The effect of RSI on MIT (and other colleges) admissions explained

Pre-College Issues Summer Programs
1

<p>Hello, before I attended RSI, I saw many threads and much rumour about RSI and its effect on college admissions. I am writing this to inform people about the so-called effect. I hope my fellow CC'ers who attended RSI will agree with me. </p>

<p>Myth: "Attending RSI = MIT acceptance." Truth: RSI is NOT a guarantee to anywhere. Clearly, this means it is not a guarantee to MIT, Harvard, Stanford and so on. </p>

<p>"So you're telling me that RSI does not have an effect on college admissions?" </p>

<p>NO, it definitely has an effect. But it's not a guarantee. RSI is probably the most prestigious summer camp in the United States and therefore involves the top-caliber students of the whole world. RSI's reputation does not increase your chances of getting in; your qualifications do. RSI does not select academic slackers who then get into Harvard or MIT. They select the best students possible, so it does make sense to see Rickoids getting into awesome schools. Seeing RSI on your college application, an admissions officer will understand that 1) you are willing and ready to spend your summer with real-deal research, not with sunbathing, 2) you are willing to enrich your skills and knowledge with an awesome opportunity and 3) you're ready to take on intensive work. <-These 3 aspects help you stand out during the college admissions process. </p>

<p>During RSI, students are observed by various people ( tutors, counselors, the camp director, and most importantly the mentor) and get a summative recommendation letter from the CEE, the establishment that organizes RSI. Some mentors also choose to write an additional, more detailed recommendation letter for the students. Now you tell me, there is this high-achieving student who made it to RSI and who even got good recommendations from various people involved with the most credited science program in the US. Why the h*** would you reject this student? Almost all of my friends have gotten into top-tier schools, including MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and Yale. I know that the RSI experience is a merit itself and therefore a chance-booster, but I am almost sure my friends would get into these schools without RSI. Because they are EXTREMELY qualified. </p>

<p>Shortly, there is a CORRELATION between RSI, Rickoids, their achievements and college admissions. NOT a causation. </p>

2

<p>I have frequently seen the same comments referring to TASP and MITES. I agree that attending such programs is another notch in your belt in the admissions process, but they are not tipping points. The same qualities that get you admitted into such programs are the qualities college adcoms are looking for. Such students will have high admissions rates to top colleges with or without a prestigious summer program on their resume. </p>

3

<p>Exactly! </p>

4

<p>Also, there is this thing that admissions officers of top-tier schools aid in the selection process of RSI scholars. Hence the high admit rates to those colleges the following year, as the students are “filtered” through the same criteria. </p>