Frequently asked questions
Q: Do you offer the degree (or
research) I want?
A: The chances are good that we
do. We have five schools (Architecture,
Engineering, Humanities & Social Sciences, Management, and
Science) and interdisciplinary programs in information
technology, nanotechnology, biotechnology; arts and the media,
and energy and the environment. There are
more than 140 degree programs in 60 fields.
To see all the programs, go to www.rpi.edu and click on
Academics.
Q: Do I have to apply for the
Ph.D. or can I apply for a Master’s degree?
A: Applicants may apply for the
Master degree only, the M.S. and Ph.D., or the Ph.D.
only. Master of Architecture, Master of Fine
Arts, and Master of Business Administration degrees are also
available.
Q: How is RPI ranked?
A: Here is a sampling of some of our most recent rankings as
of the fall 2006:
US News & World Report
42nd among the nation’s top universities
Kaplan/Newsweek
Rensselaer named one of the “25 New Ivies”
Entrepreneur.com and Princeton Review
Lally's entrepreneurship program ranked 14th in the
nation
Q: How big is the student
body? Is it diverse?
A: Rensselaer students represent 48 states and 67
countries around the globe.
For Fall 2006:
Resident Undergraduate Students: 5,148
Resident Graduate Students: 1,228
Women Graduate Students:
373
Minority Graduate Students: 112
International Graduate Students:
594
Q: What is the campus like?
A: Rensselaer’s 275-acre campus is a blend of modern
style and classic design. Built into a hillside, it overlooks
the historic city of Troy and the Hudson River.
Q: What are my chances of being
admitted?
A: Admission is very competitive and every year the
applicant pool is a little different from the year
before. It is not possible to predict if a
student is going to be admitted based on just the GPA and test
scores. For doctoral study, it is often
about making a research match with faculty in the
programs.
Q: My GPA is below 3.0. Should I
still apply?
A: Yes. While
your GPA is important, it is not the sole determinant of
admissibility. Factors such as compatibility
between your area of interest; the research efforts of your
department; prior research experiences and activities, test
scores, recommendations are evaluated. In
other words, the competitiveness of your complete application
package when compared to all applicants for the same term and
discipline along with the needs of your department determine
admission. You should contact your
department to find out the profile of admitted
students.
Q: What do you look for in a “Statement of
Background & Goals”?
A: In addition to providing
insight into factors, attributes, and skills/potential that
makes you a good candidate for graduate study in your chosen
field, the Statement of Background and Goals (SOBG) provides
information that cannot not be found in or gleaned from
transcripts and test scores. Additionally,
the SOBG is a vehicle for evaluating applicants’ writing
ability to organize and present information.
Q: What are my chances of getting financial
aid?
A: The major determinants in
awarding financial aid are the competitiveness of your
application, the needs of the department and the value-added
you bring to the department’s research
efforts. Applicants are considered for all
available aid.
Q: Will I be funded until I finish my
degree?
A: In general, students who receive an award from
RPI will have the funding continued depending upon performance
and progress towards completion of degree
program. You should discuss this in detail
once you have been made an award by your department.
Q: If I do not get financial aid from RPI, are there
other ways to fund the degree?
A: Applicants are encouraged to seek and apply for
non-Rensselaer funding such as national
fellowships. Additionally, low interest
loans may be available. Information
concerning funding can be found by visiting Source
of Funding.
Q: When is the application
deadline? Can I apply after that
date?
A: The deadline for the fall and summer terms is
January 2 if you want to be fully considered
for admission and financial aid. The
deadline for the spring term is August 15.
Applications may be accepted after this date if the department
approves.
Q: What admissions tests do I need to
take?
A: You may submit copies of the GRE/TOEFL/IELTS/GMAT
scores for review with your application packet, but official
scores are required to finalize admission.
Please check the specific requirements for your
department.
Q: What are the average test
scores?
A: The average GRE verbal,
quantitative and analytical test scores for students admitted
to Rensselear for the fall 2007 term were
541, 754, and 4.4 respectively. The average
GMAT score was 638. You should contact your
department for departmental-specific information.
Q: What else do I need to submit in order to
apply?
A: Submit official transcripts (or official copies
of them) of all university level studies, including all
diplomas awarded if the degree is not noted on your course
transcripts. Even if you only took one
course in a university, you still need to submit that
transcript, even if you did not earn a degree from that
school.
