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If you need to send documents on behalf of an applicant, they may be sent directly to adm_updates@rpi.edu. Please be sure to include the applicant's full name and date of birth.
Join us for a breakfast with the Lally School of Management (high school counselors only).
Rensselaer Medal Program
The Rensselaer Medal is a scholarship opportunity worth $160,000 for outstanding math and science students.
For more than 100 years, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in conjunction with high schools around the world, has awarded the Rensselaer Medal to promising secondary school students who have distinguished themselves in mathematics and science. The Medal was first presented in 1916 with two purposes: to recognize the superlative academic achievement of young men and women, and to motivate students toward careers in science, engineering, and technology.
This merit scholarship, with a value of $40,000 per year, is guaranteed for four years (five years for the B.Arch. program) for each Medalist who is accepted and enrolls at Rensselaer.
Find out if your school is a participating Medal school, or email medal_program@rpi.edu with any questions.
Each spring, participating high schools are encouraged to nominate an outstanding math and science student in the junior class to be honored with the Rensselaer Medal Award. The responsibility for nominating the Rensselaer Medalist belongs to faculty and staff within the secondary school in conjunction with criteria provided by Rensselaer. Once school officials have made their selection, they submit their nomination online via the password-protected medal website.
Once the nomination is received and approved by Rensselaer, an award certificate is mailed to the school for presentation at a school assembly. If the student applies, is accepted, and enrolls, the official Rensselaer Medallion will be presented during the student's first year at Rensselaer (typically during Honors Convocation in the fall of the first year at Rensselaer).
Selection information for the Class of 2025 was sent to participating schools via email in early March, and selections were due by May 1, 2024. Class of 2026 selection information will be sent to participating schools via email in early March of 2025.
Here is a quick look at the Medal winners who applied and were accepted into our most recent freshman class:
- High school average: A
- Average SAT* combined: 1473
- Average SAT Math: 752
- Average SAT EBR-W: 721
- Average ACT Composite: 33
* Total score for EBR-W and Mathematics only
Please note: SAT and ACT score submission was optional for the first-year cohorts beginning in Fall 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
In order to be eligible to become a participating Medal School, a high school must be accredited and have a valid CEEB code. In addition, in the case of an accredited home-school program, there must be significant competition within the junior class for the Medal each year in order for the school to be eligible.
In addition, to be eligible to become a Medal School, a high school must offer all of the courses Rensselaer requires for admission, which include biology, chemistry, lab-based physics, and pre-calculus. (Please note that most of our more competitive applicants will have completed calculus or above in the senior year.) This ensures that students selected for the Medal will be eligible for admission and prepared to thrive at Rensselaer. For more information on our admission requirements, please visit admissions.
School Counselors/Staff: If your school does not currently participate in the Rensselaer Medal Program, please complete the Medal School Profile form online. If for some reason you cannot complete the online form, please fax the PDF form to us at 518-276-3997.
Once it is reviewed, we will contact you.
Standardized Testing Policy
Rensselaer has renewed the test-optional admissions policy for another year. Any student who applies to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as an undergraduate in the fall of 2025 will be able to choose whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores.
Please note, as per Albany Medical College, students applying to the Physician-Scientist Program (B.S./M.D.) are required to submit official SAT or ACT scores at the time of application.
Submitting Documents on Behalf of an Applicant
If you need to send documents on behalf of an applicant, they may be sent directly to adm_updates@rpi.edu. Please be sure to include the applicant's full name and date of birth.
We do NOT require hard copies of documents sent electronically (save the trees!).
You may also submit documents using services including, but not limited to:
- Maia Learning
- Naviance*
- Parchment
- SCOIR
- Slate.org
*Students must use the Common App to apply (or indicate within Naviance that they did NOT use the Common App to apply) in order for us to receive documents sent via Naviance. Students using the Candidate's Choice Application may request documents be sent via Parchment.
We do require either first quarter/trimester or mid-year grades from applicants, depending on how they apply (see below). We do understand that all schools operate on a different timeline for releasing these grades; if you anticipate any issues with us receiving these grades by mid-December (first quarter/trimester grades/mid-semester progress report for ED/EA applicants) or mid-February (mid-year grades for Regular Decision applicants) please reach out to us at admissions@rpi.edu.
- Early Decision & Early Action Applicants: We require first quarter/first trimester grades (or a mid-semester progress report) as soon as they are available. Students may also upload an unofficial copy of a report card or progress report through their application portal.
- Regular Decision Applicants: We require mid-year/first semester grades as soon as they are available. Students may also upload an unofficial copy of a report card or progress report through their application portal.
Slate.org
Slate.org is a free tool for school counselors, independent counselors, and community-based organizations to ease the burden of scheduling visits with college representatives, maintain awareness of where students reside in the admissions process, and conveniently and securely submit materials directly to institutions. By creating an account at Slate.org, you will be able to view your applicants to Rensselaer (and other Slate partner schools), view the status, and submit documents securely and directly to their file.
To find out more, or to sign up for a free account, visit Slate.org.
Counselor Tours
Interested in visiting our campus? We are happy to be a part of two multi-college counselor tours.
The Upstate Tour gives high school counselors a chance to experience Rensselaer’s campus, as well as the campuses of Ithaca College, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Syracuse University, Union College, and the University of Rochester. Participants will enjoy a half-day visit at each school, with meals, lodging, and transportation provided during the tour. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the tour.
Please visit unytcounselortour.org to be included on our list for future tours.
Or, come to campus anytime for a tour and information session.
This tour is offered each summer following the IACAC Convention. In addition to Rensselaer, the tour includes stops at Colgate University, Hamilton College, Ithaca College, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Skidmore College, Syracuse University, Union College, and the University of Rochester. Participants will enjoy a half-day visit at each school, with meals, lodging, and transportation provided during the tour. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the tour.
For more information, or to be included on the list for future tours, please email UNYICT@outlook.com.
Or, come to campus anytime for a tour and information session.
School Visits and College Fairs
Each year, our staff typically travels extensively across the country and around the world to speak with prospective students. Our staff will be participating in both virtual visits and in-person travel for this fall.
If you are interested in having a member of our staff attend your college fair, please contact collegefair@rpi.edu.
If you are interested in having one of our admissions counselors visit your school or participate in a virtual session, or if you would like to speak with the counselor in charge of your region, feel free to view our staff listing or find your counselor.
Glimpse & InitialView
Rensselaer does not provide interviews as part of the application process. Applicants are welcome to record a GLIMPSE video. Glimpse is an opportunity to share a 60-90 second video helping us to get to know you better. For more information about Glimpse please visit the Glimpse website. Currently, Glimpse is only available for U.S. students attending high school in the United States. For consideration in Rensselaer’s admissions process, Glimpse videos must be submitted by 11/15 for Early Decision I, 12/15 for Early Action, 1/10 for Early Decision II, and 1/29 for Regular Decision.
For international applicants, Rensselaer will also consider interviews from InitialView. InitialView materials provide applicants with an opportunity to talk about their background, experience, and interests in the context of an unscripted, informal conversation. Applicants interested in an InitialView interview are encouraged to make a reservation.