collegecracked

my daughter is an RPI medalist, she also was asked to participate in the S.T.A.R program (they get to spend a few days there to see if they like it). She had to show her transcript, complete with grades and SAT/ACT scores. Since they approved of her attending STAR, does this mean her chances of being accepted are very good? Thanks.

swizzzle44

I am also an RPI medalist and this I attended the RPI medalist open house. At the open house they said medalists have an increased chance of getting in - about 65%. They said that 35% get rejected because not all the students are completely "well rounded."

Having the s.t.a.r. should help quite a bit!

collegecracked

I was worried about the rejection rate of medalists. Hopefully it helps that she's a girl

Did you attend RPI?

cortana431

I attend RPI and am also an RPI medalist (male). What is your daughter's SAT or ACT score and GPA/class rank?

RPI medals are typically given to the top math/science student in the high school class, so I suspect that the ones that are rejected were not true medalists.

collegecracked

2010 Sat, 4.0 Gpa ,and 4th out of 120.

lilmelonred

How do you become a RPI medalist?

MADad

You become a medalist as a junior because either guidance or the science dept. at your HS selects you as a top junior in math and science courses at your school.

You get to apply for free, and if you are accepted you are guaranteed about 15K in merit aid. AND you actually get your medal at some kind of convocation.

dadinator

Here is the link describing the RPI Medal. It comes with a minimum scholarship of $15,000 a year:

The Rensselaer Medal :: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Admissions

lilmelonred

Yeah i searched up my school and no one from my school got the metal... ):

whydoicare

@lilmelonred - if you are a junior, send that link to your guidance counselor and science/math teachers. They can easily start awarding medals from your school.

cortana431

Collegecracked, your daughter will certainly be admitted, and probably awarded more than the minimum $15,000 a year award for the medal.

lilmelonred

I am a Senior now. but i guess i could send them the link to reward the other students lol

1214mom

Even if you are a senior, if your school has not nominated anyone it's possible the school could still nominate someone. You should follow up with your guidance if you're interested.

MADad

Be careful--we had a student who would not have been our school's medalist if any science teachers had a say was in fact selected as our medalist because he asked Guidance for the award, and Guidance didn't have the sense to check if he was deserving.

Caused some bad feelings between science and guidance staffs.

As a result, we (science staff) took over the selection process so that a student who skipped science as a senior wouldn't receive this award again.

cortana431

Yeah, and there are actually twin sisters on my floor who both received the RPI medal because they were in the same grade, similar credentials (????) it's bizarre.

For some schools the RPI medal is very competitive and other schools not so much.