<p>Hmm... for 3 and 4 would it be better to put your extracurriculars in list form or paragraph form? I initially was going to do paragraph form but list form seems more organized, although less essay-like.</p>
<p>For number 8, do you not list your PSAT scores or something (ive taken two so should i just list both?)</p>
<p>For number 9, does that include AP classes this year?</p>
<p>What did you guys do?</p>
<p>@hopeful1992</p>
<p>Hey I am also from Florida and attended sstp and also thinking about applying to rsi . Mind telling me who you are?</p>
<p>I'll send you a message.</p>
<p>I just got my SAT scores back and I only***** got a 750 in math. I actually got 750's in every subject. </p>
<p>I know that the website recommends at least a 75 on the PSAT, but the curve for SAT is a little bit easier, so....</p>
<p>Do you think that this score (2250 with a 750 in math) will be enough to show that I am academically qualified to attend RSI and get them to take a good look at my essays.</p>
<p>****I know that 750 is not a score that one would typically associate with the word "only," but this is RSI.</p>
<p>OH, and there is no word limit. However, there is a loose page limit, and most of us are kind of pushing the boundaries of that page limit with teensy margins and fonts. I had to add in a couple more about this one research problem that I had a lot of fun with, so mine is now a grand total of ~3600 words and counting. </p>
<p>BUT, the number of words is never an indicator of the quality of your essays, so don't worry if you end up at three pages with regular fonts and margins.</p>
<p>And @ kiriante: I went with a paragraph style, but a list style could be fine.</p>
<p>^dont worry about it, i only got 2240 on dec.</p>
<p>anyways, i emailed mr. bowman once to ask him if i should superscore when listing the psat score and he ressponded that the standaridized test scores were overrrated or something like that...</p>
<p>hopeful, for number 9, are you lisitng current AP classes/tests that you will take May/2009? And do you guys list PSAT socres for number 8? (i couldnt find another place to list them...)</p>
<p>anyway, there is a different page on the app to list them..... omg!! 3600 words? are u using like size 9 font????? anyway, i met someone yesterday who got in but he got in with two pages typed -_- he sid that he was just really concise and showed his passion that way</p>
<p>i was talking to a well informed counselor of mine. and he says that only one student gets into RSI every year. are chances for me that slim?? i really do have a true passion for science. i have very low PSAT scores unfortunately, 207. but here are the rest of my stats.</p>
<p>Gender: M
Location: Detroit
College Class Year: 2014
High School: Private
High School Type: sends many grads to top schools</p>
<p>Academics:</p>
<p>GPA - Unweighted: 3.90
GPA - Weighted: 4.48
Class Rank: top 10
Class Size: 210</p>
<p>Scores:</p>
<p>SAT I Math: 800
SAT I Critical Reading: 700
SAT I Writing: 700</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:</p>
<p>Significant Extracurriculars: - Mu Alpha Theta (All Years)
- Math Club (All Years)
- Coached Middle School Math Club Team (Freshman and Sophomore Year)
-
Leadership positions: - Cranbrook FTC (Robotics) (Junior - Business Manager)
- Cranbrook FVC (Robotics) (Freshman - Went Internationals and placed 14th) (Sophomore - Went Internationals and placed 6th, Head Project Manag
Athletic Status - list sport and your level: - Freshman Basketball
- JV Tennis Captain
- JV Lacrosse
Volunteer/Service Work: - Founder of FACE AIDS Cranbrook Chapter, raised 500 dollars so far.
