How Adult Learners Can Rebuild Academic Confidence After Years Away From School

Key Insights:

• If you struggle with academic confidence, this is a skill you can build. It’s also a skill connected with academic success and can help you thrive in educational environments.
• It may help boost your confidence to know that there can be benefits to returning to school as an adult learner. You have a broader set of life experiences, for instance, which may help you understand new information better. You also understand how valuable an education can be beyond providing career preparedness. It can also change your family’s path for generations to come.
• There are several actions you can take to start to improve your academic confidence, such as setting small goals, recognizing (and utilizing) your strengths, and reaching out for support, if needed.

If the last time you saw a classroom was years (or decades) ago, you may not feel confident in your ability to succeed as an adult learner. You might wonder whether you’ll get good enough grades to pass your degree program, for instance, or fear that you won’t be able to keep up with the coursework.

Here’s the good news: confidence is a skill you can build.¹ So, even if you don’t feel overly sure about your academic abilities right now, there are things you can do to feel better about them in the future. While having confidence may not seem like an important factor in your academic career, there are several reasons you may want to work on this skill if you’re thinking about or getting ready for a return to school.

Why Is Confidence Important When Going to School?

Confidence can give you a mental boost. You may notice that you walk a little taller, stress less about your ability to handle challenges, and don’t give up as easily when obstacles appear in your path. Becoming more confident may also provide certain academic benefits.

In one study, researchers from the University of Michigan’s Center for Academic Innovation found that confidence was critical to student success, playing an even bigger role than motivation.² They noted that students who engaged in structured exercises designed to raise their confidence improved their exam scores more than participants who didn’t engage in these activities.³

Confidence traits support academic success

Confident learners also tend to possess three traits that can help them thrive in academic environments, including:⁴

• Seeing challenges as opportunities versus threats: You might see an assignment you struggle with as an opportunity to develop your problem-solving skills, instead of viewing it as a threat to your ability to do well in your course.
• Believing in the ability to reach your goals: For instance, every small success you have in your healthcare training program helps to reinforce that your goal is within your reach, as long as you keep working toward it.
• Having a positive outlook when approaching tasks: Instead of focusing on problems, you look for solutions, staying optimistic along the way.

3 Reasons Returning to School As an Adult Learner Can Be an Advantage

If you’re struggling to get your confidence as an adult learner, it may help to recognize that going back to school later in life can be an advantage, for several reasons.

1. You have more life experience. When presented with new terms or concepts, connecting them to your past experiences can help you better understand them. For example, when learning about anatomy, it can be easier to remember that the ulna bone is in the forearm if you broke this bone when you fell off your bike as a kid. Adult learners have more life experiences from which to draw connections, giving them a broader background of practical knowledge to apply to new information.
2. You know yourself better. The more years you’ve spent on this earth, the more time you’ve had to learn what does and doesn’t work for you. These lessons can be applied to your studies. Maybe you know that you’re more focused in the morning, for instance. That makes this a good time to do your schoolwork. Use your self-knowledge to help you develop study habits that align with your preferences and strengths.
3. You understand what getting an education really means. Going back to school isn’t just about learning the information and skills needed to pursue career pathways-. Depending on your situation, it might also mean being the first person in your family to graduate with a degree. Or it may mean starting a career that could potentially increase your income, giving you more financial means to save for retirement, take a vacation, or live more comfortably. For many people, getting an education represents a step toward the life they want. a step toward the life they want.

How to Rebuild Your Academic Confidence

Confidence can help set you up for success when going back to school, on top of the potential benefits you have as an adult learner. But how can you work on your confidence and become more self-assured as you pursue your education goals? Here are a few actions you can take.

Confidence-Building Tip	How It Can Help	Action Task
Start small.	Taking small steps can help you move forward while keeping you from feeling overwhelmed.	If enrolling in a degree program feels like too big a step, contact the school to just talk about your concerns. Ask how that institution can help you succeed as a student.
Remember your past successes.	Thinking back to successes you’ve had in the past reminds you that you’ve been through difficult situations before and prevailed, and you can succeed again when returning to school.	Think about a time in your life when you doubted your abilities but did well anyway. Use this instance to inspire you to take steps forward, even if you’re scared.
Recognize your strengths.	Once you understand what you do well, you can use these skills to help you succeed both in your educational courses and your career.	Make a list of things you’re good at that can help you as an adult learner (i.e., time management or technology usage if you’re taking classes online). Use these skills when possible to contribute to your success as a student.
Set short-term, achievable goals.	Regularly achieving smaller goals boosts dopamine levels (your “feel good” hormones) and reinforces feedback loops that further build your confidence.5	Each morning, set a small goal you want to achieve that day, such as studying with flashcards for 10 minutes. Mark it off your to-do list once it’s achieved and celebrate your success.
Reach out for support.	If you’re struggling to build confidence when returning to school, it can help to talk to someone who understands the challenges that adult learners face and can guide you through the academic process.	Research the school’s student services to learn what is available to adult learners at that institution. Reach out to the department or team that can address your most pressing worries to see how they can help.

Understanding how to build your confidence could be a good first step. Make a commitment to tackle one or more of these action tasks each day and start to rebuild confidence in your ability to pursue your educational goals.

If you’re an adult learner at Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) or are thinking about enrolling in one of our healthcare education programs, don’t be afraid to reach out. We can talk about ways to work on your confidence when going back to school, along with providing other resources that can support your academic success. We’re here to help in any way we can. Contact us to learn more.

FAQs

• What is academic confidence? Academic confidence refers to a belief in your ability to reach your educational goals and navigate educational challenges along the way.
• How can I build my academic confidence after being away from school for so long? Set a small educational goal each day, such as studying for 30 minutes, and each success can help your confidence grow. It can also help to make a list of things you excel at that can be helpful when going back to school, such as being organized, and use those skills to help you manage your schoolwork. Adult learners at UMA also have access to our Student Services, which are designed to help you throughout your academic journey.
• What services does UMA provide that can help me improve my academic confidence? UMA’s Student Services include help with getting your questions answered about coursework and guidance toward other resources that may be available based on your situation and academic challenges. Your success as a student is important to us, and we’re happy to help so you can do your best.