Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

Hello, I created this post for those individuals accepted into RSI to go and meet each other before the program actually starts. Last year, when I went to YESS, Caltech provided us with a list of contact information for all those of whom were accepted. This helped loads because I was able to talk to a ton of people online before I actually went to the program. I do not think the bonds of friendship would have been nearly as strong if this option was not provided. I met like my best friend in the entire world through a few months of online conversations and then the YESS experience.

I figure that, by us RSI-peeps holding online conversations, we will possibly grow to be great friends and the whole program, expecially Hell Week, will be much more managable.

By Pharaohl97 (Pharaohl97) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 05:03 pm: Edit

Sorry, I thought I checked all the grammar. I feel stupid now :-(

By Fairyofwind (Fairyofwind) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 05:04 pm: Edit

check profile for AIM

By Avatar56 (Avatar56) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 05:27 pm: Edit

Profile has aim/email as well.

By Manyhats (Manyhats) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 07:02 pm: Edit

Pharaohl97 - Thanks for starting this thread. What is aim?

By Staticsoliloquy (Staticsoliloquy) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 07:13 pm: Edit

my sn is xv137xferhxl1f3

i'm from Oakland, CA.
My research might is under Chemistry: Enzyme.
Hopefully I'll be doing research with Harvard Medical scientist on telomerase and its effects on cancerous tumors.

By Bigsteo (Bigsteo) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 07:20 pm: Edit

Profile has AIM. IM for my email...I'm sick of spam
AIM is Aol Instant Messanger (free from http://www.aim.com/).

By Pariah_Papaya (Pariah_Papaya) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 07:26 pm: Edit

My SN is planeshifter2. Looking forward to meeting you all! (still can't believe I got in)

By Manyhats (Manyhats) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 07:38 pm: Edit

Profile has AIM.
Thanks Bigsteo
Planeshifter what is your field?

By Legionaryobelus (Legionaryobelus) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 08:04 pm: Edit

Mine is LegionaryObelus--20 points for creativity.

By Sirhcv (Sirhcv) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 08:29 pm: Edit

^^^^ AIM in profile

By Rennie (Rennie) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 12:37 am: Edit

I'm rennie235 ... how unoriginal. *shrugs*

hrm, btw, are there any on this forum who are girls? Just wondering...

By Manyhats (Manyhats) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 11:16 am: Edit

Did everyone get the big fancy MIT brochure shortly after accepts/denys?

By Bubbloy (Bubbloy) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 02:29 pm: Edit

i got it the day PSAT college mail started. are you talking about the 20 page or so super glossy thing with financial aid stuff.

By Olga (Olga) on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 10:08 pm: Edit

I'm lechat313

By Allencheng (Allencheng) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 12:55 am: Edit

Hey, guys. Screenname: knightmare2k. Yeah, it might seem lame now, but when I made it six years ago, it was avant-garde.

I'm from Arcadia, CA.

By Pharaohl97 (Pharaohl97) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 01:29 am: Edit

Hello Everybody. I was told that RSI was the type of program where the kids actually have freedom! Where "lights-out" doesn't really exist, and theirs time to like actually see Cambridge/Boston.

Do any of you know if this is true? I have had someone recently tell me that they heard the opposite. I am hopings its true because then this would be a wicked summer. My last summer program provided no chance to see the city. It was my first time in Cali and I really saw nothing more than the stuff visable from the airport.

Well, crossing my fingers for the happy-fun times. Its going to be an awesome summer either way it goes, but, if what i heard is true... "heavenly

By Manyhats (Manyhats) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 03:30 pm: Edit

Is the RSI scholarship taxable?

By Korinfox (Korinfox) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 03:54 pm: Edit

uh even though I was rejected my question is, what scholarship? they dont give you money or anything...

By Staticsoliloquy (Staticsoliloquy) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 04:07 pm: Edit

the 10,000 dollars scholarship is to pay for our 6 weeks stay there and other fee. I don't think we can cash it out or anything.

By Manyhats (Manyhats) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 07:28 pm: Edit

Yah, but do you have to pay taxes on it?

By Manyhats (Manyhats) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 07:32 pm: Edit

Me^4 or Ericsmyhome - did you have to pay taxes on the RSI scholarship? One internet site states that you have to pay for the room and board portion. It also states you have to pay if the scholarship is for research. Any thoughts?

