RESEARCH SCIENCE INSTITUTE

History:
Established in 1984, the Center for Excellence in Education's flagship program was created to nurture young scholars for careers of excellence and leadership in science and technology and to encourage international understanding among future leaders of the global community. The Founders vision remains on target today especially when leaders of U.S. companies decry the lack of competency in science and math in U.S. schools and its long-range impact on the scientific and technological leadership of the U.S.

The Research Science Institute, sponsored in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and for the first time in 2004, the California Institute of Technology, focuses on excellence in research exposing students to the breadth and depth of scientific knowledge and encourages curiosity in research. The Center awards a six-week summer research opportunity (valued at $10,000) to academically talented students to engage in cutting edge research under the tutelage of the world's leading scholars and scientists.

The Program:

The program emphasizes advanced theory and research in mathematics, the sciences, and engineering. CEE reaches out to more than 12,000 students annually, and from a field of more than 1,200 applications, selects a total of 110 applicants - 75 from the United States and 35 from abroad - are selected to participate in cutting-edge research with internationally renowned scientists. To date there are approximately 1,500 alumni who have benefited from attending RSI. A measure of RSI's success is the fact that RSI alumni have consistently been among the top winners in the Intel Science Talent Search competition, most recently garnering first prize in 2003, 2000, 1999 and 1998. Nearly 50% of the participants in RSI 2003, 2002 and 2001 were among the semi-finalists in both the Intel and Siemens-Westinghouse competitions. Alumni are also predominantly recognized in the Lucent and USA Today competitions, and as Rhodes and Marshall Scholars.

Application:
RSI is open to students who have completed the equivalent of three years of high school. Admission is based on high school academic records, recommendations, PSAT scores, personal essays, research experiences, potential for leadership, and honors and awards in math and science competitions and their extracurricular activities.

Alumni Program:
The RSI Alumni Association is a unique network enabling communication among the RSI alumni, and between the alumni and the Center. It also makes it possible for the Center to track former students. RSI is a program for life. Once students enter RSI they become Rickoids -- a special community of RSI alumni with a special bond. The alumni participate in CEE's programs where they serve as teachers, counselors, and mentors to the younger RSI students. They participate in social events of the RSI community on both east and west coasts and serve on CEE's Junior Ambassadors programs. The Center continues its relationship with the alumni throughout the program and long after it. It provides alumni with letters of recommendation throughout their graduate and undergraduate years as well as recommendations for job opportunities.

PROFILE OF U.S. STUDENTS SELECTED FOR RSI 2006

In 2006, the average combined PSAT math and verbal score was 150 out of 160.

• Students are chosen by a selection committee based on the following criteria: PSAT scores, high school record, personal essays, teacher recommendations, potential for leadership in science, research and lab experience, and honors and awards in math and science courses and competitions.
• Alumni of the Research Science Institute regularly attend top tier universities.
• Over the last twenty-three years, RSI alumni have included 341 Intel Science Talent Search semifinalists, of whom 96 have been finalists, 40 top ten finishers, and 6 first place winners.