<p>I am planning on attending. I was just curious what to expect. Thanks!</p>
<p>What would you like to know exactly? A few people down the hall from me attended FSI (I think that's what you meant) last summer, so I could ask them.</p>
<p>Apparently they changed the name to FSRI, Freshman Summer Research Institute, as thats what it says on all my forms. I was curious what to expect in a normal day besides obviously researching, but apparently the program may be different. The forms are not too descriptive.</p>
<p>So my roommate went to FSI last summer. And she doesn't have an account (and is too lazy to get one), so she told me to post this on her behalf:
... ... ...
= = = = = =</p>
<p>FSI is a good simulation for life at Caltech, except you're going to end up staying even later doing problem sets. But do it anyway, it's fun, even if it's slightly painful. (Or more than slightly.) Unless things have changed from last summer, there will be two weeks of math lectures, two weeks of physics lectures, each with three problem sets a week (we don't remember, seeing as we seem to have repressed this), and with the last week dedicated to working on the presentation of your research.</p>
<p>Typical schedule includes about three hours of lecture and three hours of workshop/recitation three days a week, and two days mostly dedicated to research, along with practice presentations on various sciencey topics. Research is really mostly on your own schedule, though.</p>
<p>Saturdays and Sundays are for sleeping in and fun field trips. Food is provided and free and tasty. You receive D-bal money which you can spend on whatever you want, especially random stuff at the C-store (splurge at the end of the summer).</p>
<p>It's a whole lot of fun, you end up bonding with people over late-night problem sets, and everyone enjoys the third curriculum: Super Smash Brothers (probably Brawl, now).</p>
<p>Topics covered in lectures basically go over what you'll learn in Math 1a and Physics 1a, with a little bit of Math 1b and 1c, as well as relativity in physics. That generally means linear algebra, induction, and epsilon-delta* (your best friend that you'll learn to hate). Physics covers mostly mechanics and relativity.</p>
<p>You'll also get the chance to socialize with former FSIers (a.k.a. mooches) who may be there over the summer for SURFs; they show up to say hi and get free food, but it's a good way to meet upperclassmen.</p>
<p>It's fun and you'll be better prepared for starting off the school year. And yes, we've repeated that several times already.
...oh wow, it actually sent.</p>
<p>Eduardo says to add:</p>
<p>P.S. Watch out for squirrels.
They are EVIL.
...one of them jumped onto a branch just as we were passing under it once and made it hit us on the head.</p>
<p>I didn't know the squirrels are evil. I just thought they're HUGE. lol</p>
<p>Anyways, is this Fsri for everyone? It sounds interesting, but I didn't receive any information on it. :(</p>
<p>it's for presidential scholarship winners (not the SAT score ones -- it's an award where they give full rides to the best underrepresented minority students).</p>