Research Science Institute (RSI) 2009

Pre-College Issues Summer Programs
501

<p>Hey guys, I'm so glad there are so many RSI '09 hopefuls! I'm an '08 Rickoid, and I just wanted to tell you that really, RSI doesn't care THAT much about simply accomplishments and test scores. It's your PASSION that matters. I mean, I only made a 2390 on my SAT, which was a major disappointment. I turned out to only be a USAPho, USABO, and Siemens semifinalist. In freshman year, I got an 11 on AIME but missed making MOP by 1 point on the USAMO. =(</p>

<p>Despite ALL of these failures, I still managed to get into RSI. Think about all the kids applying with perfect scores and international competitions. The fact that someone like me got in means that these AREN'T the most important things. It's PASSION that gets you into RSI. I honestly feel like you should spend less time on this thread debating stats and chances and more time on your actual apps--how can you make your essays capture everything about you? There are too many false rumors on CC as well. Just go with your instincts and whip out a sincere application. </p>

<p>Lastly, RSI really values charisma. Everyone at RSI has truly been an inspiration to me. Good looks are really important in the process too--after you're accepted, they ask you to send in pictures of yourself to confirm that you are the same person they saw when they hacked and creeped your Facebook. I was a little bit afraid, as I had put on quite a few pounds in the beginning of the year and looked completely different. Anyway, I'd make sure you keep those social networking sites clean until after decisions are out. Remember, RSI looks for well-rounded people with personality--not just people flowered with awards and high test scores. </p>

<p>Best of luck!
MYM</p>

502

<p>Ill be very honest, reading your first paragraph makes me wana throw up (ONLY 2390, ONLY 1 point away from MOP, ONLY USAPHO, ONLY USABO, ONLY Siemens semifinalist...) ONLY Nobel Prize.</p>

<p>Your humbleness obviously isnt working on me.</p>

<p>I hope you are kidding...</p>

503

<p>I agree HiPeople - </p>

<p>Good looks are really important in the process too-- THIS IS A JOKE</p>

<ul>
<li>While it is true that colleges check your facebook, i don't know if RSI does</li>
</ul>

504

<p>ya i didnt read that last paragragh lol...whole thing a joke? almost seems like he/she is actually trying to help, but the way that he/she writes it, it is basically trying to discourage everybody</p>

<p>good thing i edited it at 4:11 and you posted yours at 4:12, now when RSI checks this thread, they wont think im some idiot that fell into that trap (if its a joke).</p>

<p>oh yea about those ONLYs, ill just tell you ive NEVER made it to USABO, USPHO, UNSCO...my SAT score is 2240...hmm I was like 9 points from MOP...and I have NEVER done any research, coundnt possibly be Siemens semifinalist.</p>

<p>^^^and the majority of applicants are exactly like me...so the way that you are writing it, it almost seems like you want to discourage all of us from applying.</p>

505

<p>All quotes are from MyMao09</p>

<p>"Hey guys, I'm so glad there are so many RSI '09 hopefuls! I'm an '08 Rickoid, and I just wanted to tell you that really, RSI doesn't care THAT much about simply accomplishments and test scores. It's your PASSION that matters."</p>

<p>-SO FAR TRUE</p>

<p>" I mean, I only made a 2390 on my SAT, which was a major disappointment. "</p>

<ul>
<li>OH Boohoo... you're better than most RSI applicants</li>
</ul>

<p>"I turned out to only be a USAPho, USABO, and Siemens semifinalist. "</p>

<ul>
<li>Congrats</li>
</ul>

<p>"In freshman year, I got an 11 on AIME but missed making MOP by 1 point on the USAMO. =("</p>

<p>-Congrats</p>

<p>"Despite ALL of these failures,"</p>

<p>-WHAT!! FAILURES!!! You are an extreme overachiever</p>

<p>" I still managed to get into RSI. Think about all the kids applying with perfect scores and international competitions. "
-FEW</p>

