PREFACE Application 2026

Biographical Information

First Name

Preferred Name (Name you choose to be called by)

Last Name

Birthdate

Gender

If you would like the opportunity, we invite you to share more about your gender identity.

Citizenship

Other Citizenship

Are you a Permanent Resident of the United States?

Yes

No

Contact Information

Email Address

Confirm Email Address

Home Telephone (Ex: 555-555-5555)

Student Cell Phone (Ex: 555-555-5555)

I give permission to Rensselaer to send me important reminders via text messaging. (Standard message charges apply.)

Yes, I give permission

No

Parent/Guardian First Name

Parent/Guardian Last Name

Parent/Guardian Email

Parent/Guardian Cell Phone (Ex: 555-555-5555)

Mailing Address

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Academics

Year of High School Graduation

Area of Academic Interest

High School Name

High School City

High School State

We will contact your counselor and a math or science teacher of your choice to provide letters of recommendation on your behalf and your official school transcript. Please provide their name and contact information below. Carefully check the email addresses to ensure accuracy. We recommend that students reach out to the named individuals so they know to expect an email requesting this information in support of your application

First Name of College Adviser/Counselor

Last Name of College Adviser/Counselor

Email address for College Adviser/Counselor

First Name of Recommender (Math or Science Teacher)

Last Name of Recommender (Math or Science Teacher)

Email address for Recommender (Math or Science Teacher)

Most Recent Report Card (Upload)

Optionally, you may upload your most recent report card.

Test Score Information

PSAT

PSAT EBRW

PSAT Math

SAT

SAT EBRW

SAT Math

SAT Essay

PLAN

PLAN Composite

ACT

ACT Composite

Financial Aid Information

Students whose annual household income falls within the 2025 federal poverty guidelines are encouraged to apply for aid, but the option is open to all applicants. The guidelines are used as a measure in evaluating requests for financial aid to attend PREFACE.

Please note: You will be required to provide a copy of your family's 2025 IRS 1040 for verification purposes after filing and before April 25, 2026. The applicant will be sent a separate email with a link to upload the copy.

Would you like to apply for financial assistance to attend the PREFACE Program?

Yes

No

What is your total annual household income?

Under $25,000

$25,000-$39,999

$40,000-$74,999

Above $75,000

Including yourself, how many people currently live in your household?

Please provide a statement outlining the reasons you are requesting financial assistance (financial hardships, other special circumstances, etc.) The more details you can provide regarding your financial circumstances, the better the Financial Aid Committee can make appropriate funding decisions.

Personal Essay

Prompt:

There are many factors that facilitated your interest in an engineering career.

In a short essay (750 words maximum), tell us (indicate) why are you interested in attending the 2026 PREFACE Pre-college Engineering Program? What is your engagement with AI as a high school student, and if you could invent an AI-powered device to solve a major real-world problem (like climate change, healthcare, traffic, etc.), what would you create and why? If you are invited to attend, how would this experience impact you, personally, and professionally in a global community?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

PREFACE Application 2026