By Weirdperson (Weirdperson) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 10:09 pm: Edit

Damn I feel stupid after reading this thread (and the ones that led to this). Now I wonder how I even got in. Like me^4 said, it must be because of the annual game of darts ... and someone had really bad aim .

I applied because my friend, who is a USAMO qualifier and pretty much a genius, also applied (he got in, BTW), but I never expected to get in because

A) I never got past the AMC until this year
and
B) I was interested in astrophysics, but mostly only because I was reading SciAm articles since 8th grade. So I put down what I learned from the SciAm articles and some random books I read, which admittedly isn't that much.

My only hope is that I actually know what my mentor is talking about and I can actually do good research in my field. :D

Oh yeah, and I also have no idea what LaTeX is. Is it some sort of font setting for publishers or something (that's all I remeber from the front of a math book).

By Tanman (Tanman) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 10:17 pm: Edit

I didn't get in but I was wondering how many of you that got in had previous research experience?

By Pharaohl97 (Pharaohl97) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 11:15 pm: Edit

I did lots of independant research on my own. I live in RedNeck Central, Louisiana and the nearest college is about an hour away. I have no way to work in research like at a college lab or anything. I pretty much end up going out, salvaging equipment from the junkyard, and converting my bedroom into a lab. I have a feeling that, that is the only reason I got into the program. I think you need to show high research abilities. They want to know that you are not limited intellectually by anything other than your desire to learn.They want to see you writing grants, searching junkyards, designing science experiments. IT shows them that you can think and that you have research potiental.

By Staticsoliloquy (Staticsoliloquy) on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 11:45 pm: Edit

i agree with pharaoh. Here is a simple equation to getting into RSI. Commitment*curiousity + (passion^perseverance) + initiation = success.

I found no cure for cancer, I didn't published any paper, and I am not the winner of the INTEL science competition. Heck, my SAT scores is 1310 and I'm not in any Olympiad. Frankly, I have not done anything significant but pursue my curiosity in science with the greatest passion since the end of 8th grade. This is all you really need.

I "volunteer" down at CHORI lab. I screened mutant mouse for their genotype so my mentor could use them to do his genetic therapy research. It's menial work, but hey, I enjoy doing it. Last summer, I research at a local hospital hematology lab. I wrote a grant to the NIH and they accepted it.

They want people who can create information rather than regurgitate it. They want students who show THIS FERVENT interest in it. They want opportunist who will take advantage of the world. None of us got the acceptance letter on a silver plate handed to us. We had to work our ass off for it.


ps RSI is definitely not about stats. Don't worry about your SAT and PSAT scores.

By Vinny919 (Vinny919) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 02:28 am: Edit

On the app. though they recommend you have at least a 75 on the math PSAT and 210 overall.

By Staticsoliloquy (Staticsoliloquy) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 03:13 am: Edit

LOL keyword...recommend!!! I didn't have a 75 on the PSAT MATH..LOL you must be outta your mind. My score was like 73 and my combined score was 206. So booyah. SCORES DOES NOT MATTER! and i'm SURE glad it doesn't!

By Weirdperson (Weirdperson) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 02:17 pm: Edit

From NYC

By Modestmelody (Modestmelody) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 02:26 pm: Edit

It depends, its a strange formula. I was rejected from RSI, but I wont 4th Place in the Team competition for the Siemens-Westinghouse competition this year. Ive researched each summer since I am in High school. PSAT was a bit lower than suggested, but the GPA is 4.0 with the hardest schedule availble at my school.

I think I may have upset them by sending in my app at the deadline, or maybe I didnt write an essay that was good enough, but who knows? No gripes here, I've had my chances and success, pretty much all I could ask for, in High School.

Congrats to those who got in, and I hope you all have excellent summers and experiences.

Hey Justin! Congratulations! Dave and I both were rejected.

By Modestmelody (Modestmelody) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 02:28 pm: Edit

Sorry for the massive spelling errors... spell check on Word has caused the destruction of my typing skills.

By Pharaohl97 (Pharaohl97) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 04:52 pm: Edit

Don't worry about it. I am guilty of the spelling errors as well. It takes so much nonexisting time to type it all up in word and then transfer it to collegeconfidental.

