Pre-College Programs
News & Events
Rensselaer is the oldest technological school in the English-speaking world. Today, among the world’s pre-eminent research universities, as seen in our video Change the World Rensselaer offers students an interactive, interdisciplinary education — and a chance to be among the forces shaping the 21st century.
Rensselaer continues to be committed to preparing students to successfully pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers. We believe that this process starts long before a student reaches college. The Dean of Students Office hosts several pre-college initiatives for K-12 students at Rensselaer and in the Troy community. In addition, DOSO works with organizations around the country whose students are interested in pursuing STEM careers in the science, technology, engineering and math. Rensselaer was selected to host a ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp in the summer of 2008 for students entering the 6th, 7th and 8th grades.
In collaboration with the Federal Government, Rensselaer
hosts the America Reads, America Counts and
Tutor Time programs to benefit grades K-9 in
Troy and the surrounding community. The New York State
Department of Education funds the Science Technology Entry
Program, or STEP to benefit under-represented
and economically disadvantaged students in grades 7-12 to
complete a secondary education, enter college prepared to
pursue degree programs leading to entry into scientific,
engineering and/or technological professions, and graduate from
college. In collaboration with corporations, Rensselaer hosts
the PREFACE program each summer for students
from around the country who are underrepresented in the various
fields of engineering and are selected through a formal
application process to participate based on their potential and
their interest in pursuing a career in engineering. 
Rensselaer's Pipeline Initiatives involve partnerships that have evolved over time with organizations from around the country who mentor and assist students interested in pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering or math. As a partner, Rensselaer focuses on providing individual attention and personal guidance to each of the interested students who are interested in pursuing a college degree at Rensselaer, and their families, so that they are prepared not only to be successful in the application process, but more importantly so that they are successful throughout their college career at Rensselaer and beyond.