<p>Start the posting</p>
<p>from T_KO
How to get into RSI... </p>
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<p>I guess this post is a little late, granted that RSI probably already started or is about to start. I hope it's not too off the mark, but I think it's worth saying. Hope it'll be useful for those '07 hopefuls. If an 07 thread gets formed maybe someone might be cordial enough to copy this over to that. But anyways...</p>
<p>RSI isn't the standard college admissions. It isn't about how good your grades are or how many clubs you look like you're in or how smart a standardize test makes you out to be. It's about your creativity, it's about leadership, it's about taking initiative and being on your way to becoming a pioneer in science. It's called Research Science Institute for a reason.</p>
<p>I'm Tiffany Ko, I got accepted into RSI '05, was told I was one of the top 5 apps that year, but was not allowed to attend on the basis that I was graduating early and attending Princeton in the fall instead of going on and completing a senior year.</p>
<p>First things first, I wasn't the valedictorian. I had less than perfect grades, good, but not perfect. Around a 3.9 unweighted. Ranked 7th in the class. I never ever scored that perfect 800 on SAT math, stupid, but I just kept making stupid mistakes. The highest I ever hit composite on the SAT was a 1520. Decent, but nowhere near perfect.</p>
<p>The two things that will get you into RSI: research, math.</p>
<p>Do well in one or both and you have your ticket in because having an aptitude in either shows that you have what it takes to be something great in science. Remember, doing well entails being strong as an individual. It doesn't include going with your Science Olympiad team to nationals. YOU have to show your own individual abilities. That means doing strong on the AMCs, that means presenting individual research at Intel ISEF, or JSHS.</p>
<p>Personally, looking back at high school, I think research was the best thing that ever happened to me. Most people aren't courageous enough or proactive enough to get out there and find a professor, so if you do, you're already special in your own right. You've taken the first step.</p>
<p>I did both math and research. As a girl, it was slightly easier to distinguish myself because I got to say things like, oo I'm one of the top ten scoring females on the USAMO, lol, maybe because there were only ten total. Yeah, that was a bunch of BS because I never really was that good at math; I just didn't put enough committed effort into it. Geometry was my only occasional saving grace.</p>
<p>But research, research was amazing. Professors are always looking for students to share their work with. They enjoy it! I've had the sheer enjoyment of working with amazing professors whether they conducted research at the state college near my high school in Indiana or whether they were pioneer scientists in their field conducting their research at Princeton. You just have to take the initiative to find them. Make sure you show interest in working with them, i.e. personal phone call, face-to-face meeting. Don't only send a crap impersonal email and immediately want an answer. Plus, actually read the material they hand you. If you don't find it interesting and don't want to talk about it with them, they're doing both themselves and you a favor by rejecting you from their lab.</p>
<p>However, once you've started working, please PLEASE don't half-ass it. It's disrespectful to the professor and to yourself. You've got to make a commitment to at least one project and stay with it until it's done, done to as perfect as a condition as you can possible make it -- and then make it more perfect.</p>
<p>I think the most important thing is to set goals and know where you want to be. If RSI is where you want to be, then do what you have to do. Believe me, research, that end feeling of accomplishing something on your own, even the smallest thing, is a feeling better than drugs. And THAT is what will get you into RSI; successfully accomplished, THAT is what RSI will give you back.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>thanks for your post</p>
<p>Ooh, thanks for starting this. And thank you for bringing that post to this thread - I had been thinking about contacting a prof for research for a while but the desire had died off, and now I'm tempted again...</p>
<p>There’s always an easy solution to every human problem—neat, plausible, and wrong.