I was wondering how in all things holy were you rejected? You sound like the kind of person who I just knew would get in. Are you a Junior? You have accomplished so much in your life and you will have no trouble getting into any college in the world anyhow.

By Whatnext (Whatnext) on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 09:17 pm: Edit

I was rejected from RSI for 2004. I have a great
hands on research experience, participation in MathCounts, ARML, Science Olympiads for the last 2 years. My PSAT is 219 and SAT 1590. I thought I had great chances of getting in. I had some prior RSI folks looks over my essay and that said it was great. Given all this, I don't know what their formula for rejection/ acceptance was.

By Vinny919 (Vinny919) on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 05:29 pm: Edit

I participate in the regional ISEF deal, but I do it with a partner, is this not as impressive and such?

By Crazyjulie (Crazyjulie) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:10 pm: Edit

Hi guys! My name is Julie and I'm RSI 03 and Counselor 04 at MIT. First of all, even though the approximate value of your summer is 10 grand it's not actually a scholarship, so stop worrying about that tax stuff.

Now, onto more important matters, RSI rocks!!! I had SOOOO much fun last year even though I totally didn't expect to before I left. I'm willing to answer any questions you have, so IM me: Julie1126F

I know you guys don't know what campus you're going to be at yet, but I know the staff at both and both will be great...even though I'm personally biased towards MIT. ;-)

All right, that's all for now. I can't wait until June!

By Ecismyhome (Ecismyhome) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:14 pm: Edit

MIT is so much t3h bettar then celltak.
...
well come to our Esseye.
...
Axe Julie about my Topomax, and potentially my broken hand as well.

By Ecismyhome (Ecismyhome) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:26 pm: Edit

"Hello Everybody. I was told that RSI was the type of program where the kids actually have freedom! Where "lights-out" doesn't really exist, and theirs[sic] time to like actually see Cambridge/Boston.
Do any of you know if this is true? I have had someone recently tell me that they heard the opposite. I am hopings[sic] its[sic] true because then this would be a wicked summer. My last summer program provided no chance to see the city. It was my first time in Cali and I really saw nothing more than the stuff visable[sic] from the airport.
Well, crossing my fingers for the happy-fun times[sic]. Its going to be an awesome summer either way it goes, but, if what i heard is true... "heavenly""
-In the words of a famous man, mein freund, "You better believe/the hype is real," for RSI is no-holds-barred, 24/7/42 exposure to the Cambridge/Boston/White Mountains area. You are given full access (and full responsibilities, as well) within the city and surrounding areas. The Kendall T-stop is within 5 minutes' walking distance, and *everything* in Boston is within distance of a T station. Literally, if you want, you do not have to sleep. Literally, if you want, you do not have to go to your room. Literally, if you want, you may go to mentorship and bedcheck and then *disappear* all night. Just please, please, do not turn up dead. Then my good friends arup, julie, cynchi, logand, aparker, mattp, Mrs. D., CEE, and MIT may be sued for criminal neglect by your loving, weeping, parents.
-Other than that? Go nuts. Wander Mass. Ave. at night (in groups of two. Or one. Whatever.) Go to the gas station at 2 AM and drink Hulk. Go to the soccer fields at 1 AM and play Ultimate. Have a LAN party at 3 AM. Watch a movie in E51 at 4 AM. I don't care. Just get your paper done and don't get your mentor's proverbial underpants in a twist.

"SCORES DOES[sic] NOT MATTER"
-Neither does grammer. 'Scores *do* not matter.'

"I was rejected from RSI for 2004. I have a great hands on research experience, participation in MathCounts, ARML, Science Olympiads for the last 2 years. My PSAT is 219 and SAT 1590. I thought I had great chances of getting in. I had some prior RSI folks looks over my essay and that said it was great. Given all this, I don't know what their formula for rejection/ acceptance was."
-I'm sorry. I know it stings... Rejection always does, and the Lord knows that I've had enough rejection recently. I have excellent scores/stats/experience, and I've wondered the same... my only answer? Selection councils can be fallible. Maybe you didn't have "it" that they were looking for. Maybe they're blind and dumb (I doubt it ;) ). Maybe something better will come up. Don't sweat it, I'm sure you'll find something great to do this summer.
-Oh, and a hint. *NO one*, not even Rickoids, knows what the selection committee uses to determine the new class of RSI students. It's a very well-guarded secret, for a good reason - they don't want people to cheat.

