The Basics About RPI
RPI is a private institution that was founded in 1824. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,659, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 284 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. RPI's ranking in the 2011 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 41. Its tuition and fees are $40,680.
Overview: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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General Information
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Institutional Control:
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Private
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Year founded:
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1824
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Religious affiliation:
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N/A
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Academic calendar:
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semester
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Fall 2009 Total number of undergraduates:
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5,659
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Setting:
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urban
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2009 Endowment:
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$602,636,000
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Fall Admissions
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Application deadline:
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1/15
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Application fee:
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$70
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Fall 2009 Acceptance rate:
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43%
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Selectivity:
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more selective
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Expenses
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Costs:
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2010-2011 Tuition and Fees: $40,680
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Mission (as provided by the school)
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the nation's oldest technological university. Since 1824, Rensselaer faculty, researchers, graduates and students have been at the forefront of leading technology advances, ranging from engineering some of the nation's first suspension bridges in the 19th Century to helping to lead evolution of the Worldwide Web into a core foundation of how we interact with each other. Since 2001, Rensselaer has been guided by The Rensselaer Plan. The comprehensive strategic plan for the Institute serves as catalyst for change and sets forth the ambitions of the Institute. Under this plan, the university's accomplishments in just the last five years includes critical advances related to the blood-thinner drug Heparin and Institute research experiments now being conducted on the International Space Station. Student achievement and the expansion of research at all levels remain the most transformational objectives of the plan. Rensselaer faculty are known for pre-eminence in research conducted in a wide range of fields, with particular emphasis in biotechnology, the Worldwide Web, engineering, energy and the environment, nanotechnology, information technology, and media arts and technology. Students are encouraged to work in interdisciplinary programs that allow them to combine scholarly work from several departments or schools. In 2010, the university launched the nation's first undergraduate degree in the new field of Web Science. This new interdisciplinary field melds the ongoing study of Information Technology with investigation of Web issues related to security, trust, privacy, content value, and the development of the Web of the future. In addition, the university's three-year-old video game design program was ranked by the Princeton Review as one of the nation's top eight game-design programs in 2010. Rensselaer provides students with an educational approach distinguished by experimental study; research and entrepreneurial partnerships with faculty; and a lively and intellectually engaging campus environment. The university is home to cutting-edge facilities and research platforms that accommodate and advance research initiatives and can be found to work together in ways that represent a new model in higher education. The Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies houses more than 400 Rensselaer researchers in biotechnology and related disciplines who work in functional tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, integrated systems biology, bioinformatics, biocatalysis, metabolic engineering, and more. The Computational Center for Nanotechnology Innovations is among the world's most powerful university-based supercomputers. The CCNI is designed to advance semiconductor technology to the nanoscale, while also enabling key nanotechnology innovations in the fields of energy, biotechnology, new materials, arts, and medicine. The Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, opened in October 2008, provides a platform for exploration and learning at the nexus of research, technology, and the performing arts. The building houses a 1,200-seat concert hall, a 400-seat theater, flexible black box studio spaces, and production facilities to support visualization, simulation, and animation studies. During 2009-2010 academic year, Rensselaer opened the new $92 million East Campus Athletic village, the most extensive athletic construction project in Rensselaer history, offering athletic and recreation facilities that will change the student experience dramatically. The new complex features a multipurpose lighted stadium with field turf and seating for 5,200, and a 1,200 seat basketball arena. Five NSF Career Award Winners at Rensselaer.Also, a fully equipped 4,800 square foot strength and conditioning center connects to a professional-caliber sports medicine suite
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Applications: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Regular Decision
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Application deadline:
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1/15
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Notification date:
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03/20
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Deadline for accepting admissions offers:
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Rolling (Fall), Rolling (Spring), Rolling (Summer)
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Early Decision
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Is an early decision plan offered?
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Yes
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Early decision deadline:
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11/2
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Early decision decision sent by:
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12/5
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Early Action
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Is an early action plan offered?
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No
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Early action deadline:
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N/A
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Early action decision sent by:
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N/A
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Application Fee
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Application fee:
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$70
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Is the application fee refundable?
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No
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Can the application fee be waived for students with financial need?
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Yes
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Is it possible to defer admission?
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Yes
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Application Formats
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Can applications be submitted via E-mail?
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No
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Electronic application URL:
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http://admissions.rpi.edu
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Tuition and Room Deposits
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Tuition deposit:
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$300
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Is the tuition deposit refundable?
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Nonrefundable
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Room deposit:
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N/A
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Is the room deposit refundable?
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N/A
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Contact Information
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Admissions director:
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Karen Long
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Admissions office phone number:
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(518) 276-6216
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Admissions E-mail:
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Requirements and Factors: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Admission Requirements
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Admission interview?
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Neither required/recommended
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Campus visit?
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Recommended
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Off-campus interviews?
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are not available
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Does the school have an open admission policy?
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No
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Does the college use SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions for first-time, first-year applicants?
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Yes
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Standardized tests?
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Either SAT or ACT required.
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ACT Writing test?
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ACT with writing required
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SAT/ACT scores must be received by:
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12/31
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SAT Subject Test scores must be received by:
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N/A
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High school completion requirement for admissions:
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High school diploma is required and GED is accepted
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General college-preparatory program?
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Require
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Academic Factors Used in Admissions Decisions
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Rigor of secondary school record?
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Very Important
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Class rank?
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Very Important
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Academic GPA?
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Very Important
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Standardized test scores?
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Very Important
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Application essay?
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Important
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Recommendations?
