[D] admissions - Emailing potential advisors this late in the game

I'm applying as an undergrad for phd programs (top6ish + some others) and I recently read on a couple threads (https://www.reddit.com/r/MachineLearning/comments/qv0jg1/d_does_getting_into_top4stanford_cmu_mit_berkeley/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/MachineLearning/comments/lrqmd5/d_admissions_standards_at_top_programs/) that reaching out to potential advisors is pretty much a "soft requirement". I didn't do this back before apps were due because I didn't know this was something I needed to do.

Anyway, so according to another post I can't find anymore, it isn't "too late" (because it's never too late) but I'm doing some …

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