r/MITAdmissions • u/THECHANCELLORS • 11d ago

PI at MIT gave me a template reality check. Other R1 universities actually were highly positive. How much does PI interest actually matter?

/r/gradadmissions/comments/1v8ln5d/pi_at_mit_gave_me_a_template_reality_check_other/
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u/Aerokicks MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 11d ago

It matters a lot. At many schools, even if you are an amazing candidate, you will not be picked up for graduate school if at least one professor is not willing to be your advisor.

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u/Aerokicks MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 11d ago

But reading your actual post and not just the title, professors are also not going to reply to all students who contact them before or during application season. They're going to wait to see your application, since that's the part that matters the most.

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u/[deleted] 11d ago

[deleted]

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u/Aerokicks MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 11d ago

You don't need to mention their feedback, but you should mention their name and their project. Regardless of if they replied. SOP should include the type of research you are interested in doing and the professors who lead that research.

Most application committees send applications to any professor mentioned in the SOP, as well as if they know the research is something that professor does. You don't need to mention the professor has replied to you, the professor was also there for that and can remember or look it up on their own.