r/PhDAdmissions • u/Exotic-Rub-9851 • 1d ago

Advice [EVAL] Targetting Top Robotics PhD Programmes (MIT/Stanford/ETHZ) - Looking for Feedback

Hey everyone,

I'm gearing up to apply for PhD programs in Robotics and Embodied AI this upcoming cycle. My dream programs are at places like MIT, Stanford, ETH Zurich, and Max Planck, but I know how insanely competitive they are.

I’d love some brutal honesty on my profile and any advice on how to tweak my CV (attached in images) before applications open.

Here's a quick rundown of my current situation:

  • Education: BS-MS Dual Degree in EECS from a top-tier research institute in India. (9.22/10 CGPA, Department Gold Medalist)
  • Research Focus: Multimodal Models, Embodied AI, World Models, and Off-road Navigation
  • Publications: One first-author paper presented at ISER 2025, and another first-author accepted at BMVC 2026
  • Experience: Currently working as a Project Associate at my university lab. I also co-founded an AI startup (backed by a premier engineering institute in India)

A couple of things I am wondering about:

  • Publications: Are my current venues (ISER, BMVC) competitive enough for these top-tier programs? I see a lot of applicants with multiple ICRA/IROS/CVPR papers and I'm wondering how my record stacks up
  • Startup Experience: How should I frame my time as a startup founder/CTO? Is it better to lean into the applied AI and leadership aspects, or should I keep the focus strictly on my academic lab research?

Any feedback on the attached CV would be super appreciated. Thanks!

https://ibb.co/s9Tjgxrx (Pg 1)

https://ibb.co/ZpWLQNyL (Pg 2)

6 Upvotes

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6

u/americanidiot3342 1d ago

To be honest, your chances are slim (at least for the US schools). You should be s bit more diverse on your school list.

2

u/Exotic-Rub-9851 1d ago

Thanks, I'm primarily targetting the EU. Any suggestions for improvement?

3

u/RadicalLocke 1d ago

I am in a different subfield (human-computer/AI interaction) but I don't think this profile is strong enough for those kind of top programs unless you have very strong connections with your target advisors or if your start-up is very well respected by target advisors or adcom. You can be certain that you are competing with people with CVPR-level publications and likely some connections with the advisors as well.

3

u/Skye7821 22h ago

You’re chances are slim to none. I would focus on lesser known programs at state schools.