Rensselaer Medal Award

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>So today was my school's award ceremony and I got the Rensselaer Medal Award for outstanding achievement in math and science. I just looked up the information for the medal and it says that I get a $15,000 a year scholarship for 4 years if I am accepted and choose to enroll at RPI. </p>

<p>I also heard that medalists can get free applications for RPI, although I'm not completely sure about that. </p>

<p>How big of an achievement is this medal? Only one student from the juniors (my graduating class) can get it. How much will it boost my chances of getting into RPI?</p>

<p>Also are there any exceptions to the $60,000 scholarship? What other perks are there?</p>

2

<p>I think it will definitely give you an edge for RPI. As for other colleges, it won’t really make as much of a difference.</p>

3

<p>Hmm, I just got that along with some other scholarship deal from RPI. I also got one of those spiffy free applications in that mail. I say you’re probably into RPI, other schools won’t care much. But note: the medal and leader scholarships they give aren’t enough to pay for it all, it’s why I didn’t go. It’s a cool place though.</p>

4

<p>basically the medal is a tactic to try and get top math/science students to want to go to RPI rather than someplace like MIT or Caltech, since it basically guarantees you upfront the same merit aid you would most likely qualify for during the admissions process. it really doesn’t count for much. I know at my school, I got called down to guidance, and they straight up asked me, “do you want this medal thing,” I said yes, and they said “ok, it’s yours.” not much of an accomplishment if you ask me. plus, they don’t combine seperate merit awards, so have fun paying the remaining $40000 that the medal doesn’t cover if you go there!</p>

5

<p>I know someone at my high school who got it last year… I’m pretty sure she ended up not applying to RPI in the end.</p>

6

<p>I know someone who got it this year. They want to go to Georgetown Med School.</p>

7

<p>I just got this, but I’m not really interested in going to RPI.</p>