Overcoming a lack of academic confidence. 04/12/2016

Academic confidence is something that can rapidly decrease with a single bad grade, negative feedback, or the influence of competitive friends or colleagues. If you are lacking in academic confidence, it’s likely hindering your overall scholarly performance. By taking active steps to build your academic confidence, you can counteract bad experiences and begin to move past them.

1. Take responsibility for your work.

Lack of academic confidence often stems from bad grades or critique you received on your work. By assessing your work and taking responsibility for your role in bad grades or negative feedback, you can start making changes that will help cultivate academic confidence.

• For example, if you received a bad grade for an assignment because you didn’t read the instructions or did it too quickly, these are factors that you can easily control. Accept that the mistakes were your responsibility and make sure to learn from the experience.
• Taking responsibility for your work also means knowing when it is strong, regardless of feedback. For example, if you get negative comments on an essay that you believe makes a strong argument, evaluate the comments objectively. You may find that you disagree with some of them, and that's okay. Because so much academic work is interpretive and subjective, interpretations may differ. You are not automatically wrong simply because someone says you are.

2. Let go of unrealistic academic expectations.

Lack of confidence can start with unrealistic expectations of yourself or in your abilities. Letting go of any unrealistic or unattainable expectations you have will not only keep you from setting yourself up for failure, but also allow you to build confidence in your academic skills.

• For example, if you are a graduate student, it is not likely that you will publish a study that completely re-envisions your field. If you can accept this fact, then you can focus on developing yourself as a young scholar and making contributions to your field.
• Accept that no student or scholar is perfect. No one can be great at every aspect of academics, so focus on your strengths and develop your weaknesses as you can.

3. Let go of negative feedback, grades, and people.

Holding on to negativity from feedback, other people, or grades will only undermine your confidence. Being able to let go of negativity will allow you to focus on your academic strengths and develop your weaknesses.
Whenever you get negative feedback that undermines your confidence, learn from it by talking to your teacher or professor. Then implement suggestions and move forward.
Don’t dwell on bad grades, negative feedback or negative people. This will only further shake your academic confidence.

4. Don't compare yourself to others students or colleagues.

Every person has different academic strengths and weaknesses and there will almost always be someone performs better academically than you do. Avoid comparing yourself to other students, teachers, or professors and focus on your performance so that you don’t undermine your confidence.

• By focusing on your own academic performance and developing your abilities, you won’t be tempted to compare yourself with another classmate or student.
• If you have a hard time not comparing yourself, try to think of something you do better academically than the other person. For example, you may write better essays or be better at taking tests.

5. Think and be positive about yourself.

The thoughts and language you choose significantly influence your attitude and emotional outlook. Thinking positively about yourself and your academic abilities will help you stay positive, counteract negativity, and build your confidence.

• Use positive language in addition to having positive thoughts. Phrases like "I am hopeful” or "I will find a resolution" will help you stay positive.
• Giving yourself a positive affirmation every morning when you wake up will set off your day on a positive path. For example, you can say to yourself “today is going to be a great day. I feel good and I’m ready to write that great essay.”
• Taking care of yourself is an important part of being positive. Make sure you get enough exercise, eat healthily, and get enough rest. These will also positively impact your academic performance.