Year 1 medical student, Cassidy discusses imposter syndrome.
One day, you’re thrilled to have made it into medical school. Full of excitement and ambition, you realise all the hard work you poured into your application paid off. The next, you’re sitting in a lecture hall full of incredibly intelligent people, wondering if you’re the only one who feels as though they don’t belong.
There’s a special kind of panic that comes when a doctor asks you a question and your brain responds with nothing but static. At that moment, you’re convinced: you’re the least qualified person in this room.
It’s a strange paradox – getting into one of the most competitive fields should boost your confidence, yet it often does the opposite. Imposter syndrome is a term I’m sure we’re all familiar with: a feeling of inadequacy despite evidence of success. It’s something that is frequently discussed in articles like this, with practical tips on how to overcome it. But I don’t think imposter syndrome is necessarily an issue to be resolved. I think it is a sign of a good doctor.
Why do so many of us experience this?
Why are these feelings so common in medicine? The answer is our culture of perfectionism.
High expectations, long study hours, and the pressure to appear confident and competent – each majorly contribute to feelings of inadequacy. We see our peers posting about their all-nighters in the library and wonder if we’re doing enough. We compare our internal struggles to others’ external success, making our self-doubt appear more valid. This illusion of competence that we visualise in others, and the expectation we place on ourselves to mirror this further, degrades our sense of self-worth as students.
Before university, I imagine all of us were at the top of our class, and now we’re surrounded by equally high-achieving peers. The changing atmosphere to a much more competitive cohort can make it easy to feel like we’re falling behind. Suddenly, what previously made us stand out, our academic ability and our work ethic, feels average. In this environment, it is easy to believe that what is a normal learning curve is a sign of our inadequacy.
Maybe we’re just expecting too much too soon. Imposter syndrome thrives on the illusion that you should already know everything. However, there’s a difference between actual incompetence and simply being a beginner.
What if imposter syndrome isn’t just a problem?
The myth of the “effortless doctor” perpetuates these feelings of self-doubt. It is often thought by students that “real” doctors always know what to do, and that they always are certain of their actions. Yet, in reality, even senior doctors ask for the opinions of colleagues, make mistakes and look things up. What’s the difference between us and them? They have learned that they do not have all of the answers and that is okay, and they are able to trust the process of problem-solving, and grow as a result.
In medicine, overconfidence is a dangerous thing. Doubt makes you double-check your work, ask for help, and stay open to learning. Doubt shows that you are a conscientious and caring future doctor who understands the weight of responsibility that comes with the profession. It means you’re aware of your limitations, willing to improve, and less likely to make reckless mistakes. The goal is not to eliminate self-doubt; it is about finding a balance where it pushes you to be better without holding you back.
Imposter syndrome is common in many high-performance fields. Those who never doubt themselves tend to overestimate their abilities. Rather than seeing imposter syndrome as a weakness, we should recognise that it often stems from high standards and a deep sense of personal responsibility: qualities which make for a thoughtful, and therefore more competent doctor.
Reframing intelligence and success
I know most articles on this topic tend to end with something like “Just believe in yourself!” or “Be more confident!”, and I appreciate this is not the most enlightening or riveting recommendation. Improved confidence is something that will certainly help alleviate persistent feelings of self-doubt, but it is not something you can simply think yourself into. It is something that is earned through experience – the experience of making mistakes, learning from them, and realising that this uncertainty can be manipulated into a tool for growth.
Intelligence isn’t about immediate understanding or instant recall: it is about adaptability, persistence and the ability to learn from experience. Medicine demands more than just memorisation; it requires problem-solving, resilience and the ability to apply knowledge in real-world situations. True intelligence in this field is not measured by how quickly you can grasp a concept but by your willingness to engage with challenges and keep pushing forward, especially when things do not come easily.
