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| Undergraduate Admissions
Dean of Enrollment Management Contacting Rensselaer Admissions Information and application forms are available by contacting: Office of Undergraduate Admissions |
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Undergraduate admission to Rensselaer is outlined briefly below. Detailed information is provided with freshman or transfer application forms available from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Rensselaer accepts the Common Application in lieu of its own form and gives equal consideration to both. Students may obtain copies of the Common Application from their high schools. Students may also apply electronically via Embark.com on the Rensselaer site noted above. Rensselaer admits qualified students without regard to gender, sexual orientation, age, race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, marital status, or disability. Admission to Rensselaer is competitive. The Committee on Admissions, in evaluating the qualifications of each applicant, pays particular attention to (1) academic performance throughout secondary school; (2) results of the College Entrance Examination Board Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) or results of the ACT Assessment (ACT); (3) the recommendation from the applicant’s school; and (4) character and extracurricular achievements. Students interested in Rensselaer have the option of applying to one of the five schools, to Information Technology, or as an undecided candidate. Candidates for the School of Architecture must submit a portfolio. Applications for freshman admission should be addressed to the dean of admissions and filed by January 1 of the year in which the applicant expects to begin his or her college program. Applications should be accompanied by a $50 application fee. Regular admission candidates can expect to be notified of Rensselaer’s decision in mid-March. Accelerated Programs Applicants to our accelerated physician-scientist and law programs must apply by December 1. Special requirements apply to this process. Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for further detail, or access Rensselaer’s web site under the appropriate heading. Early Decision Rensselaer offers an early decision opportunity to students who have decided definitely that Rensselaer is their first choice. An Early Decision application must be received by November 15 of the candidate’s senior year in secondary school. Students can expect to receive notification of the admissions decision by the end of December. Early Decision is not available to students applying to the accelerated programs. Early Admission Rensselaer considers candidates who have completed all admission requirements and who wish to enter the university after the junior year of high school. Midyear Admission Rensselaer does enroll students beginning in January. A full range of freshman courses is available during the spring semester, and the midyear entrant may pursue a degree through the traditional eight-semester timetable or accelerate through summer work. Students interested in January admission should file applications by November 1 of the preceding year. Midyear admission is not possible for the accelerated programs in medicine, law, or for the School of Architecture. Midyear admission does have some special challenges, and we cannot guarantee class availability if the fall class is a large one. Required High School Preparation The applicant should complete a college preparatory program that includes physics; chemistry; four units of academic mathematics through pre-calculus; and four years of English. Although not required, more advanced secondary school study in mathematics and science is strongly recommended and will help the student derive maximum benefit from the Rensselaer curriculum. Since all applications are evaluated individually by the admissions committee, differences in preparation and academic background will be considered. Entrance Tests Candidates for freshman entrance are expected to take the College Entrance Examination Board’s Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) or the ACT Assessment (ACT). These examinations may be taken at the student’s convenience, but not later than the December test date for ACT or the January test date for College Board sponsored tests in the senior year. Early Decision applicants must take the SAT I no later than the November test date. The Admissions Committee cannot assure full consideration if tests are taken later than these dates. The student is responsible for having all test results sent directly to Rensselaer by the testing service. Accelerated Program Requirements The SAT I and SAT II: Subject Tests or the ACT will be accepted in fulfillment of test requirements for students applying for the seven-year accelerated physician-scientist and six-year law programs. These students must complete the tests by the November test date. The SAT II: Subject Tests are required in mathematics, writing, and physics, chemistry, or biology. Application Fee and Admission Deposit A $50 nonrefundable fee is required with every application to a baccalaureate program at Rensselaer. A candidate who accepts Rensselaer’s offer of admission reserves his or her place in the class by making a $300 deposit by May 1. These funds are credited toward the student’s first semester charges. If the student does not enroll, the deposit is forfeited. Undergraduate Transfer Admission/Special Programs Transfer students are an important part of the university community. Each year, Rensselaer enrolls more than 200 transfer students from accredited two-and four-year colleges in the United States and many other countries. Rensselaer accepts transfer students for all programs except the accelerated programs in medicine and law. To be considered for transfer admission, a student should have earned at least 12 credit hours in the appropriate course work at another accredited college or university. Admissions requirements vary from department to department and school to school. Transfer applicants should submit an application by June 1 for fall entrance, November 1 for spring entrance, and by March 1 for entrance to the School of Architecture. In addition to the application form, students should submit a $50 application fee, official transcripts from all previously attended colleges, and a faculty letter of recommendation from your major department. Applicants to the School of Architecture must also submit a creative portfolio by March 1. Students with less than 4 semesters of full-time college work should also submit a complete high school record. A high school record consists of an official transcript, results of standardized tests, and a recommendation from a high school official. Transfer admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. Files are reviewed when they become complete and notification is sent to the student. Once a student has been admitted, the faculty will review all previous course work to determine transfer of credit. Each student will be mailed a Plan of Study, which outlines the course work the student must complete at Rensselaer to earn the desired degree. In order to earn a Rensselaer undergraduate degree, a student must be registered full-time for a minimum of four semesters. Two semesters of part-time study at Rensselaer will be considered equivalent to one semester of full-time study. In addition, the student must complete a minimum of 48 credit hours at Rensselaer, all of which will be applied to the baccalaureate degree. If a transfer student elects to study abroad or enroll in the co-op program, no more than 12 such credits may apply to the 48 needed for the bachelor’s degree. The student’s plan of study at Rensselaer must include at least 16 credits of courses above the 1000 level in the major field or in an approved concentration. The Institute requires a degree candidate to earn the last 30 credits in courses completed on this campus or through a program formally recognized by the Institute. Transfer courses are limited to two courses or eight credits counting towards the student’s last 30 credits and require the approval of the director of the Advising and Learning Assistance Center. Rensselaer offers transfer students a wide range of aid options and a staff of financial aid professionals who will work with you to devise the best solutions. Students who wish to be considered for federal financial aid should complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Rensselaer’s FAFSA code is 002803. For further information on our financial aid programs, please contact our Financial Aid office at (518) 276-6813, or e-mail them at financial_aid@rpi.edu. Two-Year College Affiliated Program If you graduate with an A.S. degree from a two-year or community college affiliated with Rensselaer, you may transfer at the end of two years with full junior status if accepted for admission to Rensselaer. (The schools listed below have agreements for programs in the School of Engineering. Some schools also have agreements for programs in Science (SCI), Management (MGT), Humanities and Social Sciences (H&SS), and Building Sciences (BLSC).)
