<p>How long does it take to prepare for the IIC? Like I said in my thread, the reg. deadline is in like 4 or 5 days, so should I take the December one? I want to get a 800 no matter what. I'm gonna borrow a book today and take a practice test. How many out of 50 do you need for a 800?</p>
<p>Also, does anyone know if Gabe Carrol ever went to RSI? People always talk about Tiankai Lui, but didn't Gabe Carrol finish better in the IMO?</p>
<p>I think Gabe Carroll did do RSI. I know he was 3rd on Intel as a senior in 2001, and I think it was based on RSI work. Most years RSI means giving up a shot at the math olympiad training camp, so people with IMO ambitions have to make a difficult choice. Several people who could have gone to RSI in various years have chosen MOP instead. 2004 was different - because RSI started a week later at Caltech, all 4 juniors who got invited to both MOP and RSI were able to do both.</p>
<p>Why would anyone go to MOP over RSI? RSI has stuff that you can only do at RSI whereas the stuff in MOP you could just do otherwise. It's jus like classes isn't it? I don't see the tough choice there.</p>
<p>A very good friend says that this year, if accepted to both RSI and qualifying for IMO, he would probably choose MOP (has been going since middle school). It really depends on the person, though. Good luck, last year this thread became crazy.</p>
<p>it will become crazy around application deadline :)</p>
<p>anyway, there are many reasons why one should choose RSI over MOP. The RSI experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You'll meet people who you will be friends with for life. I still keep in contact with my rickoids, and they're coming to my house for Thanksgiving (they're from Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana). The memories are great. At RSI, it isn't all about the research. It's also about having fun and bonding with a group of teenager who will change the world in some way later on. All of them are very modest and humble and talented. I could go on forever.</p>
<p>being able to do USAMO/IMO problems is something that is developed over years. The kids who go to MOP, and particularly the kids who make the IMO team, may have been qualifying for USAMO and working on USAMO type problems from middle school. If someone invests years of their life doing that, and finally as a junior has their first shot at either MOP or the IMO team, that person will probably choose MOP over RSI. It was an easier choice for Tiankai and Gabe to choose RSI over MOP, because they both already had IMO medals. The 4 people who attended both programs in 2004 had all attended MOP before, but had never been on an IMO team. If forced to choose, they probably would have split btwn RSI and MOP based on their chances of making the IMO team as either juniors or seniors. RSI is a great program, but it does not have a monopoly on fun and intense bonding. The same thing occurs at MOP, or for that matter, other programs like PROMYS and Mathcamp.</p>
<p>Just wanted to know if Connecticut is very competitive. Does the application process go by state or what?</p>
<p>yes they have quotas :(</p>
<p>what do you mean by quotas?</p>
<p>they only let a certain number of kids in from each region (so it's harder for someone from new york to get in than oklahoma because there are more NY kids applying)</p>
<p>Nghi, did you do Siemens? I just got back from the western region finals and aren't you from cali? I don't remember hannah chung's name in the semifinalist thing either...</p>
<p>I love quotas. I'm from AZ. Does regional finalist for siemens westinghouse and decent stats look good for RSI? I think I can do ok on essays too.</p>
<p>so you did a team project?</p>
<p>back to what was more in the probable intent of this thread originally, why do you other folks wish to attend RSI. I think I gave my own reasons near the begginning of this thread, how about you?</p>
<p>hey zogoto, congrats on making it to regional finalists! That will look so great on your application! You should pack your bags because it seems like you'll have a high chance at going to RSI 2005 :)</p>
<p>Staticsoliloquy ~ Whats' the region that contains western Pennsylvania and how competitive is it? Is being a homeschooler a plus, a minus, or irrelevant?</p>
<p>how competitive is Jersey?..i thought it was AT LEAST a little competitive (not to the extent of NY)</p>
<p>hwo competitive are rsi admissions for michigan?</p>
<p>It's not done by region. It's done by state. Being a homeschooler is great only if you've excelled. 3 rickoids this yr were homeschooled, and they know EVERYTHING, from nuclear fusion to neurology. He learns everything by reading. It's amazing. </p>
<p>NJ and MI--ehh i don't know. We had 1 person from NJ and MI.</p>
<p>I can only tell you that the two most competitive states are CA and NY. That's all you need to know. It'd help if you were from Oklahoma, or Arkansas, or Wyoming, or Montana :) They want to get a good representation of the nation.</p>
<p>ahh i want to be a counselor for RSI 2005! I want to be a "nobody" (aka alumni who helped out).</p>
<p>The process is very random. Trust me. If you read the old CC, and look through all the CC posts about RSI, there were many WELL, WELL qualified people who didn't make it. An acceptance into RSI is pretty much winning the lottery. It is, after all, the hardest program in the nation to get into with a very, very competitive pool.</p>