The World’s Most Prestigious, Free of Cost, Summer Research Program for International High School Students : RSI at MIT | Deadline is 11 Dec 2024

Welcome to The Thirsty Scholar newsletter—if you’re an international high school student in India and elsewhere, looking to study at a top college in the US, UK, and beyond, this is exactly where you need to be!

Why this Newsletter?

Over these years, I have mentored and worked with students and guided both undergrads and MBAs to top universities in the US and UK, including Stanford, Wharton, Harvard, Columbia, MIT, Amherst, Williams, Brown, Northwestern, Dartmouth, Duke, NYU, Carleton, INSEAD, LBS, Imperial and many more. Through this newsletter, I am keen to share my insights and demystify the entire process for as many students (and families) so that we unlock the secrets of college success and make the very best of educational opportunities accessible to all.

IN THIS ISSUE

Introduction

Each summer, 100 of the world's most accomplished high school students (specifically 11^th graders/ Year 12 in the UK) gather at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the Research Science Institute (RSI). RSI, founded in 1984, is the first cost-free to students, summer science & engineering program to combine on-campus coursework in scientific theory with off-campus work in science and technology research. Sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE), RSI is entirely free for students accepted into the program, making it accessible regardless of financial background.

Participants from around the world experience the entire research cycle from start to finish at MIT Cambridge, Massachusetts. They read the most current literature in their field, execute a detailed research plan, and deliver conference-style oral and written reports on their findings.

RSI scholars first participate in a week of intensive STEM classes with accomplished professors. The heart of RSI is the five-week research internship where students conduct individual projects under the tutelage of mentors who are experienced scientists and researchers. During the final week of RSI, students prepare written and oral presentations on their research projects.

If you’re a rising high school senior (11th grader/IBDP 1/Year 12 in the UK) with a strong background in STEM and a passion for research, RSI offers an opportunity to dive into real-world projects under the mentorship of MIT faculty and researchers.

Historical Placement of RSI graduates (Rickoids) into top Universities

In this edition, I will be covering the full details of the RSI program from an international student point of view. I will include the application form, evaluation criteria, and program details as well as share valuable advice I got from an RSI alum from India on how to put together a competitive application.

You may contact me at [email protected] for any questions.