<p>oh god...jshs this year is sooo competitive for me...it's my second year...damn all the projects are equally good. it wasn't this competitive last year in my region...</p>
<p>local science fair is in about a month. I've only barely started my project.</p>
<p>my mom wrote "application received on time" on the postcard---she filled out everything</p>
<p>glad they didn't add a "not"</p>
<p>the wait is agonizing</p>
<p>sorry, one more question about rsi and college:
i've heard that rickoids getting into amazing colleges is "correlation rather than causation"
so it's the case that "if you're good enough to get into rsi, you're good enough to get into a great college" instead of "you can get into this great college because you went to rsi"
any thoughts (though it's obviously a bit of both)?</p>
<p>do you take AP stats? correlation does not imply causation! haha i love it!</p>
<p>haha i'm well aware
still, so many people say that rsi gets you into any college you want, and rsi must help at least a little in admissions</p>
<p>rsi does help in that it shows colleges that this student has already stood out from the pack in a selective application process.</p>
<p>well if you look at it that way, if you were a Siemens finalist or USAMO qualifier and accepted to xy college, then would your acceptance be because you did amazing research or are ridiculous at math, or because you were just that amazing in the first place?</p>
<p>it's both, but it's not at the same time. RSI shows that you're someone who spends your free time doing something constructive, and that you're someone who deserves to be there - it's a highly selective process, and you must be someone if you're there. (although they can make mistakes, but hey)</p>
<p>the person may have gotten to the top school without RSI, but RSI certainly couldn't have done anything but help that person.</p>
<p>RSI does not get you into any college you want.</p>
<p>Acceptance of RSI alumni at MIT is high (>90%) for obvious reasons (it's held there, MIT Admissions is involved in the RSI selection process and MIT is a sponsor). Next best "correlation" is CalTech, which I would say accepts about 75% of RSI alums. The other schools (HYPS) are hit or miss, don't necessarily view RSI as a big deal. CEE will write three (3) letters to colleges for you, but they're no "silver bullet". More important to these other schools is whether the research started at RSI led to something more significant that could be considered during application season.</p>
<p>So it's mostly correlation, with a bit of causation.</p>
<p>so yayverily is saying RSI might help, but the real stuff is at RSI + winning science competitions?</p>
<p>So to colleges, 1st place ISEF will win over RSI + 2nd place ISEF?
vaguely speaking...</p>
<p>I have a curious question for '06 Rickoids. I was looking through the list of people on the MIT/RSI website who attended last summer, and there's someone called Ann Ouyang on there. Does anyone remember if she was from New Jersey? It's just that I know someone named Annie Ouyang, and she's actually the editor of a section of the newspaper I write for. Thanks to anyone who can answer!</p>
<p>I dunno, I think placing at ISEF (1,2,3,4) is pretty impressive. I really dont think that college admissions counslers will differeniate much between 2nd vs 3 vs 4. Sure winning first is extra icing. But even just placing at ISEF is an accomplishment especially in some of the more compeitive categories.</p>
<p>boo~ i did behavioral science, pretty weak category
it seems like making a program that helps disabled children always win something</p>
<p>this thread is running low on juice. we need to spark up a discussion.
stem cell research/abortion? evolution vs. creationism? alternative fuel?</p>
<p>or not...</p>
<p>Rainalai, yes she's from NJ</p>
<p>alohasam:</p>
<p>intelligent design!</p>
<p>XD</p>
<p>About a month left until decisions!</p>
<p>so, i just wanted to throw this out there for prospective rickoids and other great students.</p>
<p>for those who are interested in engineering, check out Olin College. I just got back from their candidates weekend, and I was the only rickoid there. it's an amazing new place and i recommend looking into it.</p>
<p>We did their campus tour over the summer. Great place! One of DS's friends is going to CW this weekend. If you want to major in engineering, and like a collaborative/entrepreneurial environment, it should definitely be on your list. The former head of the math dept. at Harvey Mudd is the dean at Olin (Michael Moody). The first year grads got into great jobs/grad schools!</p>
<p>Oh no! You are supposed to keep Olin a secret until after my son has a chance to apply next year!</p>