RSI Chances?

Hi, I’m currently a sophomore in high school. A few years ago a friend of mine was accepted by the MIT Research Science Institute and came back with not only an incredible research project, but a profound love for science [even more so than she already had.] As a result, I’ve been looking to apply for a while. Since I still have about a year before the application, I was hoping to receive some feedback on my current credentials, which parts to develop and/or emphasize on the application, and maybe some areas to improve upon. Thanks!

SAT-(780 M/ 760 CR/ 780 W) (I’ll likely be retaking this before long)

Freshman year (97)

Tests
AP Biology - 4
SAT II Math - 790
SAT II Biology - 780
Regents Biology - 97
Regents Alg I - 100
Regents Geo - 99
Regents Trig - 100

Courses
Symphonic Band
Chorus
H. Trig and Algebra II
H. World History
English I
H. Research Biology
Art History
Phys Ed
Spanish II

ECs
Varsity Golf
Chinese school - State winner in calligraphy, talent, art, and speech
TSA - Nationals competitor + President + State Officer
Key Club - District Officer
Editor in Chief of an online magazine
Editor for several prominent literary magazines
Reporter on the school newspaper
Varsity Track and Cross Country
Varsity Math Team
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Student Council Advisory Board
Varsity Science Olympiad

Awards
Presidential Gold Service
All-Cities Semifinalist for Girls Golf
Distinguished Key Clubber
Distinguished High Honors for Chinese
National Bronze in National Spanish Exam
AIME Honors + Achievement
NYML Award
Math Fair Honors
All-City Band Award
Performed with choir in Lincoln Center
Local Science Fair Gold Medalist
Scholastic Art and Writing Gold Key
Davidson Young Scholar
Level 8 Merit in Piano

Talks Given:
Regional Math Fair presentation
Poetry readings at various art houses
Presentation at Key Club Divisional Training Conference

Research
I worked on nanoelectrical research, as well as biochemistry research through my course. I partnered with scientists from NYU and Columbia for the research projects, interning at their labs on the weekend.

Work
Teacher’s Assistant at Chinese School

Summer [Fresh->Soph]
CTY Fast Paced Chemistry
Interned for a local Senator
Interned at NYU lab and published an undergraduate research journal on nanocrystallography
Key Club International Convention
TSA Nationals
Teacher’s Assistant at Chinese School Camp

Sophomore year (95)

Tests [pending, expecting high scores though]
AP Chemistry
AP Environmental Science
AP Psychology
AP European History
AP Calc BC
AP Computer Science
AP Physics 1+2
Regents Spanish
Regents English
Regents World
Regents Chem
SAT II - World
SAT II - Spanish
SAT II - Chem

Courses [my school is very inflexible with scheduling courses]
AP European History
H. Precalc
H. Research Chemistry
Symphonic Band
H. English
Computer Science I
Spanish III
Phys Ed

ECs
Varsity Golf
TSA - Nationals competitor + President + State Officer
Key Club - District Officer
Varsity Math Team
NextGenVest Ambassador
JSA - State Officer
National Honor Society
Student Council Advisory Board
Varsity Science Olympiad
Urban Barcode Project
Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate
Captain of VEX team
CEO of technology nonprofit
Varsity Quiz Bowl

Online courseload:
Differential Equations
Multivariable Calculus

Awards
NCWIT National Runner-Up and Regional Winner
Assorted Hackathon first place and prize awards
MIT Research Paper Award on Electrochemistry
AIME Qualifier
USABO Qualifier
USAAAO National Finalist
Presidential Gold Service Medal
Scholastic Art and Writing Gold Keys
She++ #include Fellowship
Regional VEX Rookie Award
NSHSS Awardee
TSA Student of the Year
TSA State Winner in 4 events + National Qualifier
Talks given:
Key Club District Convention
Panelist for a national student-run publication
Readings for Scholastic Art and Writing

Research
I’ve done research in electronics and artificial intelligence, and my intended field of research will be either computer science or electrical engineering. I also worked a little in chemistry research through my school, but I mainly focused on my internship at NYU. I am currently about to publish a paper on electronics, and was invited to give a presentation at a national conference this summer.

Work
Webmaster for the school website, paid small amount each month

Summer [soph->junior]
Key Club International Convention - presenting a workshop and talks
TSA Nationals
VEX Nationals
NYU Lab Internship
Hosting a technology summer camp for girls
Attending national and local hackathons
Presenting at a national technology conference
Working at a local math circle

Junior Year [expected courseload]
AP Spanish
AP English
AP Physics C
Linear Algebra
Actuarial Math
Advanced Computing
AP Economics
Symphonic Band
Phys Ed

Current skills: Python, C++, C, PHP, Ruby, HTML/CSS, MySQL, Jekyll, Drupal, Web based APIs, RobotC, Lisp, Scheme

I know a lot of this information is vague, but I’m hoping it’s enough to get a general idea of my profile. [I’m also iffy about letting go of my identity.] Please let me know if any more information is needed for anything!

In addition, I am a female Asian in New York, and I attend a public school in the city. Of course, I’m not sure who I’ll obtain recommendations from, but there’s quite a bit of time before that comes.

RSI is very difficult…practically every single ISEF Finalist, every single MOP and USA(bio, chem, physics, CS) national finalists will apply with you which are already significantly higher in number than 50. NY is one of the more competitive states. Simply ask yourself if you are the best science/math student in all of New York.

What are you doing this summer? That will be quite important. You’ve seemed to progress quite a bit with your research, so I suggest you to continue that further. You mentioned your experience with astronomy, so SSP will also be another program that would be a nice fit.

@BasedBioGod That’s actually interesting, because I’m leaning more toward computer science as a possible career/research path. However, as far as the “best science student in New York”, I’m not really sure how to judge. There’s obviously students who are exceptional in one area more than the others [math, biology, geology, etc] who may seem more impressive, but have no research experience. How would you recommend I play out my strengths on the application? For instance, what relevant awards would I put down for the “accomplishments” portion of the application?

RSI is in general very hard to get into. Definitely apply as you are qualified in your own right, but make sure u have backups.