The second year of college is known as a time of confusion, loss of direction, and second-guessing paths chosen during the first year.  

Courtesy of Urban Dictionary, here is one of the more creative takes on the concept of a sophomore slump:

“suffermore year: the second year of college when you lose direction of your life and never want to come out of your apartment and just stay in pajamas all day; the year you learn more about yourself after being jaded about college because freshman year is over and it's time to get serious

OK, that sounds kind of negative, but contained within it is a sense that you are temporarily stalled, but working through some things, and will emerge on the other side with new confidence and direction. And as long as you keep attending classes, you will eventually turn into a junior. Who has ever heard of a “junior slump”?

Social Symptoms include not feeling that “click” any longer with some friends made in freshman year, or carried over from high school. 

Solutions:  Gradually move away from the friends you no longer feel close to and create situations in which you will naturally meet new people.  You can break out of your social habits and create new ones. 

Academic Symptoms include lack of motivation to attend class and study sometimes accompanied by disillusionment with the major you are pursuing.

Solutions:  Find some ways to inject novelty and excitement into your academic life.  Change study groups, start using electronic flashcards and study tools (See Study Stack, for example), make a point of speaking in class, etc. And start planning now to take something really intriguing or outside your comfort zone during Winter session. (The schedule of classes is already on line for Winter 2016!) With respect to the major, talk to your academic advisor, visit the Career Center to take an interest inventory, and network with students in majors that appeal to you. 

Life Direction Symptoms include guilt about the cost of college given your indecision about the future, and general boredom alternating with feeling overwhelmed and anxious. 

Solutions:  Plan some very positive next steps!  Plan to study abroad. Plan an internship in a field related to your current major or a potential major.  And sign up for new recreational and extracurricular activities like intramural sports, taking up a musical instrument, or joining new clubs or campus organizations. 

Sophomore slump tendencies are a reflection of your “middle child” status on campus—no longer new and not yet in the big leagues of academic work. You are no longer eligible for the extra attention given to freshmen, but you are starting to take some challenging upper level courses along with juniors and perhaps even seniors. 

The solution to the malaise of sophomore-hood is almost always action. This would be action to make changes in social habit patterns, action to try new courses, join new organizations, and plan new enriching activities. Sometimes the action you need to take is to collect additional information – about majors and careers, about internships and study abroad programs. Less stewing and more motion will help you beat the slump and stay on course toward graduation, maturity, and all around success. 

7 Ways to Slip Through the Sophomore Slump, by Kelci Lynn Lucier, in U.S. News and World Report on line, Sept 2011

The Sophomore Slump, by Samantha Stainburn, in NY Times, Nov 2013

Are you a sophomore experiencing a “slump” or a junior or senior who remembers the “slump”?  Share your tips for beating the slump feeling in the comments section below.

If you are a sophomore, which “symptoms” below have you experienced? (You may choose more than one.)