<p>I am about to finish up my application (my teachers still have not finished up the rec letters), and had a few questions. First, would it be appropriate to include a 3rd recommendation from a research mentor. Also, I was wondering if some past alumni or admission savvy folks could take a guess at my chances at RSI.</p>
<p>GPA - 4.0 unweighted
Classes taken by end of junior year - AP World History - 5 on test, AP US, AP Language/Comp, AP Calc BC, AP Phys B, AP Spanish</p>
<p>PSAT - 212 (this is what im scared about) M-70 CR-75 Writing - 67</p>
<p>Extracurriculars</p>
<p>Math and Science:</p>
<p>Science Olympiad - 9th-Present
Math Team - 10th-Present
GPML - State Qualifier
Science Olympiad - 1st place in state
Math Team Vice President
Will begin math and science enrichment program for elementary students second semester</p>
<p>Research:</p>
<p>Have been doing research since beginning of 10th grade in biomedical engineering</p>
<p>Other Extracurriculars:</p>
<p>Model UN - 11th Grade
Varsity Speech and Debate Team Captain
Speech and Debate State Qualifier
Varsity Scholar Bowl
Chamber of Commerce Youth leader (one of 15 in city)
National Spanish Exam Silver Medalist
Given Bruin Pride award in Debate
Part of Healthcare Elite Program at local university hospital
Play Foreign Musical Instrument</p>
<p>Wow, to answer a question a LONG time ago - yeah, I was including some tests in the future... are we not supposed to include those?</p>
<p>And I totally forgot like two of my ECs xDD... wow.</p>
<p>Bleh, I need to redo a bunch of stuff. Any tips on #1? Mine feels so... brief? haha, I mean, I know what I'm doing, but I don't understand how some of you have like double word count</p>
<p>Alright...so I'm planning on applying to RSI. I guess I have decent standardized test scores (PSAT: 80 math, 80 writing, 74 reading; ACT: 35 in writing/English, 36 in all else), but I realize that's really not important overall. Some advanced classes, most notably Multivariate Calculus and Thermal Waves and Optics (thus will have taken all AP Physics classes), but nothing really serious (possibly Genetics next semester also in addition to finishing AP Chemistry); so far a 4.0, but again, I realize the GPA isn't really important either. Decent overall math competition record; a rather dismal 149.5 AMC-AIME composite balanced by a 1st in an annual statewide math competition; top 3-ish in other scattered minor science/computer science competitions. No Olympiads to speak of. Long history of decent violin playing. NO RESEARCH EXPERIENCE WHATSOEVER.</p>
<p>No, I'm not asking what my chances are; I don't really want to know.</p>
<p>My problem: I really want to study math; I was planning to apply in math and either computer science or physics. Now, please let me explain; I really love math. But the kind of math I've been doing so far is the standard curriculum and competition-type math; AMC, AIME, etc.. I like to read/skim physics/math articles/books, but these are almost all of a nontechnical nature, the kind you find on news sites that go "...world-famous scientist solves 300-year old problem and receives Nobel Prize...". So I looked at past RSI research papers (which you can find easily)- I feel that I simply don't have the background to do such in-depth research. For example, I thought about applying under Math-Applied Math/Statistics-Want to learn/research Game Theory and its applications, or some such. Is this normal, or do successful applicants apply with "Interested in researching the effects of Homologous Structures when included in Commutative Ring Groups and determining the outcome on the Pertzmann-Hyderaad Conjecture" (I'm just making things up-I have no idea what any of these are)? Can anyone help?</p>
<p>And hello, Mr. 'Dor. You did NOT beat my math average last semester.</p>
<p>Finrod - i really don't think it is wise to try to make things up. Things you don't understand the details, bu tknow the basics of - okay. So just stick with your original.</p>
<p>My AStrophysics one was exploring astrophysics, and intersection with particle physics and black holes.
For, example, in my debate research, i was doing my own kritik, when I came across Gibbs Paradox. I ended up stating it in my Question 2 - I have no idea about the abstract theory but i know the basics and that it has to do w/ entropy of mixing </p>
<p>(By the way, wkdsid - are you from North Texas? - Cause if you ever heard of the "Entropy Krirtik" - yeah thats mine :), and considerin the science it is extremely faulty)</p>
<p>@ computergeek: You are not supposed to include test you will take the May of your senior year, but i included those i was goign to take this may</p>
<p>@ wkdsid - Bruin Pride award - wow. So youre a good debater turned sciency and decides to forfeit camp and therefore debate for RSI - same here:)</p>
<p>Hey guys, I'm just wondering, for those of you that have conducted research, how did you go about starting it, and how did you obtain the necessary materials to perform the relevant experiments.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you're currently a sophomore, I wouldn't apply. I don't know of anyone who has gotten in as a sophomore, and I'm pretty sure that they will only select juniors (though I could be wrong).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>^Truth^</p>
<p>The sponsor (CEE) works with students after RSI and helps with college information, financial aid, recommendations, etc. They're really set up to help students who come to RSI with only one year remaining in high school. If you're not ready to graduate in 2010, you should wait for next year.</p>
<p>
[quote]
should we include all 11 pages in the envelope or 8-11? It seems silly to include all of the extra information, but they seem awfully picky about what's included.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'd say pages 8-11. There's no need for the info pages before that.</p>
<p>@ imustbecrazy: Well, it's up to 178 words... I talked about what I hope to accomplish in my education career and such, and professional, but what level of detail did you go into, can you give me a sentence to kinda give me an idea of what you're giving?</p>
<p>Let's do this again, but with field/subfields?</p>
<p>dashboard- California
tomjonesistheman- California
MegaVortex7- Connecticut
computergeek173- Florida - Comp. Sci/Artificial Intelligence; Physics/Photonics
hopeful1992- Florida
HiPeople-Indiana
proletariat2- Michigan
funkymunky23- Michigan
dododo121-New Jersey
brownballerina - New Jersey
dbc9todd- New York
klebian- Texas</p>
<p>I don't think it would be presumptuous at all; however, I suggest that if you could instead briefly summarise it in your essay questions, you should do so. If you have no room, I would go ahead and include it myself.</p>
<p>Please continue w/ my list as it is most expensive The underlined ones are those that you don't have and the italics are the fields and subfields</p>
<p>dashboard- California
tomjonesistheman- California
MegaVortex7- Connecticut
computergeek173- Florida - Compsci - AI; Physics Photonics *
hopeful1992- Florida
HiPeople - Indiana
Hopeful&Curious - Kentucky
proletariat2- Michigan
funkymunky23- Michigan
dododo121-New Jersey
brownballerina - New Jersey
dbc9todd- New York
YanoM – Ohio
klebian- Texas
imustbecrazy – Texas *- Physics astrophysics Chemistry - Thrmochem</p>
<p>The reason 1 was so long is that i dind't say what I wanted to do but also sort of why.
AT: wkdsid</p>
<p>Yeah you have a fair chance. Debates research - even though it is informal, and not in lab, you just dont do the experiment lol. Your GPA and awards are good and the fact you are dropping debate even after winning the Bruin award... im assuming your not in a 2 week camp from like whenever RSI ends. shows passion just show good passion</p>