Transfer Students Guidelines
TRANSFER INTRODUCTION
The School of Architecture at Rensselaer welcomes transfer student applicants from allied programs in Architecture, Architectural Technology or Building Sciences and from unrelated degree programs. We recognize that there are many reasons students may decide to change schools and are ready to review and accept academic work completed at other accredited programs. We also recognize that in their first year or two of an educational program many students realize their true passion is for architecture or the building sciences and would like to change degree programs altogether.
[see Transfer Students Testimonials]
To accommodate those needs the school accepts applications on a rolling basis through March 1. Faculty members are ready to meet with applicants, review their academic history and provide early indicators of the transfer credits they are likely to receive and how they would integrate into the degree program. For the Bachelor of Architecture students the School offers summer studios to assist in preparing students for the design program and to streamline them into the program without any time lost.
Transfer Admissions
Every year, more than 200 transfer students join our community as Rensselaer welcomes transfer students from accredited two- and four-year colleges in the United States and around the world. To be considered, transfer applicants should have completed 12 or more transferable college credits, and must be in good academic standing at the institutions(s) they are attending or have attended. Students transferring into the NAAB accredited 5-year Bachelor of Architecture program should be prepared to start studios during Summer Session I toward the end of May (see sis.rip.edu ‘Summer Class Hour Schedule’ for exact dates) as a way of accelerating your time to graduation. Students transferring into the Building Science degree may start in the Fall or Spring semester. Transfer credits are evaluated by each department. Placement in the program is based on an individual review of the candidate’s academic achievement, courses taken and portfolio for the B.Arch program. The School of Architecture typically does not accept transfer design studio credits however, upon review of prior studio courses and a portfolio, one or both of the summer sessions may be waived.
http://admissions.rpi.edu/undergraduate/admission/transfer/requirements.html
Transfer Student Application Checklist: http://admissions.rpi.edu/undergraduate/admission/transfer/index.html
Academic Preparation:
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0, special circumstances will be considered when the admissions decision is made
- 12 or more transferable college credits completed
- Appropriate prerequisite courses required
- Good standing at institution(s) attending or attended
- International transfer students check for any specific international admissions requirements can be found here: http://admissions.rpi.edu/undergraduate/admission/international/index.html
Transfer Student Deadlines:
Architecture applicants must submit their portfolios with their applications on line at http://rpi.slideroom.com. All materials, including creative portfolio, are due March 1.
Transfer Credits
Transfer students can expect to receive full credit for courses of comparable depth. Rensselaer will only transfer credit for courses in which you received a grade of C or better. Once accepted, you’ll receive an evaluation of your course work from the Rensselaer faculty. To ensure the most complete evaluation, please have official transcripts and course descriptions sent from all previously attended colleges. The Transfer Credit Guide can be used to see what non-architecture courses are transferable, all architecture courses must be evaluated by our faculty.
In order to earn a Rensselaer undergraduate degree, a student must be registered full-time for a minimum of four semesters and must complete at least 64 credits at Rensselaer, all of which will be applied to the baccalaureate degree.
If you would like to transfer AP, IB, or A level credit from your high school, make sure your official test results are sent directly to:
Rensselaer Admissions, Transfer Programs
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
110 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180