Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (StudentsReview) - How to Get into RPI (Undergraduate)

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Your Chances at RPI
(on ACT score alone)

Your Chances at RPI
(on SAT score alone)

	Men	Women
# Applicants	11,273	4,877
# Admitted	4,377	2,277
% Admitted	38.8%	46.7%
% Overall	41.2%

Students who got into RPI:

Tips mention: Interview (3), ACT/SAT (27), Grades (29), Sports/Extracurriculars (13), College Essay (6)

“Get a very high score on your SAT/ACT so

Sep 28 2016Computer Science
Get a very high score on your SAT/ACT so you can get a scholarship and afford to come here. ECs and essays also help a lot!
ACT: 31 SAT: 2120 Male

“I'm not sure how I got in haha

Oct 12 2012Architecture
I'm not sure how I got in haha. I'm smart but not a genius. I had a 2090 for SAT score (A 1400 for Math and Reading). RPI gives out a lot of scholarships which is great. I got a 25,000 yearly Leadership Award which really helped. I had a lot of extracurriculars coming out of high school: Debate, National Honor Society, Unified Sports, etc. I'd suggest mainting a relatively good GPA (doesn't have to be superb), I had a 3.75 on a 4.33 scale, unweighted. I did well on AP exams (both AP calc and AP physics), and I wrote some solid essays. When you apply, just make sure you present yourself as a well rounded, motivated student. Don't be afraid to take a risk with the essays.
SAT: 2090 Female

“A lot of prospective students get wait-listed, but they

Mar 22 2011Engineering Department
A lot of prospective students get wait-listed, but they draw many from the wait-list also. I had a 3.3 unweighted, took relatively high-level courses (2 APs) and had next to no extra-curriculars with the school, but I had a lot of independant engineering related activities that I wrote about in my essays.
ACT: 31 SAT: 2040 Male

“The best deal all around is RPI's medalist program

Nov 11 2009Nuclear Engineering
The best deal all around is RPI's medalist program. If you are the top math/science student in your high school, you can be awarded a $15,000 per year scholarship. Make sure to speak to your counselor about this very early in your junior year or even the spring of your sophomore year. The high school only gets to choose one student. If your high school does not participate get them to sign up.

When writing your college essay make sure it is personal about you and something no one else would be writing about. RPI seems to put emphasis on this component. They also require top grades and high standardized test scores. Take a SAT study course to improve test performance.

RPI has become so selective in the past couple of years, it's no wonder it's now classified as a "new Ivy." It is just as selective as Harvard or Yale, so make sure to put the same effort into your application. RPI does lower the bar a smidge if you're a girl. It is working hard at lowering the male to female ratio.
ACT: 32 SAT: 1460 Female

“I applied early and wrote a strong

Dec 19 2008Unknown
I applied early and wrote a strong essay to get in. I also had high test scores which helped. It isn't that hard to get in if you have above average SAT scores. If you're at or below the average HS senior in test scores, consider retaking the tests or applying to another school.
SAT: 2250 Male