–H. L. Mencken</p>
<p>mathwiz, did you work with Charles T. for Siemens?</p>
<p>All right, I'll bite. I'm interested in RSI 2007. (OK, I'd absolutely love to go.)</p>
<p>Sophomore here; applying this year because I honestly have no idea when I'll graduate. If I'm rejected and am staying in high school through typical senior year, I'll apply again.</p>
<p>Stats:</p>
<p>The last PSAT I took (before this year) was 8th grade - scored a 212 (which I wasn't thrilled with). Most recent SAT is from 7th grade - 1400 (700 Math, 700 Verbal). Five AP tests (Environmental Science, Computer Science, Physics B, Biology, Calculus BC) - all fives. Planning to take another five tests this year: Comp. Sci. AB, World History, both English exams, and Chemistry.</p>
<p>Will be starting high energy physics research in about a month, working with data analysis software for CMS at CERN. I've done a bit of research through the Quarknet program, although that was very minor. I have something on the order of eight "real" college credits, although I've done much more coursework than that. (Yay independent study. I would be something like a junior in college if I CLEPed out of all the classes I've done, such as the equivalent of AP Physics C, calculus III and modern physics.) I'm currently enrolled in a senior-level seminar class on particle physics, and about to finish linear algebra, and am hoping to finish all of differential equations by the end of this year.</p>
<p>By the time I graduate, I'll have something like 15 APs and about 40 (separate) credit hours of collegiate work, mainly at the senior level. As for research, I've been offered (or rather, I've created an opportunity) for an internship at Fermi National Lab if RSI falls through (which it most likely will). </p>
<p>I'm a Girl Scout; have been for ten years. I'm working on my Gold Award (aforementioned physics research) at the moment: have completed Leadership, Silver and Bronze Awards. I compete actively in computer science and various academic competitions, and am a multiple-time (well, twice) State Champion & World Finalist in Destination Imagination.</p>
<p>I'm also chronically ill; have been for three years. I was a part-time student for two of those years, which made me unable to compete. I was basically unable to attend school for probably eight months out of those two years, which didn't do much for my record, especially ECs. That's also the reason my scores are lousy (and old) - chronic illness + SATs -> not fun. I am hoping I'll be better in eight months or so. When/if I apply again, the stats list should look quite a bit better (I hope).</p>
<p>Not a minority, unfortunately, although I am a girl doing physics research, which is unusual.</p>
<p>I know I have very little chance at RSI this year, especially considering that I'm (currently) planning to graduate on time, but I'd like opinions anyway. :) (Sorry if I sound arrogant; I always feel a bit odd listing stats.)</p>
<p>Does anyone know when in November the application will come out? I'd like to get the recommendation forms to my teachers ASAP so that I don't put too much pressure on them.</p>
<p>jesus christ</p>
<p>When do they post the applications? It's been November for 15 days!</p>
<p>It's (roughly) the same application every year........</p>
<p>Avendya,</p>
<p>You speak very incompetently about minority status.</p>
<p>Specifically, what did I say? I am not particularly a minority or, at least, I don't consider myself one.</p>
<p>I said that status was unfortunate for me, because it wouldn't be a help in admissions, but that isn't to say that affirmative action for minorities is a bad thing.</p>
<p>I don't think RSI does affirmative action anyway.</p>
<p>ha. yeah. i second zogoto. if you look at the pics of rsi students, you'll notice that the break down of ethnicities isn't really balanced.</p>
<p>ethnicities, no. gender, kinda.</p>
<p>Pennsylvania Gov School for Sciences is big on male/female ratio; all the students who were accepted to PGSS in our intermediate unit were females and we have a gazillion equally accomplished males who were turned down</p>
<p>hopefully, RSI isnt like that but ... too bad hope doesnt go very far!</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure RSI only has regional quotas.</p>
<p>I'm dont think it has quotas at all. it's completely based on merit. idaho had more participants than new jersey, and nearly 50% of states didn't have one student who was accepted.</p>
<p>Do you think I still have a good chance of getting in with a sophomore PSAT score of 161 (and a freshman score of 162!)?</p>
<p>My school requires us to take it two times during school hours prior to actually taking it as a junior. I did not care, and viewed it as a state test. Also, I really did not know much. I believe that I did well on the PSAT that I recently took, though. I actually tried this time. Prior to the most recent test, I thought that it did not count.</p>
<p>Ignoring my excuses, if I answer the questions very well and am able to attain great recs, do you think I can get in?</p>
<p>Or, should I spend more time on other applications?`</p>
<p>Optimization: Well, you're right that prior to the most recent test, it did not count. You don't have to list your 9th/10th grade PSAT scores. But I have to say that scores in the 160s are probably a little low for RSI. I know someone that got in with just a little over 200, and that's the lowest I've heard about anyone getting in.</p>
<p>And yeah there aren't really quotas de jure, but some do arise de facto. For example, there is often 1 person from states like Arizona, Utah, and Kansas, but only 2 from states like NY and FL, which have many times the population, and much stronger science students. This is almost like affirmative action for small states, and the reason for this isn't really because students from small states are better or something, but because students from some states, New York in particular, have so many opportunities available to them that they don't need to go to RSI to do research. There were like 9 STS finalists from NY this year! Geez.</p>