My MATS 11.0 Application Experience

LessWrong reports that Evan Conway posted his MATS Autumn 2026 application experience on Wednesday, describing how he secured a spot on the OpenAI safety team stream despite having no prior AI‑safety work. He notes that MATS, a fellowship aimed at fast‑tracking AI safety researchers, accepted him after he applied to nine streams and was rejected from eight, emphasizing that low test scores and limited background need not be disqualifying. Conway advises future candidates to apply even if they feel under‑qualified, to focus on high‑quality essay responses, and to limit applications to three to five streams that align with their interests. He also stresses that the essays often become the decisive factor in earning an interview. His overall message is that careful, focused applications can open a fast‑track path into AI safety roles.

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