<p>"The fact that someone like me got in means that "</p>

<p>-None of us can get in</p>

<p>"these AREN'T the most important things. It's PASSION that gets you into RSI. "
-TRUE</p>

<p>"I honestly feel like you should spend less time on this thread debating stats and chances and more time on your actual apps--how can you make your essays capture everything about you? There are too many false rumors on CC as well. Just go with your instincts and whip out a sincere application. "</p>

<p>-But..But.. that destroys the point of the thread - </p>

<p>"Lastly, RSI really values charisma. Everyone at RSI has truly been an inspiration to me. "</p>

<p>-INTERESTING</p>

<p>":Good looks are really important in the process too--"
- YOU'RE BLUFFING!!! :O</p>

<p>"after you're accepted, they ask you to send in pictures of yourself to confirm that you are the same person they saw when they hacked and creeped your Facebook. I was a little bit afraid, as I had put on quite a few pounds in the beginning of the year and looked completely different. Anyway, I'd make sure you keep those social networking sites clean until after decisions are out. Remember, RSI looks for well-rounded people with personality--not just people flowered with awards and high test scores. "</p>

<ul>
<li>ALL THE REST IS VERY TRUE</li>
</ul>

506

<p>Hi everyone! Another RSI 08' here! The last time I looked at this thread there were only a few pages. Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know that CC is the worst place become inspired to apply to RSI. Reading all these posts from other amazing people will only make you more stressed (I still read them last year.). Do yourself a favor and don't worry about the other people applying or their stats or your chances. Just express your passion for whatever it is you love about your field. Be open.</p>

<p>Although many people at RSI have excellent scores (come on, a 2390 is good), MyMao09 is right that scores and accomplishments are not you and RSI knows that. I had never heard of many of the research competitions I now have competed in and did not have perfect scores. Though none of us really know what it takes to get in (we never even find out who is one the Adcom), don't worry about stats to much and just show who you are.</p>

507

<p>OH - HiPeople</p>

<p>I'll probably make it to USNCO this year and USAPHO next year, but that ! I'll never reach that level of perfection.</p>

508

<p>oh yea about that...</p>

<p>if you do make it, since its in march, are you allowed to tell them about that score/accomplishment? Do you know?</p>

<p>I tried emailing them, they havent responded back in 5 days...</p>

<p>And btw, if people on CC have these stats, imagine those people that just sit at home with no life (and have all these big accomplishmens) that will also apply to RSI...i guess theres no way im getting in...might as well donate the 50 bucks to some good cause.</p>

<p>hmm really, accomplishments>passion, just like sports, talent>character (if you dont have the talent, why would i even sign you...i dont care how much you love football)...its just a fact of life...sure you can make up some ground with your passion (like if you have lesser accomplishments), but if you dont have any accomplishments, who cares about your passion? </p>

<p>and to attest to that, apparently some person like 3 years ago was a complete jerk but made it to RSI because he had siemens regional finalists/one of the olympiads...apparently in his senior year, he would get all these leadership positions in the clubs just for colleges/then quit all of them after he got accepted to colleges...i hope he fails in college, doesnt even deserve anything, i met him once, and he would just brag about all his accomplishments and say that they were so easy and took no effort.</p>

509

<p>^most other summer programs allow that - i know SSTP and HSHSP do. Im not sure about RSI</p>

<p>-Yeah this thread is our only hope since the RSI office is on vacation - thats probably why theres been such a boom in popularity</p>

510

<p>As the REAL person who mymao09 is pretending to be, let me say this:</p>

<p>It's great that all of you guys are bright students who want to apply to RSI. I hope that you get in, or if you don't, that you find some other fulfilling summer experience. But maybe you guys should learn some common sense and know when people are trolling around on forums. It's pretty ridiculous that you're taking this person's post so seriously when it's quite obviously a joke. I'm not the type of person who needs to post my stats on CC to boost my ego, and I wholeheartedly agree that competitions and stats aren't everything; application essays and recs are so important. Maybe you should get off this thread and work on those.</p>

