For many of us, feeling confident at university isn’t something that comes naturally. When we’re surrounded by so many intelligent people, we might feel like we’re not as smart as everyone else, or like we don’t belong. This feeling is called Imposter Syndrome, and almost everyone experiences it at some point- even academics at the top of their careers!

Even if we aren’t naturally confident, the good news is that there are all kinds of tips and tricks we can use to develop our confidence while at university. Watch the recording of our Lightning Session, then scroll down for our top tips!

1. Get Organized 

Confidence is all about having control, and the best way to feel in control of your life is to get organised. This will typically involve using a diary and/or a to-do list to keep track of your tasks and make sure you start your assignments on time. When you’ve got everything written down and planned out, then you can move forward with your work, without stressing about whether or not you’ve forgotten something.

2. Stay Positive

As human beings, we often tend to focus on the negative. When we get an exam back, we notice the one question we got wrong, not the nine we answered correctly. To improve your confidence, take steps to remember the good things you’ve accomplished, like keeping a folder of positive feedback or a “Done” list of everything you’ve accomplished that day/week/semester.

3. Watch Your Self-Talk

All human beings have something that psychologists call our “explanatory style.” For an example, when you get a good mark on an essay, do you think “I’m a good writer,” or do you think, “My marker is really generous”? Similarly, if you do poorly on an exam, do you think, “I’m so stupid” or do you remember that you had a migraine that day, so you couldn’t do your best work? The way that we explain events to ourselves has a massive impact on our confidence, so the next time you find yourself explaining away a positive event or blaming yourself for a negative event, take a moment to notice your self-talk and consider other, more positive, explanations.