High School Preparation

All applications are reviewed individually by the admissions committee. It is important to note that some differences in preparation and academic background may be considered. Additionally, the admissions committee pays particular attention to candidates who demonstrate qualities of leadership and talents that will contribute to the richness of the Rensselaer community.

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High School Course Work

The applicants who are best suited for Rensselaer will have completed:

  • Four years of mathematics through pre-calculus* (calculus recommended)
  • Three years of science (including chemistry and lab-based physics**); biology recommended & required for bio-focused majors
  • Four years of English
  • Three years of social studies and/or history

*IB Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation SL does NOT fulfill the precalculus requirement. 

**Physical Science or Conceptual Physics courses do NOT fulfill the lab-based physics requirement. 

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Standardized Test Requirements

Due to the recent suspension of SAT and ACT testing, 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. This is a continuation of the temporary suspension of our standardized testing requirement, and it will be re-evaluated for the Fall 2026 application cycle. Test-Optional FAQs

Due to Albany Medical College requirements, students applying to the Physician-Scientist Program will be required to submit the appropriate test scores (see below).

Standardized Testing Information:

  • SAT or ACT (If you take multiple tests, Rensselaer will superscore the SAT, but will consider only the highest composite score on the ACT.)
  • An English language proficiency examination is required for all non-native English speakers

If you do choose to submit your scores, Rensselaer allows most students to self-report SAT and ACT test scores on the application or through their application portal (available after an application is submitted). Students who choose to enroll at Rensselaer will be required to send their official scores from the testing agency (if they have not already done so). Enrolling students will be required to send official scores for any and all self-reported test scores they submitted in the application process. Students applying to the Physician-Scientist Program will be required to send official scores at the time of application (see below). Self-reported English proficiency exam scores will not be accepted.

All standardized tests must be taken by the December test date (by the November test date for Physician-Scientist Program applicants).

Physician-Scientist Program (B.S./M.D.) Testing Requirements

Applicants to the Physician-Scientist Program should submit official scores from EITHER the SAT or the ACT.

  • The writing portion is NOT required for either exam.
  • Self-reported scores will not be accepted for accelerated program applicants.
  • We cannot accept test scores later than the November test date for applicants to the Physician-Scientist Program. Students taking the November exam should indicate so on their application and have their scores rush sent to Rensselaer. 
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College Credits and Advanced Standing

Updated Rensselaer’s Advanced Placement policy, starting Fall 2024:

  1. Students entering as first-time freshmen in fall of 2024 may transfer a maximum of 32 credits hours toward their Bachelor’s degree at Rensselaer.
  2. Students who achieve a score of 4 or 5 on an accepted exam may receive academic credit at Rensselaer.
  3. First-time freshmen are required to complete all AP/Dual Enrollment/IB credit requests by the end of their first year to be considered.

Prior to course registration, department representatives will be available for questions.

College Course Credit Policy

Students are required to submit all requests for prior credit by the end of their first year. Incoming Freshman Transfer Credit Procedure/High School Certification Form

The Registrar will have courses evaluated by the appropriate departments on campus. An official transcript of grade(s) from the other college(s) must be sent to the Office of the Registrar to be considered for credit. The student’s file must include photocopies of course descriptions of all courses for which the student requests transfer credit consideration. No grade is given for transfer credit and it is not included in calculating the QPA. 

Transfer credit will not be given for any college courses taken while in high school if these courses were used in obtaining the high school diploma. Only a total of two courses, for a maximum of eight advanced placement and/or transfer credits, may be used toward the HASS core requirements for graduation. Only a total of two courses, for a maximum of eight transfer credits, may be used to satisfy the science core requirement. Any courses beyond two may be used toward free electives.

Transfer Student Course Guide

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Advanced Placement

Credit is granted to many entering freshmen through Advanced Placement (AP) courses taken at high schools. You will need to submit test score reports to our Registrar's Office before registering for classes. Students are required to submit all requests for prior credit by the end of their first year.

The following information guidelines are valid for incoming students for Fall 2024:

Humanities, Arts, and Social Science Courses

Art History
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 will receive credit for ARTS-1050, Art History: Paleolithic to Contemporary, four credit hours. 

Chinese Language and Culture
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 will receive credit for LANG-2410, Chinese II, four credit hours.

Economics
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on both the microeconomics and macroeconomics exams receive four credit hours for ECON-1200, Introduction to Economics and four credit hours for ECON-1000, Economics Elective. Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the microeconomics exam receive four credits for ECON-1000, Economics Elective. Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the macroeconomics exam receive four credits for ECON-1000, Economics Elective.

English
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition exam will receive credit for WRIT-1000, Writing Elective, four credit hours. Credit cannot be used to satisfy the Communication Intensive Requirement.

Foreign Languages
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 in World Language and Culture will receive 4 credits for LANG-1000, Foreign Language Elective. AP courses include French Language and Culture, German Language and Culture, Italian Language and Culture, Japanese Language and Culture, Latin or Spanish Language and Culture, and Spanish Literature and Culture. See above for Chinese Language and Culture.

