<p>Shouldn't the "one or two specific problems/questions that are interesting to you" be pretty specific? Yes, the point of RSI is to do specific research, but I think they want to know that you have an idea of what you're talking about. Writing in general terms for the specific questions could make them think that you don't know enough to intelligently address one or two specific problems.</p>
<p>Everyone who is asking: just apply; it can't hurt. if you get in (unlikely for almost everybody) then you can celebrate and be merry and such. if you don't, it shouldn't be any skin off of your back. But hurry up and get those recs done, because it's almost January already.</p>
<p>what states are you from Yanom and imustbecrazy?</p>
<p>There is NO geographic affirmative action. Many states are not represented at all on a given year. This is a merit based program, but presenting your laundry lists of achievements will not help you. There is no good reason for sophomores to apply.</p>
<p>@YanoM - if you are a junior, and you are really interested in any scienc3e or engineering, have good test scores, and are fairly involved - you should definitely apply to RSI</p>
<ul>
<li><p>OK Perhaps there is no good reason fo rme to apply: other than the fact that a 0.5% chance of getting into RSI is worth 50 bucks.</p></li>
<li><p>And wasn't there a soph earlier on the thread:DataBox or something. Well, a soph like that SHOULD apply, i'd think.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Is it okay if I haven't taken any SAT II's yet? I know I should have by now but something really awful happens right before I'm supposed to take one, every time.</p>
<p>And do I have no chance if I don't do anything computer-y? They keep asking for a technical background and the best I can do is a little bit of graphic design, and it's not even fully original.</p>
<p>Are recs that important? What if your teacher hand-wrote on the paper that was given, and wrote like 3 sentences each...just wondering...hopefully my teachers won't do that, but there's always a possibility of them not knowing what to write.</p>
<p>how often do they accept people with a PSAT score less than 220? I got a 210 but I have LOTS of independent research and live on a US military school overseas.</p>
<p>Im pretty sure you are suppose to report ALL scores (including PSATs from 10th grade)...I emailed the guy and he said to do that...</p>
<p>However, I am fairly positivive that if you get near 220 or above 2200 on SATs, it will be the same as meeting the recommendation
If you look at the page it said
"PSAT math, verbal and writing scores (OR SAT OR ACT) showing evidence..."
so im sure they will substitute the SAT scores for it...its like colleges, they will take the best score.</p>
<p>SAT II scores dont really matter (i havent taken them...and so havent most people). Standarized test scores are way overrated in this process (probably least important)</p>
<p>And yea im pretty nervous about one of my recs, she might jsut write 3 sentences and stuff...i dont really think she cares that much.</p>
<p>there actually is geographic affirmative action...... since some of the money is funded by many people, they say that RSi has to at least be somewhat geographically diverse-- 29 of the 50 states were repressented last year at RSi so roughly 2-3 people were chosen from those 29 states... so for a little bit of the admissions process, ur mostly competing with people from ur state---- just a bit</p>
<p>dbc9todd...... it doesn't matter as long as u answer the question</p>
<p>wow. since break has started it seems that we got like 10 new people on CC about RSI -_-</p>
<p>How long (how many words) was your answers to question #3?</p>
<p>Mine is only about 500 words so I dont know if thats gonna be too short. I have other information (small details) but then my formatting would get all messed up if I included it.</p>
<p>@jayinjapan - I don't think many kids from military school apply - so your research will really boost your application. I think you have a better chance than some of us. It will mask your PSAT scores.. dont worry I'm applying with a 211 - 80 Math</p>
<p>Wait a sec HiPeople, your application was 2 thousand something, but your 3 was only 500?!!! How did you manage that? Where did you spend your most time? Mine was 804 words.</p>
<p>^my number 1 is 500 words, number 2 is about 350 and number 4 is about 300.
number 3 is 500.</p>
<p>so thats about 1650, numbers 6,7,8,9 are about 350 (tahts because they count each nuimber was a word i guess, i have a lot of numbers listed for 8 and 9)</p>
<p>what about you?</p>
<p>I didnt know we could put pre-high school stuff on there. I nearly made it to National Mathcounts back in 8th grade (and my state is really really good, they got 2nd nationals out of 58 stats/territories)...i didnt think that would be important</p>