Here's another time-saving hint: Don't email me at all. Just apply for admission as per the instructions on my department's web page. Prior email to me will have absolutely no effect on how I view your application when it comes to me.
Hi, Professor! Great read. It sucks (but makes sense) that AI copypasta would snake its way into school admissions, and your outline is a great antidote.
Do you have any pointers for gaining experience (i.e. research) outside of college? My interest in attaining a CS PhD came a bit late in life, and I’m wondering if there’s still a way I could compete with those applying before graduation.
For students in this position, it's helpful to explain the career trajectory (aka what you did the last few years), path to pivoting back to research (what changed your mind about coming back to research), and evidence that you know you would like research.
This really resonates. I get a large number of prospective student emails, and increasingly it’s difficult to tell where the applicant ends and the AI begins. I don’t think using AI to help write an email is inherently a problem. I use it myself. The issue for me is when it replaces the thinking rather than helping communicate it.
I’d much rather receive an imperfect email that shows someone has genuinely engaged with my work and has something interesting to say than a beautifully polished message that could have been sent to 100 other faculty.
Perhaps the question isn’t “did AI write this?” anymore, but “whose ideas am I actually reading?”
Thank you for the reminder. Very dreadful consequence of AI that we have lost so much personalization over text. I would always like a broken, but humane message from a friend of mine than be forced to read verbose mechanical paragraphs stripped of their voice that makes them unique. This article is much more than an academic one.
If I do not get any reply from the professor to whom I sent emails, can I apply for the program or not? I mean, the response from dr can help me to accept ? Is that right or not?
That's up to you if you apply or not. Some professors do not respond to prospective students as a rule, whereas others are more interested in interviewing ahead of time. I'm in the middle - I rarely talk to students ahead of time, but a good email is more likely to get you noticed.
If I do not get any reply from the professor to whom I sent emails, can I apply for the program or not? I mean, the response from dr can help me to accept ? Is that right or not?
Here's another time-saving hint: Don't email me at all. Just apply for admission as per the instructions on my department's web page. Prior email to me will have absolutely no effect on how I view your application when it comes to me.
This is also a very reasonable take + why all students should look at websites FIRST to see if professors are interested in emailing at all.
I'm applying right now and this is so helpful! Thank you very much.
Glad it was helpful, and is still evergreen :D
SO EVERGREEN. I just emailed some folks last night...fingers crossed :)
Hi, Professor! Great read. It sucks (but makes sense) that AI copypasta would snake its way into school admissions, and your outline is a great antidote.
Do you have any pointers for gaining experience (i.e. research) outside of college? My interest in attaining a CS PhD came a bit late in life, and I’m wondering if there’s still a way I could compete with those applying before graduation.
For students in this position, it's helpful to explain the career trajectory (aka what you did the last few years), path to pivoting back to research (what changed your mind about coming back to research), and evidence that you know you would like research.
Thanks!
This really resonates. I get a large number of prospective student emails, and increasingly it’s difficult to tell where the applicant ends and the AI begins. I don’t think using AI to help write an email is inherently a problem. I use it myself. The issue for me is when it replaces the thinking rather than helping communicate it.
I’d much rather receive an imperfect email that shows someone has genuinely engaged with my work and has something interesting to say than a beautifully polished message that could have been sent to 100 other faculty.
Perhaps the question isn’t “did AI write this?” anymore, but “whose ideas am I actually reading?”
Thank you for the reminder. Very dreadful consequence of AI that we have lost so much personalization over text. I would always like a broken, but humane message from a friend of mine than be forced to read verbose mechanical paragraphs stripped of their voice that makes them unique. This article is much more than an academic one.
please professor
If I do not get any reply from the professor to whom I sent emails, can I apply for the program or not? I mean, the response from dr can help me to accept ? Is that right or not?
That's up to you if you apply or not. Some professors do not respond to prospective students as a rule, whereas others are more interested in interviewing ahead of time. I'm in the middle - I rarely talk to students ahead of time, but a good email is more likely to get you noticed.
please professor
If I do not get any reply from the professor to whom I sent emails, can I apply for the program or not? I mean, the response from dr can help me to accept ? Is that right or not?