Honors and Awards: - Among top 100 Math Students in Michigan from the Michigan Mathematics Prize Competition
- Mu Alpha Theta
- Honor Roll
College Summer programs: - University of Michigan Summer High School CAEN Program</p>
<p>for the question we find most interesting in number 2, should youexplain the scientific merits of the question or talk more about why you like this area of science?</p>
<p>@dododo:</p>
<p>yeah, conciseness is a definitely a plus. Maybe I overdid it, but I'm not worrying about it. i said everything I wanted to say and not much more. </p>
<p>For number nine, I explained how the curriculum at my school works (one ap before junior year) and then I listed the ap/college course I am taking this year.</p>
<p>@HiPeople: Where are you from, if you don't mind me asking?</p>
<p>For number 2, I just explained "why this topic is interesting to me." I wrote about why this research interests me on a personal level, an intellectual level, and so on. I haven't been accepted to RSI, so take what I say with a grain of salt. However, I think they might be refreshed by essays that aren't exactly what they expect, so cut loose, stop asking how you are supposed to do things, and simply respond to the questions in the way that YOU think you should.</p>
<p>how did you manage to fit so many words...im on my third page and i only have 1500 so far...that means ill have to make my font like 10 Times New Roman</p>
<p>agreed with what hopeful1992 said...also, are you guys referring to the total words of your document? (including questions 7,8,9, etc. ? ) Cause I'm using Microsoft word and it says the total number of words at the bottom, is that what you are referring to?</p>
<p>^ yeah, I'm referring to the total words in my document.</p>
<p>and I fit so many words by single spacing size 10 Times new Roman with .25" margins on the top, left, bottom, and right.</p>
<p>But like I said, length really sin;t an indicator of quality, so don't worry if yours is 1500 words.</p>
<p>Hey!</p>
<p>let's post our first choice for field and subfield</p>
<p>hopeful1992: Biological Engineering/microfluidics</p>
<p>So after reading this thread I've become fairly worried about RSI apps. I'm pretty confident about my PSAT score (80 math, 78 CR, 73 writing) and I've done really well in lots of math competitions in school, have a very high GPA with highest courses I can take etc etc. But there are things I don't have that everyone else seems to which makes me like this =[ and they are:</p>
<p>No SAT IIs
No SAT Is apart from those taken in 7th and 8th grade
No ACT
No research experience (although i have attended CTY and SUMaC for summer programs)</p>
<p>I took only took one AP (Comp Sci A) in sophomore year (that was all my schedule allowed) and am taking 4 this year: Physics B, Chem, Calc BC, Spanish</p>
<p>Also, everyone's essays appear to have wordcounts of 2500+ at least. Mine is close to being finished and is only 1900 =[ with 11 point font and small (although not 0.25") margins. I know wordcounts aren't as important as the content - but it makes me feel more uncertain of my essays all the same.</p>
<p>I'm also worried about one of my recs, as my math teacher knows me fairly well but my Physics teacher is new this year and I'm not sure he knows enough about me to give great answers to the questions.</p>
<p>I realize the admissions process is a mystery - but based on who has and hasn't been accepted, do I have a reasonable chance despite all the stuff I'm missing? Thanks.</p>
<p>^Um yea, my situation is pretty much like yours. I have not had any research experience, and my essay is like 1500 words. Since the admissions rate is like 4-5%, I think we still have a chance..considering how random it is.</p>
<p>oh yea, and guys- for#5, you didn't write it on your separate sheet of paper did you? also, it says "as of June 1, 2009" would it be ok if I wrote down my anticipated classes for senior year? (2010) thanks</p>
<p>gahh..how did you guys start writing your essays? I'm having writer's block..can't make my essay (especially #1,2) flow ...</p>
<p>no worries, marcusfenix...most people on this thread have very skewed academic careers
And isn't the admissions like 2.5%?</p>
<p>Field: Chemistry Subfield: inorganic</p>
<p>Don't worry!</p>
<p>there's nothing you can really do to change your chances other than writing good essays.</p>
<p>Your psat's are really good, so I think they will deem you qualified, and give your essays a good read.</p>
<p>Seriously, don't worry about length. A lot of my length was about previous research, and if you don;t have any, then that explains why yours is shorter. </p>
<p>Obviously having research experience is a plus, but that does not necessarily mean that not having it is a minus.</p>
<p>i just had to not stop thinking about the questions for a couple of days, and wait until I was "inspired."</p>
<p>Oh, and I don't have any SAT II's either, and my school only allows APWH before sophomore year.</p>
<p>And @dashboard:</p>
<p>Do you really think that cc people have skewed academic profiles even for RSI? that would make me feel a lot better. DO you know any people who have gone?</p>
<p>^ well 50 out of 1000..is like 5%?</p>
<p>@hopeful1992: come to think of it, maybe not for RSI. God knows what they select based on...i've never met anyone who got in.
@tomjonesistheman: you sure it's out of 1000? I heard it was over 1500 last year or something....should go up this year. Guessing like 2000 applicants? (I say this one the number of views and the popularity of this thread)</p>