<p>SO don't freak out, and don't be so gullible. </p>

<p>-the real "MYM"</p>

511

<p>Dont get disheartened by MyMao09.<br>
IT is true that passion is more than accomplishments, although i think you can make RSI if you show that much awards - they care more that you participated.</p>

512

<ul>
<li><p>were not gullible... you overdid your haughty,proud voice</p></li>
<li><p>I'd say a 2290 SAT and participate in all of those and a siemens finalist - we might have believed this is real.</p></li>
<li><p>But ^ i REPEAT you have NOTHING TO LOSE ( except 50 bucks) and EVERYTHING TO GAIN by applying to RSI</p></li>
</ul>

513

<p>@ HiPeople I could say the same</p>

<ul>
<li>USING your example... who wants that jerk? If he is not passionate than it doesn't matter about talent</li>
</ul>

514

<p>What are my chances?</p>

<p>School: Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics. It is a junior+senior only school, with all classes being at university level. It does not use GPAs, but rather just sends a complete grade report.</p>

<p>ACT: 35 M, 36 R</p>

<p>PSAT: Too horrible to mention (I got a 71 in math; managed to misread two questions, missed one of the "very easy" quesions).</p>

<p>AMC/AIME: Last year I made a 100.5 on AMC, 3 on the AIME. This year I fully expect to answer at least 19 AMC questions (unfortunately, knowing me I will add 5 and 6 wrong and miss at least one simply because of that; actually nm, AMC is multiple-choice, I don't need to worry), and at least 6 or so AIME questions. Unfortunately, AMC+AIME scores might not be compiled until after March. Honorable mention (5th place) on the OSU Math Contest (one of the only serious high school math contests Oklahoma offers).</p>

<p>GPA: Not a 4.0; more like a 3.9 (3X I just didn't feel like doing homework; how stupid of me, and 1X I was aiming for an 89.5, and when I realized that I'd miss by 0.1% I was too lazy to sit in a room for a couple of hours for the extra credit I needed). However, last semester (my first at OSSM), I stopped being quite so apathetic; I am one of ~3 juniors that only has one B, and there is only one junior that probably has straight As (my B was given to me by the teacher that grades based on how much he sees you working; although I did quite well (high 90s) on his tests, my "participation grade" and final score (which we never actually see) were surprisingly low, giving me an overall average of exactly 88, which is what the vast majority of mid-to-high Bs in his class are)</p>

<p>Courses: I'm currently enrolled in Thermal Waves and Optics, Electronics, Multivariate Calculus, Chem II (second half of AP Chem). I expect Electronics to help with this quite a bit, although in retrospect I should have tried to get a mentor; I could probably still talk the school into letting me take a mentorship though: how much would that help?</p>

<p>Programming languages: Java, LaTeX, TI-BASIC, TI machine code. Learning C++, MathLab, might start Mathematica.</p>

<p>Previous research: None. Nada. Nothing whatsoever (unless a 9th grade ping-pong ball launcher project counts, in which I simply stuck a mouse-trap on a brick, taped a spoon on the mouse-trap, and spent the 3 days I was supposed to be building my launcher practicing. I made a high A thanks to the large number of points I scored.). However, one of the computer science teachers at my school has an Erdos number of 3 (and I'm sure he'll let me work with him if I ask), and mentorships with actual researchers are probably available.</p>

<p>APs: My old school would only let me take 1 my sophomore year. However, I took three, making two fives and a very disappointing 4 (in Calc AB of all subjects; according to my friend and main competitor, the teacher really sucked though and we didn't get even 80% through the course).</p>

<p>Competitors: A good friend of mine who has been 1 point ahead of me in most things that matter since last school year, and is now starting to be progressively farther ahead of me (although I did beat his math average last semester :p). Aside from that, I doubt there is anyone else in Oklahoma that would make for serious competition.</p>

