We’ve written about the Research Science Institute (RSI) before. It’s one of the best summer programs in the country for academically talented students who are interested in science and engineering; a free program which offers remarkable opportunities, and which strongly correlates to getting into a top college. Recently, the program made an unexpected announcement: they are expanding operations to Stanford’s campus. This is a remarkable thing, and presents quite an opportunity to students, especially as this will be available beginning in the summer of 2027. In this article, we’re going to look at what this expanded program looks like, and then whether or not it’s a good option for you, and how you can take advantage of it. Let’s jump right in!
What is RSI: Stanford
This is not a secondary program; according to the announcement, this is the same program, run by the same organization, with the same goals and standards. It has thus far been hosted solely at MIT’s campus, but now will also host students at Stanford’s campus in California. The program at MIT will continue exactly as it did before, hosting 100 students per year. The new program at Stanford will host 50 students its first year, and expand from there.
As with MIT, students in the program will learn from and work with faculty mentors on original projects at a high level across a number of STEM disciplines. These mentors will all be faculty at Stanford of course, rather than MIT, but there are many excellent academics at both schools.
Students will have a chance to pursue original research with the aid of their faculty mentors. The program is a lot of work, but is specifically designed for students who welcome that kind of challenge. The program will be residential with students living in residence halls on Stanford’s campus and eating in campus dining halls.
Just like the original, the Stanford version of RSI is completely free for participants. It will have the same application; it is unclear yet whether students will apply separately, or if there will be a single application and the program will decide where students are admitted; we expect that information to be revealed in future updates from the organizers.
Should You Apply for RSI Stanford?
We are still waiting to see exactly how they will structure their applications in light of the program now having two campuses attached. In general, however, if RSI was a good fit for you before, it’s still going to be a good fit now; indeed, if anything this gives even more opportunities for professors to work with and research to do.
That said, just because RSI is a great program doesn’t mean it’s the right program for everyone. We recommend students with the following traits apply to RSI:
- You enjoy pushing yourself academically, taking challenging courses for the fun of doing so, and enjoying the hard work that comes as a result
- You have a genuine interest in one or more STEM fields or topics
- You are comfortable in a fast-paced academic environment
- You are good at taking direction and doing the work assigned to you without constant supervision
RSI is a very academically rigorous program; this is why it is able to offer so much to students: because it asks so much to begin with. The program at Stanford isn’t going to be any easier, and that’s the whole point. They want the same kind of invested and passionate students; they see they are getting more applicants who match that label than they can serve now, so they are expanding their offerings.
There is nothing wrong with you if these descriptors don’t match you exactly. Not everyone needs to want to study STEM fields, and you may enjoy school, but not like pushing yourself constantly. If you don’t enjoy these things however, then you won’t enjoy the experience at RSI either, whether it’s at MIT or in sunny California.
How to Apply to RSI Stanford
The program has stated explicitly that full details on how to apply will be released later. That said, we do expect the application to be quite similar to the one which currently exists for the RSI program; for a full guide to how to fill that out, please see our prior article on RSI.
In this section then, we’ll go over some things specifically that RSI is looking for in applications. We covered what sort of students should apply; but now we’ll look at how you should represent yourself when you’re trying to describe your accomplishments to the program.
The first thing you need to do is show genuine passion for academic subjects in your writing, especially the subject you wish to work on with a professor. You don’t need to have in-depth research experience before (that’s what RSI is for), but you do need to have a recognizable love for the field. They want to admit students who love the subjects they are exploring, and who have demonstrated that passion through their actions.
You will also need excellent academic credentials. You don’t need absolutely perfect grades, but you should have taken hard classes, and done very well in those classes. RSI is a hard program; students are expected to do a lot of hard work at a high level, and so they only admit students who they think will be capable of academically handling the work assigned.
You should be able to show past involvement in STEM fields outside of your classwork. They don’t expect you to have done research (though they’ll acknowledge if you have), but there are many opportunities for most students to involve themselves in these fields, and they want to see that you have availed yourself of them. They want students who are willing to put in the effort to actively pursue their passions.
Finally, they are looking for students who display a degree of maturity and an ability to work in a collaborative environment. This is a residential program, away from home, and they want to admit students who will be able to handle that social situation, as well as the expectations of the program.
Final Thoughts
There are many great summer programs out there, and RSI is one we have helped many students apply to. We are quite pleased to see it expanding its offerings, and that more students will be able to benefit from what it provides next summer. We hope this article has given you insight into these changes, and helped you decide whether or not this program is something you may be interested in.
If you are looking for the right summer program to match your interests, or advice on applying to a competitive program, then Ivy Scholars can help. Our mentors are experts at helping students find the right programs to help them succeed. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more; we’re always happy to hear from you.
