<p>Does it make any sense for my D to apply to RSI 2008?</p>
<p>PSAT: 226 (80(M)/73/73)
SAT IIs: 770(M2C),780(Chem) both Sophomore year
APs: AP Scholar with Honors.
10th: AP Calc BC (5), AP Chem (5), AP Euro (5), AP Comp Sc AB (5)
11th: AP US History, AP Biology, AP Physics C, AP Statistics
She is taking English Hons.(3) but will take AP English Language and AP Env. Science too.
Research:
She is also taking research in her junior year and is working on MSA (Multiple Sequence Alignment) and is fluent in Java.
ECs:
JETS: 9(3rd), 10(1st, Highest score National), and will be participating in 11
Model UN: 9,10,11, Best Research Paper. Hon. Mention Delegate
Speech: 9,10 (Finalist at 2 events)
NHS, > 100 hrs of community service,
Youth Advisor at Health Trust for 2007-2008.
Tai Kwon Do, Piano</p>
<p>She goes to a private school and there are lot of very good students (8 on Jets team itself) with much better stats or at least equivalent stats. The school doesn't rank but she is not at the top 5% for sure GPA wise.
School send only 1 student to RSI every year. </p>
<p>So will it make any sense applying knowing there are more than 1 students at her school that have much better stat.</p>
<p>If not to RSI can someone list some research oriented summer program which will be suitable for her. I would like her to attend some research program in the summer of 2008.</p>
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Does it make any sense for my D to apply to RSI 2008?
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<p>I'm of the "it never hurts to apply" school, so caveat lector.</p>
<p>According to the rsi</a> website, your daughter's aptitude scores are fine. This means she'll make it past the pre-screen and the committee will definitely see her file. At that point, they'll probably look at the 4 AP tests and the subject-area SATs and be reassured that her high school program is reasonably rigorous. That will mean the committee will give your daughter's essays a close read, so it's definitely worth letting her try if she wants to do RSI.</p>
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So will it make any sense applying knowing there are more than 1 students at her school that have much better stat.
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<p>Ouch. I would like to believe that these programs are more than numbers games. Call me naive, but I hope what will ultimately decide whether someone gets in is whether he/she genuinely loves science. As some have posted here, having a passion for what you do is vital.</p>
<p>RSI traditionally kicks off with one of the sponsors giving the same speech every year. "You are here because you test well," I think she says, "but that's not enough." To me, that means that once you achieve some (fairly high) minimum threshold, other things matter more. I know it's hard to communicate real passion through an application form, but that's where I'd concentrate my efforts if I wanted to do RSI.</p>
<p>The person who gives the speech is actually Mrs. D, the president of CEE.</p>
<p>I think there's an unhealthy fixation with PSAT and SAT scores here. Your extracurriculars and awards matter much more. So even if you have below a 2300, still apply if you've made a few olympiads or gotten research fellowships or such.</p>
<p>eatsleepmath - who are you? MITES4eva, did you go to rsi or mites..?</p>
<p>BTW, you don't need to 'make a few olympiads' to get into RSI. otherwise, there would only be a handful of people there :) <em>cough dangao cough</em></p>
<p>Actually, there are only about a handful of people accepted to RSI, and I would say that at least 60% of the US students have national/international Olympiads or national-level awards underneath their belt. Or else are named David.</p>
<p>Yes, Mrs. D does make the speech that "you're here because you test well," but the actual people that do the admissions tell a different story. It is actually a holistic consideration of one's caffeine-tolerance, hatred of CalTech, ability to bear children, and potential to win big at science competitions and improve the image of RSI.</p>
<p>Okay, so back to a sqaure one. That means it make no sense applying to RSI.
My D's class have 2 students who have attended US Olympiad camp last year. There are couple who are involved in research.
Only one student have made to RSI from each class.</p>
<p>Don't be discouraged! Applying to RSI is never a bad thing, but never expect an acceptance (the chances are super low for everyone). Think of anyone's maximum chances as being equal to a Korean international requiring full financial aid applying to Wharton-UPenn with a 2000 SAT.</p>
<p>Also, considering renaming your daughter David.</p>
<p>ParentOfIvyHope, but are those kids applying to RSI? Also, just because your daughter's school has traditionally sent only one student to RSI doesn't mean that's the limit. My school has sent two students in past years, and so have a few other schools.</p>
<p>"Okay, so back to a sqaure one. That means it make no sense applying to RSI."</p>
<p>But then there are those Rickoids who've never even heard of Olympiads or APs, and live in the middle of nowhere. Your daughter has the intelligence and it shows through her grades / test scores. But passion is something else. Like a fruit or a Rod Stewart song. If she doesn't apply, she'd have 0% chance of making it. By the way, what school does she attend?</p>
<p>Um, I highly doubt boys are preferred over girls. In general, if these science/math programs have any preferences, it's usually for girls. </p>
<p>What do you think about an applicant who lives in suburbia but has not made USAMO or done any substantial research, but still shows strong interests and strengths in the area?</p>
<p>Yes, One of those student have been applying for the last 2 years, is very passionate about it too. Other also is applying but might not be that passionate about it.</p>
<p>I'm not sure why only 1 student have made it RSI from the schools as the school have produced multiple Seimen semi finalists in the last few years.</p>
<p>Let me break down the degree of the chances of several hypothetical applicants (assume qualified test scores and resumes):</p>
<p>Female named David: Very high chance
Male named David: Good chance
Normal males and females: Low chance
Males with last name 'Chen': It'd be a fluke if they got in</p>