Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is also known as “RPI”, and is located in Troy, New York. The school was founded in 1824 by Stephen Van Rensselaer and the school is the oldest technological university on the planet.
Approximately 5,300 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students attend RPI. The University employs 400 full-time and 81 part-time faculty members. The student-to-faculty ratio at RPI is 16:1. The school offers mostly tech majors and is known for its programs in Business Administration, Biomedical, Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics, Information Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Medical Engineering.
The 284-acre campus is in an urban setting, and RPI is considered very difficult to get into. Approximately 44 percent of prospective students who apply are accepted.
Majors & Degree Programs
RPI is made up of five Schools:
• Lally School of Management & Technology
• School of Architecture
• School of Engineering
• School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
• School of Science
Students attending RPI can choose to major in a number of areas of study, including:
• Aeronautical Engineering
• Architecture
• Building Sciences
• Chemical Engineering
• Communications
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering
• Electronic Arts
• Geology
• Mathematics
• Nuclear Engineering
• Philosophy
• Science, Technology, and Society
Admission Requirements
RPI prefers that prospective students apply online. Paper application forms are available as well, though. The University asks that you provide your official transcripts (midyear and final) and your SAT or ACT results. You will also need to provide a recommendation from either your guidance counselor, math, or science teacher. Getting a recommendation from a subject teacher is preferred.
All applicants are asked to complete a personal essay. The University provides the topics, and the essay only needs to be one or two pages in length.
Tuition at RPI
If you are interested in going to RPI on a full-time basis, you will need to pay $36,950 for tuition. Room and board will add another $10,730 to the bill. The cost for a room alone is $6,025. The University charges $1,040 in mandatory fees to students as well.
Sports at RPI
The University has 23 teams competing at the intercollegiate level, in a number of sports, including:
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Field Hockey
• Golf
• Ice Hockey
• Tennis
• Track
The RPI Engineers hockey team has done very well over the years, and games are very well attended. Students even get in line for the chance to get season’s tickets well before when they are available for sale.
The baseball team has also played well in recent years, and won the league title in 2008. The football team has a long-standing rivalry with Union College, which is located nearby.
Intramural sports are an important part of life at RPI. More than 4,200 participants enjoy 18 sports at the university. Students, faculty, and staff can also use the University’s athletic facilities to stay fit without playing team sports.
Online Programs
RPI offers an online program for professionals who want to learn about lighting technology, fixtures, and controls. New York State residents can sign up for this certificate program at a reduced rate for tuition.
Reviews of RPI
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a well-regarded school that has been included on a number of lists of the top 20 science and engineering schools in the country. Online reviews of RPI are generally positive, and you can see some examples here:
http://studentsreview.com/NY/Rensselaer_Polytechnic_Institute.html
http://istudy.iagora.com/Rensselaer_Polytechnic_Institute/reviews.html