By Crazycyn (Crazycyn) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:41 pm: Edit

Hey everyone! I'm Cynthia, and like Julie, I'm RSI'03 and will be a counselor this year at MIT. RSI is so awesome, and I look forward to meeting alot of you this summer. It'll be so much fun, and if you have more questions, you can post them here, and julie, jason, or I will be happy to answer them.

Oh and for you people griping about having good scores and not getting in, really, it's a mystery. I know a girl with 1600/230something and previous research/awards who didn't get in.

By Ecismyhome (Ecismyhome) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:44 pm: Edit

Oh man. It's Cynthia. She... is... SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO AWESOME.
Like Julie.
err...
It's going to be hard complimenting one without having to compliment the other :-[

I love you, cyn :-*
I love you, jul ;)

If any of you mini-Rickoids-in-training hits on either of 'em, I'm going to have to do some punishing when I get up to Cambridge...

By Crazycyn (Crazycyn) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:49 pm: Edit

haha jason, you're so awesome. love ya.

this is an example of the rsi love that will grow between all of you kids this summer.

By Crazyjulie (Crazyjulie) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 11:42 pm: Edit

Cynchi! I'm shocked! It's rsilove not rsi love...and yes, there is a difference. Eugenics rocks my world too by the way.

By Staticsoliloquy (Staticsoliloquy) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 11:56 pm: Edit

HEY, OMG, i am so excited that the RSI alumni are on this board now!! yay

By Ecismyhome (Ecismyhome) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 12:04 am: Edit

RSI alums have always been on this board, mein freund.
And it can be rsi-love, too rsi-love@mit.edu, y'know.

By Sarmathebomba (Sarmathebomba) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 01:15 am: Edit

Hey kids, I'm Arup. I'll be a counselor @ MIT this summer, so rest assured that RSI will not be the least bit boring. My AIM SN is "ArupMan", IM me if you have any questions, or just post them on here.

By Crazyjulie (Crazyjulie) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 01:18 am: Edit

Are you calling me boring Arup?

By Allencheng (Allencheng) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 01:24 am: Edit

"In the words of a famous man, mein freund, "You better believe/the hype is real," for RSI is no-holds-barred, 24/7/42 exposure to the Cambridge/Boston/White Mountains area. "

That is the sweet.

By Sarmathebomba (Sarmathebomba) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 01:31 am: Edit

First things first...get a lot of sleep before you go to RSI, because you will not want to sleep at all while you're there. I had one of the earlier internships (had to leave campus by 8:15 AM), so I averaged about 2.5 hrs of sleep/night. And I had a blast doing it. Bed-check may be at 11, but your night doesn't really start until AFTER bedcheck.

And yeah, Julie, you are boring. Party pooper. :-*

By Allencheng (Allencheng) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 04:09 am: Edit

Can we bring laptops and connect, or are we provided computers after-hours? Who else wants to LANfest?

By Ecismyhome (Ecismyhome) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 12:00 pm: Edit

Oh listen to the Bomba whine
'waah waah waah 8:15 blah blah'
Connie and I had to wake up at like 7:15, and she usu. left around 7:30, and I usu. left around 7:45.
Listen to the whiner whine.
Stop Wheineing.

Julie's only boring 'cos she never gave you any. Or Mouse. Mouse never gave you any. She did, however, teach Tim to order beer in terrorist-infested countries.

"Can we bring laptops and connect, or are we provided computers after-hours? Who else wants to LANfest?"
-RSI's policy requests that students, unless deemed absolutely necessary for some reason (in my year, only 2 or 3 students were 'necessary' - Connie, Nathan, and someone else), not bring computers. There are PLENTY of computers lying around MIT, and when I say ``lying around,'' I mean literally lying around. There are places in EC (2nd floor) and Random Hall where you will walk into a lounge, water closet (bathroom), or laundry room, and a computer will just be sitting there waiting to log onto Athena. However, these are not normal computers - they are Athena terminals. You'll understand.
-There are many better things to do, other than LAN party. There *will* be opportunities to, but don't sit around playing UT2K4, or you'll miss a lot.

