Welcome back to The Thirsty Scholar newsletter - if you’re an international high school student aspiring to top colleges in the US, UK, Europe, Asia,and beyond, you are exactly where you need to be!

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, Princeton, Columbia, MIT, Amherst, Williams, Brown, Swarthmore, 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.

There's one summer school program that sits at the TOP of the STEM world. If you need affirmation, consider that 33% of the graduates of this program since 1984 have gone on to attend Harvard!

The program is the Research Science Institute (RSI), run by the Center for Excellence in Education since 1984. If you want the full details, I covered it previously here.

Every summer, RSI brings 100 of the best high school students in the world to MIT for six weeks of real research with real scientists. It's free. It's insanely hard to get into - but the rewards are even more insane (in the best possible way!)

Now the Door has opened further for Indian Citizens in XIth grade

Most families in India haven't heard about this yet:

RSI now has a program exclusively for Indian citizens studying in India (XIth graders, take note).

This is not a knockoff. The Center for Excellence in Education - the same folks who run RSI at MIT - have built RSI-India at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru. That's India's top research institution.

Same structure. Same rigor. Same alumni network. Same credential. Only open to Indian citizens studying in India.

And the deadline just got extended to February 20, 2026.

If you're in Class XI - or you know someone who is - listen up!

What you're actually signing up for

RSI-India is not a "summer camp." It's not "enrichment." It's as good as a high school research program can get.

How it works:

You get matched with a mentor based on what you say you're interested in. You work in real labs. You produce real research. And you become part of an alumni network that spans thousands of scientists, engineers, and founders who actually help each other.

Cost: Nothing. Nada. Zilch. The program which is sponsored by the Adani Group covers everything - room, board, instruction, mentorship. You just need to get yourself to Bengaluru.

Questions? Hit reply or email me at [email protected]

No. It helps, but it's not required. About 10% of RSI students globally come in without formal research experience. What matters is showing real curiosity and depth in your chosen fields.

The personal statements matter a lot. Vague or generic answers won't work.

No. Unlike RSI-MIT, RSI-India doesn't require standardized tests. You can submit CBSE, ICSE, SAT scores if you have them, but they're optional.

Extremely. RSI globally gets about 4,000 applications of the world’s top high school students for 100 spots. RSI-India is selecting 32 students in India. The selection committee includes people from both CEE and IISc.

Do note that high school seniors (12^th graders/IBDP2 students) are not eligible to apply.

You tried for something serious. That counts. And honestly, the process of building a strong RSI application - thinking hard about your research interests, getting good recommendations, articulating what drives you - is useful no matter what happens.

The program is fully funded by the Adani Group. You'll be responsible only for travel to and from Bengaluru, your own laptop, medical insurance, and some spending money. Food, housing, instruction, research supervision, and social activities are all covered.

Distinguished papers and presentations can be viewed here

RSI is considered a “Tier 1” extracurricular, particularly valuable for STEM-focused college applications. Alumni often credit RSI with helping secure strong recommendation letters and improving their research skills.

RSI is possibly the most prestigious high school research opportunity. 33% of RSI alums go on to attend Harvard, 32% to MIT and 12% to Stanford. As far as I know, it doesn’t get better than this.

RSI-India: What It Takes to Get In

Student Interviews from the First Cohort of RSI India

I asked three students (Aahan, Himansu, Shashwat) from RSI-India's inaugural batch (RSI ‘25) to share what they learned from the application process and the program itself.

What mattered most in your application? What made the difference?

Aahan: For RSI I think my background research on the subject mattered the most. I would say that RSI doesn't give as much importance to non-academic activities as many colleges do, but they are definitely looking for participation in research.

Himansu: I think what mattered most was clarity of motivation and depth of thinking. My application focused less on listing achievements and more on explaining why I was drawn to research and how I approach complex problems. I tried to show sustained curiosity, persistence through difficulty, and a genuine interest in the research process rather than polished results. That honesty and depth, I believe, made the difference.

Shashwat: My year was the first cohort of RSI India, so the pool was interesting. Most of the students there had already done serious research, won major Science Fairs like ISF or IRIS, and many had published papers. Their resumes were stacked.

I did not have that kind of profile at the time. I was relatively new to formal research.

