<p>tsubomi is obviously biased.</p>
<p>The topics of interest isn’t a big deal. They’re just looking for (1) your passion and knowledge in these fields and (2) AFTER YOU ARE ACCEPTED, they use this information to match you with a mentor and (3) find a topic of research for you. So just express a strong interest in two fields, and you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>well buzzer11, you aren’t the most objective either 
</p>
<p>you’re just upset that math people only got tea and cookies while we physics people got pizza and barbeque.</p>
<p>^ that is falsified information. We got tea and cookies EVERY week. Physics people got a party once. And we had LAN parties every DAY.</p>
<p>we had pizza every friday. take that, collatz. >:) </p>
<p>can’t argue with you on the LAN parties though. when you were Starcrafting, I was busy researching. :P</p>
<p>are we supposed to mention ap scores? there is no box to put them or a question that specifically asks for them.</p>
<p>I didn’t include AP scores in my essays, but under Part IV:</p>
<p>“The applicant’s official high school transcript and standardized test scores, such as the *PSAT math, verbal and writing scores (or SAT or ACT test results) showing evidence of exceptional intellectual performance and potential.” </p>
<p>I took “standardized test scores” to include AP scores, so I photocopied my College Board score report and sent it with my transcript.</p>
<p>Thanks, buzzer and tsubomi! I’ve decided to stick with my research field choices. I’m starting my essays today (due to procrastination and being busy this past week), but I’ve done a lot of brainstorming so hopefully my essays won’t be too bad.</p>
<p>Should I use past experience with LaTeX in describing past experience with “computer programming, modeling, and data analysis”? I do realize it’s a typesetting language, but it seems to fit with the other computery stuff on the page before…</p>
<p>tea and cookies? i certainly hope weight gain isn’t part of the RSI package XD i love cookies hehe and i never played Starcraft before so =\ guess i won’t have fun in the LAN parties, whatever that is (if i make RSI, hopefully)</p>
<p>the essays are taking forever gahhhh</p>
<p>and thanks for the feedback guys =]</p>
<p>Soooo, for modeling are you guys talking about data modeling or 3d modeling? I’m guessing the former, but I’ve really only had experience with the latter. :</p>
<p>@energize: you’re welcome! I put LaTeX as part of my past experience, anything to stack your resume, right? :P</p>
<p>@eobaggs: you can do both, like I said before, one of the greatest things about RSI is flexibility. You can research (or express interest in) anything you want.</p>
<p>Happy new year’s!</p>
<p>Hey everyone! I’m new here on the forums, and was planning to apply to RSI this (the deadlines creeping up on me!), but I don’t really know what the research/sub fields are. Is there a list somewhere? I’m thinking maybe Math and either Biology/Physics/Chemistry/Medicine (is that a research field?. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>@tsunami70875 - you can legitimately do almost anything. i have been freaking out about this application (even my chemistry teacher told me to relax - shes the one that told me about it). there is no list (made choosing a lot harder for me)… just pick a topic you are really interested in. like i really like biotechnology - so i have the research field bio, subfield biotech. for the other one i am probably going to do chemistry - chemiluminescense/forensic chemisty. they are topics that i really enjoy and would like to learn a lot more about, ergo i can be passionate about them in the essays. passion is really key in the essays o have heard…</p>
<p>@everyone else (generally) - i dont have high PSAT scores… i have a 199 total… what are you thinking my chances are? will those scores kill me? (i have decent SAT2 test scores in chem and bio - better with chem)</p>
<p>^ the application recommends that your PSAT score be at least 220. That being said, however, I don’t know how much it will hurt you if your score is lower than that. There’s no harm in applying: I’m sure if you show that you are a passionate scientist, you will still be able to present a strong application.</p>
<p>Lol, going to do my first post on CC cause of this.</p>
<p>So my question is: What if I have no experience with computer programming?
(Well, minimal experience with HTML and MS Frontpage, but I don’t think that really counts…)</p>
<p>I think I have a decent application otherwise. (Finalist on USNCO, summer internship at a chem lab, 238 on PSAT with an 80 in Math)</p>
<p>My interest is in biochemistry, so how strongly will this lack of programming experience affect me? Lol, should I even bother applying?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Thank you buzzer,
and lightningfax - i’m pretty sure you have a good chance… my PSAT scores and my lack of programming i have a feeling are going to take me down… but i’m not sure, it seems to be an anomaly as to who gets in and who gets the rejection letters. people with lower than 220 have gotten in… hopefully i can be oen of the first below 200… 
i dont think so though… lol
gosh-darned underdeveloped school with a lack of care and horrible guidance counseling… i wish i learned about all these programs like 3 years ago…</p>
<p>@lightningfax: no programming experience is not a big deal. I know of people with similarly minimal programming experience who got in. Of course, lots of experience is a huge plus factor for you. But they know most RSI kids will be able to learn a programming language if necessary at camp. You’ll already be required to learn LaTeX and Ubuntu commands, so its kind of in the same vein.</p>
<p>And just a word of warning - nobody can <em>expect</em> admission from RSI because it is such a crapshoot. The admission rate is so low (if RSI was a college, the only college more selective than it would be the Curtis Institute of Music) that the admissions people have room to reject anyone and to accept anyone. I think your best bet is to show a love for science through your application; this may be much more important than PSAT scores or the number of languages you are familiar with.</p>
<p>and: I just read the RSI thread from last year. All the acceptance posts went something like this:</p>
<p>“I have no idea why I got in, except I spent a huge amount of time on my essays.”</p>
<p>@ketracer - Thanks and best of luck on your application!</p>
<p>@buzzer11 - Thanks too for all the advice you’ve put up on the boards. I got your point (slightly paraphrased): show passion in the essays and cross your fingers. So looks like I’m going to working hardcore on this for the remaining week. Like ketracer, really wish I’d heard about this program earlier, but meh, you do what you can. If this doesn’t work out, I’ll have pretty much developed a basic college essay anyway 
Thanks everybody for your help!</p>
<p>oh - i just remembered. in case this doesnt work out, there’s another program at MIT that i’m going to apply to called “MIT ESP Junction”, its not free (600$) but i guess its not bad for taking classes all summer. just letting you know that’s there. lol</p>
<p>lol, thanks ketracer. I’ll definitely take a look at it, though I think I can barely handle the summer program applications I’m doing now hahah</p>