A Young Scientist’s Guide to the Research Science Institute
Research Science Institute (RSI) is the most competitive science research program for students in the US, and its partner programs are similarly competitive internationally. But because of its competitiveness and rigor, it is well-known among admissions officers at top-tier research universities worldwide. Attending RSI will undoubtedly boost your profile when it comes time to apply to colleges and join your first research group.
More than that, attending the Research Science Institute will give you an excellent introduction to scientific research and connections with researchers at the top of their field. By attending RSI, you will have unparalleled access to faculty and staff at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and many of the premier technology companies in and around Boston, MA. Read on if you want to learn more about RSI and how to create an outstanding application.
Background on the Research Science Institute
Research Science Institute is the first cost-free-to-students summer science and engineering program combining on-campus coursework in science theory with off-campus STEM research. Each year, it accepts 100 rising seniors from across the world to spend the summer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts for this prestigious science research program.
As part of the Research Science Institute, you will experience the entire research cycle firsthand, including reading current literature in your field, drafting a research plan, and delivering written and oral reports on your findings. You will first participate in a week of college-level classes taught by MIT professors to gain the academic background needed to complete your research.
The core of the Research Science Institute begins in the second week and continues for the next five weeks, where you will conduct individual research projects off-campus, typically at MIT labs, Harvard labs, or companies in Boston. Throughout the research phase of RSI, you will routinely be invited to guest lectures from leaders in STEM fields, often Nobel Prize winners. Finally, you will spend the last week preparing and giving oral and written research reports.
To understand a Research Science Institute project's scope, depth, and difficulty, you can view some of the past mathematics-related research projects here. While this link only shows examples from math-related projects, your work could focus on any area of science or engineering.
Applying to the Research Science Institute
The Research Science Institute application process is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of less than 5%. This means that you will need to submit a very strong application to be accepted, but it will be very impressive to top-tier colleges when you are. When admissions officers see that you have been accepted to a highly selective program like RSI, they will be more likely to view your application as indicative of exceptional scientific promise.
To apply to the Research Science Institute, you will need an exceptionally strong academic background and should be in your junior year (grade 11, second to last year) of secondary school. Approximately 80% of those accepted will be United States Citizens and Permanent Residents, including those studying overseas.
Your standardized scores should reflect your academic success, and they recommend that your PSAT Math scores should be at least 740, your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score should be at least 700, your ACT math scores should be at least 33, and your verbal scores should be at least 34. You should still apply if you have lower scores but other strong indicators of academic potential in your grades, activities, and recommendations.
Successful applicants to the Research Science Institute will show potential for leadership in science and mathematics through their coursework and activities. You might have a long record of participation in STEM competitions, completed courses at a university, conducted original research, or worked in a laboratory. Regardless, your application should highlight your abilities in STEM and your community leadership as the main centerpieces.
If you are an international student, your country will have its own selection schedule and procedure. You can contact Ms. Maite Ballestero, Executive Vice President of Programs for the Research Science Institute to find out if your country participates and gain information about selection for your country.
Your Research Science Institute application will include:
Essay responses to the questions in the application detailing your goals in STEM
Recommendations by two teachers familiar with you and your academic record, including a research supervisor if you have spent four weeks or longer at a university or laboratory, with an optional third letter
An official high school transcript
All scores from standardized tests, including PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams
For US students, the deadline to apply to the Research Science Institute is January 15, and for international students it is March 15. You should have your application, test scores, $60 fee, transcript, and recommendations in by this time.
Crafting an Exceptional Research Science Institute Application
Participate in STEM Competitions and Research Projects
It is rare for Research Science Institute participants to be accepted without competition experience, so you will want to look into popular competitions and pursue a few that interest you. Try to get some research experience since it will help your application stand out significantly if you can. You might want to reach out to your guidance counselors, local STEM professors, or local research labs to see if they need an intern or junior researcher.
Find Strong Recommenders
You will want recommendation letters for Research Science Institute from people who can speak to your intelligence, talent, and leadership. Feel free to ask your sophomore-year teachers if they know you better than current teachers, and if there is someone that knows you well who isn’t a math/science teacher, have them write your optional third letter of recommendation. Give them plenty of time (6+ weeks) to write you a strong letter.
Spend Time Crafting Your Essays
At the end of the day, the Research Science Institute doesn’t really care about your exact test score or which competition you participated in. They want to know what these mean about your character and ability. The essays are your opportunity to describe who you are, what drives your interest in science and engineering, and your commitment to leadership in STEM. Take time to craft these essays, and have family, teachers, and mentors read them and offer feedback.
Don’t Skimp on Your Test Scores
Like with competitive universities, the Research Science Institute uses test scores to weed applicants out rather than to choose who to admit. So you will need spend time studying for these exams and geting your test scores into their range. Prepare over several months, and retake them if you can. However, once you’re in their recommended range, invest that time back into your activities and schoolwork rather than shooting for an even higher score.
If you are interested in applying to the Research Science Institute, consider applying to the 1:1 Mentorship Program at InspiritAI! Research experience will give you a significant leg up in your application, and our mentors – hailing from the world's top research institutions and tech companies – will walk you through an entire research project from start to end. Whether you are a coding novice or a virtuoso, our individualized mentorship program will help you develop an exceptional research project. For more information, do not hesitate to contact InspiritAI with questions.
