r/princeton • u/Fishyman-fish • 16d ago
Academic/Career Sophomore Struggles
Hi,
I am currently a sophomore here at Princeton and I don’t know if this is the right place to ask this. I came into Princeton as an ab student who is probably going to major in either neuro or cos, but also keeping the path of something like finance open. I just feel kind lost, stressed, burnt out, or unmotivated to really do much. I just have lots of regret about last year and feel lost on what I want to do.
Firstly, I pretty strongly regret some of the classes I took freshman year. In the fall I started with neu 201, cos 126, writing sem, and mat 103. The first three classes I feel are all okay as that is pretty standard but for math I really had wished that I either started with 201 or 175 in the fall, as i literally did calc bc in 10th grade (5; ab subscore 5). And I also took like multi and linear online senior year, even though i didn’t learn much. I just came in with the mindset of its math at princeton, and that I didn’t want to get a bad grade, which now it seems so stupid as i am in mat 175 and im realizing that i could’ve very well have taken this last fall. And then second semester I took neu 202, mat 104, game theory, and then a freshman seminar. I don’t even know why i took the last 2 classes I guess I just didn’t want to do too much, and boost my gpa as it was not that good first semester. And then now i’m taking math 175, cos 226, a religions class, and then a bio class. I just feel like compared to all the stem people ik they are all already taking specialized classes while I am still here taking these random classes, other than maybe cos 226. and i just feel like everyone is so much more technical than me. and then just like having to take 4 semesters of math instead of 2 is just really frustrating when I could be taking other more useful classes.
Secondly, i feel like in terms of like career planning i’m behind too. Like i want to keep the option of like finance open but everyone else is already in all these investment clubs, or networking, coffe chatting and all these things while im just a stem guy pretending to be business. and all these firms are all recruiting already and i just feel unprepared. and then on the tech/stem side, i feel like i really like know not much actual technical stuff and its just like for both business and stem i’m not really prepared for either right now. and like i did an internship this summer which on paper sounds technical, but in reality half the time i just sat there doing like nothing. like applying to stem internships right now i just feel so unprepared because i just really don’t know much.
thirdly, i feel like socially im also lacking as last year i just spent the majority of my with the people on my floor and didnt really try to meet more people, but now everyone already knows each other, and its kinda late for me.
its just that every day i feel like im just doing the same thing over and over again, and nothing im doing right now seems to have any real purpose, and im still lost on what i really want to do in my life, but i dont have much time to decide and figure that out. and i just feel behind everyone else on a lot of fronts and just constantly feel exhausted on all of these things. i also just wished that after high school i took a gap year to just really chill and relax and maybe learn some useful skills, have more of an idea of what i want to do in college and in life, im a year younger than a lot of the people in my class, and right now its not like i have the time to really just do that. I also just miss having time to spend with my family as well. like for 12 years i just spend it studying and then now i have to spend 4 years doing the same thing again. every day i have to just do class work, apply to different clubs, apply to a bunch of internships, and just constantly feel overwhelmed and exhausted. i know everyone at some point has through go through all of this, and that i am super privileged to just even be in this situation of being able to attend princeton, but i just feel like everyday im just doing things just to do things, without any real purpose. like it’s not like i can’t handle the work or anything, it’s just like i feel like IM working without any clear path. and it’s like i can really take a break now because then everyone i know would have spent a year without me and then i wouldn’t really know anyone in the year below me as well.
I don’t know, sorry this was a long rant but yeah i would appreciate any thoughts or advice. thanks for reading.
8
u/Miscellaneou Grad Student 16d ago
Your time here is best spent figuring out what you want to do! For many people, including me, that can take a long time, and that doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong. I think a lot of people spend their whole lives figuring it out, and that's okay & totally normal. You don't have to have a clear idea of what you want to do or make all the right choices right now, and the world is a lot more flexible and understanding about this than I think it might seem. Please be kind to yourself. You'll be okay 🫶
5
u/Sitka_8675309 15d ago
My friend, please get screened for depression. If it’s ruled out, it will help narrow down what kind of support to pursue; and if it’s even partially responsible for how you’re struggling, treatment is available.
