Many students with ADHD arrive at university carrying a history of being told — explicitly or implicitly — that they’re not trying hard enough, not organised enough, not focused enough. By the time you reach higher education, it can be hard to believe that you actually deserve to be there.
This is imposter syndrome. And it’s extremely common among ADHD students.
What imposter syndrome sounds like
- “Everyone else seems to find this so much easier than me”
- “I only got here by luck — I’m going to be found out eventually”
- “I’m behind everyone else, and I’ll never catch up”
- “I shouldn’t need this much support — it means I’m not really capable”
These thoughts feel true. They’re not.
The evidence against imposter syndrome
You were admitted to your course. Admissions teams are not in the business of accidentally admitting students who can’t do the work. Your ADHD doesn’t change what you’re capable of — it changes what conditions you need to do your best work.
The students who appear effortlessly on top of things are often managing their own invisible struggles. University is hard for most people. The ones who look fine often aren’t.
What your mentor can help with
Part of what we do in specialist mentoring is help you develop a more accurate and kinder internal narrative — one that acknowledges real challenges without catastrophising them, and that recognises real strengths without dismissing them.
We’ll also help you build a track record of achievement — a visible reminder, in difficult moments, of what you’ve already managed to do.
You belong here
ADHD does not preclude academic success. Many of the most creative, inventive, and original thinkers in every field are neurodivergent. University needs people who think like you.
You’re not an imposter. You’re a student who needs the right support. And that support is here.