<p>also, do you already have to know a ton about your topic?</p>
<p>well, you have to know enough to be able to talk about why you are interested in your subfields.</p>
<p>I’m kinda joining in late here, but a couple questions for the app:</p>
<p>I have the same teacher for AP Physics/Stats (my in school math class). I also take multi-variable calc and then Diffy Qs at the local community college, but the class sizes are really big, so I’d rather not get a math recommendation from that teacher. Any ideas as to what I should do?</p>
<p>Another question:
Should the essays be technical and assess research and stuff that has already been done? So far, mine just consists of me gushing about how bioinformatics is the coolest field in the world (IT IS!) and how I’d love to research it/learn more. Should I talk about applicability, etc?</p>
<p>Is RSI only for hardcore science people? I want to go to a MIT summer program, but I can’t go to MITES since i’m Asian.
I have all the grades, test scores for these stuff, but I never really had an opportunity to get into research. I don’t even know much about fields of science… i just pwn up my science/math classes.</p>
<p>^ Are you Kevin Lu? Did you go to Explo before…?</p>
<p>hey, guys. and yes, it’s another “chance me” post</p>
<p>I don’t really have any science/math awards or prior research.</p>
<p>However, i am taking AP Bio, AP Calc AB, and AP Stats this year.
I got a 228 on the PSAT, with 78 in math.
I’m on the math team and robotics team.
I still have much enthusiasm for science and math, which i can show in my essays.
I think my recs will be decently to pretty good. I doubt they will be extraordinary.</p>
<p>do you guys think i have a chance?</p>
<p>Chances/Applying</p>
<p>Screw chances. Even really brilliant people don’t get into RSI. Apply because you want to gain the possibility of getting in. Think about it this way, if you don’t apply, you definitely won’t get in. But, if you apply, you’ve increased your chance of getting in dramatically. (Really? Yes. Really.) BTW, there’s also probably little that can be done in improving your stats or award count at this point. What you can work on are your essays. So, stop fretting over things you can’t change and work on something you do currently have control over.
RSI is incredibly awesome; there are very few people who have done it that will say otherwise. You can think about your other summer plans after you get into RSI. :D</p>
<p>Reporting Scores</p>
<p>You can send in official copies directly from collegeboard, but if they take a while to arrive, they will certainly accept the non-official copy you print from collegeboard.com with a note explaining that your official copy is on its way. As for AIME and science competition results, they are self-reported and RSI just assumes that you are not lying. Also, if your PSAT score sucked, I believe you have the option of sending in your SAT score.</p>
<p>Teacher Recs</p>
<p>It’s probably best if all your rec letters are from a science/math teacher. Consider it this way, if you guys are considering RSI, you’re probably all good enough at science/math to find two teachers/mentors who can write you good rec letters. If you really can’t find a recommendation letter from another science/math teacher, it would probably be a good idea to get a rec letter from a teacher who can attest to your curiosity/passion for learning.
If you have a rec letter from a mentor you did research with, I would say you should definitely be getting a letter from them, even more so than a rec letter from a regular science/math teacher. RSI likes previous research experience.</p>
<p>Experience/Knowledge</p>
<p>For bio/chem, you want lab experience beforehand. Not necessarily because it will help you get in, but because you will probably waste your own time if you don’t. Lab work requires a certain amount experience to just learn basic techniques. Also, you only have four weeks to actually do research; you don’t want to spend that time just learning something that has almost nothing to do with the actual research. This isn’t to discourage people from applying that haven’t had experience; you guys should still apply. But, if it were between choosing RSI and a 3 month long bio/chem program, the 3 month long program might be a better choice. As for math/comp sci/physics/engineering, I don’t think you really need as much experience. Also, I don’t think you need to know a ton about your topic; you’ll get all the background information you need from your mentor. It would be best if you knew how to read a scientific paper and have basic knowledge of your field. Although, I guess you probably wouldn’t be accepted to RSI if you didn’t.</p>
<p>Fields/Subfields</p>
<p>These are more just general guidelines to help the selection committee match you with a research project. Most likely you will not get the exact problem that you are discussing on your application. Remember, there is a limited supply of professors in the Boston area that are willing to work with high school students for a four week research project. It may also be the case that you will know nothing about your project until the first day you go to meet your mentor. You should probably express interest in science on this part of your application.</p>
<p>^ thanks for that advice/wisdom!
its bugging me that this thread is so inactive…aren’t people working on their apps right now? I certainly am…</p>
<p>I’m having a hard time fitting everything in 3 pages. Mine is currently 4, after some cutting. Is it ok to use 11 pt font, or change the margins a little to fit the 3 page requirement?</p>
<p>^^Thanks rsiftw! How do we send scores to RSI directly from collegeboard? Is there a specific code to use?</p>
<p>hey guys, so i’ve been reading these forums for a while, but finally decided to join haha :P</p>
<p>well anyways, i’m applying to RSI as well, and i just had a question…
So with the whole “official” score report deal, like when you have been selecting for the online score reports, can you ask for a separate paper score report? Because I’ve been looking for a while now on the collegeboard site, and I can’t seem to find it…</p>
<p>yeahh that’s pretty much it
thanks! :)</p>
<p>about the score report-im pretty sure you can just copy your official score report, and make sure your id/name are included</p>
<p>and i have a question, so some people have talked about how going to ISEF, or some major math competition like USAMO increase your chances. My question is how many people who made it to ISEF have gotten rejected?</p>
<p>I’ve been reading this for like 2 months and just now decided to join. Anyway,
I took my SAT II on Dec and didn’t request a paper copy. So I called CB and asked them to mail me one which they said will mail in a week and then take 2-4 weeks to reach. How can I get RSI my scores then?</p>
<p>–
And @kbbm24 my guess is a lot. Although most ISEF qualifiers will not likely apply for RSI there will still be a significant number who do. So most of them will get rejected, sad to say.</p>
<p>well…why would alot of ISEF qualifiers not apply?</p>
<p>Because a lot of them don’t know about it. Well from where I’m from anyway</p>
<p>oh yeah, thats true. Does RSI advertise at all? (like mail PSAT high scorers or anything)… I heard about it from my dad, who heard about it from a friend’s parent.</p>
<p>I heard that some people received emails. I didn’t. Ahhh if you’re from Texas just know that the person who won Energy Best in category (ISEF) is applying -____-</p>
<p>you guys,
I learned not to worry about whoever else is applying. I’m just going to do the best I can on the application, and if that isn’t good enough for CEE, well too bad. All you can do is give it your best shot, and see what happens.</p>
<p>^Definitely…I’m not expecting anything, just applying for the heck of it…there are SO many extremely qualified applicants…but what happens, happens :]</p>
<p>yea i agree with you guys</p>
<p>but on the other hand what fields/subfields are you applying for</p>
<p>I’m doing Biology- Genetics and Materials Science- Nanotech</p>