RSI 2018

Pre-College Issues Summer Programs
41

Aww I’m touched that you’re impressed with that @Radiant but I just wanna let you know that book chapters are much less impressive than research published in actual journals. So it’s really not that great lol. The book is about epigentics in cancer. Pretty interesting stuff but nothing too high level. And with my PSAT score in, I am far less hopeful. But hey there are so many other opportunities out there so no worries.

Also, I’ll just be listing stuff. There’s already a lot of writing involved, so I don’t want to waste time on the resume if you know what I mean.

42

@ritikulous Ah, I see. I just found publishing a book chapter to be impressive because I’ve never heard of a high schooler doing it, though I understand that it’s not as prestigious as having published in a journal.

43

@ritikulous I didn’t do fantastic on the PSAT either. I met the recommendations on the website but I was hoping PSAT would affect decisions too much. I also haven’t taken the SAT yet. Do you think not having those scores would look bad?

44

I have some questions about the RSI and wondering if anyone knows the answers. First of all, does RSI want to see Junior year Fall grade? My transcript won’t be updated to reflect my fall grades until after the deadline.

Second, I’m not too sure how to list my field choices. How does this sound? Field of Electrical Engineering+Computer Science with a sub-field of Robotics AND Field of Energy Studies with a sub-field of Solar Energy.
Are those acceptable fields?

Thanks!

45

Asian who goes to a competitive public school in California.
Note: My school does not offer AP courses to freshmen and sophomores, hence GPA.

4.00 UW ; 4.18 W GPA

Stem Courses currently taking: Calculus BC (at my local university), AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science

PSAT: 1430 (680 Reading, 750 Math) - recommended for RSI is 700 Reading, 740 Math so not bad

Chinese SAT: 750 - self-taught Chinese in 6 months (was born in US)

Currently an intern (w/ professor) at local university researching Quantum Physics and Stochastic Control

Extracurriculars:

  • Started a non-profit toy business (after creating a new toy product) that uses the leftover money for charity
  • FIRST Robotics Competition World Championships Qualifier Team
  • Captain of NASA Space Settlement Competition Team
  • Captain of Toshiba Exploravision Team
  • Developing a “Campfire” story-based app development team
  • Dave Wittry Memorial Programming Contest (selected)
  • Staff writer in school newspaper (competitively selected from top ~5 in class)
  • Astronomy Club (Secretary,Treasurer)
  • Board Game Club (Secretary) - led integration of special-ed kids into the club during lunch
  • Model United Nations (4 years)
  • California Scholarship Federation (similar to National Honors Society)
  • Computer Science Club

Awards: Youth of the Month (represented my entire school), Pride of the Pack, Principal’s Honor Roll, 20+ Outstanding/Commendation MUN Awards

Community Service: ~ 100 hours so far

46

I’m really confused on the difference between the third and fourth essay questions. The third question is “What activities and/or hobbies demonstrate your leadership, creativity and uniqueness?” while the fourth one is “Describe your participation in extracurricular or community outreach activities?” How are you guys answering these without being repetitive?

47

Do the teacher recs have the same deadline as the app?
Also, how much do Olympiads factor into the application?

48

@ham4greys It’ll be different for everyone, but I’m talking about my science fairs and research internships in question 3 and school activities and other extracurriculars (like a community event I help organize) in question 4.

49

Hi,

I am about halfway through writing my RSI essays but wanted to get an idea of where my app stands.

3.93 UW (1 B in Precalc taken over the summer) , 4.76 W GPA

AP Classes: Calc AB (5), Calc BC(5), Computer Science Principles(5), U.S. Government (5), Psychology (5)
Other relevant classes: Biology GT (A), Chemistry GT (A), currently taking Differential Equations GT, Physics C Mechanics AP, Comp Sci A AP.

1480 PSAT, 730 CR, 750 M,

1550 SAT, 760 CR, 790 M, 20/24 on Essay

Haven’t taken any SAT II’s.

Extracurriculars:

Intern at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory(APL), started during summer session, continued over the year, doing rocket nozzle design and thermal engineering–various skills learned like CAD, MatLab, Abaqus, etc.

Captain of a multi-school FIRST Robotics Team, finalists at multiple District Competitions, also World Qualifiers.

Section Leader of Percussion Section and Drumline, Jazz Band Drummer

Lead a 5 person Jazz Combo that plays at various events across the state, including a few galas in D.C. – Organizing and playing charity concerts at various restaurants to raise money for a music charity foundation, a goal of 2,500$.

Various Honor Societies(unimportant) National, Math, Tech, Music, Social Studies.

It’s Academic TV Team(Trivia), Singles No.1 on Varsity Tennis Team, JV Cross Country two years, Math Team captain

Founded a FIRST Lego League team at a local middle school, regularly mentored, continued post-season training and STEM learning.

Work Experience: Working at a Dunkin’ Donuts for the past two years.

Volunteer Experience: 100 hours at a Veterans Affairs Hospital over the summer, around another 100 from various other things.

Awards: 1st place schoolwide STEM Fair, 50+ applicants (not too impressive), AP Scholar w/Distinction, Departmental Award in Math two years in a row, Departmental Award for Music.

