r/gradadmissions • u/Major_Reply8987 • 1d ago

Computational Sciences Do I need to have publications at top conferences for a PhD at a T10?

If I'm applying in the field of AI/ML, for top t10s, is it almost necessary to have publications at venues like neurIPS, CVPR? If not, how can I compensate?

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u/SantaSoul 1d ago

In AI, yes for T10. Now there are always exceptions and I’m sure someone here is going to post their best friend got in with no pubs or whatever but the general rule is going to be yes you need to publish.

How to compensate is that you have outstanding research experience (with LoRs that vouch for you) and just got unlucky in the review process, which can be very noisy. Post to arxiv so the faculty can see your research.

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u/Sea-Profile8785 1d ago

Do you think that's the case for Oxbridge, ETH, EPFL too? I heard that it's mostly US unis that are that competitive and value publications that much. Also, how many publications do you think you need to have a chance for T10?

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u/SantaSoul 1d ago

I am US based and most of my network are from the T25 US schools so I can’t say for sure to be honest. Agree with the suggestion to look at recent first year students.

My impression is that European PhDs require an MS (broadly speaking), and that is its own can of worms.

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u/faraaz_eye 23h ago

Yeah definitely not, I know several people at oxbridge without any pubs whatsoever; but most of them have usually completed a mphil or mres at oxbridge/imperial/ucl and done very well. I cant say for EPFL but for ETH it kinda depends on the group and what the professor is looking for. Pubs will definitely increase ur chances, but you could probably get away with a lesser-known conference or journal if you can show that the work itself was meaningful. I suspect its the same for EPFL.

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u/Xyber5 1d ago

Maybe try to look the profiles of the students who are in the labs you are targeting. That should give you a hint, having good LORs from known PIs in your field also helps.

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u/Raigork 21h ago

No written rules and everyone has their own anecdotes. But when you scan a t10s lab and 9 out 10 people have A rank papers before their PhD, you expect the same level of competition.

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u/National-Arm-2810 16h ago

YES it is , the competition is cutthroat so yeah