WhartonMaster

Indian male...14 AIME? which year was this? (that makes my 11 AIME look horribly low D: )

and I think I know #1 =)

cmwebs

I know someone who attended RSI last year. I dont know any of his credentials other than that he was dual enrolled in college and High School.
Also, im working on finding competitions to compete in that would look good on my application.
Is Putnam a wildly known competition?

ExhibitB

I guess what makes this program so other worldly is that RSI is helping to pick out the future leaders of science. Someone also said that they support RSI'ers for the rest of their careers. It must be like those super, super exclusive clubs at some of the Ivies where members turn into presidents, senators, captains of business and industry.

I have strong grades at a very competitive HS, very strong SAT's, two national ec's, and an article that is going be published in a science magazine. But no one would look at me and say "YOU THERE! GO FORTH AND LEAD THE WORLD!"

But I MUST apply!!!! Even if the odds are less than 2 or 3 percent. Maybe they'll make a mistake and chose me

geomom

Nobody looks at a 17 year-old and says "YOU THERE! GO FORTH AND LEAD THE WORLD!" (unless you are Alexander the Great). However RSI does, as you say, try to grow you into a leader. It works not because they are a *SECRET* society, but because they are a society that stays in touch and supports each other.

For example, in his most challenging class this semester, DS has 3 other Rickoids. They study together, and they hang out. The good news is that you don't have to go to RSI to have this. You could find like-minded, likable, smart, curious students and band together on your own, and have a pact that you will excel. It's sort of like the wizard of OZ. You don't need the wizard, you need the friends and the experiences that will make you grow and realize you have a heart, brain, and courage. That said, RSI, like the Emerald City, is pretty darn cool. Going to RSI makes all that personal growth stuff a lot easier than going it on your own.

So, ExhibitB, in addition to your whizzy credentials,

"I have strong grades at a very competitive HS, very strong SAT's, two national ec's, and an article that is going be published in a science magazine." (These are truly good things, by the way.)

I'm going to give you advice (based on a sample size of one)
1. Take your time writing your application. It took DS about 2 straight weeks of work. Especially for the questions about what fields and questions you find interesting, research what you are saying. Make it specific, but also make it exciting. Oh, and don't BS -they'll know. This isn't high school.
2. Know what you are shooting at. Find somebody's successful application. Don't copy it, of course, but think about why it is good. Make yours better.
3. I suspect some of what they are looking for is character. Would you want to be in a secret society with you? Do you show initiative? Do you encourage other people?

Just from the last two posts I can tell you are funny and charming. That's a good start.

tsubomi1993

I live in NJ, and we have a really good Governor's School for the Sciences - however, if I apply (the application comes out really soon), and I were to be accepted, it would be binding and I could not apply to summer programs like RSI, SSP, or WTP. However, I have a much better chance of getting into Gov. School and I'm not really confident in my chances at RSI, even thought I'd much rather attend RSI than Gov. School.

If I don't apply to Gov. School and I'm rejected from RSI (which is probably going to happen) - is that too big of a risk?

Thanks so much if you can help...if you need stats or anything you can PM me :]

masterchief1

yea that is probably not worth the risk, honestly the chances of anyone getting into RSI is a crapshoot- and if you would enjoy this Gov school program(even if you wont as much as RSI) you should strongly consider taking that more concrete option. The summer before your senior year is the MOST Crucial, and you definitely dont want to be caught without anything.

ExhibitB

Geomom, thank you so much for such good advice!

I think the problem for me - and many others - is that there is not another summer program with this kind of research opportunity I searched the web and found several RSI papers. OMG! Their research ranges from impressive to ground breaking - all at the college graduate level or beyond. Way beyond.

I also read some of the posts from other years (2008 and 2006). RSI is also fun!!!

No wonder everyone is pounding on the door!

QuanLumeWanderer

1. Apply to RSI if you think you'll like the experience, not for transcript-boosts. If you're not really interested in science research, you'll probably feel left out of the excitement.

2. RSI is extremely selective, students with national awards are often rejected. However, students without national awards are often accepted too. It's definitely worthwhile for anyone interested to apply, but just don't hinge all of your summer plans on RSI.

3. The former PA Gov schools allowed accepted students to go to significantly better opportunities despite the binding nature of the Gov school applications. RSI definitely counts as a better opportunity. Perhaps the NJ Gov schools work the same way.