Recommendations: Pretty good from two Math teachers, another good one from research mentor from APL

I don’t have any big science fair accomplishments or any Olympiad experience, and I also don’t have any SAT II’s or AP Chem or Bio. Would that one B in Precalc over the summer sink me? I’m definitely above average in math but I don’t know whether I would stand a chance with RSI.

Any input helps.

Thanks!

50

I highly doubt one B will sink your chances. As for where you stand, I can’t quite say. RSI accepts a wide range of people (from people with no experience to ISEF winners and the like). You seem to be extremely qualified (at the very least more qualified than me), so it just comes down to fine tuning those essays.

51

I believe the third question is asking something along the lines of: tell me activities and hobbies you do and how they show that you are a leader/ are creative/ are unique. While the fourth is asking what are your activities and what do you do in them, as well and how do you do community outreach?

52

Hi guys, I have a question about my test scores

I took the PSAT and ended up getting 1430. 760 on math and 670 on reading/writing. I know that the recommended for RSI is a 700 on reading and writing. Should I still submit it?

Also, for my ACT, I got a 32 composite but my verbal score is 28 (english: 30, reading: 29, writing: 9). Should I still submit my ACT? My STEM score is a 34 but my verbal score is way below the recommended.

My SAT subject tests are all 800s (chem, bio, math2)

53

Also, what are some of you guys research field choice and subfields?

54

I’m not exactly sure what to put, but I choose Engineering for the research field and mechanical engineering for it’s subfield, and then mathematical and physical science for another research field, and materials science for it’s subfield.

55

Hi, I’ve posted this before, but I wanted to get some perspective of my stats and my chances.
Asian who goes to a competitive public school in California.

Research Field (Subfield)#1: Mechanical Engineering (Automotive Propulsion)
Research Field (Subfield) #2: Astronomy (Dark Matter Detection)
Note: My school does not offer AP courses to freshmen and sophomores, hence GPA.

3.95 UW ; 4.20 W GPA

Stem Courses currently taking: Calculus BC (at my local university), AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science

PSAT: 1430 (680 Reading, 750 Math) - recommended for RSI is 700 Reading, 740 Math so not bad

Chinese SAT: 750 - self-taught Chinese in 6 months (was born in US)

Currently an intern (w/ professor) at local university researching Quantum Physics and Stochastic Control

Researching automotive propulsion @ home —> planning to submit to Science Fair after RSI.

Extracurriculars:

  • Started a non-profit toy business (after creating a new toy product) that uses the leftover money for charity
  • FIRST Robotics Competition World Championships Qualifier Team
  • Captain of NASA Space Settlement Competition Team
  • Captain of Toshiba Exploravision Team
  • Leading a “Campfire” story-based app development team
  • Dave Wittry Memorial Programming Contest (selected)
  • Staff writer in school newspaper (competitively selected from top ~5 in class)
  • Astronomy Club (Secretary,Treasurer)
  • Board Game Club (Secretary) - led integration of special-ed kids into the club during lunch
  • Model United Nations (4 years)

Awards: Youth of the Month (represented my entire school), Pride of the Pack, Principal’s Honor Roll, 20+ Outstanding/Commendation MUN Awards

Community Service: ~ 100 hours so far

56

Plz chance me.
Asian who goes to a competitive public school in California.
Note: My school does not offer AP courses to freshmen and sophomores, hence GPA.

4.00 UW ; 4.18 W GPA

Stem Courses currently taking: Calculus BC (at my local university), AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science

PSAT: 1430 (680 Reading, 750 Math) - recommended for RSI is 700 Reading, 740 Math so not bad

Chinese SAT: 750 - self-taught Chinese in 6 months (was born in US)

Currently an intern (w/ professor) at local university researching Quantum Physics and Stochastic Control

Doing research on automotive propulsion at home

Extracurriculars:

  • Started a non-profit toy business (after creating a new toy product) that uses the leftover money for charity
  • FIRST Robotics Competition World Championships Qualifier Team
  • Captain of NASA Space Settlement Competition Team
  • Captain of Toshiba Exploravision Team
  • Developing a “Campfire” story-based app development team
  • Dave Wittry Memorial Programming Contest (selected)
  • Staff writer in school newspaper (competitively selected from top ~5 in class)
  • Astronomy Club (Secretary,Treasurer)
  • Board Game Club (Secretary) - led integration of special-ed kids into the club during lunch
  • Model United Nations (4 years)
  • California Scholarship Federation (similar to National Honors Society)
  • Computer Science Club

Awards: Youth of the Month (represented my entire school), Pride of the Pack, Principal’s Honor Roll, 20+ Outstanding/Commendation MUN Awards

Community Service: ~ 100 hours so far

57

Based on my algorithmic computations, you have a 17.374927346648% chance of getting in

58

IM SO DEADD

59

But on a serious note, nobody can really predict chances of admission. Just understand that this is a really, really competitive program, so it’s already difficult to get in even for the most qualified people. Just work hard on the app! You never know what will happen! No shade! I really wish the best for all of you!

60

For my research areas, I was really generic and put biology and chemistry. Under biology I put cancer biology and under chemistry I put drug discovery. I have a feeling that the areas overlap but it’s whatever lol.