<p>Math geeks are unlikely the clients for plastic surgeons. Lol.</p>
<p>Anyway, judging from the photos, is RSI a true representation of America’s high school?</p>
<p>Just from the fact that they recommend a 220 PSAT, I don't think that RSI is a true representation of American high schoolers.</p>
<p>then there is the issue of essays...</p>
<p>Hahaha shravas, so true. </p>
<p>I agree with braindamage's quote from earlier. RSI would definately be a more rewarding experience if the selection committee made a point of accepting a (more) diverse group of students.</p>
<p>I am 112% against doing anything for anyone based on their ethnicity. Asians are more often accepted into RSI, and I don't think anyone here is going to argue that it's because CEE is doing it for any reason other than that those particular people are the most qualified. They should take the people that they think will be most able to benefit from the program and become the scientists of tomorrow. It is the the very fact that RSI applications are as close to a purely meritocratic process as you can get that attracts me. Affirmative action for any group means affirmative action against the others, and that is as racist as anything. Why should RSI be a representative sample of high schoolers? I think it is a much more productive goal, though I'm against having any such goal, that RSI reflect the scientific community. I say this as a member of one of the overrepresented groups in colleges and the scientific community.</p>
<p>If anyone's interested, I went through last year's RSI pictures and calculated gender and ethnicity percentages. There were some people I wasn't entirely sure where to put them, so this is rough (male/female):
white:20.7/8.5
east asian:25.6/14.6
other asian:19.5/8.5
black:0/2.4
82 total people</p>
<p>im all for asians, but when they all play piano and have their calculators as a best friend, i get annoyed. i think rsi should start accepting people who stand out more.
p.s. DMRenrel: i cant believe you took the time to calculate the ethnicity percentages. this is a discussion wall. chill out and get a life.</p>
<p>@shortcut: I'm just terribly sorry that I offended you. I've got to say that I admire the way you anonymously insult complete strangers.
Back to something constructive, I would ideally like a program with great social aspects and great science, but I'm willing to have great science and mediocre socialness, given that the school year is quite the reverse.</p>
<p>Shortcut,
I don't like the tone in that post. Please don't go around insulting people. DMRenrel has the right to do what he pleases and what he posted was very relevant to the conversation.
I don't have much authority to say what RSI should and should not do, but many of us are pleased that RSI is a meritocratic program. So many programs and colleges are already based on creating a community, and RSI is different. It is arguably the premier science program in the nation, and it accepts students for their science and math aptitude.
On another thread, you stated that you understand why Chinese-Americans in particular are talented in this area. Our parents were the top of the students in the late 70s and 80s to even get into college and then get accepted to graduate school in America.
RSI is a meritocratic science program, that accepts students based on math science merit. If this were the top basketball summer program in the nation, I'm sure we'd agree that it has the right to accept the best basketball players regardless of race. </p>
<p>Sorry if my post offends anyone. Just putting in my two cents.</p>
<p>What's wrong with being Asian and playing piano? Playing piano is really fun.</p>
<p>Ditto- I happen to love the piano, and have started looking at dual degree programs.. against my parents wishes, too.</p>
<p>Shortcut: "im all for asians, but when they all play piano and have their calculators as a best friend, i get annoyed. i think rsi should start accepting people who stand out more."</p>
<p>Um, yeah.... how in the world can you be "all for Asians" when you blindly dismiss the entire group with a couple of poorly thought-out clich</p>
<p>And I happen to hate people who use calculators 24/7. Everyone at my school relies on their TI84s or 89s and it's really annoying. </p>
<p>But that's just a random thought. Now, time for dinner.</p>
<p>were we supposed to mail the application through the school?</p>
<p>^ wow i better hope not!</p>
<p>RSI's merit-based admissions adds to the diversity of programs available to us and I say that's a great thing!</p>
<p>I bet 80% plus people on this board are Asians. Guess what, only 20% high school kids scored above 220 on PSAT are Asians. That's why RSI needs to diversify. (RSI photo link:
<a href="http://photos.rsiaa.org/gallery/v/rs...n23/?g2_page=1%5B/url%5D">http://photos.rsiaa.org/gallery/v/rs...n23/?g2_page=1</a>)</p>
<p>RSI needs to promote creativity over crowd mentality. Aren't we trying to discover future leaders rather than imitators?</p>
<p>There's a big difference between scoring above 220 and having a talent and passion for science.</p>
<p>Every year, my school has 3-12 national merit semifinalists (btw, not a very heavily asian-populated school).. and in NJ the cutoff is higher than 220. I would say that at most one per year would be a typical RSI applicant.</p>
<p>Just because someone is Asian doesn't mean they're "imitators" and not "future leaders."</p>
<p>I see your point, shortcut, although I highly disagree with your minor hostilities towards asians. I don't think RSI favors asians, and I think they should put leadership and community involvement as more of a priority just so they don't produce a batch of just plain smart people. </p>
<p>I can't wait for the first rickoid president!</p>
<p>and yes, classof09, i agree. i get SO annoyed at those nerds who play with their ti-89s all day. it's ridiculous!</p>
<p>how does one stand out? How do they know whos diverse, and just don't say by race, cos anyone who knows me knows i ain't like a typical indian kid. How does one portray in one-two paragraphs that they are so unique?</p>