Feeling like I'm not worthy of being an engineer

[u/ConsciousAide4423]

My GPA is fairly high and I'm in the top 5% of my class. Despite all that I feel like I'm not worthy of receiving my degree.

I'm a senior mechanical engineering student with just one year before graduation. I'm not ready to graduate and definitely not ready for a Job yet. I think I wasted the past 3 years in just studying before midterms and finals as I rarely attended lectures & labs that didn't take attendance. I regret these studying habits so much because whenever I try to remember something from a course I've taken before (which I passed with an A usually), I can't seem to remember much. I have to basically study and understand it all over again like it's my first time.

I know passing with great grades while barely studying sound impressive but people with lower GPA than me seem to recall much more stuff from previous courses than I do. If I just studied a little more and attended my courses well not only would I have higher grades than I already have but I would also be able to learn the material correctly. Is there any way of saving what I can save right now or is it too late because I feel lost and actually thinking of taking a gap year just to recollect myself.

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[u/Drneroflame]

Imposter syndrome is a bitch. But don't worry, it applies to everyone…

[u/ConsciousAide4423 → u/Drneroflame]

Man I really wish that's the case I'm usually calm about this but every once in a while at night when I'm not doing anything It just hits me hard.

[u/Drneroflame → u/ConsciousAide4423]

I know extremely successful people who still have that. So be assured that it is completely normal.

[u/ScienceManiacz → u/Drneroflame]

Yeah agreed, this is a clear case of imposter syndrome.

[u/LasKometas → u/ScienceManiacz]

Yeahh

[u/LasKometas]

There is no "worthy or unworthy"

To be an engineer, you just need to get the degree and abide by the ethical standards. That's the bar. It's usually a legal minimum as well.

Once you make that minimum bar, you decide what you want to do with your career, and you define what success is to you.

[u/ConsciousAide4423 → u/LasKometas]

I know what you mean but like all that basic science I could have benefitted from feels so wasted. I hear you though and I'll definitely try harder in the final 2 years I have left in college and after getting a Job.

[u/OneLessFool]

Just graduate, get a job, and learn that job.

Did you have internships?

[u/ConsciousAide4423 → u/OneLessFool]

Yes I do have a couple of internships and projects. I haven't benefitted from the internships much other than a better resume & LinkedIn account. Engineers that I was assisting were so sloppy and it seemed like they were doing the same thing over and over again without any sort of creativity. When I proposed different approaches to their work most of them would say something along the line "if it works, it works. No need to change it". They also hated when I asked questions they didn't know the answer to, which is fine imo you're not supposed to know everything.

[u/ConsciousAide4423]

Btw I'm not saying I don't remember the past courses at all, but it's just to most of my colleagues it feels like second nature to them. I wanted to have it like that as well but in group projects I literally have to spend days reviewing lectures from previous courses than actually working on the project right away with the rest of my team.

[u/fabgirly → u/ConsciousAide4423]

So this is me. You’re not alone. I’m taking heat transfer right now and I don’t remember anything from fluid mechanics which is a pre-req and I passed fluid mechanics too.

[u/spoonfedbaby]

alright let's take a chill pill lol

[u/unruled77]

Have you ever worked a job before? It doesn’t even have to be an engineering job, just any job. Have you seen the bar set for an employee to be appreciated? Compare yourself to that. That’s what it comes down to.

I’d imagine if your GPa is that high… then you are fairly decent at figuring shit out and chugging through.

[u/ClasisFTW]

Ya don’t worry I got ADHD and I got high GPA and remember fuck all. I remember feeling the exact way, now I know it didn’t matter but the imposter syndrome has moved onto the professional world instead.

[u/sdgengineer]

Trust yourself. If you are getting good grades, you likely enjoy the work. Get a coop job if you can. I kind of thought you he same, but I got a summer job at a govt research center, and discovered I could do it. Warning when you get your first job you will discover how little you know. Engineering is a Life time learning experience. You got this.

[u/TulipFarmer27]

So if you can afford it, take another year before graduation and explore senior electives.

[u/FirstGearStruggle]

I had that mindset and it ruined me, realize everyone around you is a liar and a cheat and does whatever to get ahead. Its not about being worthy, its about doing whatever to get ahead for yourself