By Mindyzhang (Mindyzhang) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 01:03 pm: Edit

ummm .. what`s RSI?
(forgive me; i`m a freshman)

By Legionaryobelus (Legionaryobelus) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 06:09 pm: Edit

Is there a "dorm-certain" for RSI? (At MIT, obviously--nobody knows what's going on with CalTech)

By Crazyjulie (Crazyjulie) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 06:21 pm: Edit

They're still working on the dorm thing for this year because the usual dorm at MIT is being renovated. They'll figure it out though!

By Crazycyn (Crazycyn) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 06:33 pm: Edit

for mindyzhang.. RSI is research science institute. check the website for details http://www.cee.org/rsi/

By Ecismyhome (Ecismyhome) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 06:56 pm: Edit

or http://web.mit.edu/rsi/www/

Something's going on at CalTech?!?!?!

By Allencheng (Allencheng) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 10:37 pm: Edit

Alumni-

When you started, did you know much of the material presented in your final paper? I'll be working in neurology, but I did my previous work in a completely different field.

Also, how acquainted were you with writing a research paper?

By Ecismyhome (Ecismyhome) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 10:39 pm: Edit

The point of RSI is to do research in the field, and then present that research in the form of a paper and presentation - in that sense, certainly I did not know the material in my paper.

I have had, however, extensive experience in writing research papers, and I'm fairly comfortable in presenting research in front of large audiences.

By Crazylogan (Crazylogan) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 10:45 pm: Edit

Hey '04 Rickoids, Congrats to all of you for getting in, you guys are gonna have an awesome time, as you already know. I'm Logan and I'll be a counselor at MIT and was at RSI '03. For the record, Julie and Cynthia are extremely hot, but sadly for you guys, no staff and student relations. But as for the staff, I call dibs on Julie, at least until I get a thumbs down (she's a tough one I hear, but we Rickoids like challenges). Anyways, any questions feel free, we're here for you. BTW, my AIM is AdidasPlaya2K3.

By Ecismyhome (Ecismyhome) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 10:56 pm: Edit

Julie's tough like week-old meat.

By Sarmathebomba (Sarmathebomba) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 11:50 pm: Edit

Thank you for that thorough analysis, Jason. You know the real reason Julie's the party pooper, and it's the same reason i'm the bomba, cynchi is cynchi, niffer is niffer, and so on. It's called rsilove.

By Ecismyhome (Ecismyhome) on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 11:58 pm: Edit

lol. And how many nicknames do I have... let me count the ways...

By Ecismyhome (Ecismyhome) on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 10:17 pm: Edit

tsk tsk. you guys letting this thread slip.

By Staticsoliloquy (Staticsoliloquy) on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 10:56 pm: Edit

yea people aren't POSTING ANYMORE argh!

By Manyhats (Manyhats) on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 09:29 am: Edit

Everyone traded AIMs.

By Legionaryobelus (Legionaryobelus) on Sunday, March 28, 2004 - 10:56 am: Edit

My parents want to know: Is there anything for parents/family at the end of the session?

By Crazyjulie (Crazyjulie) on Sunday, March 28, 2004 - 03:53 pm: Edit

By the end of session, everyone's so tired that it would be impossible to have a family event. Most people just go to the airport in a cab or their parents come pick them up allowing them to sleep in the car. But no family events.

By Senoritacatbert (Senoritacatbert) on Sunday, March 28, 2004 - 11:05 pm: Edit

Hey everyone!

I got in! I'm Marissa Cevallos from Charleston, WV, and I'm doing Physics: Cosmology junk. I can't wait to meet you guys...IM me or something. Does anyone play music?

Marissa
AIM: SenoritaCatbert

Ecismyhome, I asked Shuyu about the Christmas party and lost luggage...charming story =)

By Texas137 (Texas137) on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 05:47 pm: Edit

There isn't much activity on this thread anymore. Is there an email list for accepted RSI people that everyone has moved to? And does anyone have any idea when the assignments for MIT and Caltech will be made?

By Manyhats (Manyhats) on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 12:39 am: Edit

The activity sort of died when we exchanged AIMS.
Texas- what is yours?

By Staticsoliloquy (Staticsoliloquy) on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 10:44 pm: Edit

RSIo4ever