ML PHD without A* Publications [D]

A Master's student from a top-15 US university is seeking a realistic assessment of their chances for a top ML PhD program without A* publications. Despite being a first author on ML research projects and having submitted papers to NeurIPS (rejected) and ICLR (awaiting decision), they are unsure if the application effort is worthwhile given the competitive landscape.

This post offers a rare, first-person account of the specific publication pressures facing ML PhD applicants, unlike general advice columns.