<p>Another area that many students neglect in applications (whether for summer programs or college admission) is the letter of recommendation. Science and math teachers can talk about your passion for learning, your leadership, your personality, your ability to deal with stressful situations, your motivation, etc., as well as your passion for math and/or science. </p>
<p>When you ask for recommendations, print out and give your teachers a copy of the RSI homepage, the admissions guidelines, the "About RSI" page, and whatever else you think will help them understand what RSI is and what RSI looks for in applicants. Talk to your teachers about your interest in the program and what you hope to learn from attending RSI. Give them a resume and anything else you think will help them portray you in the best possible light for this program.</p>
<p>My boys had a lot of success with this method.</p>
<p>Though there are always rare exceptions in terms of scores and major awards, our state had one student accepted by RSI each year during past three years (2005, 2006, 2007). Regardless of their genders, all three were multi-timer USAMO qualifiers; some of them were MOPpers and finalists (top 20) in physics Olympiad; all had very high PSAT scores (at least one had perfect PSAT). RSI is very difficult to get in, however, you have nothing to lose by applying.</p>
<p>In regards to privatecitizen's chastisement, I would like to apologize for including the "sexual promiscuity" as one of the shining points about RSI. My point was that rickoids gain not only an extraordinary amount of knowledge, but also a sense of absurd humor, which is sometimes slightly inappropriate only because juxtaposing common perceptions of "nerds" and what "nerds" are not (i.e. promiscuous) is found to be quite entertaining. Once again, I apologize for conveying the wrong message to concerned parents. The only promiscuous activity I was ever engaged in at RSI involved various math books, a laptop, and athena clusters.</p>
<p>Hi, I am a freshman in high school, and I have a great passion for astrophysics and cosmology. I am looking into summer programs that I can attend, and maybe RSI is one of them. I know that I have to be a rising senior (or is it rising junior) to attend. However, I would appreciate it if anyone could rate the following programs: COSMOS at UC Santa Cruz or Irvine (specifically the particle- astrophysics cluster), SSP (Summer Science Program), EPGY (an online program that allows students to take classes otherwise not offerred at their high school - I would love to take AP Physics C and/or Multivariable Calculus my senior year). If these programs provide me the opportunity to work with actual professors and conduct research, is RSI something to look into?</p>
<p>What's up with the Special Skills column on the app? Do you need to know all about programming and computer science to get in?</p>
<p>Oh, and assuming that I take these programs, is it likely that I can get into MIT, Princeton, CalTech, etc.? (assuming I do well on the SAT and ACT, of course). </p>
<p>There are other forums that rank those programs. do a collegeboard/google search for them.</p>
<p>I went back and read some of the stuff that's been posted about RSI, especially the comments by ParentofIvyHope or w/e. </p>
<p>I really want to get into RSI and I've worked hard in school to up my chances at life like everyone else on this forum, but i think we're all guilty of using RSI as a tool towards getting into college.
Whether you get into RSI doesn't make you successful at life or not, so I really think some people are putting way too much into this program.</p>
<p>As for ParentofIvyHope I am skeptical about whether you actually are a parent and not some crazy student haha, but I may be wrong so don't get insulted. Even then, I think it's sorta comical that someone's parent is trying to figure things out for them and they still expect to become successful leaders in science/math. Plus the whole "It makes no sense to apply" thing is just brutal towards your daughter (if you are ligit). Ridiculous.</p>
<p>This is even more stupid than i thought. Forums that are based on high school programs and activities are crowded with parents who are marketing their kids. If it was college info and questions that would make more sense because they're paying for college admissions and CC is a good source of info, but wow....</p>
<p>"My son is an 11th grader. We haven't gotten his SAT scores yet but expecting 2350-2400. He has a 4.0, but a bunch of other students at his school are nationally acclaimed at math. I think he has an edge on them because of his research outside of class"
You know how pathetic that sounds?</p>
<p>I dunno. Maybe its because my parents chose not to multimanage my life and let me make it by myself. I'd love to see your kids in college. I can imagine them getting off the phone and saying "my mom told me to do my math hw because I need to take the MCAT in 3 years"</p>
<p>Erhabe, try to understand that parents do indeed have a mind of their own - a mind that is very likely independent of their child's. I know many students who are embarrassed to death that their mother/father has posted their accomplishments on CC in order to obtain the elusive "chance" to some prestigious program. Parents are merely concerned with allowing their child to have the best future possible. While their worries may seem pathetic to you, do realize that this means more than the world to them. Although I share some of your same resentments, I'm don't think it's a good idea to air them on collegeconfidential (a.k.a. the prophesizer of success based on mere test scores and number of awards). Instead, let's post questions regarding the RSI application process and/or the program itself! I'm sure all the rickoids have lots of stories to tell and interesting perspectives to share. =)</p>
<p>agreed..
