this together.

[Sigaba]

Understand that even established, award winning academics with storied careers struggle with confidence and imposter syndrome. 

(The best response to variations of the OP remains, "So, you think you're good enough to be an imposter?")

Assume that one way or another, your journey to your professional academic aspirations will continue.

• Try to grab one or two of the "must read" books in your discipline and start working through them.
• If you have access to academic journals via Jstor, start going through the top three or four periodicals in your field(s) of interest.
  • You can learn a lot by going article by article, review by review, through ten years.
• And/or you can start building "dossiers" on academics of note/interest.
  • Collect everything written by or about Professor Xavier in a digital folder and then start reading.
  • This collection process can also include masters theses/reports and doctoral dissertations the person has supervised.
• Penultimately, if you've not done so already, familiarize yourself with best practices to secure your identity, privacy, and credit. 
  • It may surprise you how quickly you can be found.
  • You want to get rid of everything you can.
  • Start scrubbing your presence from the internet of PII that can be used against you by hostile parties, including the current configuration of the American government.
  • Start by googling yourself and maybe an often used catch phrase or username.
• If you have social media accounts that reflect your personal professional identity, make sure you don't say anything in a way that might cost you an opportunity.
  • This is not a suggestion to not be true to your self.
  • Instead, it's a reminder that what you think today may change tomorrow but your past can be used as a weapon against you forever.
• Finally, consider the benefits of taking deep dives into this BB as well as Reddit and other on line communities -- the questions you have today have probably been addressed dozens of times over the years.
  • Some of the guidance may not be as useful due to changing tastes and technologies, but some others remain as good as NFTs. Or something.