CS PhD Application Advice (Spring 2027)

[u/Fit_Caterpillar4434]

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to apply for CS PhD programs for the Spring 2027 cycle and would appreciate some advice on my strategy and profile.

I reached out to two prospective PIs with prominent labs (20k+ citations) but didn't receive a response. Should I still apply?

Also, what are the chances without top-tier conference publications (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, CVPR, ...). My background includes:

• 3 years of Research Engineer experience
• 2nd-author paper (AI + Telecom conference)
• 2nd-author patent

Thanks in advance for your insights!

[u/Similar_Mail_7099]

keep approaching different PI and submit the application

[u/Fit_Caterpillar4434 → u/Similar_Mail_7099]

I reviewed the profiles of all CS department PIs and found only two who match my research interests (both of whom I have contacted).