Research Science Institute ( RSI ) 2008

<p>Anyone have a response to Herman's question (and my question)?
I know it's only been about an hour :P I'm being very impatient....</p>

<p>Wait...I hate to post here again, but should we come up with 3-5 questions for each subfield!? I thought they expected 3-5 questions total! crap...</p>

<p>I'm not an "insider", but here's some advice: Don't get too hung up on how many questions to include in your answer to #2. You need to provide first and second choice of field and subfield because they have to pair you up with available research mentors, and they try to do the best they can. What's more important is that you talk intelligently about the fields and problems that interest you.</p>

<p>milesdavis, here's a great definition of what a Rickoid is:
<a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=rickoid%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=rickoid&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>As for "I have no idea why you would have (the score report) notarized", there is that little matter of trust. Why don't colleges let students send in photocopies of their SAT score report when they apply for admission? Although it's certainly not required, having a copy notarized takes 2 minutes at any bank and shows you care.</p>

<p>In fact, the instructions say for you to obtain from the school a "certified copy of the student's high school record" including a transcript and standardized test scores. If the school does it correctly, then you don't need to send a copy of your score report at all. On the other hand, why take a chance on the school remembering to include your test scores? I would recommend sending a copy of your score report just to be safe.</p>

<p>Last piece of advice is to follow the instructions. When I see words in the application packet like "Applicants must follow the instructions...Applicants who do not conform to the requirements will not be considered" I think of some poor schmuck being rejected on a technicality...don't be that schmuck!</p>

<p>Do we need to make sure that our teachers put the reqs in envelopes and sign across the seal like some colleges require?</p>

<p>I would say no. Don't HAVE to do anything that the instructions don't spell out. Most teachers will sign the envelopes anyway--just what they're used to doing.</p>

<p>How do you guys feel about making the margins smaller to fit in all the words? What about making the font slightly smaller (11.5)? I'm having some trouble... heh.</p>

<p>I think its OK. I know past rickoids have done that.
I'll probably have to drop font size to 11, single spaced, 1 inch margins...though I may have to do more. I'm guessing size 10 is minimum, and margins...maybe .8? lol idk</p>

<p>cosmo...naut </p>

<p>sorry, but you cannot apply.</p>

<p>hey Stargirl! This is so random, but have you read Stargirl? That book is like my bible.</p>

<p>and yeah, cosmonaut =[ you should email RSI and ask if you can. or you can try to get your card before june 22nd or whenver rsi starts!</p>

<p>I am also making my margins smaller... about 1 inch rather than the typical 1.25 =]</p>

<p>What does it mean to get something "notarized"?</p>

<p>Also, on that whole 3-5 questions, yes, I believe we need to have in all 6-10 questions. But aiming for the 6-8 area is probably best, so you have more room to elaborate and show off your amazing sagacity, and the readers don't have to read a lot and get tired.</p>

<p>For a full history: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notary_public%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notary_public&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The Easiest Way:
1) Go to a bank (because most banks have notaries, and most people have access to a bank)
2) Ask if you can get something notarized
3) Show the notary person (most likely the bank manager or whatnot) the copy of your scores/whatever you want to get notarized (next to the original)
4) The notary will put a special stamp on your piece of paper or score report/whatever
5) Your score report/piece of paper/whatever is now "notarized"
6) The End</p>

<p>That said, I really don't think that getting the copy of your score report notarized would be necessary if the directions don't specifically ask for it. If you really are that unsure about something (anything), email CEE.</p>

<p>It says on the application form that responses should not exceed a total of 3 pages. Does that include questions 5-8, which are basically just test scores? Listing test scores takes up room that I would rather use for answering questions 1-4.</p>

<p>How many sentences should we spend per question for question 2?</p>

<p>Well I'm doing about 10 sentences. Hopefully that'll be enough!</p>

<p>What are y'all writing about on 2? I'm having a really hard time deciding what topics are good because I'm trying to make sure they're "hard science" but still researchable. Is that even necessary on second thought?</p>

<p>i'm doing bio engineering and artificial intelligence.
too bad i don't have any hardcore research to back those up.</p>

<p>Not everyone who goes to RSI has prior research.</p>

<p>In case you want to know what rickoids are really like, an '06 alumnus and some friends can serve as an example. SK goes back and forth from MIT to Harvard a lot and wondered if it's better to walk or to wait for the bus. Being a rickoid, he of course had to write a paper about it...</p>

<p>For some press coverage, take a look (listen) at this BBC Audio or blurb in the New Scientist. The latter has a link to the actual article.</p>

<p>Wow...That paper is the best. Still laughing.</p>

<p>Ahhh! The audio is just as brilliant too! :)</p>

<p>Haha, the paper is brilliant!!! Yay math!!!</p>

<p>I just read the paper... well abstract, and I realized.. it's quite similar to one of my proposed questions... AHHHHHHH time to think of a new question to replace it.. :/</p>