<p>... </p>
<p>We both agreed that by leaving it to the last minute, it is easier for your passion to shine through (of course none of us did that, we just found out at the last minute). Writing under pressure comes straight from the heart. You're not thinking about "What does the adcom want to hear?", rather your thought process is "This is who I am. This is what I did and why. This is what I want to do."</p>
<p>Hey schemer, I've read a few of your posts about lambda calculus and am very interested :). Anyone heard of the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science @ WPI?</p>
<p>The CS class at my school is taught using Scheme, something that I originally was very unhappy about (I would have much rather honed my Java skills). Of course, along came one of my senior friends who showed me how to pass functions as arguments, and everything fell into place.</p>
<p>Lambda calculus is awesome, hehe.</p>
<p>I think it's quite elegant, but I still find it difficult to imagine a practical application for a language like Scheme or Lisp, probably that's just the amateur inside me speaking though.</p>
<p>Anyways, I was wondering about my chances for RSI. I apologize for the cliche, but it seems quite intimidating, and any information would be most helpful.</p>
<p>I'm a junior at the school mentioned above, which has about 45 students in the graduating class, as it is quite selective. They don't give us GPAs, but I have all A's so far, and the courses themselves are classified as something like "Highest Possible High School Level." I've taken one college CS course at WPI, a course on object-oriented program design (it was quite interesting) and got an A in that.</p>
<p>GPA (from previous high school, Catholic private): 4.13 unweighted (4.3 = A+)
PSAT = M: 80, R: 76, W:75
SAT II Math IIC = 800, Writing = 800
SAT I: (7th grade) M: 780, V: 660 <- blegh.
Several extra-curriculars, math team, academic decathlon, etc.
I've attended the Harvard/MIT Math Tournament for 2 years, going again this year, it's a hoot.
Currently 4th in local math league.
2nd in State Science Fair (that was in 6th grade though...)</p>
<p>I'm currently working on a research project involving the evolution of secure networks using a simulation of worm propagation. Hopefully, I would like to attend ISEF... Before this project, however, I haven't had much if any research experience.</p>
<p>Any hope?</p>
<p>P.S. - I'd like to talk about Scheme sometime, if you wouldn't mind.</p>
<p>sure, drop me an email(you can do so via the college confidential messaging thing).
I think some people in your grade at that school probably remember me from NCSSSMST at Dearborn Michigian. (Just ask them about the weirdo from new york!).
If I recall, the chaperone, who was the mother of someone there or something, was quite annoyed with me talking while the Ford VP was giving the Keynote speach</p>
<p>RoboMason, I envy your opportunity to take classes at a university as part of high school, there are some cool courses at WPI that would (have) greatly accelerated my self study of computer science generally and programming languages(including some cool looking graduate classes).</p>
<p>Sounds like schemer has a good shot at rsi for some reason.</p>
<p>Just thought I would add that.</p>
<p>I have another question:</p>
<p>Should I put my field/subfield as the same thing as got me to SW Regionals or is it ok to put something completely different? I have most awards and classes in Math, but my SW project was Environmental Science. I am ambivalent as far as research in these go, so what should I put for my field/subfield. I am afraid that if I don't put Environmental Science, they will completely disregard that I did well in SW since that was an Enviro. Sci. project. Thanks!</p>
<p>schemer's just a big ol nerd</p>
<p>who isn't?</p>
<p><em>raises hand</em></p>
<p>being the OC-er that i am, does it matter if we type up stuff, paste it to our app sheet, and photocopy it and not send in the original? (but yet send the photocopoied versions of the typed) i'm awfully bad at the typewriter. </p>
<p>ORRR would it just be better to just write it out...?</p>
<p>If you use the pdf version of the app that they have online, you can just click the blanks and type in your info.</p>
<p>altairaqua-thanks. but don't you have to get your principal to sign it also? because that's what it says on the paper copy</p>
<p>i really need to work on thinking before i speak. </p>
<p>Thanks though <em>^_^</em></p>
<p>yah. I just typed everything out, printed it, and got the appropriate signatures.</p>
<p>what's wrong with it being handwritten?</p>
<p>nothing... i was just wondering because on the top it said "typed or written"</p>
<p>come on guys, apply online! that gives you like about 12 more hours to work :-)</p>
<p>wouldn't it technically be the same, since you have to type up the third page by yourself anyway?</p>
<p>online app means you can submit it at 11:59 pm on the deadline day! Paper means you'd have to get it to the post office a few hours before then :-P</p>
<p>Yeah I have a few questions static. Do we need anything in our RSI packet besides the $25 processing fee, our transcript, the verification of scores, 2 teacher recs, and the photocopy of our transcript? It mentioned in the website about the student's high school record, so I'm assuming that's the transcript? Also can we use a vice principal's signature because my school is kinda big with 3000ish or more students @<a href="mailto:@">@</a>. Also why does it have to be mailed from the high school? I take it's a verification thing or something? So I guess we put the return address in our big envelope as our high school address right? Sorry if this stuff has already been asked.</p>
<p>"Do we need anything in our RSI packet besides the $25 processing fee, our transcript, the verification of scores, 2 teacher recs, and the photocopy of our transcript?"</p>
<p>that sounds about right.</p>
<p>"It mentioned in the website about the student's high school record, so I'm assuming that's the transcript?"</p>
<p>yes.</p>
<p>"Also can we use a vice principal's signature because my school is kinda big with 3000ish or more students."</p>
<p>no idea. Does it ask for counselor or principal?</p>
<p>"Also why does it have to be mailed from the high school? I take it's a verification thing or something? So I guess we put the return address in our big envelope as our high school address right?"</p>
<p>Ya just put the address of your school as the return address.</p>