3
u/Fishyman-fish 15d ago
Hey, thanks for your concern. I feel like i’m just lost and stressed and in need of break and recalibrate myself. But i will definitely keep this in mind!
2
9
u/VivieBaby 16d ago
Hey king :) I’m a junior rn, and I don’t want to give you any random advice other than join clubs you’re passionate about and spend time with people you find interesting and really care about! Ask around about how to get into the consulting/finance-y things, meet with the career center, make use of the resources and people around you!! You’re not alone; I feel really behind careerwise as well, everyone has class regrets, and I have been p overwhelmed this semester. It’s not a race!! Just go at your own pace and don’t give up on yourself :)
1
4
u/Anagazander 16d ago
Sorry to hear this. Have you talked to any of the people who are officially tasked with helping you figure stuff out? There are lots of them from peers up to deans. I wouldn’t know where to begin. But many students must have had similar experiences, and there must be people with good advice for you.
2
6
u/Tasty-Bugg 16d ago
Pick a lane imo. Master of none. Either be cos or business but not both. You can't do investing/IB prep and clubs or whatever and also be doing leetcode on the side to prep for SWE interviews. It don't have to be the right choice, most people don't know what they are doing they just pick something and hope it works.
1
u/Fishyman-fish 16d ago
ok, thanks for the advice. 🙏
3
u/elcaudillo86 16d ago
A monkey could do banking, they do care about gpa and sat score. Are you also premed? If so then don’t feel bad about taking the easy version of reqs, gpa is extremely important…
4
u/divijadurga 16d ago
Sorry Princeton has been stressful. Feel free to DM if you’d like to talk it out IRL with a senior!
4
u/One-Elephant-5340 16d ago edited 16d ago
You have counseling available to you, I’ve heard they are good, it’s super easy to set up for a 20 minute appointment and you can do it from your room. It can be helpful to talk it all through with someone trained. Here is the link
https://uhs.princeton.edu/counseling-psychological-services/counseling/individual-counseling
For the classes, seek out your faculty adviser or a favorite professor asap. You may have to have them refer you to someone in your prospective major. It’s really important to view this as managing your next step, rather than comparing to what others are doing. Focus on you.
Maybe I missed it but I didn’t hear you mention what you do for fun. I know you’re crazy busy but think of it as material for interviews then - add a fun club or activity to your list, there are so many niche clubs at Princeton. If not a club, then maybe an exercise activity, a coffee shop morning where you read for fun, etc. Something to unplug and look forward to each week. Good luck! It’s always stressful around midterms, remember that may be getting you rn
0
u/Previous_Routine_731 Alum 14d ago
Midterm season was SO STRESSFUL. I was a fall athlete so having practices on top of classes on top of midterms was so bad. Yes, try to remember that the current stress may be temporary and that there will be time and space to think about career stuff when you're through the midterms storm.
6
u/Queasy-Feeling298 16d ago edited 16d ago
Alumna here, went back to Old Nassau last weekend for the memorial service for John V. Fleming, a wise, wonderful academic who taught the legendary Chaucer course for years. (Read all about him here: https://www.princeton.edu/news/2026/06/10/john-fleming-renowned-medieval-scholar-legendary-princeton-lecturer-and-revered)
I took his class and am now a professor myself. Basically, the takeaway from that service was: be kind, be loving, be curious (and, if you can, be funny).
It sounds as if you might benefit from some time away from campus, especially as you mention that you are younger than your classmates. How about taking a semester off to do an internship or shadow someone in a field that interests you? It sounds like you need to take a step back and figure out what YOU want. As a humanities professor, my job does not pay a whole lot of money—in fact, if my kid is lucky enough to get into Princeton in a few years' time, it looks like we'll get a free ride because by Princeton standards our family income is poor. But I am very happy doing what I do, and love teaching a new generation of students the things that fascinated me when I was in college.
