Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

How do I feel more confident about college?

10 Answers
Last Updated: 09/07/2021 at 10:07pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Lindsay Scheinerman, MA, LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

My work with clients is to help them recognize and build on their strengths to find solutions for the conflicts presented in their lives.

Top Rated Answers
Nenz
February 12th, 2017 6:04pm
One thing that can be really helpful to remember is the fact that there are lots of students that feel the same way you do - just because people give off the impression that they know what they're doing and that they're organised - doesn't mean it's actually true. It's a new environment and therefore it can be challenging and overwhelming to deal with - try to reward yourself even for the little achievements you make. :)
cheerfulMonkey67
November 1st, 2016 2:03am
If the root of this is your grades I recommend getting help via online or on campus resources. I am sure there are plenty of people on your campus willing to tutor you in anything you need!
eJane
January 14th, 2017 6:28pm
Start with the most basic things. Confidence comes from within. Clean your room, your table, your closet. Arrange things in your phone and laptop and other devices, Your mind would feel at ease when you know where is each and everything exactly. Arrange your bag and select out our clothes the night before. In the morning, wake up early enough so that you don't fall short of time. Do not miss breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day. Study for an hour everyday. Catch up with what's going on in class and look at the topics they are gonna teach you tomorrow. Read the news everyday so that you are updated on the current happenings in the world. These are the little things that you can do everyday. It'll boost your confidence and you'll feel the difference at the end of the week. Also, you can take up a hobby class. Meet new people. The more people you'd meet, more the exposure to ideas would take place. That is important for personal growth. Best of luck to you. Be yourself and Hold your head high. You are unique and there isn't a single person out there like you. Be yourself because that's the greatest power you have. :)
HaffiM2514
January 17th, 2017 1:07pm
You should believe in yourself. You should feel like you know everything. If you will get worried then tension on your face will get prominent. You should try to be confident in front of others. Always keep a relaxing smile on your face..It will help you.
DrMaelisaHall
February 6th, 2017 2:49am
One thing is to look at your reasons for NOT feeling confident. Are you worried about grades and if so, is that because you have struggled in the past? Are you worried about relationships and if so, what may be causing that worry? Then look at what resources you have available to you. If you find that you've done well in the past but are worried about this new endeavor, try seeking help from the college counseling center or a friend. If you find that you've struggled with academics in the past, seek out tutoring resources and talk with professors about how to do well in their class. Look at your strengths and how you can maximize these in college in order to do well, then set an intention to do so. Fill your life with these positive reminders, whether it's a reminder on your phone, a post-it note on your mirror, or a mantra you say or write in a journal. You can do this if you look at where you need help, seek it out, and focus on the positive.
georgia95
March 26th, 2018 3:02pm
Starting college can be a stressful time, but it is also very exciting. If you want to feel more confident about college, you can try to participate in self care activities that are beneficial to you. These could include exercise, spending time with friends, or another activity you enjoy. Another way to build confidence is to set manageable goals for yourself. It's important to pick both short and long term goals. For example, you could set a goal that you want to talk to one new person in one of your classes this week. A long term goal would be to join a club and attend meetings for the semester. As you accomplish these goals you will build your confidence.
Anonymous
March 2nd, 2017 1:57pm
College is a very busy time of life and comes with a collection of new challenges. It really depends on where your negative feelings of confidence are rooted; grades, social life, attending classes? If your concern is about grades, ask for help. You have a huge faculty of professors and experts in your area that are available to help you! Something else that may help is starting a study group. Speaking from personal experience, I was in this situation and was struggling with some material in some courses, so I sent an email to the class and made an announcement in class that I was starting a study group and anyone was welcome to attend. There ended up being almost 10 people in the group, and we all received a high final grade in the course. It really is true, if you have a question you are not the only person to have the question. Being social can be difficult in college, because unlike most classes in high school, people in college are there to learn, at an immense cost to themselves. That being said there are opportunities to meet new people; making light conversation with someone in class before class starts, or after class, starting a study group, or attending one of many social events that are often hosted on college campuses. Confidence can even boil down to confidence in your chosen field (i.e. 'Is this a good program of study?). Once you start talking to people, you tend to find that everyone has the same thought. If you are worried about job prospects, further educational opportunities, etc., talk to the college counsellors, program advisors, and even other people who are studying in the program or who have recently graduated. You never know what you might find!
supportiveLove68
March 11th, 2017 7:11am
College is an exciting and scary time, I personally found confidence in class after I joined a club on campus, that little step was hard for me, being so shy, but they accepted me and became my rock
GreekYogurt
March 28th, 2017 6:51am
The best way to feel more confident is to prepare and make sure you are going somewhere that you will really love. Make sure you will enjoy what you are doing, which will definitely help your confidence.
Anonymous
September 7th, 2021 10:07pm
Confidence goes hand in hand with trust in yourself. First you have to have to have full trust in your abilities. Always see your inputs as useful. And also, don't look down on yourself. Never compare yourself to someone else. Just be you and this will surely help you to build your confidence. In college, we always come across many failures but they should not destroy our confidence because often times, successful people use failure to discover strength. So never lose your confidence because of a failure. Instead, use that failure to discover your strengths for a better you.