Government
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the United States Government and Politics or Comparative Government and Politics exam will receive credit for STSO-1000, Social Science Elective, four credit hours.

History
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the United States History, European History, or World History examination will receive credit for STSO-1000, Humanities Elective, four credit hours.

Human Geography
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 will receive credit for STSO-1000, Social Science Elective, four credit hours.

Music Theory
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 will receive credit for ARTS-1380, Fundamentals of Music and Sound, four credit hours (subject to portfolio review by faculty).

Psychology
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 will receive credit for PSYC-1200, General Psychology, four credit hours.

Studio Art
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the Studio Art 2-D Design exam receive four credit hours for ARTS-2220, Fundamentals of 2-D Design (subject to portfolio review by faculty). Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the Studio Art 3-D Design exam receive four credit hours for ARTS-2210, Sculpture I (subject to portfolio review by faculty). Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the Studio Art exam receive four credit hours for ARTS-1200, Basic Drawing (subject to portfolio review by faculty).

Math & Science Courses

Biology
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 will receive three credits for BIOL-1010, Introduction to Biology, and one credit for BIOL-1015, Introduction to Biology Lab.

Chemistry
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 will receive eight credits for CHEM-1100, Chemistry I, and CHEM-1200, Chemistry II. For students who are not required to take Chemistry II in their curriculum, the credits for Chemistry II could be applied to a science elective or free elective.

Engineering students who are required to take Materials Science for Engineers should register for ENGR-1600 to complete the pre-engineering chemistry/materials requirement.

Computer Science
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the A test will receive credit for Computer Science I (CSCI 1100), four credit hours. Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the Computer Science Principles exam will receive credit for CSCI-1000 Computer Science Elective, four credit hours. Students who take both Computer Science Principles and Computer Science A and achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on both tests will only receive four credits for CSCI-1100 Computer Science I. They cannot receive the CSCI-1000 credit if they receive CSCI-1100 credit.

Environmental Science
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 will receive credit for IENV-1000, Environmental Science Elective, four credit hours.

Mathematics

Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the AB examination will receive four credits for Calculus I and should register for Calculus II if required by the major. Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the BC exam will receive eight credits for Calculus I and II and should register for MATH-2010 or MATH-2400 depending on the requirements of the student’s major.

Physics

Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the Physics C: Mechanics exam will receive 4 credits for PHYS-1100 Physics I. Students who achieve a grade of 5 on the Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam will receive 4 credits for PHYS-1200 Physics II. Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the Physics 1: Algebra-based examination and have received credit for Calculus I (AP credit, transfer credit, or have completed Rensselaer credit) will receive 4 credits for Physics I. No credit is awarded for the Physics II: Algebra-Based examination.

Statistics
Students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 will receive credit for MGMT-2100, Statistical Methods, four credit hours. Non-management majors cannot count the course as part of the Math/Science requirement. Students will not receive credit for ENGR-2600, Modeling and Analysis of Uncertainty.

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International Baccalaureate

Rensselaer awards advanced standing and credit based on student performance in the higher-level examinations of the International Baccalaureate (IB).

In general, if you earn a score of 6 or 7 on the higher-level exam, you will usually be granted academic credit at Rensselaer. You will need to submit test score reports to our Registrar's Office before registering for classes. Standard level exams are not considered. Students are required to submit all requests for prior credit by the end of their first year.

Humanities, Arts, and Social Science Courses

Art/Design
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for ARTS-1000, Arts Elective, four credit hours.

Business and Management
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for MGMT1100, Introduction to Management, four credit hours.

Classical Languages
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for COMM-1000, Communications Elective, four credit hours.

Economics
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for ECON-1200, Introductory Economics, four credit hours.

English
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for WRIT-1000, Writing Elective, four credit hours.

Foreign Languages
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for LANG-1000, Language Elective, four credit hours.

Geography
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for STSS-1000, STS Elective, four credit hours.

History
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for STSH-1000, STS Elective, four credit hours.

History of the Islamic World
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for STSH-1000, STS Elective, four credit hours.

Information Technology in a Global Society
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for STSS-1000, STS Elective, four credit hours.

Music
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for ARTS-1000, Arts Elective, four credit hours.

Philosophy
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for PHIL-1110, Introduction to Philosophy, four credit hours.

Psychology
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for PSYC-1200, General Psychology, four credit hours.

Social Anthropology
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for STSS-1000, STS Elective, four credit hours. Theatre Arts students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for ARTS-1000, Arts Elective, four credit hours.

Math & Science Courses

Biology
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for BIOL-1010, three credit hours, and BIOL-1015, one credit hour.

Chemistry
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for CHEM-1100 and CHEM-1200, Chemistry I and II, eight credit hours.

Computer Science
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for CSCI-1000, Computer Science Elective, four credit hours.

Mathematics
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for MATH-1010, Calculus I, four credit hours.

Physics
Students who earn a grade of 6 or 7 will receive credit for PHYS-1100 and PHYS-1200, Physics I and II, eight credit hours.