<p>There are no new requirements; that link leads to a Dilbert-related site.</p>
<p>i recommend a lot of u people appplying to RSI also to apply to SSP. Its a great program which is prestigious, but not as hard to get into as RSI.
I just came back fro SSP a week ago, and it was really a crazy amount of fun. I mean we learned so much, but also the social aspects was amazing. Definetly recommend it.</p>
<p>I think a lot of us here pretty much have our hopes on RSI; I know I do. </p>
<p>@shore: They look for passion, as previously mentioned. Also, they take a look at PSAT/SAT scores, AP scores, various skills, future plans, ability to succeed, and recommendations.</p>
<p>Ah! Found it! The apps come out each year around Thanksgiving. Last year, that was around the 22nd of November...</p>
<p>Great! Now all we have to do is wait 2.5 months. :D</p>
<p>If you've already done a project and submitted it to ISEF, would it be a good idea to describe how you would want to follow through with it as part of RSI?</p>
<p>Are AMC12/AIME scores important? I've only taken it 8th grade and freshman year (with mediocre scores b/c I didn't take it seriously then) and my school cancelled it last year because of snow so suppose I do well on it this coming year (junior), would the scores make it back early enough for me to put it on the application? the RSI app deadline seems crazy early</p>
<p>A lot of applicants will have good AMC12/AIME scores, it probably won't distinguish you much unless you are USAMO caliber or similar. It probably would also matter more if you applied for math.</p>
<p>I'll be applying as well. Good luck to everyone.</p>
<p>How much AMC scores will help probably depends on what area of research you're going in for. If you want to do pure math, it would be good to have really high scores because math is such a popular area, and it's a little harder to have done a significant around of previous research on pure math topics than in lab sciences. For bio or physics though, it might help but isn't in any way necessary. Passion is a good key word - because you start almost immediately working on a research project and have very little time to finish it, having previous research experience is a huge boon, and demonstrates that you're already interested and focused on your research area. That said, there are always exceptions and people who haven't done research before, and people who end up with mentorships pretty unrelated to the research interests stated on their application, depending on the availability of mentors.</p>
<p>Hey I did Math at RSI 08 (hi thestralnerd!), I have to say this:</p>
<p>Don't worry about AMC/AIME scores that much, you don't have to report them (unlike AP, SAT, ACT scores). My AMC/AIME scores sucked, and continue to do. I usually get like a 103 every year on the AMC and 4-6 on the AIME. So don't be hindered by AMC/AIME scores. If you got an award for AMC/AIME (for me school winner, yeah my school pretty much sucks), then just write that you got the award.</p>
<p>One key thing that RSI looks for is Passion. It has to show in your essays (this is the hardest part of the application)! Do not blow off the essays! I also think previous research for RSI is a advantage, but it is not absolutely necessary. If you do have a previous research project, have your mentor write you a recommendation letter.</p>
<p>Good luck guys, any questions keep on posting, I'll try to respond throughout the year.</p>
<p>If you want to continue your work with an MIT professor at RSI, would it be a good idea to provide a research paper or describe your project in the application essays?</p>
<p>I don't think you will be able to continue your previous research with your mentor, but I'm sure you'll do something related. In short, what you do research in will completely be up to your mentor.</p>
<p>Example: My previous research dealt with monoids (algebra), the research I did at RSI dealt with algebraic geometry.</p>
<p>It would be a good idea to provide your research paper even if you don't want to continue your work at RSI, because it shows that you have the ability to do research (even if you are a co-author, like I was). Also describe your project possibly in one of the essays (you'll need to incorporate it cleverly), this will hint that you've done research before even if the app reader doesn't look at your paper.</p>
<p>nevermind, now it's like 3 months (the earlier post should've said 3.5). </p>
<p>So what're you all thinking for field/subfield and stuff?</p>
<p>I was thinking Comp Sci: Quantum Computing / Comp Sci: Artificial Intelligence</p>
<p>has anyone gone to the website recently to find that it says http 404 error or something like that????? it was working before -_-... oh i'm going to do bioogy/metabolic diseases</p>
<p>^ Yeah I guess the CEE website is down, maybe they're switching servers...</p>
<p>This popped up when I went to the homepage of CEE: <a href="http://www.cee.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.cee.org/</a></p>
<p>So I haven't taken ANY AP exams (school doesn't allow any prior to 11th grade) or SAT2's yet and I want to do Neuroscience or some other type of behavioral field. I have a LOT of experience and I'll probably get the qualifying PSAT scores, but should I take SAT2s before we need to send these out? Or will they not make a difference for me?</p>
<p>I went this past summer without having taken any SAT IIs until June (i.e. they weren't on the application), and didn't even send in regular SAT scores until two weeks before decisions were mailed. I wouldn't stress about it - so many people who apply have good test scores, they're really just there for quality-control, so to speak. Not having lots shouldn't hurt you.</p>
<p>Hmmmm, I'm worried about the fact that it seems that you need to be ISEF or USAMO to get into RSI at all... or is this just a false impression?</p>
<p>False impression. :) Quite a few were ISEF and USAMO, but definitely no where near everyone. What most people did have is some measure of lab or research experience, but it doesn't need to be high-profile, award-winning stuff. Again, it seems more important that you show you're really really interested and invested in a specific topic and in doing research.</p>