Thread by @gauravsabnis

Folks, I have a full time prof job, with something like 35 paying students, from UG to PhD to officially advise. Plus research, teaching, other service.

I don't have the bandwidth to advise complete strangers on their or kids' applications. Please stop DMing for that. 🙏

I mean if it's a limited question or something very specific, sure, I can answer. But asking me to meet or zoom with you or your kid and "mentor" you through the application, sorry, that's a lot of labor for strangers.

Same for moving to NYC. I can't executive produce your move.

All these threads I post about college life or lectures or details about NYC are just me getting some thoughts out of my head that some others might find interesting or useful.

They aren't advertising a consulting service.

Please think a bit before putting me in an award place.

At the end of the day, the purpose of my Twitter account is what was also the purpose of my blog - neurodivergent mind getting out thoughts that crowd his head so he can focus on his actual day job and family life. And get some validation in the process.

Not here to "influence".

OMG this!

When in fact it is the exact opposite!

A typical Prof at a US university has little to no idea about the admissions process. It's a black box for us, by design, BY LAW!

We are the last people who can "guide" you on UG admissions.

https://twitter.com/SumitaPahwa/status/1639298251345252353?t=_7EzAvQu4d2M8DHV2HZvpQ&s=19

Even the kids of friends or family members that I "advise" on college admissions, I start off saying the same. That I can tell you about how college life is, how courses are, how the uni reputation is.

I have no first hand idea what works for college admissions. By design.

Ironically or appropriately, the reason we profs are almost completely removed from the UG admissions process is EXACTLY this thing of parents reaching out and wanting an edge 🤭.

Remember USC admissions scandal? At least coaches have some seats to give. I have zero!

If profs started having a direct say again in who is admitted to undergrad programs, it would be chaos, given how extremely competitive college admissions in the US are. Scandals like USC. And lawsuits galore, given title VI and title IX of the civil rights act.

My interaction with college students starts AFTER they start college. I or any prof you know in the US can't help you in any real way about what works with undergraduate admissions. So please please pretty please with sugar on top, stop asking. 😁🙏

And also about NYC, if you and I are actual friends, at least mutuals, sure, I'll flood you with tips like so.

But strangers, kindly excuse 🙏. We live in the golden age of information search and online reviews.

You can just search my profile with NYC and find hundred tips.

I'm always the happy "our man in Manhattan" for friends and family. But I am not a travel influencer or consultant. And plus my lakhs of tweets already have a lot of #NYC tips you can find with some keywords in the search box on my profile.