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How to Overcome a Lack of Academic Confidence

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(8 Ratings)

One of the scariest things about school is the sense that "they're all smarter than I am." These steps should help you get on the path toward slaying this demon.

From Quick Guide: Preparing for Grad School
Difficulty: Challenging
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  1. Step 1

    Realize that most people who seem overly intelligent aren't any smarter than anyone else. It's often just a matter of presentation.

  2. Step 2

    Recognize that you have your own kind of intelligence, which might not be measured well by standardized tests or "normal" grading criteria.

  3. Step 3

    Tell yourself that you're not going to be intimidated by people who appear, in your eyes, to be smarter than you are.

  4. Step 4

    Take the high ground: If someone tries to make you look stupid, realize it's probably that person's insecurities coming through and has nothing to do with your intelligence.

  5. Step 5

    Study. Your feelings of intellectual inferiority may stem from being less prepared than your classmates, not less intelligent.

  6. Step 6

    Contact your school's academic-counseling office. The professionals there have a wealth of advice for you.

Tips & Warnings
  • Remember that you're not alone. People often "feel stupid" in the world of academia, but it rarely has anything to do with intelligence.
  • Keep in mind that standardized tests and "normal" grading criteria don't measure your potential or how hard you tried.

Comments  

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on 4/30/2008 This article helped me in getting rid some of the academic inferiority I have felt for years, I'm a senior in high school now and every day I wished I could go back to when it started so I could have done better, I'm tired of wishing I was taking honors classes because I wanted others to think I was smart, I thought taking those would make me feel smart, but this article helped to relieve some of the pain, and it actually inspired me to do the best I can when I leave for college, I am smart, I know I am, I just wished I had actually believed that earlier.

Flag This Comment

on 4/30/2008 This article helped me in getting rid some of the academic inferiority I have felt for years, I'm a senior in high school now and every day I wished I could go back to when it started so I could have done better, I'm tired of wishing I was taking honors classes because I wanted others to think I was smart, I thought taking those would make me feel smart, but this article helped to relieve some of the pain, and it actually inspired me to do the best I can when I leave for college, I am smart, I know I am, I just wished I had actually believed that earlier.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/17/2006 There has been so many times in school were I knew the right answer to a question the teacher was asking to the class, but I wouldn't raise my hand because I feared getting it wrong. Once the correct answer was said, I would get mad at myself for not speaking up. Now I take my chances and it feels good.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Never tell yourself that you are dumb. It's a self-fullfilling prophecy. If you tell yourself that you are dumb, you begin thinking that way. Always tell yourself that you can succeed and that you are smart.

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