<p>Hmm...I don't think it would be a huge disadvantage if you didn't have research experience. I've heard of a number of people getting in without any. Personally, I had research experience and a nice letter from the director (a Brown professor) and I got rejected. But I probably didn''t have whatever other credentials they were looking for.</p>
<p>if you don't mind me asking, what did your app look like?</p>
<p>Just to warn prospective RSI applicants, the program is somewhat crooked.
1. It considers your location so that if you are from a high-achieving state it is extremely difficult to get in, while if you are from a state like wyoming, south dakota, new mexico, it is quite easy.
2. Some teachers have the ability to let students in: For instance a teacher at a high school near mine used to be the director of RSI and therefore recommends around 3 students every year who are told in advance that they will be accepted. Consequently, other applicants from the state are barely even considered.
3. The DOD selects some students to attend in an outside application process, which is probably much less competitive.</p>
<p>darn! I live in MA!</p>
<p>RSI accepts 75 people, however 25 are international students, if that's what you mean Tupac.</p>
<p>My neighbor got into RSI her junior year (she's going to MIT this fall). Her strong points were mainly perfect 1600, perfect 240 PSAT, and perfect GPA 4.0 (we don't have weighed :( ). Oh, also, she's a good writer.</p>
<p>I live in Indiana, btw.</p>
<p>I don't mind.</p>
<p>White, middle-class, suburban public school (not a competitive one. Just a side note: I actually competed in Science Bowl against your school, which I noticed from your other RSI thread)</p>
<p>PSAT: 220ish with an 80 math
Old SAT: 1540</p>
<p>A bunch of science/math ECs: Math Team, Science Olympiad, Science Bowl, NOSB, and a few other unrelated things.</p>
<p>Research at that lab like I said. Some other random things like a summer program at Brown.</p>
<p>I read my recs and they were very good and my essay was well written, although it may have lacked in content.</p>
<p>What probably hurt me most was that:
1) My background (ethnicity, location, etc.) gives me no advantage
2) I don't go to a highly regarded high school
3) My school does not offer science APs and Calc AP only for seniors
4) I didn't really try to sell myself on the essays
5) Nothing I have done is unusual or would make me stand out</p>
<p>I think that going to Andover will help you a lot but won't be enough to get you in. I've heard that RSI likes people who show uniqueness and show independant motivation. I suppose this means something along the lines of tinkering in your garage and inventing something, but I really am not sure myself. </p>
<p>It looks like you have the basic credentials of anyone who would apply to this program, which isn't necessarily bad, as it puts you in the running, but I still think you really need to find something to make yourself stand out, big time. But you have more than half a year to find something (or perhaps you have something already that you didn't meantion) so just make sure you do all you can this coming year to give yourself the best chance.</p>
<p>Oh, and start your application early. It'll make a huge difference.</p>
<p>Well, I hope I helped a little but all I have is my experience from being rejected, heh. Best of Luck.</p>
<p>lol yea being from cali didn't help me at all. From what I've seen, there seem to be 3 categories of kids who get accepted into RSI.</p>
<ol>
<li>The absolute pure geniuses who win national olympiads.</li>
<li>People who are VERY intelligent (ie, great test scores, awards, but nothing olympiad-like), and also have substantial research experience </li>
<li>People who are VERY intelligent but have no research experience: these people are usually from lesser populated states</li>
</ol>
<p>I'm not trying to stereotype Rickoids in any way. This is just what I've seen as a general trend on this board. There are always, always, always exceptions to the rule.</p>
<p>75 people, 25 internationals. so do they only accept one person per state, or do they don't mind if two or three people come from the same state?</p>
<p>They usually accept no more than 3 per state. From my knowledge of people that got into RSI, the program tends to like students with many very good test scores (several 800 SAT2 science/math tests and several 5's on AP science/math tests) or National Olympiad qualifiers. They do not seem to value Intel/Siemens/JSHS research winners as much.</p>
<p>So... you should hope that no teacher in Mass. has mad connections with RSI and will admit his students (this is the case in my home state of VA). If your hope comes true, you need very high scores on standardized tests, because you are not from an under-represented state.</p>
<p>Do they ask for SAT IIs or AP scores?]</p>
<p>And about the Intel Research Winners, how could they know anything about them since the competition is for seniors only?</p>
<p>It is optional to get AP scores (and I think SAT II's, but not positive). The 1 person/state thing isn't set in stone, but they can't exactly accept 10 people from Cali and 10 people from Mass, so you (not YOU specifically :P )would be at a disadvantage in a competitive state.</p>
<p>Our salutatorian went to RSI a couple years ago. Do they tend to like certain schools? We're the best public in NJ.</p>
<p>RSI is pretty secretive about their selection process, no one really knows how it works. If you can get into RSI, you're basically set for college and can get into whichever one you want.</p>
<p>Gigog I sent you a private message about WTP.</p>
<p>i hope this is the appropriate place to post this but i am considering applying to rsi or sharp and am wondering about my chances. Any feedback would be appreciated. (Rising junior)</p>
<p>unweighted gpa 3.6</p>
<p>calculus 3, differential equations, and linear algebra at my local community college and got As in all of them.
Taking Organic Chemistry 1 (15 credits with lab, discussion, and lecture) during the schoolyear in fall (along with the full ib program at my school)</p>
<p>APs in 10th grade: 5 Calculus BC, 5 Chemistry, 5 Government & Politics, 5 Statistics</p>
<p>Taking the most rigorous classes possible. </p>
<p>good ecs/recs</p>
<p>I reside in the state of md and am a burmese (us citizen)</p>
<p>what are my chances...should i even spend my time applying to either RSi or sharp or both?</p>
<p>u can actually enter Siemens as a junior, but I think u need a partner, but I personally think doing well in Siemens will help pretty well since it already shows ur a dedicated and qualified researcher. trancestorm, i had stats similar to what you have (didn't take community college courses but had prior research experience) and i was rejected, but i'm also from cali. i dunno how competitive MD is, but u've got a good shot.</p>
<p>i havent done any research...i dont think siemens is relevent?</p>
<p>is it?</p>
<p>anyone planning to apply to rsi 06' who lives in md?</p>
<p>mathwiz, They do ask for AP and SAT2 scores. Also, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair is a competition for high schoolers of all grades (millions enter around the world through school/regional competitions and around 1300 make it to the international fair). The Intel Science Talent Search on the other hand is a competition only for seniors (a couple thousand enter and around 1/5 of entries make semifinalist).</p>
<p>Trancestorm, your probability of admission is not too high because Montgomery Blair High School is in MD, and the school probably has a teacher with RSI connections. If the school does not, to have a reasonable shot you would have to have 2300 or higher SAT and 2 780 or higher SAT2's.</p>
<p>ahh not blair!!!
:(</p>