<p>@Lise25Plain
I have academic competitions such as USAJMO qualifier, mathcounts nats team, and scioly 4th at nats and USNCO top 50… I think I might be one o the best candidates in Alabama if these are considered. But I do not have that much research experience except for 4 years ago when I got bronze medal in Korea for national science fair and current science fair project that I am spending about 12 hours each week even with rigorous classes/ecs. Do you know if there is any advantage for students from states that are not as strong as MA, CA, or NY, NJ? Alabama is usually in bottom half of the states or on borderline when education is considered. (We are good at football though haha)</p>
<p>Another RSI '14 Rickoid here. </p>
<p>@jhgong: You can talk about it in one of your essays. Some of my achievements weren’t really competition-related but I mentioned them in my essays.</p>
<p>@Mjag1898 The RSI application has a spot for you to mark programming language knowledge - you can probably mention it there. I don’t think it would count as a course.</p>
<p>@Lise25Plain I don’t think any of us would post our essays verbatim. Basically, they are looking for both academic prowess as well as some individuality. You should definitely highlight your scientific strengths for the application (they want to pick people who can do solid research), but don’t laundry list stuff - talk about experiences, not just awards. There’s no one right way to write these. The are several wrong ways, e.g. exclusively talking about awards, leadership positions, school clubs, etc.</p>
<p>@jhgong (your second question): You are definitely a competitive candidate (of course, no guarantee). There are always several Rickoids each year who have little to no research experience. But, I would encourage you to mention your current science fair project (even if it hasn’t won any awards yet). </p>
<p>@dpandah
Thank you so much for such a help! Do you remember kids from any weak states? I know that kids from weak states get some sort of advantage for college admissions but I don’t know if that would apply to such a competitive program like RSI. Thanks again!</p>
<p>@dpandah
Thanks - I’ll perhaps mention it in my essays as well
I know this isn’t something any Rickoid would necessarily know, but do you know how competitive PA is relative to other states in general?</p>
<p>@jhgong Hmm… I think it makes a difference if you’re from an uber-competitive state like California or New York or something, but aside from that, there aren’t really any defined “weak states” that will give you a significant advantage.</p>
<p>@Mjag1898 No idea. The guy from PA last year was hella good though.</p>
<p>I’d encourage you all to stop worrying about what state you’re from. The competitiveness by state depends a lot more on the year than it does on the identity of the state.</p>
<p>What should you do if you barely have any actual awards? Should I even apply? Assuming I pass the benchmark scores, done research on my own, have done a huge amount of independent studying, etc., should I still apply o_O?</p>
<p>@dpandah @rosebud1997
Thanks to both of you for all the tips. I guess I’ll just get to work grinding out those essays now…</p>
<p>@dpandah
Thanks so much! Essays are really the point I’m worrying about. I actually had a chance to work in a professor’s lab this year. (Our school provides a few slected students with such chance. The university is the best in engineering in china.) The professor is satsifyed with me, but I gave up because I’m not interested in the software program. I’m currently doing my own project for the national or if possible the international ISEF. Should I include that?
@jhgong
Sorry, I’m not sure about your question. But, I think you are very competitive.0_0.Wish you good luck.</p>
<p>@Newdle I think you should definitely apply - awards aren’t the only thing that matter and well-written essays about your independent work can really improve your chances. However, awards and concrete achievements do play a significant role in the admissions process as far as I can tell.</p>
<p>@Lise25Plain To be honest, it would have been better if you had not given up since you could write about some completed research in your essays. If you are doing other projects, mention them in your essays (again, don’t do this if it makes it sound like you’re just listing achievements). I didn’t realize that you are from China; I’m not sure if the selection process is different for internationals. In fact, we had students from China last year and RSI rotates the countries that are allowed to send students every year, so you should check whether or not you able to apply this year (I guess you’ve done this already, but just a reminder).</p>
<p>@dpandah Thanks for the reply :)!</p>
<p>Oh, another question… Are we supposed to write these essays like other ones or are RSI essays supposed to be more direct and “telling”?</p>
<p>@Newdle Everyone writes their essays differently. For me, my essays weren’t like school persausive essays but they weren’t completely descriptive either. They were somewhat direct (mentioning specific accomplishments, etc.) but also described things that aren’t really concrete achievements.</p>
<p>So as far as teacher recommendations I had a question. I don’t go to a traditional high school and as a result I have only one teacher that knows me pretty well (there was another, but she retired and is not allowed by the county to write recommendations for the next few months), so I am left to choose between my Harvard-alum Bio professor who encourages research, but only <em>kind of</em> knows me and knows nothing about my academic record really, or my APES teacher from last year who knows me more on a personal than academic level, and might be able to vouch for me solidly but writes recommendations for everyone for everything. I was thinking of making each of my teachers a write-up about my self studying and research interests but I’m just not quite sure what to do. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Why do you have to chose between those two? Don’t you need both?</p>
<p>I have the one teacher that knows me well. I have to choose between the two for the second rec.</p>
<p>@dpandah
That’s true, but since 2004 RSI selected two students every year here in Shanghai(Only in Shanghai, not all parts of China). I will sent emails to CEE to ask for sure. And a girl in my school(I actually know her in person) attended RSI a year ago. So thanks for the suggestions.Wish you gook luck in college application.</p>
<p>I might sound a bit paranoid, but for the teacher recommendations, do those have to be enveloped and unfolded?</p>
<p>Hi, so I have a question about RSI dorming. My parents are strict and won’t allow me to apply to any summer programs that are coed dorming because they will kill me if I get a girlfriend and not concentrate on math competitions. To those that have been RSI what is the roommate situation? </p>
<p>@Newdle I don’t they care if they are folded or not, just that they are in a sealed envelope. </p>
<p>@caltech411 Ok so here’s the dealeyo. You definitely won’t have a roommate of the opposite gender but there will be people of the opposite gender on the same floor as you.</p>
<p>@rosebud1997
Hello! How much does an Intel ISEF Best in Category help? I am from NorCal, and I know that’s going to be a competitive region, but will the award make a significant difference? Thanks for being here!</p>