This article originally appeared in the Rough Draft print issue, in stands August 2025. It has not been updated and some information may be out of date.
Too often in college, students suffer from constant pressure to appear polished and academically prestigious. From this pressure may stem feelings of incompetence and a lack of confidence to start new practices or implement ideas.
However, it’s the fear of not being perfect and “ready” that stops students from starting something powerful.
Inferiority illness
The University of Utah’s Medical School is a Tier 2 Research and Primary Care facility. With a 5% acceptance rate, the U boasts a competitive and innovative medical school. However, pre-med students across the nation suffer from mental health issues like depression and even suicidality.
In 2025, applying to 18 medical schools would cost an individual about $4,481. The financial burden of medical school applications is enough to push students to prioritize performance. High costs and competitiveness of the program force students to present flawless versions of themselves.
Madeline Brague, a U alumna and pre-med applicant, said, “I have to put up a facade … and craft myself into someone that believes they’re almost no flaws”. This need for perfection is reinforced by constant competition and comparison.
Many students don’t realize that the people we put on pedestals feel just as inadequate. The pressures of comparison are twisted into the DNA of traditional pre-med pathways, where GPA, class rank and professionalism are essential.
It’s a cycle of waiting until we become a “final draft” before stepping into something great. However, if we relish the rough drafts, we find new opportunities for growth. As Brague enters her second cycle of medical school applications, she advises, “embracing your own path” as there is “no such thing as wasted time or wasted experience.”
Business burnout
Medical students aren’t the only ones struggling with inaction. The U’s David Eccles Business School succeeds in preparing its students through hands-on learning, internship connections and constant resume building. However, a struggle for some is feeling like they need constant edits as they’re too much of a “rough draft.”
Josh Breer, a finance student at the U, sees the competition and pressure. “When applying to these upper-division firms, like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, you definitely have to be perfect regarding your LinkedIn and resume,” Breer said. This serves as a reminder that for some students, the confidence to try something new hinges on how safe or prepared they feel.
This fear of trying new opportunities limits one’s abilities to grow as an individual to what’s on paper rather than in the practicum. Growth and confidence are built through trial and error, not perfection. This process rarely starts with a clean draft.
Avoiding advocacy
This pressure to perform perfectly doesn’t end with resumes and internship applications. Even in non-academic spheres, we fear failure.
Students have historical ties to modern free speech from UC Berkeley’s famous anti-Vietnam War protests to Harvard’s Pro-Palestinian protests. Yet I’ve even experienced hesitation, because I didn’t feel comfortable or qualified to say how I feel. Even as an opinion writer, I have rewritten outlines and thrown away complete ideas due to fear.
In my political science classes, I’ve been too afraid to comment in case I said something wrong. In an age of constant critique, students feel the need to be completely correct and up to date on every facet of media and current events.
This is virtually impossible and harmful to one’s mental health when surrounded by large volumes of media daily. However, I’ve come to find that waiting for perfect prose and the “right” opinion only delays growth and meaningful transformations.
The most valuable and important changes in my life have occurred when I cared enough to show up before I felt fully prepared. Taking a leap of faith this year, I ran for President of the U’s Pre-Law Society even though I wasn’t completely confident in my experience and ability to lead.
However, I have found that we are often more qualified than we think when exercising the courage to speak and act amidst uncertainty. Every corner of campus hosts students struggling with comparison and the fear of failure. Waiting for our perfect “final draft” selves only leads to loss of opportunity and growth.
Real improvement comes from pushing past the discomfort of the unknown. No medical marvel, successful business leader or advocate was too afraid of making mistakes. Our best selves require failure, resilience and courage to start something meaningful. They require us to take creative risks, step into new roles and accept the possibilities of failure.
Apply for that position, get involved on campus and have the courage to make mistakes. Worthiness waits for no one, and neither should you.