4. RSI is ridiculously fun, and I wish all of you good luck on your future applications (though it's only September).

ExhibitB

I have already started working on my application (2 drafts completed). Actually I'm using last year's application until 2010 is posted (anyone know when?).

I decided I will use most of my free time (after homework, weekends, vacation) to create my "masterpiece." Then I started thinking that it's not about being perfect, it's about being me (and I'm far from a masterpiece!)

Anyway, I know that RSI is a major, major deal... for research opportunities, for college acceptance, for careers. According to my GC there is no other program in the nation or even the world, that compares. That is why... back to work on my app I go!

geomom

Another small nugget of advice for your application: RSI is at MIT. If you know what department at MIT you would like to do your RSI research, it is easy enough to look up the professors in that department, see what their research is and think about what YOU think is most interesting in those fields. Then, read some journal articles, read some background information, read some more journal articles. See if you can really understand what is going on in your favorite sub-field.

Your application isn't just about you and your potential, it is also about your enthusiasm and knowledge of scientific ideas, and how you engage with ideas.

ExhibitB

Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.

I was asking my Physics teacher about RSI and it turned into a classroom discussion. Anyways, two of the smartest kids in the class (one of which is the smartest student in our school - 2340 SAT, three Subject II scores above 750, 4.0 unweighted GPA, research at a university, blah, blah) said they are going to apply. There is NO way I can compete with them on numbers except I know I care more about science.

I know it's not right to be so competitive but I wish I hadn't made such a big thing about RSI



Oh well, it just means my essays are going to have to be way better than theirs.

MeSsIaH.

Hey, how would you say my stats look so far

GPA: 3.97, school doesn't weight or rank
PSAT: Something weird would have to happen for me not to break 230
SAT IIs: 800 math 800 chem 790 bio m 770 world history

USABO semifinalist
150 AMC 10, 8 AIME (I swear, problems 10-15 were alot harder on AIME II than I), USAMO qualifier
wins in statewide math/bio contests
summer 09 research experience at UChicago (I have enough results to talk about ~30 min, but no publications)
little stuff like science team captainship

I think I can count on good recs from math and science team coaches, the rest of my school is meh so people think I'm god.

For the essay, should I talk alot about my research, or will that just make rsi admissions people go "this guy is doing fine, he doesn't need rsi"?

TJJunior

I'm also a junior this year.

GPA: 3.97
PSAT: taking oct 14
SAT: taking oct 10
SAT II: Math 800
AP Calc BC: 5
If my SAT I goes well on Oct 10, I will take Chem/Phys SAT II in november. If not I will retake SAT I.

Recs from my math coach and an intelligent chemistry teacher that's had me for 2 years.

-144 AMC 10a, 150 AMC10b, 7AIME II, 8 USAMO (all as a 10th grader in '09)
-1st place AMTNJ Contest (Association of Math Teachers of NJ Contest)
-Princeton University Math Competition
* 1st place overall Div B in 2009 (so long anonymity)
* 1st place team Div B 2009
* 2 time finalist Div B in 2008,09
-Will self-study AP Compsci AB book and AP Statistics and maybe Physics C (I know that there is only the A test for Compsci this year but I have the AB book 2009 and might as well use it to prepare for the AP.)
-Taking AP Chemistry/Organic Chem, if that's relevant.
- Science Olympiad this year
-Taught math to middle schoolers during a summer camp
-learned math at UT Dallas over the summer (AwesomeMath)
- Computer skills : Java (at least by then), Mathematica, CAD, Word, Excel, PPT
- 2 years of lab experience (my school integrates it into fresh/soph year classes) in Chem/Phys/Bio
- Research Project under a chem teacher (using FTIR spectroscopy to determine whether an oil is pure or has been diluted).

1) By the way, is there a 2010 RSI website out? I remember finding last year's application by websurfing a while.
2) How do the stats look?
3) Any last minute advice for me?
4) Kind of unrelated: Is there any stuff that will be on the 2010 AP Compsci test that isn't in the A/AB Barron's AP Book 2009?
5) Kind of unrelated: Is it possible to self-study Barron's AP Phys C and get a 5, or do you really need a class to learn it?

geomom

Answer to 5), above: Use MIT's OpenCourseWare 8.01 and 8.02 to self-study for AP Physics C. Way more fun than just reading a book.

MeSsIaH.

bump 10 char