Congratulations on completing your first year as a student at Rensselaer. We look forward to supporting you as you begin to prepare for The Arch. During this time, you will have ample opportunities to maximize your Rensselaer student experience through innovative pedagogy, intentional interactions, and increased access to faculty and staff. We'd like to provide important information to begin preparing for your sophomore year.
The Arch was developed to be intentionally transformative by providing the following:
- An acceleration of immersion in both the academic and professional worlds;
- Structured academic advising, career counseling, and leadership development;
- Unique academic and co-curricular summer experiences;
- Re-clustering of the junior-year cohort across disciplines;
- More focused and meaningful engagement with the faculty; and
- An opportunity for students to engage in self-discovery, leading to increased intellectual agility, multicultural sophistication, and a global perspective.
Prior to the start of classes, all students will complete the following requirements:
Arch Discovery Day Opening Session via YouTube Livestream – Monday August 23, 2021 at 4pm – To kick off Arch Discovery Day, all sophomores will register and attend the opening session to understand expectations for the sophomore year as it pertains to The Arch. Institute stakeholders will be presenting at this time, followed by student submitted questions for a Q&A segment.
Complete Handshake Profile with CCPD
Students will receive a communication with instructions on access and completing the profile successfully. – All sophomore students will complete their Handshake Profile with the Career Center, by August 30, 2021.
Arch Academic Sessions – Each academic school will be hosting virtual sessions throughout the week of August 23 - Sept 3, 2021. This provides students the opportunity to learn from their department the requirements and expectations related to The Arch. This includes planning regarding course selection, semester away selection, experience in the field and more. Please contact oue@rpi.edu for more information.
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Arch Discovery Day Opening Session - Required Attendance
August 23, 2021 via Livestream at 4pm - Session registration details below
Arch Discovery Day is an annual event that is attended by all Rensselaer sophomores as the onset to the school year, preparation for The Arch summer term, and the semester away experience. During this time, students have the opportunity to engage with key areas such as their Academic Departments, The Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD), and Undergraduate Education (OUE) to begin exploration and planning.
This year, we will have various sessions, career development engagement, Handshake profile completion, and focused preparation prior to the start of classes. All Arch Discovery related sessions will be held from Monday, August 23rd through Friday, Sept 3rd.
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All students are required to complete the Discovery Day confirmation by August 22, 2021. Please click below to submit confirmation.
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ARCH DISCOVERY DAY SCHEDULE
OPENING SESSION Aug 23, 2021 at 4pm via Youtube Livestream: All Sophomores Required.4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m: Arch Requirements Presentation and Q&A Segment
HANDSHAKE PROFILE COMPLETION: All Sophomore students will complete their Handshake Profile with the Career Center, by August 30, 2021.
ARCH ACADEMIC SESSIONS: Log-in to designated Academic department (To be announced at Arch Discovery Day): Sessions held August 23-Sept 3 2021
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The Arch Exploration and Planning Course »
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A required course offering professional development topics to prepare you for your semester away, beginning Spring 2022.
Course Objectives:
Throughout this non-credit course, you will complete a series of assignments. Academic performance will be based on a "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" grade.
- Away semester search strategies
- Effective resume writing
- Employment correspondence
- Interviewing
- Intentionality with curricular and co-curricular experiences
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The Arch Financial Preparations »
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Office of Financial Aid
Students receiving need-based grants from Rensselaer and/or any Federal Student Aid Program funding must file a renewal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for each year of enrollment. The FAFSA online application system opens for future year applications on or near October 1 each year (i.e., October 1, 2021 for the 2022-23 academic year which begins with summer semester 2022). We encourage you to file your renewal FAFSA for The Arch summer semester accurately and in a timely manner once the FAFSA online application is available.
Students are asked to file their renewal FAFSA for their Arch year by December 31st of their Sophomore year (i.e., December 31, 2021 for the 2022-23 academic year). This will ensure sufficient application processing time so that your anticipated financial aid will appear on The Arch year summer semester initial billing statement in April.
Unless your demonstrated financial need is reduced based on your FAFSA filing, you can expect to receive the same total Rensselaer funded gift aid for two semesters of full-time enrollment during your Arch year. The summer term will be one of the terms, and the other will depend on your student-specific enrollment pattern. Your eligibility for Federal or State grant funding will depend on the results of your FAFSA and State grant renewal application.
Important Financial Aid Dates:
- October 1 - FAFSA renewal filing for future year opens online at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa. The FAFSA is also required for renewal of Rensselaer need-based grants.
- December 31 - FAFSA renewal filing due for Arch Students. The FAFSA is also required for renewal of Rensselaer funded need-based grants.
- March 1 - Begin renewal awarding for Arch Students. The Office of Financial Aid's goal is to have awards processed prior to when the initial bill for summer semester is provided in April.
Office of the Bursar
Billing Dates for Arch Students
- April 1 - Student bills for summer will be issued. The due date for the bill is April 25.
- April 15 – Payment plans open for summer term. Payments will be due May 1, June 1, and July 1.
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The Arch Housing Policy »
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Residential Housing Requirements
Living on campus is a critical component of The Arch experience. All students designated for The Arch are required to live on campus and have a campus meal plan during the summer semester. No residential exceptions will be granted to live in the Greek Commons or leased apartments during The Arch summer semester. Rensselaer housing is also available for students living on campus during the fall or spring semester of their Arch year.
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The Arch Semester Away Preparation »
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The Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) is available to assist students in their search for their semester away experience. A vast number of employers, large and small, from across the country, come to Rensselaer looking to hire interns and co-op students on many occasions throughout the year.
Networking Opportunities:
- Career fairs in the fall and spring
- Virtual and on-site information sessions
- Industry panels featuring Rensselaer Alumni and employers
- Resumania
- Employment opportunities via JobLink
- Employer programs and workshops
The CCPD can help you:
- Create a resume and hone your interview skills
- Create a LinkedIn profile
- Research potential employers
- Create a job search strategy including cover letter and thank you notes
- Provide and prepare for networking opportunities
The CCPD holds programs each semester on a wide range of topics. Students are encouraged to attend these programs, stop in during walk-in hours, and schedule an appointment with a career counselor to discuss their semester away plans as early as possible. To stay up-to-date on CCPD events and programs, visit the link below.
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The Arch will provide additional opportunities for you to develop the leadership, real-world experience, and communication skills to be successful in our ever-increasing global economy. We'll see you at Arch Discovery Day on August 23, 2021 at 4pm!
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Academic Resources »
Rensselaer Catalog
Student Life Resources »
The Student Experience
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