<p>ok guys lets settle it. what is the number one thing rsi adcoms are looking for in the applicant/application</p>
<p>mathmajor, i wouldnt even bother applying
like the one dude said, you could be doing more productive things with your time, and perhaps more importantly the ppl reading your app this time will most likely be reading your app next time
you dont want to anger them and have them say "why the hell is this soph applying and then have them not like you next round</p>
<p>and, sbi, i think we can all agree that rsi adcoms are looking for PASSION more than anything else</p>
<p>of course stefo got into H EA, so did DJ Mack :)</p>
<p>staticsoliloquy- do u know any1 who went to RSI who didnt have any research experience?</p>
<p>me (this is to add length so im allowed to post)</p>
<p>moi aussi (ibid.)</p>
<p>ok guys what is technical skills and academic background. what do they even mean by this. academic background I know but ts, no idea. some help guys</p>
<p>i think technical skills is just the boxes u checkmark below, if i'm correct. if i'm incorrect, will some previous rickoid say wat ts is?</p>
<p>i put all the lab protocols i know how to perform in my technical skills</p>
<p>Lab protocols...</p>
<p>Hm. Did you put in stuff as basic as titration or gel electrophoresis?</p>
<p>Lemme put it this way. I will apply this year, and concentrate on showing my passion for what I do, and my vision to advance science. Just to see what happens.</p>
<p>Let me put it this way... the only guy who got in as a sophomore ever was ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT. Brilliant almost to an extent that you cannot imagine. I don't remember who he was -- it wasn't Tiankai Liu, was it? (And if it was, be prepared to hear that name many many times more if you stay on CC; a name like his sticks around for a long time, even though he's already a sophomore or junior at Harvard.) Anyway, I think he had two International Math Olympiad medals at the time? </p>
<p>Of course, RSI takes people who are merely smart in the common definition, but not as sophomores.</p>
<p>guys, let's all be encouraging here. I know you're all trying to be realistic and pratical, but sometimes the impossible do happen you know? I applied, and heck, how the hell did I get in?</p>
<p>No I didn't put basic lab protocols.</p>
<p>well, nghi, at some point you have to draw the line, and i think that line can be drawn when not encouraging sophomores to apply to rsi</p>
<p>can someone give an example of some of the lab protocols they did put under technical skills</p>
<p>I think technical skills also involves what kind of math you can do, such as how much/what kind of calculus, types of proof, etc. Am I correct?</p>
<p>zogoto, you should wait for DJ Mack to answer that because she's a mathematician. </p>
<p>Anyway, I put protocols like perform DNA extraction, Polymerase Chain Reaction, different types of chemical assays, Thin Layer Isoelectric Focusing, and High Performance Liquid Chromatography. I also put that I know how to diagnose different types of hemoglobinopathies based on the results.</p>
<p>wow i just realized this. i can't find anywhere on the RSI homepage if they're collaborating with Caltech this year. Is there gonna be an RSI Caltech?</p>
<p>ok guys i got back my act score 24. Its impossible to get into to RSI, right. Should i even apply</p>
<p>Cripes... I'm going to call them in January anyway and find out.</p>
<p>Nghi, how basic is the ELISA immunoassay? Should I bother putting it on? What about streak plate/agar type stuff, like the citric acid test or milk agar?</p>