Q: When and how should I schedule a campus
visit?
A: Prospective students are
encouraged to visit campus anytime during the
year. Typically, prospective graduate
students schedule their visits during the summer and fall of
the year they intend to enter graduate school.
More information can found by linking to
Campus
Visitation Program.
Q: How do I get to RPI?
The Albany International
Airport is located about 20 minutes from the Rensselaer
campus by car. The Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak rail station is
located approximately 20 minutes from RPI in the town of
Rensselaer, NY. The Greyhound bus station is
also located approximately 20 minutes away in
Albany. The cost of a taxi from campus to
all three locations is approximately $20-25.
Q: What extra-curricular opportunities are
available?
A: RPI has more than Rensselaer has more than
160 clubs, sports, and organizations to choose from —
everything you’ll find at most universities, and quite a few
clubs you may not see anywhere else. The Mueller Fitness
Center contains treadmills, cross-training machines, free
weights, aerobics, kickboxing, and more. It
is located right next to the Alumni
Sports & Recreation Center (AS&RC), which has an
indoor track, basketball and tennis courts, and the Robison
Pool. In fact, The Princeton
Review ranked Rensselaer #2 on their 2007 edition “More to
Do on Campus” list.
Q: Is the campus safe?
A: Because Rensselaer is an open campus, we
recognize the importance of addressing the safety of our
students. Our Public Safety professionals
take a proactive approach to safety, teaching students what
they can do to minimize safety risks. The Office of Public
Safety has 58 emergency call boxes throughout campus and
provides walking as well as riding escorts for students 24
hours a day, 365 days a year.
Q: Do I need a car?
A: A car is often unnecessary since many shopping
areas and services are within walking distance of student
housing areas near campus. Many students
however do bring a car to campus or purchase one when they
arrive.
Q: Where is Troy? What is the
city like?
A: Troy is located in the heart of New York's
Capital Region. Our location is central to cultural,
historical, and outdoor attractions. The Troy Savings Bank
Music Hall, a two hundred-year-old theater, offers musical
venue located right in downtown Troy. The antiques district,
boutique shops, and the local farmers market contribute to the
spirit of Troy’s community. The local region offers a perfect
trail mix for skiers, snowboarders, hikers, and mountain
bikers. We're about an hour from the Adirondack Mountains of
New York and the Green Mountains of Vermont. Grafton Lakes
State Park is a quick 30-minute drive from campus, and gorgeous
Lake George is only 45 minutes away.
Q: What is the cost of living in Troy?
A: In general, it is relatively inexpensive to live
in Troy. The cost of housing is the lowest
in the region. Troy is home to thousands of
college students who keep the prices competitive.
Q: How do I find out about housing
off-campus?
A: Information about rental properties near campus
is available in the campus newspaper - The Polytechnic as well as
in other local newspapers including the Times
Union. In addition, the Rensselaer Union
also maintains an off-campus housing database that can be
accessed on-line at http://offcampus.union.rpi.edu.
Q: What about on-campus
housing?
A: RPI’s Residence Life
Office offers living arrangements for graduate and married
students. Whether a single graduate student,
or a family of six, you will find much to share with others in
our diverse family housing community! We
offer two different styles of apartments with various
configurations of rooms and space, one to three bedrooms each,
and have approximately 100 families living in our family
housing, about 75 of them with children.
Q: Weather
A: Troy weather varies greatly through the four
seasons of the year. Temperature ranges from
60 degrees to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees to 29 degrees
Celsius) in the summer to 0 degrees to 38 degrees F (-17
degrees to 3 degrees C) in the winter. Troy
generally receives a large amount of snow in the
winter.
Q: Are there daycare facilities for
children?
A: Some options include: Rensselaer Cooperative
Children's Playschool Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
Bryckwyck Entry E, 276-6102 Samaritan/Rensselaer Children
Center Samaritan Hospital, 271-3748 YWCA Daycare Center,
274-7100 The Campus Playschool at Rensselaer,
276-6102
Q: What are the Tuition and Living Expenses for
2008-09?
A: Tuition for the 2008-2009 academic year (late
August-Mid May) is $36,950. Living expenses are approximately
$12,600. Teaching and Research
Assistantships as well as Fellowships fully cover your tuition
and provide a stipend. Please note that
tuition changes each year and is set by the end of February for
the following fall. Visit http://www.rpi.edu/cost/
for updated cost information.
