<p>Do you know if they’d prefer the essay prompt copy-pasted before the question is answered? >__< I’m running out of space so I don’t know if I should put it.</p>
<p>I’m sure that they know what the questions are; if it’s not specifically specified on the application (to copy/paste the question) I wouldn’t bother.</p>
<p>If I’ve taken classes at a college, should I include the college transcript? I don’t think my high school transcript knows about these classes.</p>
<p>@Tsubomi
Wow cool response 
That’s all I get?
Also Ochem is cooler than astrophysics.</p>
<p>There’s an accumulation of private messages from you guys in my inbox, which is now full, so sorry if you haven’t been able to send anything I’ll answer your questions tonight! Promise!</p>
<p>@ender94: A lot of us mailed our stuff overnight, so I don’t think it’ll reflect badly.</p>
<p>@Ozone664: I would include a college transcript, especially if you did well in a math/science related class. I had taken some college math classes so I also sent something to RSI about that, even though it wasn’t on my transcript.</p>
<p>The RSI Gods are giving me a break… Maybe fortune might smile on me this year. Would be a nice turn of events. Here’s hoping.</p>
<p>Also, for SAT and PSAT score reports, if we print the online one and send, do we need to send the entire 10-page thing or just the summary? Also, we don’t need to send official scores, right? Collegeboard doesn’t seem to have an option for RSI.</p>
<p>@greenbean12t: Thanks!</p>
<p>@tsubomi: thanks! I’ll include it in.</p>
<p>@tsubomi - you said that they scan the pages… are they looking for keywords, like employers do on cover letters/resumes and choose the essays with the most pre-set keywords to review first and with the most likelihood of choosing?</p>
<p>Hey rickoids and applicants,</p>
<p>I’m an RSI hopeful and was wondering if was possible to read the application essays of past alums. I’ve tried googling with no luck :(. Do I have to send a PM, or how does this work?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>@sMITten: I think she meant scan electronically. I know they wouldn’t do that to the applications.</p>
<p>@Nizmo: most of the time PMing is how you would ask for that, but I know many Rickoids (including myself) would politely decline to send others essays, because of confidentiality issues…</p>
<p>@sMITten: Yeah, I meant scanning electronically…sorry if I wasn’t clear 
Your essays will be carefully and thoroughly evaluated, especially as RSI admissions starts to closely narrow down the pool to the 45 US and 30 international Rickoids. </p>
<p>@Nizmo: Sometimes it’s good to not read other Rickoids essays because your voice could be muddled up with theirs or drowned in what you think you should sound like. A lot of us write differently and about different things, so it’s not like there’s one correct way to write an RSI essay and it’s up to you to find it. If you would like me to offer some feedback on YOUR essays, you can PM me :)</p>
<p>Does RSI actually send likely letters, or is aquotidianlife a ■■■■■?</p>
<p>thanks tsubomi and buzzer.</p>
<p>Once I finish my essays, ill be sure to send a copy your way. </p>
<p>Also, do you, as a general suggestion, recommend telling a story, or do these topics not warrant that?</p>
<p>does your teacher have to sign the back of the envelope with the recommendation letters?</p>
<p>both of mine did.</p>
<p>can we send in extra recs? i got recs from my math and bio teacher. my bio teacher knows me pretty well but math teacher… not so much. i was hoping a letter from my counselor could help?</p>
<p>RSI does NOT give out likely letters. Don’t worry. ;)</p>
<p>I sent an extra rec. If your counselor knows you well and you think it might help your app, I would consider it.</p>
<p>Also
@Nizmo Yeah most people won’t send out their essays unless maybe they actually know the person that is asking them. Also Tsubomi’s right. Not everyone can write as well as she can so not everyone writes the same as her :P</p>
<p>so i did not ask my research professor for a rec even though i participated in research project for over 4 weeks. would RSI look down upon this.</p>
<p>@Nizmo112358: I suppose some short anecdotes would be okay just as long as they convey your scientific potential…maybe by describing a scientific experience or how your interest in science sparked…</p>
<p>@pinkumbrella10: It’s generally customary for teachers to sign the backs of their envelopes, and I know mine did. But I don’t think the CEE will disqualify you on small technicalities, but it’s just nice. </p>
<p>@momo899: There is a sentence this year that is on the RSI application that was not on there last year: “Please do not send supplementary materials that are not requested.” I think the CEE is trying to prevent application material overkill. Would your counselor recommendation attest to your scientific potential in a way that your teachers cannot? Is there a way you could talk to your math teacher as ask that he/she adds some information from your counselor? If you REALLY BELIEVE that your counselor would offer something new and critical, then consider it…otherwise I would be careful. </p>
<p>I thought about including a counselor rec last year because we get along really well, but decided against it. Recommendations are an important part of the RSI process, and a sub-par math teacher recommendation would not be good, but neither would overloading the CEE with stuff. </p>
<p>^that was probably an overly long answer. In short: only if you feel it is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY 
</p>
<p>@ndnbe4st: …
we have different writing <em>styles</em> and write about different <em>topics</em> but that doesn’t mean my writing is <em>better</em>. >:P </p>
<p>@harvard76: So last year, the sentence “Applicants who have participated in a research project of 4 weeks or longer at a university or a laboratory should request a recommendation from the research supervisor” was not included. However, many of us submitted these mentor recommendations and I believe that it helps, and RSI is interested in your research experience if they now explicitly ask for this. IF POSSIBLE I would try and get a recommendation…or even something short acknowledging your project, especially since its <em>suggested</em> in such a way. RSI may wonder why you didn’t include a mentor recommendation…</p>