What I think helped me was clarity and obsession. I knew I wanted to do chemistry research. Not in a vague way. I could talk about what kinds of questions bothered me, why certain reactions fascinated me, why I cared about mechanisms and photophysics and materials. In the essays I did not try to sound over-accomplished. I tried to show how I think.

I focused on telling a coherent story. Why research. Why chemistry. What drives me. I think that intellectual sincerity showed through.

Was there an interview process?

Aahan: There was no interview taken.

Himansu: There was no interview process. The selection was based entirely on the written application, including essays, academic record, and recommendations. This made it especially important to clearly communicate motivation, curiosity, and readiness for research through writing alone.

Shashwat: In my year there was no interview. It was entirely based on the written application, academics, and recommendations.

What advice would you give to a Class XI student putting their application together right now?

Aahan: For RSI I would suggest being very specific about what you want to pursue in research. Try to get as much background research done before applying to show that you actually care about the research field/subject.

Himansu: Don't try to sound impressive—be sincere and reflective. You don't need advanced research experience to apply. Focus on showing curiosity, commitment, and how you think when faced with uncertainty. Choose a few meaningful experiences and explain them deeply. RSI looks for students with the potential to grow into researchers, not those who already have all the answers.

Shashwat: First, assume it is much more competitive now. RSI India has become more well known. The applicant pool will be stronger. Strong academics are basic. That is the starting point, not the differentiator.

Beyond that, I would say:

Do not try to manufacture depth. Show how you think. Be specific about what excites you. Make sure your recommendations speak about your ability to do research, not just score marks.

They are selecting for research potential. Not just achievement density.

What was the most memorable part of the program?

Aahan: I think it was the events we had: for example there were talent nights, quiz nights, games, elevator pitches, the RSI student symposium that happened on the last day, and moreover the kind of people I met in the lab I was assigned.

Himansu: The most memorable part was experiencing real research at IISc—where confusion, iteration, and questioning are part of the process. Working closely with mentors and engaging deeply with a challenging problem changed how I understand science. It taught me that research is about persistence, clarity of thought, and learning to be comfortable with not knowing.

Shashwat: The intensity. Working long hours in the lab. Things failing. Trying again. Finally getting data that actually means something. That feeling stays.

Being selected for an Encore presentation and later receiving the Best Chemistry Paper award was validating, yes. But the real highlight was realizing I could operate in that environment and contribute meaningfully.

What are your college plans? Has RSI-India changed how you think about where to apply?

Aahan: I want to study computational biology/biomedical computation in college. RSI definitely gave a great insight into the field and the kind of research that takes place. It also, in a way, added more credibility to my ability to partake in research, and added the factor of authenticity and passion in my application.

Himansu: RSI-India changed how I think about college by shifting my focus from rankings to research environment and mentorship. I now look for institutions that support deep inquiry, interdisciplinary work, and long-term research growth. My college plans are shaped by finding places where curiosity is valued and where I can continue doing meaningful research.

Shashwat: RSI made me take research far more seriously. It shifted college from being about prestige to being about ecosystem. I started thinking about mentorship, lab culture, intellectual freedom, interdisciplinary work. It made me evaluate universities based on where I could grow as a researcher, not just where I could get in.

If you had to do it again, what would you approach differently in your application?

Aahan: I would want to participate in more Olympiads and Science Fairs, because those are the kind of activities that really show your academic rigour and ability to research, something RSI values a lot.

Himansu: If I were to apply again, I would simplify my application further. Early drafts tried to cover too many ideas at once. RSI values depth over breadth, so I would focus even more on one or two experiences and explain them deeply, especially my thinking process, failures, and how I learned from them, rather than trying to show everything I had done.

Shashwat: I would probably make my research interests even sharper. At that point I knew I loved chemistry deeply, but I could have articulated my long term research direction in a more structured way.

But I would not change the tone. I would still choose honesty over trying to impress.

I am so grateful to Aahan Prajapati (Adani International School, Ahmedabad), Himansu Sekhar Sahoo (D.A.V. Public School, Chandrashekharpur), and Shashwat Mishra (City Montessori School, Lucknow) for being so generous with their time and insights. The next cohort of students will be the stronger for it.

Want the Full Application Breakdown?

The RSI-India application is rigorous and comprehensive - be prepared to spend real time putting together a competitive, thoughtful application. It covers:

To get the full application form, including essay topics, email me:

📧 [email protected]

Subject line: "Request for RSI India Application"

I'll send it over.