<p>Rsi astrophysics yes <3</p>
<p>As far as the field of interest vs. expertise thing goes, as alsotrollin said make sure you’re reasonably familiar with the field. But go ahead and put it down anyways! You have about 4 weeks for the project itself, and while that’s not a lot of time, obviously if you manage to get into RSI you’re a pretty motivated student who can at least learn the basics pretty quickly. You’ll have plenty of resources in that regard, so don’t worry. But yeah, if you put something down that isn’t reflected by other activities you may end up in another (related) field that better fits your prior knowledge.</p>
<p>@freshman11: I’m pretty sure there have been people without prior programming experience before. It can tend to help, but depending on what field you’re in you may not need it at all (biology comes to mind since in most cases you’d be doing hands-on stuff, and I think it’s actually semi-common to even write papers in Word [versus LaTeX which is more like programming] with bio. Don’t quote me on this, I’m not a bio person). And technically the question is a lot more broad than just “programming.” You may have done some modeling or simulation stuff before that didn’t involve programming, and data analysis covers a lot such as detailed knowledge of statistics and/or excel experience.</p>
<p>So basically, just answer the question truthfully but be aware that it’s more broad than you might think. And if you want to be able to put down that you have prior experience, might I direct you to Starlogo or Netlogo? ([StarLogo</a> TNG | MIT STEP](<a href=“http://education.mit.edu/projects/starlogo-tng]StarLogo”>StarLogo TNG – MIT Scheller Teacher Education Program) or [NetLogo</a> Home Page](<a href=“http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/]NetLogo”>NetLogo Home Page)) They’re both pretty easy to learn so you could probably get to at least “beginner” status in a day or two of fooling around, and fairly powerful for basic modeling/simulations.</p>
<p>Also, how do we officially send our transcripts to RSI? I know my school will send transcripts places, but I’m worried about it not getting there in time or it not matching up with my application… Could I include an official copy of my transcript with my unofficial copy in my envelope? I don’t know what to do…</p>
<p>Also, when it says to include PSAT and ACT scores in part 4, should I just copy my score reports and include them?</p>
<p>In order for it to be official, I believe it has to be sent from the school. If they send it soonish, I’d imagine it’ll get there in plenty of time, and they shouldn’t have any problem matching it up since it should, in theory, include your name and have the same info as the unofficial copy included in the materials you send. Your school and CEE have been dealing with sending and receiving (respectively) transcripts for some time now, and should know what they’re doing. Keep calm and carry on, and I’m sure it’ll be fine.</p>
<p>As for scores, for the unofficial versions included with your stuff, copying the score reports or printing off the website or anything like that is good. For the official versions, your school should in theory have a way to attach them to your transcript, so make sure they do that when the send the official transcript.</p>
<p>@iambenk: You can have your official transcript in a sealed envelop and include it with the rest of your materials.</p>
<p>thanks everyone who answered my questions, one more now haha. My school has put my transcript, confirmations of scores etc into a seal and stamped envelope, so do I also have to include unofficial score reports? My PSAT score report apparently took a winter vacation too…I’m looking for it, it’s somewhere…</p>
<p>You probably don’t have to include the unofficial reports at this point, but being rather obsessive I probably would. You should be able to print your PSAT scores from the website.</p>
<p>At my school, all freshmen have to take a computer science course called DCT. It is not an honors class. I have taken college classes in eight of the sections and an honors biology class, but have no regular level classes listed. Do you think that it would be better to mark that I have taken a regular level computer science class or to leave that space blank? I don’t want them to think that I took a regular level class on my own free will. Also, If I get in I will be researching mathematics. I could either take a college level computer class another very high level math class. Is it importaint for a math reasercher to have computer programing skills?</p>
<p>Thank you for your help.</p>
<p>What do AP classes go under? College?</p>
<p>@RSIuser: There’s nothing that says the courses can’t be courses that were required of you, you might as well put it down anyways. And the fact that it’s not honors is quite alright. As far as using CS skills for math research, I personally used my CS skills for my math research, but just to simplify things a bit (it wasn’t really necessary). It’ll depend on the project, but in general you shouldn’t need CS skills for math research (though there are definitely times when it could help).</p>