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Important
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Nonacademic Factors Used in Admissions Decisions
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Interview?
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Considered
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Extracurricular activities?
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Important
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Talent/ability?
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Considered
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Character/personal qualities?
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Important
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Being a first-generation college student?
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Not Considered
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Alumni/ae relations?
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Considered
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Geographical residence?
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Considered
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State residency?
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Not Considered
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Religious affiliation/commitment?
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Not Considered
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Race/ethnicity?
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Considered
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Volunteer work?
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Considered
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Work experience?
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Considered
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Level of the applicant's interest?
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Important
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Required High School Course Work
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High school units required in English:
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4
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High school units required in Mathematics:
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4
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High school units required in Science:
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3
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High school units required in Social Studies:
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2
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Total high school units required:
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15
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Recommended High School Course Work
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High school units recommended in Science:
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4
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High school units recommended in Social Studies:
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3
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Entering Class Statistics: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Fall 2009 Selectivity
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Selectivity:
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more selective
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Fall 2009 Acceptance rate:
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43%
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Early decision acceptance rate:
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39%
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Early action acceptance rate:
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N/A
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Acceptance rate (excluding early action and early decision students):
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43%
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Fall 2009 Applications, Acceptances, and Enrollments
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Number of applicants:
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12,350
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Number of applicants accepted:
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5,291
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Freshman enrollment for Fall 2009:
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1,337
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Percent of total enrolled incoming freshmen who been accepted under either early acceptance or early action:
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27%
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Number of male applicants:
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8,575
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Number of male applicants accepted for Fall 2009:
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3,596
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Male freshman enrollment:
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977
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Number of female applicants:
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3,775
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Number of female applicants accepted Fall 2009:
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1,695
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Female freshman enrollment:
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360
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Fall 2009 Wait List
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Does the school have a waiting list?
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Yes
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Number of applicants placed on a waiting list:
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3,799
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Number of students on the wait list accepted:
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276
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Number of students enrolled from a waiting list:
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186
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Fall 2009 High School Rank
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Percent of first-year students submitting high school class standing:
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63%
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2009 Freshmen in top 10 percent of high school class:
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61%
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2009 Freshmen in top 25 percent of high school class:
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90%
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2009 Freshmen in top 50 percent of high school class:
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98%
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Fall 2009 High School GPA
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Percent of first-year students submitting high school GPA:
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95%
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Average high school GPA:
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3.7
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Fall 2009 Freshmen SAT Scores
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Percent of first-year students submitting SAT scores:
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76%
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SAT Critical Reading 25th-75th percentile range:
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610-700
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SAT Math 25th-75th percentile range:
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660-750
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SAT Writing 25th-75th percentile range:
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580-680
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SAT Essay 25th-75th percentile range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 700-800 range:
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27%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 600-699 range:
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54%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 500-599 range:
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19%
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 400-499 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 300-399 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 200-299 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 700-800 range:
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52%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 600-699 range:
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43%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 500-599 range:
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5%
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 400-499 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 300-399 range:
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N/A
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Percent with SAT Math scores in the 200-299 range:
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N/A
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Fall 2009 Freshmen ACT Scores
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Percent of first-year students submitting ACT scores:
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24%
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ACT English 25th-75th percentile range:
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N/A
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ACT Math 25th-75th percentile range:
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N/A
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ACT Composite 25th-75th percentile range:
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25-30
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 30-36 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 24-29 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 18-23 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 12-17 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores in the 6-11 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT English scores below 6:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 30-36 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 24-29 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 18-23 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 12-17 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores in the 6-11 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Math scores below 6:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 30-36 range:
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26%
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 24-29 range:
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60%
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 18-23 range:
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13%
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 12-17 range:
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1%
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Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 6-11 range:
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N/A
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Percent with ACT Composite scores below 6:
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N/A
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Transfer Students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Deadlines
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Terms for which transfer students may apply for admission:
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Fall, Spring, Summer
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Application date for transfer students:
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Rolling (Fall), Rolling (Spring), Rolling (Summer)
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Admission decision sent:
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Rolling (Fall), Rolling (Spring), Rolling (Summer)
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Deadline for accepting admissions offers:
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Rolling (Fall), Rolling (Spring), Rolling (Summer)
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Requirements
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Do transfer applicants need a minimum number of credits to apply?
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Yes, 12
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Minimum required high school GPA:
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N/A
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Minimum required college GPA:
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3.0
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High school transcript?
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Required of some
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College transcript?
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Required of all
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Essay/personal statement?
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Not required
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Admission interview?
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Not required
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Standardized test scores?
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Required of some
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Statement of good standing from prior institution(s)?
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Required of all
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Lowest course grade that may be transferred for credit:
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C
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Maximum number of credit/courses that may be transferred:
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N/A
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Is there a minimum number of credits needed to complete degree?
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48 credits for a bachelor's degree
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Transfer Student Application and Enrollment Statistics
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Total number of transfer students applying for Fall 2009:
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307
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Total number of transfer students accepted for Fall 2009:
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189
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Total number of transfer students enrolled for Fall 2009:
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103
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International Student Admissions: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Deadlines and Requirements
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Application deadline:
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June 1 (Fall), November 1 (Spring)
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Preapplication form required?
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No
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Separate application form required?
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No
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TOEFL
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TOEFL requirement?
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N/A
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May the TOEFL be submitted in place of the SAT or ACT?
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No
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Minimum TOEFL score required (paper test):
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570
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Minimum TOEFL score required (internet test):
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230
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Average TOEFL score (paper test):
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599
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Average TOEFL score (internet test):
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N/A
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