<p>Test scores aren't a crucial factor in the application. As long as you have decent test scores, you should be fine. I could be an example: my PSAT -> 214, ACT -> 34, SAT -> 2100. I think I posted my stats earlier in this thread, don't remember what page though.</p>
<p>Essays and recs are by far the most important parts of the applications. Sure maybe one has a 2400 on the SAT and/or a 36 on the ACT, but if that person can't show in their essays that they like math/sci, they don't have a chance... RSI wants people who want to do math/sci, not machines who happen to score perfect scores.</p>
<p>RSI admissions process is a mystery to everyone, no one really knows (except the admissions people themselves) how RSI selects 50 students from the top students in the country. I just speak from experience...</p>
<p>Just a little comment on ISEF/USAMO. Many on this thread and others have mentioned that ISEF increases your chances by far. But isn't that completely unfair, considering some schools don't do USAMO, and some county science fairs aren't affiliated with ISEF?
Just my thoughts.</p>
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[quote]
Just a little comment on ISEF/USAMO. Many on this thread and others have mentioned that ISEF increases your chances by far. But isn't that completely unfair, considering some schools don't do USAMO, and some county science fairs aren't affiliated with ISEF?
Just my thoughts.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I don't know about ISEF, but there will always be a high school or university within 10-15 miles of you that offers the AMC. If for some odd reason it isn't offered in your vicinity, you can always talk to your math department about participating in it. Almost half a million students take the AMC yearly, clearly, it's an accessible test.</p>
<p>do u guys think my essay should me more formal (like a lot of vocab and complex sentence structures) or informal (a casual style as if i was acuttally talking to u)?? (this is for the people who got into RSI)</p>
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[quote]
do u guys think my essay should me more formal (like a lot of vocab and complex sentence structures) or informal (a casual style as if i was acuttally talking to u)?? (this is for the people who got into RSI)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>How would you write this if it was for English? Don't be too informal. Use only vocab you know and understand. I think rhetorically my essays had some metaphor and maybe some anaphora, I don't really remember.</p>
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do i double space my response to part 2 of the application?
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<p>Well last year my application was single space 11 point LaTeX font (smaller than Times New Roman) with margins around 0.25in. If they didn't specify, I'm sure anything goes as long as its readable.</p>
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[quote]
Well last year my application was single space 11 point LaTeX font (smaller than Times New Roman) with margins around 0.25in. If they didn't specify, I'm sure anything goes as long as its readable.
<p>^I don't think anything will happen. I had 4 recommendation letters, one from my English teacher, one from my Linear Algebra prof, one from my first research supervisor, and another one.</p>
<p>if you send more than 2, wont it seem desperate and won't it seem like you don't follow directions? because i want to ask 3 teachers. but gblob, you had a research supervisor and a linear algebra prof. if I only have high school teachers, will that lower my chances?</p>
<p>Hey so I was looking at the application and I see that it STRONGLY recommends a 220 on the PSAT</p>
<p>Umm I just got mine back and I only got a 213 (77 math) but I think I got over 2250 on the December SAT. Will that like make up for it? Also how much do they care about GPA (I have like 3.94 UW and have taken mostly honor classes/taken 3 AP classes/taking 6 AP classes this year)
and ECs (Im on tennis team-#1 in the state, orchestra-#1 in the state, and do volunteering-although im not on varsity or top orchestra section) but I dont see how much ECs have to do with science research</p>
<p>Also I am a USAMO qualifier (10th grade) and I wonder how much that would help me if I am going to do something non-math related at RSI (or do I have to do something math related because I find that pretty unpractical on real life). How much will this award help in general (and my school isnt like Exeter or TJ some powerhouse school)</p>
<p>I also have NO (gasp!) reasearch experience (like real research experience in doing a real project, not volunteering). How much will that hurt me? Dang I STRONGLY REGRET not doing a research project this summer...I know a couple of seniors from our school got Siemens Semifinalist and they said they just followed their professor's instruction and did nothing special and they got Semifinalist...
Siemens Semi/USAMO would look very very good for RSI im guessing...</p>
<p>What do they look for in recommendations?
My teachers would like to know what they need to focus on, because they have no idea what they look for.</p>
<p>I have a couple questions about the application. When they ask for PSAT scores, do I have to submit this year (junior year) scores, or can I send in last years? My score last year was higher...</p>
<p>also, when it asks for SAT scores, do I write my highest single-sitting scores or can I take the highest scores I've ever gotten on each section (I think they call it superscoring...a lot of colleges do it). Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>I didnt get higher last year than this year on PSAT but if I superscore it, to get the maximum score, I would have to use the Writing score from 10th grade, and the math and reading scores from 11th grade...I dont know if I am supposed to do that for the PSAT</p>
<p>I have never taken the SAT more than once so I dont need to worry about superscoring that.</p>
<p>should i bother applying if im not familiar with any of the computer applications?</p>
<p>and do the recs have to be from my math or sci teachers? i want to have a teacher do a rec for me and she knows my mathness but she isnt a math/sci teacher.</p>
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what happens if you send 3 letters of rec? will it seem like your desperate?
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<p>More is not always better. For all supplemental documents, those that provide a new perspective or insight not given by the required items are useful. Those that rehash the same things are not. The extra stuff does reflect on your judgment. </p>
<p>Oh, and newspaper clippings are probably a BAD IDEA. =)</p>