Brief cv: Salutatorian of a well-regarded european university, 1 publication in a Q1 journal as first author, 2 research projects underway including a thesis on which I collaborate with a lab of a top-5 US university and expect to publish in a very high impact journal as first author. I had an interview with 3 professors who all seemed very interested in my research and my plans, including one I had mentioned in my SoP and who seemed especially excited (I am a very good fit for his lab). We had a great conversation and they warmly answered all my questions about BU and life in Boston etc, which I found to be a promising sign that I would get in. Unfortunately, there is simply not enough funding and I was waitlisted. Hoping to get good news!

Got an email to check the portal. Had two interviews with a PI in late January and early February. I’m genuinely in shock. 1x first author publication, 2x second author conference presentations. 5 years of experience in industry unrelated to research area.

Meanwhile, no funding.

6 articles including 3 first-authored, pre-contact with PI, no interview.

From India. Was a great fit. No interview. Waited for so long finally to end up getting rejected.

5 papers to be published. 4 research internships. 3 years of research experience. 2 months of waiting. 1 rejection from MIT. The competition is crazy this year.

4 publications ( 1 accepted, 3 under review). They didn't state the reason i was rejected.

7 papers, 1 first author in nature journal

IELTS: 7.5, 1 Journal Paper

BSc from ETH Zurich in mech e. 5.25/6 GPA (different system to the US). Formula Student, 2 Internships (1 consulting, 1 engineering)

2 conference papers, 3 research experiences, 4 industrial employments(3yrs)

Didn't do GRE. IELTS 7.0. Nothing regarding funding yet. The following message was in the portal. As soon as we receive either: 1) notification that you have been awarded adequate support via an Auburn University Graduate Assistantship (by the department in which you will be enrolled) or 2) a certified statement from the bank of your sponsor, we will send you your letter of admission and I-20 Form.