Undergraduate Admission Requirements
The Bachelor of Architecture at Rensselaer is an accredited professional program whose curriculum is centered upon an integrated approach to design. Engagement and access to technology is balanced with critical theory, history and social concerns, creating a truly diverse and well-rounded education.
This is an exciting time to be considering Rensselaer — a place where enthusiasm and innovation are the hallmarks of our programs and classes — an outstanding technological university — an exceptional place to learn, grow, and cultivate your talents.
High school academic preparation requirements can be found here.
Diversity and Inclusion in the Admissions Process
Rensselaer is committed to a diverse and inclusive campus, however since the Supreme Court ruling on Affirmative Action in Higher Education, race is not shown in the application material that Admissions reviews, unless the student self-reports it in their essay, for example.
In reviewing first-year applications, Rensselaer uses Landscape data from the College Board, a comprehensive resource that provides consistent high school and neighborhood information so admissions officers can fairly consider each student within the context of where they’ve learned and lived. Landscape provides three categories of information: basic high school information, test scores in context, and high school and neighborhood indicators. No Landscape data is provided for students going to school outside the U.S. Also, it is important to note that Landscape data is NOT student-specific data; two students who attend the same school and live in the same neighborhood will have identical Landscape scores.
First-Year Admission Requirements
Application to Rensselaer Architecture is an online process. Submit an undergraduate application here.
Rensselaer accepts three different applications
- Common App
- Coalition App
- Candidate’s Choice (students are emailed an individualized link)
Undergraduate Admission Deadlines:
There are several deadlines and notification dates. Rensselaer has two Early Decisions (binding) options, an Early Action option, and a Standard Decision option.
For updated dates, please check here.
Early Decision I & II (Binding)
We offer two binding Early Decision options for students who feel that Rensselaer is their first-choice school.
The annual deadline for Early Decision I is November 1st, and the deadline for Early Decision II is December 15th.
If admitted under ED I or ED II, you are committed to enroll at Rensselaer (which requires a nonrefundable deposit), as long as your scholarship meets your needs.
Immediately upon acceptance of your Early Decision admission offer, you must withdraw all other applications and make no subsequent applications.
In addition to earlier notification of your admission decision, you will also receive an earlier financial aid package.
Early Action
Apply by December 1 and receive your decision in late January (non-binding). The priority filing deadline for the CSS Profile and the FAFSA for Early Action applicants is December 1.
Regular Decision
A Regular Decision application is the most common way to apply. Notification of acceptance is posted in March.
Supporting Materials
Students and their high schools submit supporting materials for our review along with the application.
- An application fee
- High School transcript
- Senior year grades
- Rensselaer is test optional, students choose whether to submit SAT and/or ACT test scores
- At least one letter of recommendation, preferably from a math or a science teacher
- A resume
- An essay
- An Early Decision Agreement Form (if required)
- A portfolio
Additional Information
- Application reviews are holistic.
- High School transcript: The strongest applicants have biology, chemistry, and physics with a lab, plus precalculus. Rensselaer recommends applicants take calculus.
- Applicants’ average grades are in the A/A- range, in a challenging curriculum of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or College level classes. If the school doesn’t offer these higher-level classes, then applicants should be taking the highest level offered by the school.
- The middle 50% of the class that submit test scores, do so in the 1300 to 1500 range on the SAT, or 29 to 34 on the ACT.
- Letter of Recommendation: A supportive letter from a teacher or school counselor that speaks about the applicant’s academic skills, ability, and performance in class, and their positive character and personality traits, plus their place within the wider school community.
- Resume: Rensselaer encourages applicants to list all the clubs, athletics, groups, volunteer work, organizations, internships, research, family responsibilities and jobs, both inside and outside of the school and in their local community. We’re also looking for positions of leadership and responsibility and prefer longevity and quality over quantity.
- Essay: The Common App and Coalition App both offer prompts for students to respond to, or they can use their own idea. Rensselaer reviews essays for the writing style, content and purpose.
- Early Decision Agreement Form: The student and the school counselor declare they are aware the student is applying to a binding decision and if accepted, they must then attend.
- Portfolio: Architecture applicants submit a portfolio via SlideRoom, that gets sent to School of Architecture faculty for their review and grade. Please see our portfolio guidelines.
Additional Requirements for International Applicants
Submit an international undergraduate application here.
In addition to the above, international applicants (students who will study on a non-immigrant F-1 or J-1 visa) must submit the following:
- International Student Financial Statement (ISFS): The ISFS form demonstrates evidence of financial support to cover educational and living expenses.
- English Language Proficiency Examination: Students must submit either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Duolingo English Test (DET) or Pearson’s Test of English (PTE).
- InitialView, Duolingo, or Vericant Interview (optional): Rensselaer encourages all international applicants to participate in an interview through one of the following programs as part of their application: InitialView; The Duolingo English Test (DET); OR Vericant.
Tuition and Fees
Find cost of attendance information here.
Find financial aid information here.
External Transfer Admission Requirements
Application to Rensselaer Architecture is an online process. Submit an undergraduate transfer application here.
Rensselaer accepts two different applications for transfer students:
The application deadline is March 1st for summer or fall semester start.
Supporting Materials
Students and their current and former institution(s) submit supporting materials for our review along with the application:
- An application fee
- College Transcript (from current and any prior institutions)
- High School transcript (if attended college for less than four full-time semesters)
- At least one letter of recommendation
- A resume
- An essay (optional)
- A portfolio
- Writing supplement
Additional Information
- Application reviews are holistic
- College transcript: The strongest applicants have maintained a 3.0 or higher GPA with transferable coursework
- Letter of Recommendation: A supportive letter from a professor or advisor that speaks about the applicant’s academic skills, ability, and performance in class, and their positive character and personality traits, plus their place within the wider school community.
- Essay (optional): The Common App and Coalition App both offer prompts for students to respond to, or they can use their own idea. Rensselaer reviews essays for the writing style, content and purpose.
- Portfolio Architecture applicants submit a portfolio via SlideRoom, that gets sent to School of Architecture faculty for their review and grade.
- Writing Supplement: A brief statement describing the student’s interest in the field of Architecture.
Additional Requirements for International Transfer Applicants
Submit an international undergraduate transfer application here.
In addition to the above, international applicants (students who will study on a non-immigrant F-1 or J-1 visa) must submit the following:
- International Student Financial Statement (ISFS): The ISFS form demonstrates evidence of financial support to cover educational and living expenses.
- English Language Proficiency Examination: Students must submit either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Duolingo English Test (DET) or Pearson’s Test of English (PTE).
- InitialView, Duolingo, or Vericant Interview (optional): Rensselaer encourages all international applicants to participate in an interview through one of the following programs as part of their application: InitialView; The Duolingo English Test (DET); OR Vericant.
Credit Review
After acceptance, course information (course description and/or syllabus) is provided to each of the applicable official school credit evaluators (i.e. architecture course information is provided to the School of Architecture; science course information is provided to the School of Science) for review. Credit evaluators inform the Office of Undergraduate Admissions of the appropriate transfer credit to award; this information is compiled from the different school credit evaluators and transfer credit information is provided to the accepted student.
Tuition and Fees
Find cost of attendance information here.
Find financial aid information here.