Four-Year Affiliated College Engineering Program The Affiliated College Program combines the resources of Rensselaer and a select group of affiliated liberal arts colleges and universities. This program is designed especially for students who decide during their college careers to enter the field of engineering. Students transfer to Rensselaer after completing three years of liberal arts study, including extensive and advanced course work in mathematics and science. After two or three years of concentrated study in engineering and applied science at Rensselaer, these students receive degrees from both the liberal arts college and Rensselaer. Interested students apply for the program during the fall of their junior year on the recommendation of the liberal arts college’s pre-engineering committee. Applications are available from Rensselaer’s Office of Admissions. An official college transcript is required in addition to a letter of recommendation from the liberal arts college’s pre-engineering committee. Most students accepted for the Affiliated College Program have achieved at least a B average with grades of A or B in calculus, calculus-based physics, and chemistry courses. The program offers three options: The 3-2 program A student completes three years (through the junior year) at the liberal arts college, then transfers to Rensselaer’s School of Engineering. Two years of carefully planned study complete the requirements for the bachelor’s program of the liberal arts college and the B.S. degree with a major in engineering at Rensselaer. The 3-3 program A student completes the junior year at the liberal arts college, then transfers to Rensselaer for an additional three years. This program (which requires a slightly superior performance over the baccalaureate plan) completes the requirements for the bachelor’s degree at the liberal arts college and the B.S. and Master of Engineering degrees at Rensselaer. The 4-2 program A graduate of one of the affiliated colleges may apply for admission to the School of Engineering at Rensselaer to begin graduate work leading to a master’s degree in one of the engineering specialties. Two academic years of full-time study are usually required. In some cases, two calendar years may be needed. Students with superior undergraduate records and majors in mathematics or the physical sciences are encouraged to apply. Graduate Record Examinations are usually required. Institutions participating in this program are:
Part-Time Matriculated Undergraduates Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts a limited number of part-time matriculated undergraduate students. Students seeking admission must meet the same academic standards (SAT scores and previous scholastic records) as full-time entering transfer students and freshmen. Prospective part-time students from outside the Institute and currently enrolled nonmatriculating students should apply to the Office of Admissions. Part-time undergraduates will be assigned an academic adviser in the department of their major and must select courses from the regular day or evening course offerings at the Institute. Part-time students must pay a continuing registration fee and are subject to changing requirements given in the Rensselaer Catalog. Rensselaer welcomes students who wish to take one or more courses on a nonmatriculated basis for personal enrichment or professional development. Such students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in order to complete the necessary application procedure at least one week prior to the last day of registration before each semester. An official transcript of former academic work is required. The admissions decision is based on the student’s demonstrated academic ability, the appropriateness of the course(s) requested, and the availability of space in the course(s). Nonmatriculated students receive transcripts and full academic credit for courses successfully completed. However, only 12 hours of such credit may be applied toward a Rensselaer degree should the student later apply and be accepted for degree-seeking status. Rensselaer also accepts a limited number of qualified secondary school students who wish to enroll in appropriate courses in conjunction with their secondary school programs. All course work receives full credit, which may be applied toward degrees at Rensselaer or other universities. Students and guidance counselors should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for further information. More than 200 international students representing 72 nations are enrolled in undergraduate studies at Rensselaer. Through the Offices of Admissions and International Services for Students and Scholars, Rensselaer provides special services to ensure that international students make a seamless entrance into Rensselaer’s academic community and are geared to success in their endeavors. Freshman and transfer international applicants should begin planning at least a year in advance of application deadlines. Freshman international applicants Submit a completed application with official copies of all academic transcripts for secondary school, with English translations; official results of SAT I exam; and results of TOEFL, if English is not your native language or your SAT Verbal score is below 580. For students who will study on an F-1 or J-1 visa, evidence of financial support to cover educational and living expenses is also required. (For 2002-03, applicants must show evidence of $35,333 for each of four years of study.) Applicants to the School of Architecture are also required to submit a portfolio. All first year students are required to have a laptop computer upon arrival at Rensselaer. Transfer international applicants Submit a completed application with official copies of all academic transcripts with English translations; results of TOEFL, if English is not your native language; and a letter of recommendation from a college official. Students with less than four semesters of post-secondary study must also submit official transcripts of secondary school studies and SAT I results. For