Imposter Syndrome & Academia
As we reflect on this college admissions season, we realize that while we have a lot to celebrate, we also need to consider how we can best support our students in the coming seasons. One of the greatest challenges Ally has noticed throughout this season is quite staggering: while our students are significantly talented in most of their endeavors, they feel inadequate in the spaces they occupy, and this is clear when the writing process begins.
More often than not, I will hear something like, “I don’t know what to write on this essay. I haven’t done anything worthy of writing about.” As we continue to talk, students will casually mention the times when they won first place in an international academic competition, tutored low-income, elementary-age children with behavioral issues, or wrote beautiful, unique narratives worthy of praise and awards (these are just to name a few). These students feel as though they are “faking” success, having difficulty in finding worth in their incredible accomplishments. What I often see, in contrast, are students who are significantly talented but whose perception of themselves does not reflect their reality.
This distortion in perception is called “imposter syndrome,” and it refers to a psychological experience where one imagines that one’s achievements do not originate from one’s own authentic competence. Meaning that they feel like imposters—individuals who are not qualified—and therefore do not belong in the spaces they occupy.
Understanding this pattern of behavior in our students led me, you guessed it, straight to the library, where I have been looking into ways to remedy these disruptive attitudes that do not align with our students’ true abilities.
The good news is that this attitude towards oneself is recurring in exceptionally well-educated individuals who happen to be immensely competent in their professional and academic fields. Research on the prevalence of imposter syndrome among medical surgeons and physicians supports this assertion—often well over half of research participants are affected by imposter syndrome.
This is relevant and worrisome, as these feelings of inadequacy in the classroom or workplace are associated with poor well-being, reduced professional satisfaction, burnout, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. This is especially true of women in professional fields, where the consistent feeling of inferiority and inadequacy overshadows one’s confidence.
Something as simple as scrolling through social media can also be detrimental to one’s perception of self-worth. According to research on LinkedIn’s impact on imposter syndrome, simply scrolling through one’s LinkedIn feed can increase imposter thoughts, as one is likely to focus on comparisons to others, believing that one’s achievements are not as impactful and that they are not as competent. This is also true in situations where a salient audience is present, triggering feelings of inadequacy—showcasing one’s abilities and strengths is not an easy feat, and the college admissions process requires a significant amount of bravery, strength, and belief in oneself.
Combating imposter syndrome starts with acknowledging it and being mindful of patterns of thought that are not reflective of one’s true worth. Evidence‑informed strategies to combat imposter syndrome include:
Normalizing discussions of imposter feelings; understanding these as a common response to systemic issues and not a determination of qualification.
Cognitive‑behavioral approaches and mindset work to challenge distorted patterns of thought to strengthen confidence in problem‑solving.
Coaching, peer support, or mentorship systems that emphasize growth, inclusion, and belonging rather than perfection, whether it is academically, professionally, or personally.
As we continue to work with our wonderful, kind, capable, and talented students, we continue to apply research-based approaches that honor their needs. We have launched our mentorship program to offer individualized support that combats these challenges and serves as a launching pad for talented, skilled, and self-assured individuals. Contact us for more information!