<p>all hail sketchiness!</p>
<p>Although research experience is not required, it is highly looked upon. Also showing accomplishment in theoretical work (olympiads, college classes etc.) would be helpful too. RSI is a research program, so people that get in pretty much show potential for success in research.</p>
<p>I understand that they value our research experiences a lot, but how do I find it in the first place? I don't know any prof that is willing to waste his/her time with me...</p>
<p>why is this thread titled "research SUMMER institute"? it's research SCIENCE institute</p>
<p>because the OP is not perfect ;)</p>
<p>thanks iteloo;</p>
<p>ha. sketchiness, i <3 you chatty. </p>
<p>Email profs at a local university and ask to work in their lab. Many will say no, but some might say yes, and one really awesome professor is all that it takes.</p>
<p>The questions that the app asks aren't hard, but takes time to answer. RSI says that each year to the question "what is a field you are would like to do research in; what is a question in that field that interests you" they get many replies to similar to "i want to find out the mechanisms behind" <a href="ex:%20why%20my%20foot%20hurts%20when%20i%20hit%20it%20against%20table,%20my%20toothaches%20after%20eating%20ice%20cream,%20etc.">fill in blank</a> or the infamous intelligent design or evolution based quandaries. Don't ask questions like that, be more creative than that!</p>
<p>Wait, wait, do they see your SOPHOMORE PSAT or Junior?</p>
<p>If I got a 229 on my 10th grade PSAT, and my Junior Year PSATs will almost certainly be better, should I submit the 229?</p>
<p>soph psat or junior psat. junior psat probally wont come in until after deadline. i had a crappy soph score</p>
<p>I just went to see the app, they can accept SAT.</p>
<p>You will have your junior year PSAT score by December (or January if your school gives them out after the holidays). The application is due in February. </p>
<p>You can put both PSAT scores or only junior year if you want, and/or SAT if you've taken and want to list those too.</p>
<p>thx rsi06,
i tried finding a directory at UBC, but it is really hard to find someone unless you know his/her name. i can't find anything T.T</p>
<p>btw, i registered for the psat today and my cousellor was like, "why did u register so late!?". and i told him that i didnt know sophomores can take it (and i wanna ask him wth it can do for me cuz i seriously dont know the difference between a sat and psat. why dont all of us just do the sat i tried a practice test today and got 18.5/24 on the first critical reading section. that will really stink on my rsi app...XD i think its time i start preparing for the sat.</p>
<p>What am i supposed to research?
Like i know ine thing id like to research but its kinda hard to find some professor thats gonna listen to some 15 year olds idea. Do i need a professor? Or can i simply research on my own?</p>
<p>update, finished the critical reading section and got 54! OMG, i suck cant even finish in time...</p>
<p>mtf612: a research w/ a prof will definitely be taken more seriously; and serious research will require some expertise and equiment/facilities that is not available to you. i would say it is not simply browsing on the internet and going to the library.</p>
<p>although some (many) of you will inevitably be skipping school the day you have to send off the applications, i still urge you to start your applications early...like try to do them over winter break. it really reduces stress, and you can keep polishing your application. as for the secret formula to getting in, youre probably frustrated with the stock "there is no formula" answer. which is kind of true, kind of not. scores are not really that important- people just say that because they want some concrete way to get in. i think your best shot is your essay. a fabulous essay can even compensate for a >200 PSAT (shocking, i know!). it is the most important thing, in my opinion. they want to know that you are an intelligent, hardworking, creative indivdual who wakes up each morning is excited about going to the lab or on proving that theorem. rsi costs a lot of money; they want people who will utilize that opportunity to the fullest extent. so i encourage you to write an essay that is out of the box and truly showcases how you feel about science, how you are eager to learn, and how you take the initiative. one rickoid i know wrote a poem in her application...and no, it wasn't a gimmick, she was a gifted writer and felt that was the best way to adequately describe her feeling toward math and the math community. and im probably one of the few that think this, but its NOT necessary to find a professor to research. if you know one, thats great. but being able to research is a huge privelege, so you don't get that privelege unless you earn it. so stock e-mails won't cut it. you have to show professors you're mature, smart, and won't waste their time. so take an interest in a particular professor's field, learn about it, and suggest possible research topics. you're much more likely to get a response that way. and if you just don't live close enough to a major research university (like me), do your own research! create a computer simulation, work on solving a theorem, or test water samples (as the first place STS winner did last year). have fun and talk enthusiastically about your experience in your app with evidence that you've given your topic(s) a lot of thought. this is what impresses rsi admissions- your initiative and ability to surmount challenges. because face it, no one is going to hand you a great research project on a platter, say "here- do this! and win!"...it takes hard work, now and later in your research careers.<br>
and one more thing...rsi is not a ticket to a great project. in fact, many people did end up with projects that didnt work or weren't that great. granted, some people got lucky, but i recommend not banking on your rsi project too much...try to do research beforehand that you can submit to major competitions just in case things don't turn .
hope this helps! (in contrast to my earlier useless post lol). good luck, and don't stress TOO much :)</p>
<p>whoa...long post <em>gives back soapbox</em></p>
<p>When is the app posted?</p>
<p>great post chattybanana</p>
<p>I love science and i wanna work hard, but ironically my chem teacher doesnt even want me to do that. he refuses to let me learn things before hand and complete courses earlier so that i can be qualified for some research experiences thats not relevant tho. my main problem is that i dont have any network w/ profs and i cant get any of their contact... and engineering and science has are fields so broad that i don't even know which specialized prof to ask...</p>
<p>omg, i wanna start asap. Y.Y</p>
<p>app posted in december.</p>
<p>iteloo- are you a sophomore? if so, why are you applying this year?</p>
<p>cuz i dun wanna wait til next year ...</p>