I agree! FIG (as the example most familiar to me) was initially pretty accessible to entry-level folks (in 2023) and now has an acceptance rate of <2%. Entry-level programmes are flooded with applicants, making them both extremely competitive and slow to move. Solely applying to fellowships and jobs is an inadequate strategy for most newcomers to AI safety.
In some sense, fellowships’ primary value-add is to systematise and reduce the agency required to find a mentor. But, as you suggest, emailing mentors/organisations directly can be an excellent way to bypass long, competitive application processes.
Based on what I did when I was getting into the space, this is what I’d suggest:
Identify people or organisations you think are doing great work that you could contribute to.
Scope a concrete way that you could help them accelerate their work (e.g. a research proposal).
Send them an email (ideally through a warm connection, if possible).
This pathway is much less saturated and competitive, and you only need one good match to change your trajectory.
Though, as OP says, note that this route is not a perfect substitute!
Funding: Programs often come with stipends; individual mentors generally won’t.
Structure: You lose the pre-built scaffolding, accountability, and peer group.
Success rate: Just like fellowship applications, direct outreach (especially if cold) will have a low hit rate — you should expect that upfront and not read much into early rejections
I agree! FIG (as the example most familiar to me) was initially pretty accessible to entry-level folks (in 2023) and now has an acceptance rate of <2%. Entry-level programmes are flooded with applicants, making them both extremely competitive and slow to move. Solely applying to fellowships and jobs is an inadequate strategy for most newcomers to AI safety.
In some sense, fellowships’ primary value-add is to systematise and reduce the agency required to find a mentor. But, as you suggest, emailing mentors/organisations directly can be an excellent way to bypass long, competitive application processes.
Based on what I did when I was getting into the space, this is what I’d suggest:
Identify people or organisations you think are doing great work that you could contribute to.
Scope a concrete way that you could help them accelerate their work (e.g. a research proposal).
Send them an email (ideally through a warm connection, if possible).
This pathway is much less saturated and competitive, and you only need one good match to change your trajectory.
Though, as OP says, note that this route is not a perfect substitute!
Funding: Programs often come with stipends; individual mentors generally won’t.
Structure: You lose the pre-built scaffolding, accountability, and peer group.
Success rate: Just like fellowship applications, direct outreach (especially if cold) will have a low hit rate — you should expect that upfront and not read much into early rejections