So I want to go to RSI probably the summer before my senior year to help encourage and stimulate my intellectual curiosity. Even though I consider myself intelligent and to have the aptitude for it, it only has a 5% admissions rate. Do you think it would help my chances if I conducted research at a local university, did a smaller-scale research internship, and placed in Science Olympiads? Any advice is helpful.
Thanks!
Helloooooo? is everyone just sick of my ambitiousness now?
(that was a joke; don’t take it wrong)
BUMP?
If nobody’s gonna reply, that’s cool. I’ve decided I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing but like times 10, and apply along with a bunch of other internships.
Download the RSI app and see what it entails. As I recall, there’s a lot asked about your computer science skills. So, assess whether you are strong enough in that area. Obviously, your grades, test scores, etc. have to be outstanding. You didn’t provide those in your post. You should also search CC for old RSI threads. As I recall, admitted kids posted their qualifications there.
Have a back up plan. RSI is the most competitive research program for high school students. You pretty much have to walk on water to be admitted. Look for alternates that are free to attend and/or pay a stipend. For example, Summer Science Program (SSP) is highly regarded and very competitive, but not as crazy tough as RSI.
Well, I have a 4.0 UW (my school does not do W), and I don’t have any test scores yet, but I’ll be applying junior year so by then I’ll have some scores. I am planning to apply to a bunch of other internships, too
That’s wise. Good luck.
Thanks!
So that comment above on the backup plan is key. Spending all your time focused on one college or one summer program is not a good idea. What you should be doing is focusing on a range of options, some more selective than others. The important thing is to have options that will work for you. And finding the backups/matches/safeties takes elbow grease. It is a lot more fun to chase after the shiny reaches. And by all means, apply to a few. But it is a sign of maturity to develop strong backup plans and embrace the work involved to identify them. It is more work to find your matches and safeties – but really important, because odds are high that you will end up at one.
You might want to also consider the Garcia summer research program at Stony Brook:
http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/garcia/applying/HS%20instruction.html
They only charge a lab fee ($1500), but of course you also have to pay for housing/meals. Kids that do research at Garcia tend to do very well in the Siemens competition. I believe that the Garcia acceptance rate is considerably higher than that for RSI, SSP, TASP, and TT Clark Scholars.
Steer clear of summer programs that are only money mills for the universities that host them.
I have several other schools I am considering, including matches and safeties, and like I said I’m considering other programs. I may appear to have a bit of a one-track tape playing in my console, but I figure that the hardest task gets the most effort.
As for the Garcia program, thanks! It sounds really interesting. Those money-mill types are terrible, huh? One question: if the program charges a lab fee, isn;t that the same kind of thing? Or is it not for the university’s profit?
^ I don’t know. It certainly costs money to conduct lab research, so maybe the lab charge is legitimate. $1500 is not that much, especially compared to what Duke, Harvard, Stanford, etc. are charging high school kids for summer classes. But maybe you are right about it being just a means for Stoney Brook to bring money in.
One thing is certainly true: the lower the cost of the program (which is normally accompanied by a lower acceptance rate) the more respect the program will garner.
Kind of Ironic how some of the most prestigious universities have to charge so much money, huh?
@whatisyourquest What are some other programs that kids do well in Siemens with after completing that have more to do with biology (my intended major, I am a rising junior)? How do kids pick their research project anyway? And how does independent research work?
^ My kid didn’t do research in biology, so I’m not the best person to answer your question. But I’ll try to help anyway… I think that Texas Tech Clark Scholars would be an excellent program; it’s highly regarded, you receive a stipend, and some of the research is in biological sciences and medicine:
The Simons program at Stoney Brook is also great and has done well at Siemens. Some research areas are in medicine:
http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/simons/Siemens.php
Here’s a longer list of summer research programs. Look for ones that are free, or at least don’t charge much. The higher the cost, the more it just looks like your family is from a high SES:
http://www.bestcollegereviews.org/features/pre-college-summer-science-programs-high-school-students/
Your research project is normally chosen after you are admitted and are matched with a mentor. Your mentor will have areas of interest. You would likely conduct research that incrementally advances a research topic that the mentor has already been pursuing. That’s the way research generally works.
Rather than pursue summer research programs, you could contact professors at local universities and ask if they would take you on as an unpaid research assistant. This is tough. As you can imagine, most professors are reluctant to deal with high school students, who don’t usually have research experience. But this course of action shows initiative and is far better than spending lots of money on a research program. Of course, it’s easier to find professor candidates if you already have some sort of social connection. Are you neighbors? Relatives? Is the professor an acquaintance of your mom or dad?
In addition to cost, the duration of the research program is critical. IMO it’s impossible to conduct research that produces meaningful results (and a paper) when the program lasts fewer than six weeks. Lab work and technical writing take time.
@collegesa2 See SIP in my second link. I’d never heard of it, but it looks like another good option for you.
Ok, thank you! I’ll make sure to consider that when choosing which ones to apply to.
After doing some research, these are the programs I’ve decided I’m going to apply to next year: SSIP at Finestien Institute, SIP with NIH, SIP in California (there are options for remote research), Stanford cardiothoracic surgical skills, SSTP at U of Iowa, FSU summer institute, pharmacology at University of Nebraska, Garcia Center at Stony Brook.
How does this list sound?
Update: I’ve acually decided only to apply to pharmacology at University of Nebraska, SSTP at U of Iowa, and SIP with NIH.