students who will study on an F-1 or J-1 visa, evidence of financial support to cover educational and living expenses is also required. (for 2002-03, applicants must show evidence of $35,333 for each of four years of study.) Applicants to the School of Architecture are also required to submit a portfolio. English language requirement There are four options for international students to demonstrate their English language proficiency. These options include achieving minimum scores on one of the following testing options: 570 - TOEFL; 580 - SAT I Verbal; or 965 - ELPT (English Language Proficiency Test). Applicants who meet all other academic requirements, but do not achieve the appropriate level on one of the three test requirements, may be offered conditional admission. A fourth option available to those students would be to enroll in the Kaplan International Institute’s upper level English for TOEFL and university preparation course offered at Rensselaer. Financial aid Rensselaer does not offer need-based financial assistance to international students. Dean, Enrollment Management Contacting Rensselaer Admissions Information and application forms are available by contacting: Rensselaer Admissions Admission to all graduate courses and degree programs at Rensselaer is based on the submission of a formal and competitive application. The applicant’s prior academic records as well as references and test scores, where required, are examined for evidence of ability to meet Rensselaer’s graduate standards and degree requirements as outlined under individual program and course description sections of this catalog. For admission to graduate studies, a student must have a bachelor’s degree prior to enrollment, or what the Rensselaer Admissions Office determines to be the equivalent. Degree-seeking applicants may sometimes be admitted with conditions. Admission and/or continued enrollment depends on the satisfactory fulfillment of the conditions. Rensselaer admits qualified students without regard to gender, sexual orientation, age, race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, marital status, or disability. Graduate Student Classification Full-Time Degree-Seeking Status The applicant who intends to complete a graduate degree on a full-time basis is considered for regular, degree-seeking status. Part-Time Degree-Seeking Status Students wishing to pursue degrees on a part-time basis may do so in most departments. Admission procedures are the same as for full-time, degree-seeking applicants. Nonmatriculated Status The applicant who wishes to undertake graduate course work to improve his or her knowledge in a specific area but not follow a degree program is considered for nonmatriculated status. A minimum B average must be maintained to continue enrollment. The Rensselaer Admissions Office coordinates advisement and approvals for registration. However, should the student later apply for, and be accepted into, degree-seeking status, the number of credit hours taken as a nonmatriculated student that can ever be credited toward a degree varies by department, usually from a low of six to a university wide maximum of 12 credit hours. Additional information and applications are provided by the Rensselaer Admissions Office. For application forms and program information, contact the Rensselaer Admissions Office. Prospective applicants should indicate their preferred academic area and whether they are interested in full-time, part-time, or nonmatriculated status when they inquire about admission. Applicants must submit a completed official application form and a nonrefundable $45 application fee. An applicant holding a bachelor’s degree and wishing to register for university courses as a part-time or nonmatriculated student also must apply according to these procedures. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required by some departments and is strongly recommended by others, especially for applicants whose prior academic records are not clearly competitive. Submission of GRE results is especially important for applicants requesting financial aid. Complete information on individual departments requiring the GRE is sent with the admission application. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is required of all applicants to the Master of Business Administration. Applicants for the Ph.D. degree in Management may take either the GMAT or the GRE General Test. Applicants whose native language is not English must have scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) submitted directly by the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ. A minimum score of 570 is required. Since application procedures and requirements are updated each summer, it is important for applicants to obtain and follow the current year’s application instructions. Eighteen-hour rule A Rensselaer undergraduate who is within 18 credit hours of the bachelor’s degree and is considered academically qualified by the department and the Rensselaer Admissions Office may be admitted to the Graduate School and begin work toward a graduate degree under a graduate adviser. Such work will be undertaken simultaneously with the work required for the bachelor’s degree. The bachelor’s degree must be completed concurrently with or prior to the master’s degree. Students admitted under the 18-Hour Rule who wish to be billed as graduate students should contact the Rensselaer Admissions Office. If the billing change is approved, any undergraduate financial aid is discontinued. Accelerated graduate admission Rensselaer undergraduates with strong academic records may apply for early admission to the Graduate School. If admitted, they can simultaneously pursue both degrees as early as the junior year. Dual degrees Many programs now offer dual degree options, especially the combination of technological master’s and the MBA degree. Prospective students complete one application listing both degrees and outlining their interests in the Statement of Background and Goals. Only one application fee is required. |
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