Starting University: Common Worries

Everyone else is smarter than me

I’m the only one who doesn’t understand this

I don’t belong here

I’ll never get the hang of this

I’m the only one with problems

I can’t ask that question – my tutor will think I’m stupid. The more ‘stupid’ you think your question is, the more useful your student colleagues will probably find it! If you really feel daft then ask your tutor on your own but it’s better to ask (even if you preface it with a ‘can I ask a daft question?’) than not to ask and to struggle because of it – that really is daft, even if it is entirely understandable.