<p>@TJman24: I think someone mentioned earlier in this thread that AP is considered “College”, but I don’t know personally.</p>
<p>Also, I assumed in the computer programing skills section that beggining ment no prior experience at all. Was I incorrect in my assumption and if so, how do I unselect my choices? Thank you for your help.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if we’re allowed to send the rec letters separately? (as long as it gets there by January 6th). Or does every single part of the application have to be sent in the same exact envelope?</p>
<p>It probably makes their lives considerably easier if you send it all together, and it ensures that your application is all in one place so nothing gets lost or confused or anything.</p>
<p>For the recommendations, are the teachers supposed to write the recommendations following the template, or actually in the template? I wasn’t able to figure out how to write directly in the boxes on the template provided.</p>
<p>Should the coursework we put just be math(beyond calculus and statistics) and sciences?</p>
<p>@doublesex: I used your code to deselect my choices, but when I saved the draft it set them all back to begining again. I think that the application may mean beginning to mean no expereince at all. Is that correct?</p>
<p>@SniperCat30: It says “Feel free to use additional space or provide a letter on your school stationary if preferable” so your teachers could do it either way. Just print out the sheet and give it to them.</p>
<p>@freshman11: I’m guessing you mean the space for “other” courses on the application, if you have any they should be math/science. Your math/science ability is what they really care about and they get the rest of the courses on your transcript anyways.</p>
<p>@RSIuser: How I interpreted it was that beginner meant some experience, but the application was slightly different last year and if you literally can’t deselect them then it may mean something else. I don’t know, sorry.</p>
<p>At my school the 1st semester ends after the deadline for submission of RSI application and the transcripts include grades only through the end of the Sophomore year. Do you think the applicants have to include any grades from classes that they are currently taking (Junior year)?</p>
<p>Hi! some questions - please answer!!!</p>
<p>1) how specific must the 1-2 questions per subfield be? like super specific or specific enough that someone in mit will hopefully be working on it?</p>
<p>2) if my school doesnt hand out the psat scores until after winter break what should I do? Do i have to provide last year’s score even if it is less than the required 220?</p>
<p>3) is it okay to have no programming/data analysis/modeling experience if i am interested in bio?</p>
<p>4) my cousin is from Cali. She wants to know how difficult it will be for her to get in based on geographic quota, etc. </p>
<p>5) how important is national/international recognition? do things like USAMO, ISEF, etc. play a big role? </p>
<p>6) My subject test scores suck - really. even though ive only taken 2. is that still okay?</p>
<p>Thanks so so so soooooooooo much!!!
-nj</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I think that’s up to you. Your answer to that question is used to pair you with a mentor, but there is no guarantee or even likelihood you will end up researching the exact question you choose. So it’s literally just what problem you think is most interesting, however specific it may be.</p></li>
<li><p>That seems odd to me. Couldn’t you talk to someone, let them know you have this deadline and get your scores early? I would think schools would be willing to negotiate on that. If not, then you have to send something so I guess that would have to be last year’s scores.</p></li>
<li><p>You don’t have to be able to program, but some data analysis ability is probably going to help you. That’s stuff like statistics knowledge or related things. You’re going to need those sorts of skills in bio when analyzing your data which does tend to be a big part of research.</p></li>
<li><p>I don’t think there’s a geographic quota. I may be wrong. Last year most states had only one or two participants at most, California and New York had four each.</p></li>
<li><p>It helps, but it’s not required if you have other things that stand out about your application (“stand out” has a broad meaning). I don’t have any of that and I got in.</p></li>
<li><p>“Suck” means different things to different people. If they’re over 700 it’s probably fine as a general rule, especially if they’re not related to the field you want to research. If you’re really worried about them then don’t send them.</p></li>
</ol>