Walking into university for the first time can feel overwhelming. Surrounded by confident voices, unfamiliar concepts, and high expectations, it is easy to believe that you are the only one who feels uncertain. You may wonder how everyone else seems to understand the material, speak so confidently in class, or know where exactly they are going. That quiet fear, that “maybe I do not belong here”, is not a personal failure. It is a common psychological experience known as imposter syndrome, and it is normal.
Imposter syndrome refers to the belief that your achievements are undeserved and that, sooner or later, you will be “exposed as a fraud”. Despite earning a place at university through hard work and dedication, many students experiencing imposter syndrome often attribute their success to luck, a fluke in the system, or external help. Students also tend to view their struggles as proof that they are not good enough and often view their achievements as something they “had” to do, failing to recognise their effort. This mindset is not an illness – it is a response to being in a new, challenging environment. University introduces you to unfamiliar academic standards, independence, and constant comparison, all of which can fuel feelings of inadequacy, uncertainty, and self-doubt.
However, first year is a period of transition. You move from having familiar routines to an environment that expects independent learning and critical thinking. Being surrounded by other high-achieving students can distort your perception of things, making you feel inadequate. Social comparison plays a powerful role too. In class, you see other people answering questions confidently, which makes you feel uncertain about your place in university. But what you do not see is their confusion, anxiety, or the stress they have late at night. When uncertainty is interpreted as failure, imposter syndrome thrives. However, uncertainty is not a sign that you do not belong – it is a sign that you are learning.
Psychologically, imposter syndrome involves the pattern of externalising success and internalising failure. Recognising this pattern helps you to shift the narrative. A key part of managing imposter syndrome is understanding that feeling unsure is expected and no one has it all figured out. University is designed to challenge you. Being unable to understand everything immediately does not mean that you are falling behind, it means that you are adapting to a higher level of thinking. Struggling with something does not reflect a lack of ability, it reflects growth.
It is more beneficial to learn how to deal with imposter syndrome rather than to try to eradicate it. Giving it a name separates you from the idea. Self-blame is lessened when uncertainty is reframed as a component of learning. Open communication regarding these emotions makes it clear that you are not alone. Adopting a growth attitude, however, is crucial. University is not about proving that you are good enough. Rather, it is about becoming capable over time as one’s intelligence is not fixed.
Feeling like you do not belong in your first-year classes does not imply that you made a mistake by being there. Your position is already confirmed by your acceptance. Imposter syndrome is a typical reaction to difficulty. It is not evidence of inadequacy. With awareness and introspection, it becomes something you control by reassuring yourself that you are here because you put in the work.
Visual: Gabriella le Roux
