<p>It sounds laughable that anyone would turn down RSI for SSP or SIMR.</p>
<p>I know for a fact that three siblings attended RSI in different years and Iāve heard from others that they know someone whoās parent attended. I would think that having connections helps, but I canāt be sure. I highly doubt racial affirmative action plays a role, though they might be considering socioeconomic/geographic factors. Honestly, it doesnāt really matter, there are always factors that are out of your control. The best thing to do is not worry about what the end result will be and to just apply (to RSI as well as some other programs), because thereās no saying who will get in, especially when the selectivity is as low as it is.</p>
<p>@ezvcpg, why does it seem laughable? I donāt see how RSI is better than SIMR or SSP (especially since they are such different programs) except for the fact that it may have a slight edge when it comes to reputation. The only downside I see to any of these programs is that SSP has a program fee, and even then it offers financial aid more generously than most universities. Regardless of which program you choose the benefits are probably pretty much the same in that you will learn a lot, have a lot of fun, make connections with peers/faculty, and get some impressive work doneā¦</p>
<p>Iāll assume you guys are talking about the Summer Science Program SSP, not Harvards SSP. In which case, itās not laughable at all. I did my research and decide to apply to SSP alone over RSI/TASP/SIMR. I know itās not quite the same as turning down RSI for SSP after acceptance, though it is similarā¦ and I am accepted to SSP by the way, and have not the slightest regret. SSP is the greatest summer program in the world for to-be physics/astronomy majors, and the rigor of the program matches or exceeds RSI. And, as a side note, selectivity and prestige are quite matched as well, though RSI does seem to have the edge in selectivity lately. Oh and the fee is essentially negligible, SSP is covering absolutely everything for me, including my plane ticket. Anyway, yes RSI sounds like a pretty awesome program, but in no way does it trump SSP.</p>
<p>@Urantiel: yeah, itās true that several sibling pairs (and in at least one case, a set of three siblings) have attended RSI in different years, but itās difficult or impossible to tell whether the younger siblings were given any preference in the admissions process. Iām sure there are a lot of extremely smart and accomplished families out there with multiple children who could get into RSI without any preferential treatment. Also, the older siblings could give advice to their younger siblings on the application, which would be an advantage to the younger sibling applicant even if the selection committee does not engage in preferential treatment.</p>
<p>As for racial/socioeconomic factors, there is nothing on the RSI application that asks for your race or financial situation, so the best that the selection committee could do is guess about those factors (based on last names or whether you declined to pay the application fee, for example). But given that these would be just guesses, there would be no way to systematically assign preferences, so I very highly doubt that race or socioeconomics could play any role at all in the process. In fact, RSI states that the program is cost-free specifically so that they can choose the best applicants regardless of finances. Geography is considered to a certain extent, though, which is why there are so many states with exactly one RSI acceptee.</p>
<p>I see your point LuoSciOly, though it still seems unlikely that three siblings, however exceptional, would be able to get in independently on their own merits. This is simply because the acceptance rate is so low that fully-qualified, stellar applicants are turned down because there is not enough space. The amount luck plays a role goes up with how selective a program is; for example, there is undeniably more luck involved in getting into RSI than there would be in getting into, say, Harvard, or some other program/school with a higher acceptance rate. So, simply put, even if all three were MOPers or ISEF winners, I find it hard to believe that the fact that they were all accepted is just a coincidence, unaffected by the fact that they were siblings or had connections.</p>
<p>@DenisRS of course we are talking about the Summer Science Program; itās the only SSP worth mentioning with the other good STEM programs.</p>
<p>I figured, but SSP seems a little less known on this site than Harvardās SSP. Just checking my bases.</p>
<p>Well, I guess I was wrong, since thereās also Jackson Lab SSP and and Society for Science and the Publicā¦</p>
<p>Well. What happens happens. We can only wish for the bestā¦</p>
<p>Has anybody passed on RSI for Olympiad or SIMR yet ?</p>
<p>Does anybody know how many passed on RSI for Olympiad or SIMR last year ?</p>
<p>@Gradient
Are you an alternate?</p>
<p>I think at this point (late May)ā¦alternates cannot participate in the program!!!
Oh wellā¦</p>
<p>-Gradient</p>
<p>Yep itās official, no one dropped out from the original list this year. That make two consecutive years of 100% yield for RSIā¦</p>
<p>@SniperAce66, where did you get that information? Iāve been told that at least one person declined RSI this year, but I have no way of confirming.</p>
<p>Haha, people outside of the RSI community know RSI facts better 
</p>
<p>LuoSciOly has to be right, as he will be our counsellor this year :)) </p>
<p>How do you guys get the information about yield rate?</p>
<p>Haha I donāt know whether my information is accurate, thatās why Iām wondering.</p>
<p>Ok, so to corroborate, I personally know know a guy who chose Stanford SIMR over RSI last year. Canāt say the same about Olympiad camps or any other program, though.</p>
<p>Lol my yield rate was an assumption - I guess that this year, according to Urantiel, itās not true. Also apparently someone may have dropped last year as well? (according to LuoSciOly)</p>
<p>I assumed 100% because multiple previous RSI threads indicate that no one from the Alternate list attended last year. I heard that no one will be attending from the list this year from a source at my schoolā¦ so either CEE is not picking a replacement for the open spot or my source must be mistaken.</p>
<p>Maybe no one is that āunwiseā to turn RSI down. (Ok, I feel another controversy starting upon my statement )</p>