I agree with you that I might be looking at things through a distorted lens, I do not consider any jobs beneath me but rather I am filtering based on what I fin

I agree with you that I might be looking at things through a distorted lens, I do not consider any jobs beneath me but rather I am filtering based on what I find interesting. I want graduate school because the fields that mainly interest me are cryptography and number theory and jobs in these fields tend to require advanced degree's. As far as the logic behind wanting to go to good graduate school isn't to get a status marker but to be able to learn from people at top of their respective field, I have been really fortunate at my current program with many great resources like research opportunities, clubs , great professors and other benefits that come with attending a good school. If there is a possible path for me to take in order to improve my chances so I can get admitted in the future then that is what I would try to do. further more I really enjoy learning and if I get job in any field then with the change in lifestyle from a student to professional I am afraid I would not be able to learn things that I find interesting as from what I have observed with people I see in the industry.