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"A diverse talent pool is essential to addressing industry goals of solving 21st century problems. For 40 years, the PREFACE Program at Rensselaer has afforded a college experience to hundreds of aspiring high school students who are underrepresented in the various fields of engineering. In this two-week, residential, pre-college program, PREFACE exposes students to the many fields of engineering and applied sciences through faculty-taught classes in engineering design and problem-solving. PREFACE truly makes a difference in the students’ futures; participants gain the confidence as leaders to successfully pursue engineering degrees in college." -- Cynthia Smith '96, Assistant Dean of Students, Director of Pipeline Initiatives and Partnerships
$3,000 supports the cost of one student to attend the PREFACE Program for two weeks. Included in the cost of attendance are room and board, the health center fee, the average cost of transportation to and from Troy, and program fees that pay for faculty, instruction, materials, Rensselaer student mentors, and visits to local industries.
The PREFACE Program prepares diverse students, who in turn strengthen our culturally rich community. Fifty percent of students who attend the PREFACE Program apply to Rensselaer in their senior year to study engineering. More than 40 percent of applicants are accepted to attend Rensselaer.
Rensselaer has a proven record of success with the PREFACE Program. On July 17, 1978, President George Low spoke to the first group of PREFACE students, noting that “today’s challenges and opportunities exceed those of ever before… Problems are super-problems: energy, the environment, health care, etc. …Engineers will have a major role in solving these problems.” For 40 years, this signature program has prepared students who are underrepresented in the fields of engineering to continue to tackle these and other global challenges of the 21st century.
The Rensselaer PREFACE program is a two-week residential summer experience for talented high school sophomores and juniors, who will enter 11th or 12th grade in the fall of the coming year, and who have expressed a strong, early interest in pursuing a career in the engineering and technological professions. It is for serious high school students from groups that have been historically and traditionally underrepresented or under-served in science, engineering, and technological fields.
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Support a student's lodging for the entire length of the program