Okay. So I have another random question. How many kids at RSI in past years have been into Biomedical Engineering and do any of you guys remember kids who did projects or brought projects in Environmental Engineering?</p>
<p>I think it has actually happened before, but it's exceedingly rare and not recommended. Don't apply to RSI thinking of it as a chance to enhance or lend additional credibility to previous research of your own. Nearly 100% of the students at RSI work on problems that they have never touched before.</p>
<p>Hey i was wondering if there is a point in me applying,</p>
<p>I got a 207 on the most recent PSAT, 76 on math, because i got a question right but didnt transfer it over correctly. I also broke my nose in a pick up football game the day before i took the psats.</p>
<p>I do decently but not excellent in school ~93 average. 2 aps as a sophomore bio and chem, with 5's in both. </p>
<p>Im taking 5 ap's this year+multivariable and linear algebra this year. </p>
<p>I attended HCSSiM last summer, and got a lot out of it. I also do sports and the standard multitude of various extra curriculars. I work and run my own business of sorts. I have also been doing some math research by myself ever since i returned from HCSSiM. </p>
<p>I should also have a couple good recommendations. </p>
<p>tl;dr I think i'd be a good fit for the program, my grades/ test scores arnt that good, will i get past the initial screening? I understand that after that your just shooting in the dark really, but it'd be nice to know if i'll even be looked at.</p>
<p>laststop, a lot of Rickoids do research before RSI but go anyway. Prior research is a definite plus on your app. There is the benefit that you might be working at a very high-tech lab in Boston/Cambridge with equipment most smaller colleges can't afford. And you'll probably be working on a project you have little or even no background knowledge about.</p>
<p>thefool, I think you'll probably make it past the initial screening, but I'm not sure. I think I know somebody who got in with a PSAT <210, so it definitely happens! Your APs are good (but how are you taking multivariable without an AP Calculus?)</p>
<p>hmmm okay i have a question about the app. regarding the essays, i'm not sure what the format is supposed to be. is it one long essay addressing all of these questions? or is it supposed to be separated based on question number, like #1 - 2 paragraphs. #2 - 2 paragraphs, etc.??</p>
<p>and also after thefool's post, i'm starting to wonder if I have a chance too...my psat score was a 235 (75 cr, 80 math and writing), and i'm ranked as 3 out of 592 students, since I have all A's. i took 4 APs soph year: bio (5), eng lang (5), world hist (4), and compsci A (5). i did research at baylor college of medicine for 8 wks last summer, but i haven't rly done any science/math competitions, except for the district science fair in 9th grade and lotsss of mathcounts in middle school. and my extracurriculars are dance, music, debate, student council, science team, NHS, science NHS, and spanish NHS...</p>
<p>@ hamsi, what do you mean by enough? Your standardized tests certainly seem sufficient for you to make it past the initial screening, but past that, it's anyone's guess. RSI doesn't just look for superb past credentials, it looks for the potential for continued future excellence.</p>
<p>I think it must be said that it really is difficult for anyone, even past Rickoids, to pinpoint exactly what will get one accepted to RSI. Nearly all of us go to RSI wondering quite how we managed to be selected with all the other brilliant kids around us, and its not like the program directors sit down with us and our applications and circle exactly what made the difference.</p>