Chance me for RSI & essay tips?

e_w_13
Tue, 14 Oct 2025 19:41:11 +0000

Before looking at the RSI application, I felt like I had a decently strong profile, but after reading through the different sections I feel really underqualified. I listed my stats/ecs below. If anyone has any tips I would really appreciate it. Thanks

stats:

GPA: 4.0uw, 4.6w

Coursework (including this year): ap calc bc, ap stats, apush, ap physics 1 and 2, ap comp gov, ap lang, ap bio, ap csp

Dual-enrollment linear algebra and multivariable calc at state university

stem ecs:

Astrophysics research published in Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society

ISEF Finalist 2025 (no grand/special awards but a few regional/state-level awards)

NASA SEES intern — research selected for presentation at the American Geophysical Union conference

Volunteer at local science museum and designed & built an astrophysics exhibit

Summer camp counselor at same museum

Participated in university math circle + took advanced math courses

Contributed to NASA citizen science astrophysics projects

Skills: Python, MATLAB, data/statistical analysis

other info:

I have no idea what to write for the essays, if anyone has any tips that would be amazing. Assume rec letters will be good but nothing outstanding. I have a couple non-stem ecs that I didn’t list above but that I’ll probably mention in my essays. I come from a semi-competitive state but not a competitive city.

Read full thread