<p>Again, what are my chances? I feel quite bad since I've just realized how very much my laziness has hurt me (I could have easily been one of the many winners of the ACSL, had I actually taken it). I also doubt I could write excellent essays; how good do you think my essays would have to be?</p>

515

<p>lol 2390 SAT (not 2290)...anyways i dont think those stats are false...she mighta been trolling but i she wasnt lying</p>

<p>The user DataBox once posted something about her on here...anyways doenst matter...im guessing if he were on, he would recognize her in a minute.</p>

<p>yea you live in texas, so you know all about TO...doesnt matter how how bad of a team player he is, all teams will be willing to take him in a heartbeat...its about talent...and hes gonna go down possibly as the 2nd greatest WR ever.</p>

<p>just like in football, ill rather take a running back that runs a 4.3/bad teammate than a guy that runs a 4.8/great teammate/great leader/effort. That 4.8 isnt gonna allow you to outrun some defensive lineman</p>

<p>^dude doesnt matter, just apply, you have pretty similar stats to most people...besides you are OU...if there is SOME geo. affirmative action, you would have even better chance.
wait you can put Latex? Lol i never even learned it personally (like in a class, tutorial) but i just quoted other people from aops and i learned it pretyt quickly</p>

516

<p>Passion, unfortunately, can often be faked. That's what I see a lot on CC, anyways.
HiPeople: I agree about what you said. There's probably other people NOT on CC just like that jerk applying to RSI. Probably 1000 others. If that's the kind of ppl RSI accepts (a post-ISEF ego-massage program, it seems sometimes, unfortunately), then I would not want to go.
Just out of curiosity, is anyone applying to the SUNY program Simon scholars?</p>

517

<p>Ok I have no research. Most people that are applying have no research/useless research. Some people have some big awards. But most people that I know that are applying have no big awards.</p>

<p>I know that around 10 other people from my school are applying. None of them have any olympiads. None have any research competitions/real research. They all do have 220+ PSAT/3.95+ GPA, but thats not really gonna make you stand out.</p>

<p>So yea just what everyone else says, just give it a shot.</p>

<p>Anyways, yea passion can easily be faked. Especially if you are a jerk in the first place, most of those people are great liars.</p>

<p>Never heard of SUNY, but im gonna apply to some other research programs in my state (at local universities) also. </p>

<p>And the thing is, we had around 3 people at our school that were Siemens Seminalists this year. All 3 went to those summer programs at local universities. They didnt even apply to RSI because they knew they had no chance.
So yea, it shows that if you really are dedicated, you will succeed.</p>

518

<p>Haha yeah HiPeople those stats are definitely the real deal...check this out for verification: 2008</a> Physics Olympics</p>

<p>May I just add asdfpoty (in case you ever look at this thread again)- you're amazing, a true inspiration for all of us, good luck with college admissions (I'm sure you don't need it tho :D).</p>

519

<p>hrmmm guys it is not necessary to be like amazing
like i hadn't taken the SAT for four years before applying to RSI so i just wrote in my scores from a 7th grade talent search (this was the OLD sat)
also like i got B's in freshman and sophomore years OMGLOLWUTBBQ B's oh no oh no seriously!!!!!!!
also like i did not do MOP or USAPHO or USACO or USABO or USAASDFASDFASDFO
also like i did not do STS or ISEF or intel "yay i can do science too"
and i did not get perfect on my PSATs
and i asked for recommendations from teachers whose classes i didn't really try in</p>

<p>but i still got into RSI 2008</p>

<p>i don't know if there's ANY SIGNIFICANCE TO THIS other than the fact that MAYBE JUST MAYBE people who get into RSI have lives KEEP IN MIND THIS IS MAYBE JUST MAYBE i'm not 100% sure but i think that everybody at RSI 2008 had a life</p>

520

<p>also i'm from NORTH CAROLINA but that has NO SIGNIFICANCE FOR RSI ADMISSIONS it is just so that all the real `08 rickoids posting here know who i am</p>