RPI welcomed a total of 1,071 admitted students. Photo credit: Rensselaer/Kris Qua

As the May 1 deadline approaches for high school seniors to decide where they will attend college in the fall, Rensselaer hosted more than 3,000 visitors to campus for the Accepted Student Celebration on Saturday, April 14. The visitors included more than 1,000 accepted students from 34 states, as well as Canada, South Korea, and Denmark.

The students and their families had an opportunity to learn more about Rensselaer through a series of activities, including campus and residence life tours, academic presentations, informational sessions on financial aid, and departmental and campus life open houses.

More than 10,000 high school students have filed applications to attend Rensselaer, according to numbers released by Rensselaer’s Office of Enrollment Management. This record number is a more than 46 percent increase over the previous year and represents a record growth of 81 percent in just two years.

Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson encouraged the students to strive to become global leaders, and to complement their academic experiences by participating in cultural, social, and athletic endeavors. “By making the decision to attend Rensselaer, you will be choosing to be part of a long, and distinguished, tradition of excellence in education. You will share in a legacy of academic achievement, discovery and innovation, entrepreneurship, creative expression, and global leadership,” she said in remarks at the event.

“You, also, will benefit from an unprecedented transformation that has propelled Rensselaer into the top ranks of universities in this country — and has poised it to be a global leader in the 21st century. As you will see today, this is a very exciting time to be at the Institute — a renaissance is taking place here which has raised the level of every aspect of the undergraduate experience,” Jackson added.

More than 50 Rensselaer Union student organizations participated in the event. The prospective students and their families were also welcomed to campus by many Rensselaer students, faculty, staff, volunteers, and others including Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions Jim Nondorf. The event was organized primarily by the Admissions Office.

Accepted Student Celebration photo gallery.

Published April 23, 2007