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Student Profiles
College life at Rensselaer continues into the summer. Take expanded course offerings, including unique electives, accelerate your time to degree completion, catch up on classes you might have misses, and stay on track to graduate with study abroad, research, co-ops and internships. Current Rensselaer students share their stories!
Jerome Carter – Took classes while working a summer
job on campus!
Major: Civil Engineering
Graduation Year: 2011
Classes Taken: MATH-2400 Introduction to Differential
Equations and MATH-1010 Calculus I
Campus Job: Resident Assistant (RA) for Office of Minority
Student Affairs (OMSA) Summer Programs
“It was very easy to manage both taking classes and working at
RPI. I have time to work, attend class, and prepare for my
tests...Doing this allows me to gain a serious advantage.”
Sarah Burch – Participated in a faculty-led study
abroad program!
Major: Environmental Engineering
Graduation Year: 2010
Class Taken Abroad: STSS-2300 Environment and Society
Country Visited: India - summer 2009
“I believe that the trip provided me with new perspective that
will last with me for the rest of my life. One of the best
learning opportunities available is to be immersed in a culture
completely different than our own. Professor Mascarenhas
emphasizes that one cannot learn anything from people like
themselves, and this trip brought this point to life for me.
The entire experience of being absorbed in unfamiliar sites,
food, smells, landscape, and culture opened my eyes and mind to
a broader understanding of society.”
Jodie Wright – Participated in a faculty-led study
abroad program!
Major: Applied Mathematics; Marketing and Psychology
minor
Graduation Year: 2009
Class Taken Abroad: MGMT-4961 Organizational Behavior in
High-Performance Organizations
Country Visited: Beijing, China - summer 2008
“On this trip I met people that I still stay in touch with
because they touched my life with their words and experiences.
Everything in China is so different from here in the United
States and not only did I learn in the classroom, but I was
always learning outside of it as well. I would most definitely
say having a professor with us was beneficial because it was
like having a personal tour guide all the time and since he was
a native he knew the language and could help us whenever we
needed.”
Megan McNamara – Worked in an office on campus in
the summer!
Major: Management
Graduation Year: 2010
Campus Job: Student support for summer programs
"I was able to utilize all the facilities on campus, as well
as enjoy the many events in the Capital Region. I worked in a
friendly environment on projects that benefit current and
prospective students along with the Rensselaer community as a
whole.”
Jeff Jones – Took credit courses and worked a campus
job in the summer!
Major: Undeclared (soon to be Mechanical Engineering)
Graduation Year: 2011
Classes Taken: ENGR-2600 Modeling and Analysis of Uncertainty
& PSYC-1200 General Psychology
"While taking my summer courses, I worked for Admissions
covering the front desk and giving tours. While it was a very
different experience being on campus in the summer, I can say
without a doubt that it was a good choice! I had a lot of fun
working for Admissions, and I was able to get ahead in my
studies!”
Megan Reile – Worked a campus job in the
summer!
Major: Dual in Management and Communications
Graduation year: 2012
Campus Job: Office of Conference Services & Academic
Outreach Programs
“It was a prime opportunity for me to gain real-world
experience in my field of study, as well as an opportunity for
me to better my work ethic and form networking relationships. I
enjoyed my Summer@Rensselaer and would recommend the experience
to anyone.”
Shaina Feldman – Got paid to do research in the
summer!
Major: Biology/Premed, Psych minor
Graduation Year: 2010
Classes Taken: PSYC-4340 Human Sexuality
Research Opportunity: Biotech Center Research
Research Area: Developmental biology and neuroscience
“Not only was I able to get paid to do research, I was
actually interested in what I was doing as it pertained to my
field of study. I’ve learned a huge amount in the short 10
weeks along with gaining invaluable experience this past
summer."
Sage Foley – Did research in the
summer!
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2011
Research Program/Job Title: Summer Undergraduate Research
Program (SURP) – Research Assistant
“We learned from our advisers as well as from each other as we
were introduced to research. This was my first time working in
a research lab, and it was a great opportunity to spend my
summer developing lab skills, learning techniques and gaining
insight.”
Ken Porche – Did research in the
summer!
Major: Biochemistry & Biophysics
Graduation Year: 2009
Research Program/Job Title: Undergraduate Research
Program/Research Assistant
“The research I did this summer gave me experience with hands
on experiments and hi-tech equipment while introducing me to
faculty members in the field. It’s a lot of work, but the
leadership skills I’ve gained were well worth it.”
Why college students participate and take credit courses during the summer.
1. Take advantage of expanded course
offerings including unique electives.
2. Accelerate your time to degree completion.
Some students also change majors or add a minor.
3. Catch up on classes you might have
missed.
4. Stay on track to graduate with study
abroad, research, co-ops and internships.
5. Take or retake a high enrollment class in
a smaller setting.
Who do students talk to about their decision to take courses during the summer?
1. Adviser
2. Friends/Classmates
3. Parents
4. Financial Aid Office
5. Registrar
How students find Summer@Rensselaer updates?
1. http://summer.rpi.edu - this web
site!
2. http://rpi.edu
3. http://rpinfo.edu
4. Ad in the Poly
5. Flyers around campus
Inquiries/Questions: For further information about Summer@Rensselaer opportunities for college students, Request Information, or contact, Mike Gunther, Program Manager for Recruitment, (518) 276-8351, gunthm@rpi.edu.
