I recently received an email from Rensselaer saying that I have been selected to apply with Candidate’s Choice and wanted to know if it is just a gimmick to apply and get rejected so that their acceptance rate is lower or if it really is a special status to apply under? Also, how generous is Rensselaer with merit scholarships?
Search for previous threads on it, they offer that option to many.
Our experience is that merit aid depends on SAT scores and financial need. A few people mentioned more than 50% merit aid, but generally it was lower income families and I have not seen any full rides. It seems like average is about 25% merit aid, which still leave RPI out of reach for many middle income families.
@rhandco I’ve looked at other threads and they said that the status is offered to students who express interest in RPI, which I haven’t. Thank you for the advice on the aid. I wasn’t interested in RPI much before I received the email and i would want more than 25% merit aid, assuming I got any, so I probably won’t apply.
RPI is relentless in their emails, especially the ones promising merit. My daughter did apply and got accepted, but the merit offer, while nice (any offer is a gift) still left the school out of reach. If you don’t unsuspecting from their email list you will get emails from them almost daily.
I think that the email is kinda a gimmick- In the way that it advertises automatic consideration for scholarships, while using the common app gets you the exact same benefits as the candidate’s choice one. I’m sticking with the common app and hoping I’m right about this!
The common application was fine for RPI, the special application does seem to be a gimmick.
The only benefit that I can see to the candidates choice app is that it allows you to submit an essay is “be as creative as you would like” which for some beats doing the common app essays.
Also be aware that if your school uses naviance RPI can’t match you transcript up with your candidates choice app it will only match your transcript up to a common application. My D16 is facing this problem at the moment. She sent her transcripts and test scores in August. Then submitted her app via the Candidates App. Now her GC is giving her grief about having to submit transcript/recs and secondary school report via paper for Send edu.
How do we send rec letter if you filled out the candidate choice application?