RSI 2020

@salexma It seems like you went last year. I have a few questions if you don’t mind! What field were you in and how was the experience?

@descrex Hello there! I was working in Aerospace engineering on electric aircraft. The experience was great! No matter what research lab you get put into, you will be given a lot of responsibility and you will have a great time!

Hi!! I heard that they look into diversity when considering their applicants. If I come from a state which not many people (if at all) apply, would I have a kind of higher chance?

I’m wondering if I should bother applying? I have good grades and test scores and research experience but no big science awards. Also, my STEM teacher that I’m going to ask for a rec doesn’t really know me and will probably write a generic letter. I come from a very competitive high school from which a lot of people apply to RSI. I also don’t have any advanced CS skills. I would really like to go to RSI if I could but it is so selective that I am a little wary of applying. Advice? thank u

@9the0girl7 Actually diversity is very rarely considered. There are state quotas, so if you apply from a very competitive state like MA or NY, they only take 2. But RSI does not take at least one person from each state. I believe that they took 5 kids from the entire midwest last year. This does not mean not to apply, as they do look for your level of talent throughout. Best of luck with your applications!

@jerrysuwu I applied last year with little CS experience, no science awards, some research experience and from a competitive high school and I got in. Try your best and see what happens. It is definitely worth a shot at applying! You never know what will happen!

@salexma For your essays did you go to the limit pretty much on all of them?

@salexma
Any essay advice?

Does anyone know how many kids from California apply each year? It’s a very populated state but they only accepted 5.

@Luna123LC @descrex I think I had 100 characters left. For essay advice, really just be yourself. For as long as I can remember I have loved planes, so in my long-term goal essay I just talked about this. I talked about my love for aerospace and my experience so far, and what I want to do with my life. Honestly for RSI, every single person applying is qualified. Really just make sure that your passion comes out in the essay. The people reading them have to actually care about you, and if you can show them why you will make a difference in the world with your area of research (i.e. Bio, Chem, Phys) then you will have a good chance. You have to show your raw determination and admiration for your field, and then they will believe in you.

@salexma what is the word limit on the essays? i didn’t see anything about a word limit yikes

5000 characters per essay @9the0girl7

To be honest, how many people are applying is almost irrelevant because you need to be a top 5 STEM kid in the entire California anyways, regardless there are 100 or 200 or 1000 applicants.

Is there a thread with past accepted students’ credentials?

No I don’t believe so @Srzxyz

RSI took three New Yorkers in 2014, two from the same high school. So I wouldn’t be that concerned about where you apply from, or who else is applying from your state of HS.

Hi everyone!

I’m new to College Confidential. Honestly, I’m not sure what I’m doing applying to RSI but here we go (also, my sister went to RSI…)
Can anyone please chance me? The likelihood of getting in is impossibly low, but the most I can do is be myself on the application.

SAT Physics: 800
PSAT: 1410 (screwed up math section even though I usually get all of it right on my practice tests due to mental health issues, got a 760 on the reading section, but I know that RSI evaluates people holistically, and even if I don’t get in, I still have my SAT, and I am not a number anyways)
GPA: 3.97 (bad, I know, but I go to a tough prep school where almost no one has a 4.0)

National Siemens Semifinalist
CSEF Finalist
JSHS Regional Finalist
2018 Bay Area Honorable Mention, NCWIT
Presidential Volunteer Bronze Award
Air Force Award, Santa Cruz Science and Engineering Fair
1st in Category, Santa Cruz Science and Engineering Fair
Intern at a group in Stanford —> I think I might be a co-author on my mentor’s paper, but not sure
GTGTC liaison, Stanford
Member of Computer Science Working Group
Head Officer of an organization that is working on promoting computer science education
Currently sponsored by the San Mateo County Office of Education and will work with Microsoft
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Regional Honorable Mention
Founder & CEO of a CS-education nonprofit
Have reached about 200 students over the course of two years and am partnering with an organization in India to bring curriculum to underprivileged students
2019 Bay Area Honorable Mention, NCWIT
2nd in Category, Physical Science and Engineering, Synopsys Science Fair
Navy Special Award, Synopsys Science Fair
GENIUS Olympiad Bronze Medalist
Sigma Xi Member —> Presentation Award
She++ #include fellow, 2019

Just tell me that my chances aren’t 0% and I’ll be happy.

Do you know if connecticut is a competitive state for RSI? And I’m worried that I only have a 730 on the psat math section!

Also, I’m a co-author on my previous mentor’s paper for Nature Communications, but it hasn’t been published yet (shrugs)

Oh yeah, also I’m from California (proceeds to cry)!

Also, one more thing guys → even though I’m a new member, I just wanted to point out that everyone seems SUPER stressed. RSI will NOT make or break you and don’t think that it will. Seriously, coming from the Bay Area, I know so many smart people who didn’t go to RSI and they are THRIVING. It is okay because we all seem pretty smart and we will end up somewhere good anyway. Life is not a one-sum game.