Those planning to pursue a graduate degree know that grades and field experience matter in an application. Questioning your qualifications is normal when applying to competitive programs, but don’t let self-doubt overshadow your motivations for earning an advanced degree. Graduate programs don’t expect applicants to be superhuman geniuses — they want students with drive, enthusiasm and resilience.
Fixating on being the perfect applicant can make you lose sight of what’s motivating you to pursue a degree in the first place.
Instead of setting unrealistically high expectations, focus on finding an area of study you’re passionate about. Chloe Allen, a master’s student in the Liberal Studies program, said perfection shouldn’t be the goal.
“It’s going to be a lot easier on you mentally if you focus on your passion for the degree rather than having every single aspect of the application be absolutely 100% perfect,” Allen said.
A good GPA, involvement in extracurriculars and research experience can help you stand out to an admissions team. But above all, graduate programs look for individuals with strong work ethics who want to make positive contributions to their fields.
“I feel like it’s less about your academic prowess and more about your ability and want to work hard,” Allen said. “That’s such a slippery slope to start attaching your grades or some sense of perfection to your self-worth.”
NC State Graduate School Dean Peter Harries said another mistake some applicants make is choosing to get an advanced degree for the prestige. A lawyer who pursued their degree for advocacy and justice is going to have more opportunities than one who just sought status.
“Find where your passion lies,” Harries said. “Don’t get a graduate degree to get a graduate degree.”
Harries said potential students often focus too much on perfecting their applications instead of finding programs that align best with their academic and professional goals.
Applicants should also prioritize building meaningful connections with faculty in their programs of interest. It’s just as, if not more, important than glowing letters of recommendation and polished personal statements.
“Having an understanding of what you want to do and then what faculty might mesh with those research interests is super critical,” Harries said. “There needs to be that intellectual match that seems reasonable.”
Students who strive for perfection as an undergraduate may find that type of mentality can become a hindrance to growth in graduate school. Earning a graduate degree is meant to be a challenge, and failures should be embraced as learning opportunities rather than major setbacks.
“Not every experiment you do or project you start is going to work out the way you think it should,” Harries said. “As a graduate student, you need to be prepared to fail … It’s really about the depth and breadth of learning that matters.”
To get the most value out of graduate school, students should place less pressure on themselves to earn the highest grades and reorient their goals towards gaining knowledge and experience in their chosen field.
Moreover, don’t restrict yourself to the notion that graduate school should come immediately after you receive your bachelor’s. In the event you aren’t accepted into your dream program, view it as an opportunity for personal growth rather than a failure.
Allen didn’t get into programs she applied to during her senior year, but taking a gap year allowed her to reassess what she truly wanted to study and develop skills needed to succeed in graduate school.
“I feel like [my gap year] really helped me get that extra bit of independence and self-sufficiency,” Allen said.
You can be a stellar student, but if your rationale for earning an advanced degree lacks depth and sincerity, graduate schools will notice.
When you start obsessing over perfecting your application, try to focus on what you hope to gain from graduate school instead. An admissions team is more interested in your “why” than whether you got straight A’s.
