<p>The people on the RSI admissions committee that we met over the summer are very nice and very human. That said, people have also emphasized that admission to RSI is just about as close to a pure meritocracy as it can be - but it also sounds like you have loads of that would make you a very competitive applicant even without taking into account life and family circumstances. I also had PSAT scores in the 210s (and didn't submit higher SATs until two weeks before decisions were mailed), and actually ended up submitting 10th-grade PSAT scores because I was taking the junior-year ones while my family was dealing with my dad's cancer diagnosis. I did submit a note explaining all of that with the application, but it's hard to tell how much they took that into account. Side note: test scores probably won't get you in. The consensus seems to be that they're a way of identifying candidates who might not be quite as academically strong - rather than those who are strongest, given the number of people who apply with perfectly good scores. </p>
<p>And again, from my own experience and from talking to other people last summer, the most important thing is showing that you're interested. There's a positive correlation between being interested in a subject and having accomplishments if the resources are available to you (e.g. Olympiads, research, etc.) But you can certainly explore stuff on your own, and if you convey that to the admissions committee, not having IMO isn't going to make or break your application. lol, I never get past the AIME. :)</p>
<p>I have some:
- How extensive should our computer or technical skills be? I am only "advanced" in one computer language (java), is that going to hurt?</p>
<ul>
<li>Also, can i submit supplemental recs? I want to send one from my camp counselor from a similar research camp.</li>
</ul>
<p>-Could anyone who got into RSI post their math sat pr psat score is it was below the suggested level (750 this year or 75 on PSAT)?</p>
<p>It seems like the technical skills would more likely be used to place you in mentorships, based on the preferences of the mentor. A lot of people learned programming languages once they got to the program - think of it more as another indicator of what sorts of things you've pursued in math and science.</p>
<p>My math PSAT was a 69. :) My SAT was a 760. :D :D Your life will not be over if your scores fall below the minimum! </p>
<p>In the past people have said that you can submit supplemental recs - like any other application, you just want to make sure it actually adds something to what you have to offer.</p>
<p>So. A quick perusal of this thread seems to imply that there is a major emphasis on prior research experience. Considering that I have not had any real research internships/whatever, am I essentially out of consideration?</p>
<p>If someone did better overall on the PSAT junior year, but did worse in math, could that person, if he/she wanted to, submit the PSAT if taken sophomore year? I'm assuming that if anything is gleaned from the PSAT other than general intelligence gathering, the math indicator would be the most important.</p>
<p>@Anarch: From what I've heard, I don't think that you should assume that you're out of the running - I think most is based on what you have to say in your essays, which (from what I've been told) tell them more than any amount of research.</p>
<p>Hmmmm, I see about 15ish people so far on this thread for the 2009 apps. This should be fun... and we're beating TASP 2009 in both posts and views!!! as of 10:38 PM server time</p>
<p>
[quote]
If someone did better overall on the PSAT junior year, but did worse in math, could that person, if he/she wanted to, submit the PSAT if taken sophomore year?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I would submit my junior year score just because it's higher, I don't think the PSAT is weighted that heavily in the admissions process. Do you have an ACT, SAT, SATII math score? B/c you could use that if you don't like your PSAT score.</p>
<p>RSI doesn't have very good acceptance rate does it? From what i gather from this site that's like 1 per state ~25 internationals, and probably 2-3 from New York probably not me. One of my friends is building her own cyclotron with a bunch of other crazy people. So my other friends and I made fun of her because we thought she had so much of a better chance of getting in than any of us. I feel like I have nothing to lose by applying to RSI... except I wish like someone's dad said I could apply for financial aid so the fee of $50 is waived and my parents don't lose their money. </p>
<p>On the other hand, applying to RSI is good practice for applying to college and I'll have some sort of college essay done as it is likely I'll write about the same thing anyway. </p>
<p>Erm... would someone mind putting up the deadlines?</p>
<p>January 16
All application materials must be in the CEE office by the 16th
Week of March 31
Students notified of admissions decision
June 21 - August 1
RSI at MIT </p>
<p>Yeah, I actually have SAT scores that I could give them. Do you know if you are allowed to submit SAT scores in lieu of PSAT scores? Or can them only supplement them? (Cause my SAT scores are much better than my sophomore PSAT and also probably better than this year's PSAT)</p>
<p>BTW, recs are really important, too. honestly, I don't know if RSI really cares that you write about how PASSIONATE you are about searching for the cure to cancer or a way to harness solar energy to power the entire world. anyone can say that kind of stuff. on the other hand, recs from teachers show whether you have motivation outside of class to pursue science, etc. </p>
<p>it does not hurt to have taken a lot of courses outside of your high school... higher-level math, or independently studied ap science courses. it shows that you're giving up your own time and pursuing science outside of your school curriculum, which is always nice.</p>
<p>so yeah, my advice would be to not go overboard talking about how much you loooove research. show, not tell. show your passion by pointing to your activities, what you've done on your own time, not by talking about your ambitions because that makes up a pretty empty essay.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Yeah, I actually have SAT scores that I could give them. Do you know if you are allowed to submit SAT scores in lieu of PSAT scores? Or can them only supplement them? (Cause my SAT scores are much better than my sophomore PSAT and also probably better than this year's PSAT)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I think you can, on the application instructions it says PSAT math, verbal and writing scores (or SAT or ACT test results)... You could email Mr. Bowman about this, although he might be busy writing RSI 08's college rec letters.</p>
<p><em>shrugs</em> Then again, the essential crapshoot that they have going on might be more to your benefit than against you, since there are so many upper level people. Makes me feel slightly inadequate lol</p>