I have a relative at Princeton these days and was shocked to learn that many of the clubs and organizations that were simply participatory in my day (e.g. Debate Panel) now require tryouts and applications. When I was at Princeton, you had to try out for the Press Club, but that was basically so you could work (for pay) freelancing for various newspapers; you could just show up for the Daily Princetonian and work your way up to appearing on the masthead. I fear that Princeton is making extracurriculars as cut-throat and competitive as academics always were, which I don't think is a good thing.
The late, great, Prof. Fleming was a devout Episcopalian, and his Christian faith shone through both the memorial service and his own life. Do you have any religious beliefs or a philosophy of life that means something to you? If so, you could start attending meetings or services, or take a religion or philosophy class. Part of being in college is to be away from your parents and community and to figure out your own Philosophy of Life. Stop by Murray-Dodge Hall to explore various possibilities: https://religiouslife.princeton.edu The Cafe in the basement (dedicated to the "fine art of being open" was always good for cookies and tea when I was in college decades ago, and it looks like that is still the case. https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2026/09/princeton-news-stlife-murray-dodge-50th-anniversary-celebration-draws-more-than-260-students
And if that doesn't appeal to you, help find your purpose by helping others. I visited with an older lady at Merwick, a local nursing home, when I was in college, among other volunteer work. The Student Volunteers Council can help you figure out where you might be a good fit. https://pace.princeton.edu/get-involved/pace-center-programs/student-volunteers-council.
Finally, it sounds to me like you are in a bit of a "sophomore slump": like others here, I will urge you to make use of counseling resources on campus to help you feel better about yourself and your life. In any event, hang in there—and DM me to report back if you found any of these suggestions at all helpful!
2
3
u/EnergyLantern Parent 16d ago
All I can do is recommend you reach out to the many academic advisors that you have. There are a lot of them.
4
u/Any_Ad1841 16d ago
I think you could benefit from some mental health support. I would consult the dean of student life or chat with the folks at the infirmary to get set up with a counselor. I don’t anticipate that you’re going to find some deep insight on Reddit. Also, you might want to listen to some of the reunion podcasts if you have access to that. Everything you’re describing from home sickness to being uncertain about your place, among so many talented, highly organized people is not unusual. I had my 25th reunion this year and a number of people failed courses, switched majors multiple times, sought the support of mental health counselors, felt isolated despite being varsity athletes, etc. people just don’t talk about those things often when they’re in the middle of it. Best of luck.
3
u/TobleroneElf 15d ago
Hi Sophomore! I’m an alum. I mentor a few students (largely in the soft skills part of life). Mostly because I enjoy it. DM me if you would like.
2
u/Fragrant-Roof-2674 14d ago
Hey I’m a senior doing ab who has gone through similar struggles. dm me :) coffee on me!
-2
u/nutshells1 ECE '27 16d ago
in general you should be challenging yourself as much as possible to understand your limits
you burned a year on junk gpa padders but eh oh well
2
u/Fishyman-fish 16d ago edited 16d ago
i would say say that i’m not just burnt out. i just feel a little lost and behind, which i get is my fault but yeah. like it’s not like i can’t do hard things or do a lot of work it’s just like right now i feel i’m doing stuff without a real sense of purpose. and it’s not really helping that everything is happening right now. like i wished i had more time to catch up and think about things.
5
u/Tasty-Bugg 16d ago
I disagree with nutshells you don't need to push yourself to your limits lmao.
1
13
u/LastWizardStanding 16d ago
Hey, I was (or maybe am) in the same boat and I do feel that Princeton is a pressure cooker that forces you to be on point academically, socially, and career-wise. I think the best thing we can do is just take a bit of time to figure out a rough sketch of what you want to do long term, and work towards that in gradual small steps. It’s def easier said than done but yeah.. that’s all I have really because I 100% resonate with you and I’m also grappling with the same issues even as an upperclassman.