<p>I want to major in Computer Engineering at MIT when i go off to college. I know that by showing interest in a college you have better chances. Iver hear RSI (mit summer camp) is extreamly fiun and a life time eye opener. I wanted to know
1) How do you get accepted to attend RSI?
2) Was it fun?
3) Did you learn alot?
4) Was the work difficult?
5) Will it help my app at all by attending RSI?</p>
<ol>
<li>You apply thru their site: <a href="http://www.cee.org/rsi/index.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.cee.org/rsi/index.shtml</a> It's extremely hard to get in, though, as one of the most prestigious summer programs out there.
2-4. I can't answer these but I'd imagine it's a great experience.</li>
<li>It'll definitely help on an MIT application of course, and many other colleges also.</li>
</ol>
<p>There are several threads on CC about RSI. Here's the most recent thread, started a year ago but still active. <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=101097%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=101097</a> Do a search for the rest.</p>
<p>Is it possible to be accepted if you haven't done any research projects, entered anything in any of the competitions, etc., but just enjoyed your AP science classes in school and read science books occasionally outside of school?</p>
<p>I'd think it's possible, but to be honest since there's only 75 spots they often get filled with geniuses that have something on their app that really stands out.</p>
<p>1) How do you get accepted to attend RSI?
It is NOT true that everyone is a genius, and it IS possible to get in with no research experience.<br>
2) Was it fun?
YES! Of course it was fun!!! 75 talented kids thrown into MIT, free everything, etc. I can't imagine a better experience in high school.<br>
3) Did you learn alot?
Personally, I did a lot of background reading, and I became very learned in a topic I had never studied before. I'm sure a lot of Rickoids had similar experiences.
4) Was the work difficult?
It depends on your project and prior experience.
5) Will it help my app at all by attending RSI?
Yes to a certain point.</p>
<p>Btw, attending RSI does not mean you show interest in MIT...</p>
<p>^It does mean you're part of a crowd with around an 80% acceptance rate to MIT XD.</p>
<p>If you get into RSI, then you have a better chance of MIT than almost everyone who didn't go to RSI.</p>
<p>RSI is considered harder to get into than MIT itself actually.</p>
<p>One person who went to RSI stated that he never really did much research but he did show his passion for basketball and that basketball was what got him into RSI. Strange.</p>
<p>"One person who went to RSI stated that he never really did much research but he did show his passion for basketball and that basketball was what got him into RSI. Strange."</p>
<p>That's probably a joke, lol. I am quite sure someone who does not talk about science will not get in. Was he RSI '06?</p>
<p>"It does mean you're part of a crowd with around an 80% acceptance rate to MIT XD. If you get into RSI, then you have a better chance of MIT than almost everyone who didn't go to RSI."</p>
<p>It's been said before...but Rickoids do not get into MIT because they went to RSI. They get in because they are qualified in math/science terms.</p>
<p>hey corina ;)</p>
<p>I think there is a misconception that summer programs like RSI, etc. will get you into colleges such at MIT that are difficult to be accepted to.</p>
<p>The real truth, I think, is that RSI and other programs have similar or the same selection criteria as the top colleges, and a similar applicant pool. So people who go to RSI, etc. don't get into top colleges because they went: they get into the top colleges because of the same reasons they got into RSI (i.e. research, demonstrated interesting in science/math, etc.).</p>
<p>RSI does help, though, especially with the research.</p>
<p>in other words, you were able to getr into rsi, so you are probabbly qualified to go to a school like mit as well ? </p>
<p>Thats what i figured. Also if i dont do research with a professor is it fine ? Espically if i enter it into a county science fair ?</p>
<p>I think there is also a misconception that people have to do research under professional guidance. I have always done research (until RSI) on my own except for my parents' help with stuff...and I actually think people at science fairs appreciate that a lot more. They see so many research projects that look like they've just been done by a professor and copied by students. I think it even hurts students who work with a professor and really do do most of their own work, because they get discriminated against--people think they didn't really do it.</p>
<p>I dunno if you could understand any of that. :P What I'm trying to say is this: if you really really want to get into MIT, get interested in science and math, really interested, and find something awesome to do research in on your own, whether it's theoretical or practical, and work really really hard for a long time. Then enter your regional science fair and try to advance through the competitions. I think that helps a LOT because it shows you have the initiative.</p>