apply to RSI or not?

Parents Forum
1

<p>I've found the parent forum to be most helpful. This seems more fit into other forums. But i would appreciate any replies.</p>

<p>So theres 8 days till the deadline. I've been thinking about whether applying to RSI or not. This week will be a busy time even without the RSI.... sat 2, amc, semester exam. If i have absolutely no chance, or close to it, i was considering giving up on it since i didn't want to bother the teachers for recommendations this late. When i became familiar with this program a month ago, i really wanted to attend this program for math.
i would really appreciate if you could read this and give advice as soon as possible.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Junior 67 CR, 80 M, 65 W (212) Softmore 180~185 I believe it's impressive since i've been REALLy learning english for about 3.5 years without any tutoring, SAT prep. (by the way, i'm not an internaitonal.)</p></li>
<li><p>no major awards, no research experience, no serious ECs for math (or anything).</p></li>
<li><p>no real passion shown so far. no hard classes in CC standard. (in Calc AB)</p></li>
<li><p>i had interest/passion before but didn't ahve the energy to act it out. now i really do, and i'm catching up with math real fast.</p></li>
<li><p>teacher rec... probably bad if i got one this late. this is my first year here (moved from a foreign country)</p></li>
<li><p>my essay wouldn't be so bad, if i really put my time into it. (probably won't be great.)</p></li>
</ul>

<p>lastly a fear that i might be academically lacking if by chance i got into the program. it wouldn't take much for me to catch up now, because i learn in amazing speed. i just feel like i wasted my last three years.</p>

<p>so far i have great grades 4.0 with above average classes based on what offered .normal to good ECs.</p>

2

<p>Apply. Even if your application is not the best, it's still got more of a chance than not applying.</p>

3

<p>There is usually a thread in the high school life forum for RSI. Just search under it and it should be there.</p>

<p>Kat</p>

4

<p>I agree. Your PSAT scores are in the recommended range and many participants have no real research experience. You'll need to really put some time into the essays and request recommendations ASAP.</p>

5

<p>who gets in and who doesn't is highly unpredictable for all but a handful of students at the very top. It depends in part on your location. If you are the only student applying from, say, Wyoming, your chances are a lot better than if you are one of 30 students applying from the same science magnet school. Don't worry about being "academically lacking" if you get in. They don't admit anyone who can't do it, and the projects are basically as much or as little as an individual student can or wants to do.</p>

6

<p>If you are interested in math, you should consider Math Camp and PROMYS along with RSI.</p>