<p>I am a senior at a high school that currently does not participate in the RPI award, and I was wondering if it is possible for me to, after I get my counselor to make our school a participant, become my school's RPI award nominee if no one else from my school is applying to RPI, even though I am a senior?</p>
<p>I suggest you have your school call RPI and ask them they seem pretty flexible. IF your guidance department doesn’t do it right away, I suggest your parent call. It wont guarantee admission though - you need pretty high stats and are supposed to be in the top 10 percent of your class in math/ science. Good luck.</p>
<p>It is my understanding that the RPI Medal is awarded to a high school student in their junior year. While you might not be eligible for that award, there are other awards that you could be considered for when you apply.</p>
<p>On the other hand, it might be looked upon as a little “tacky” to ask for an award to be given to you, without your high school considering other candidates.</p>
<p>Tacky or not, it’s real money. I suggest you call RPI and speak to the person in charge of the medal program.</p>
<p>Awards belong to those who deserve them, not those who ask for them.</p>
<p>The two sets are not mutually exclusive. There’s nothing to lose by asking.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>Schwarzchild, RPI gives lots of merit aid to strong students who are not Medalists. On the other hand, if you can still get it, it might be nice. MADad, RPI only wants Medalists awarded who are actually interested in attending the school; not just the strongest person. If Schwarzchild is in the top 10% of his/her class, has decent stats, is pretty strong in math/science, and is the only one in the class interested in attending RPI, then asking or being awarded the Medal is the same thing. And if the school doesn’t even currently have the program in place, how else does it happen but by asking?</p>
<p>Our school awards it in the senior year. It has already been awarded for this year. In our district it is awarded before the school knows where the students are applying. Most years the person who wins doesn’t even end up applying to RPI. If it was awarded to a student that does not apply or applies and goes somewhere else the $ is just forfeit for that year.</p>