<p>hmm.... now that I think about it, it's kind of odd that this forum is only 12 pages long at the moment when in like 2005 it was like 25 in mid november</p>
<p>ugggh cliff won't answer my email -_-</p>
<p>oh yea and do u guys think recommendations are important?</p>
<p>yeah, I think recommendations are very important, as many of the people applying will have high test scores and impressive accomplishments. </p>
<p>I think essays and recs will be the most important factors in your admission to the program.</p>
<p><a href="mailto:and@dododo">and@dododo</a>... maybe that means that by some miracle, the number of applicants to RSI will be very low this year, and everyone on cc will get in!!! wisfhul thinking...</p>
<p>hopefully. sigh :(... i wish i was a genius and already won isef or jhsh</p>
<p>RSI's webpage says it needs a minimum of 75 on the math PSAT and a 220 overall or a 33 on ACT math with a 34 on ACT reading...</p>
<p>Wow...don't they get rid of a lot of potential applicants with that? (including me...)</p>
<p>You don't need those to apply, they are just recommended test scores, however, they can be offset by other accomplishments...</p>
<p>r u sure?</p>
<p>10 char</p>
<p>Yep. I got in without them. :D</p>
<p>Yeah. Generally, ur essays the things that get you into these things.</p>
<p>I would be a little careful about saying that just essays are what get you in. I think what gets people in is writing a good essay about a good topic. I had pretty good essays and I think they really helped me get in, but they were only good because I wrote about my previous research and I was able to really tie it into my future goals and show some excitement. To use a colloquial saying, it helps if you don't just talk the talk, but also walk the walk. You can do just one (i.e., only have good accomplishments or only have a good essay), but it'd have to be <em>really</em> good.</p>
<p>so to summarize, I'd say most people get in to RSI because they write good essays about some good intellectual topic that hopefully relates to the applicant's previous work/accomplishments.</p>
<p>I found the program a few weeks ago and it looks so amazing. It's just so competitive, and this thread isn't helping my spirits at all. Is there any chance I could make it in? I have a good GPA, and I'm pretty sure my PSAT will be over 220. I haven't taken any AP's (am taking BC and Phys B this year), but scored 740 and 800 on my SAT 2's. I'm a lab assistant at my school, and I entered a national (yet pretty lame) scholarship competition last year and got an honorable mention. I'm currently doing some informal research on galactic structure/evolution, and might write it up into a formal report and submit it somewhere. I just am really, really interested in research and haven't found opportunities as amazing as RSI.</p>
<p>Do I have any chance? Or can you recommend other similar programs?</p>
<p>You should definitely apply. Based on what you said, you may want to look into ISSYP as well.</p>
<p>The Student Science Training Program at the University Of Florida is great. a few people were semifinalists at siemens with the projects they did there. I loved it. It is just like RSI, just less competitive. Financial aid is pretty easy to get, too.</p>
<p>If i don'r get into RSI, I might just go to SSTp again.</p>
<p>The SSTP looks interesting but it started around June 10th last year. I guess schools in Florida end really early. So, I imagine because of the start date, it is a no-go for a lot of out of state people.</p>
<p>@ttparent -- I never even thought about that...huh</p>
<p>We had some(10?) people from outside the state. I know that people from California and Georgia went.</p>
<p>WHY IS THIS THREAD ONLY 13 PAGES???? YOU GUYS AREN'T GIVING ME MUCH OF AN EXCUSE TO STRAY AWAY FROM VIRTUAL SCHOOL!</p>
<p>yea, don't ask me that either. i feel like the popularity of RSI is going down -_-</p>
<p>RSI decrease in popularity!? That's preposterous! ;)</p>
<p>well the 2005 forum had like 40 pages by this time of year, 2006--30 and 2007--25... and ours is a dismal 14 now.</p>
<p>Hey look, it's like exponentially decreasing! Cool.</p>