Congratulations on your acceptance to Rensselaer! There are just a few more things left to do. Please review the enrollment information below to make your transition to Rensselaer a smooth one.
If you have any questions, please contact transfer@rpi.edu.
Transfer Student Enrollment Checklist
To confirm your place, you must submit your $500 nonrefundable deposit to Rensselaer by the deposit deadline indicated in your acceptance letter.
You may use our secure online payment system to pay by credit card or through Paypal.
Your deposit also may be made by check or money order, payable to “Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.” Please include your name and Rensselaer Identification Number (RIN) on the check, and mail it to the address in the sidebar.
You received your log-in password and Rensselaer Identification Number (RIN) at the time of your application.
All undergraduate students seeking admission are automatically considered for Rensselaer merit based awards. No separate application is required. International students seeking admission are limited to our Rensselaer Medal Award, Transfer Scholarships, or Division I athletic scholarships. Information on cost of attendance is available here.
New students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens interested in federal and/or Rensselaer need-based financial aid are required to complete the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Applications:
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile
Rensselaer’s Codes:
FAFSA College Code: 002803
CSS College Code: 2757
New York State TAP College Code: 0635
If you have not done so already, please send us course descriptions and/or syllabi for all courses. Our faculty will use this information to determine the appropriate transfer credit you will receive. Any international business course will not be reviewed without a full syllabus. If you would like to transfer Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credit from your high school, make sure your official test results are sent to the Rensselaer Registrar's Office. Once complete, a transfer credit evaluation worksheet and curriculum and program planning (CAPP) report will be mailed to you.
The credit evaluation worksheet will list all of the classes you have taken and how and if they will transfer to Rensselaer. The CAPP report will show all of the classes required for your degree in your selected major, as well as which of these requirements have already been fulfilled. If you have any questions about your credit evaluation or CAPP report, please contact transfer@rpi.edu.
Our Transfer Student Orientation is designed to help you make a smooth transition to your life as a student at Rensselaer. All incoming transfer students are required to attend Transfer Student Orientation.
Transfer Student Orientation Fall 2024 - information and registration coming soon.
1. Register and complete the required Pre-Entrance Medical Forms at the Student Health Center Portal. You will be able to create a portal account approximately 1-2 weeks after you have paid your deposit.
At the Student Health Center Portal, you must register and create an account. You will be emailed a password to use to log in.
When you’ve received your password, login to your account at the Student Health Center Portal and complete all of the forms in the “pending forms” section.
If you are playing a varsity sport: Have your physician fill out the Physical Exam Form. You must submit this documentation before you will be cleared to participate.
Health Insurance Waiver (if applicable)
2. Student Health Center and Health Insurance Fees
All Rensselaer students pay a health center fee that provides access to on-campus medical, counseling, and health education services. The Health Center does not charge insurance plans for health care services.
In addition, to ensure access to off-campus health care services, an annual health insurance fee is billed to all students. Our annual health insurance coverage has been carefully designed to reflect the needs of today’s active students. If you have equivalent coverage, our health insurance fee may be waived, but you will be required to pay the health center fee.
Health Insurance Waivers are completed on the Student Health Center Web Portal. This is one of the mandatory forms you will complete on the portal. For more details see the Student Health Center website.
3. Online Alcohol and Sexual Assault Education Programs
All new first-year and transfer students are required to complete two online education programs: AlcoholEdu and Haven. Each course has two parts. You will sign on using your RCS ID and password. Once in the Everfi system select “Transfer Student” from the dropdown menu. Both courses should appear on your dashboard. Once available, the courses can be accessed here.
Building on the success of Rensselaer’s award-winning First-Year Experience program, the CLASS (Clustered Learning Advocacy and Support for Students) CLASS paves the way for the Institute to further improve the overall student life experience.
As part of CLASS, all transfer students are required to live on campus (and participate in a dining plan) for the first two semesters to facilitate the transition to the Rensselaer community.
Each class is supported by a team of residence life cluster deans, upperclass and graduate student staff, faculty residential commons deans, and a class dean. This will ensure that every student knows where to turn for help at all times, and receives the best individual counseling, mentoring, and personal attention that Rensselaer has to offer.
If you have questions about housing or are interested in applying for a waiver to live off-campus please contact Susan Valenti at valens@rpi.edu.
1. Setup your Rensselaer Email and Password
The Office of Student Transitions will email deposited students a Personal Identification Number, instructions, and a website that will allow you to receive your RCS ID and create a password for this account. This message will be sent to the email address you have on file with the Admissions office. Please note that as mentioned below, most communication from Rensselaer will soon shift to your Rensselaer email account.
2. Complete the Housing Application
Once you have setup RCS ID and password, you can access the online housing application by visiting your Housing Portal.
Computing at Rensselaer is an integral part of all courses of study, and all undergraduates are required to have a laptop computer. Through the Rensselaer Mobile Computing Program, the university offers a complete package to support this requirement, including on-campus technical assistance and all software.
At the end of June each year, we announce the laptop selected for the upcoming academic year. Since technology continues to change at such a rapid pace, we wait until the last moment in order to select the most up-to-date system. We will send you the details about our very competitive purchase/lease options and order forms. Laptops will be distributed on campus just before classes begin.
- Meal Plans and Campus Dining
At Rensselaer, we believe that dining on campus plays an important role in fostering a sense of community. Rensselaer Dining Services, managed by Sodexho USA, has developed a dining program that reflects the diversity and spirit of Rensselaer. Learn more about your options here.
- Advising and Learning Assistance Center
The Advising and Learning Assistance Center is a place where students can get “one-stop” academic support in the form of services and programs designed to help them achieve their goals by becoming more effective and efficient learners. The center coordinates advising, counsels individual students, offers free tutoring and workshops, and provides help to students for whom English is their second language.
- Center for Career and Professional Development and Alumni Relations
Rensselaer student support extends all the way to graduation, with our Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) and Alumni Relations Office standing by to offer opportunities to connect, and training programs on everything from résumé writing to networking with our more than 90,000 Rensselaer alumni.
- Disability Student Services
If you have a learning disability (dyslexia, ADD, etc.), physical disability (hearing, vision, mobility, etc.), or emotional/psychological disability, we encourage you to contact Disability Services for Students to learn about available assistance. Please call (518) 276-2746 or email dss@rpi.edu for information.
The Arch is a unique approach to education that provides flexibility in the semester schedule, allowing students to pursue professional and personal development opportunities that prepare them to meet the multifaceted challenges of the 21st century.
Incoming transfer students with sophomore or freshman standing will be required to participate in The Arch. Incoming transfer students with junior standing will not be required to participate in The Arch.
- Summer Here
- Rising juniors attend a full academic summer semester, The Arch, between their sophomore and junior year.
- The World Away
- The Arch away semester is an opportunity for students to pursue their passion, follow their dreams, and make a difference all while gaining valuable experience during the fall or spring semester of their junior year.
More information about The Arch.
Campus Visits and Virtual Experiences for Accepted Students
We are currently offering tours and information sessions year-round! Please register for your desired tour time in advance on the tour registration page to ensure you have the correct location and parking information.
Check out our virtual campus tour! Explore the entire campus tour, plus three mini-tours:
- Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC)
- East Campus Athletic Village (ECAV)
- Facility highlights of our five schools
Follow the RPI Admissions Instagram (@RPIAdmissions) to catch all of our upcoming takeovers!
Past webinar recordings are available on our RPI Admissions YouTube Channel!
Visit our website to see upcoming webinar and virtual event opportunities.