• In preparation for the M.S. in Business Analytics program, please brush up on your math background, especially linear algebra. Find supporting material at: Khan Academy or Coursera. 
• R, Python, and SQL will be introduced in the fall semester, but if you get a head start you can reduce some of the load and focus on other aspects of the courses. Find supporting material at: YouTube and Code School.
• Excel is still one of the most widely used tools and will be used in our program as well. The “Exploring Microsoft Office/Excel” series from Prentice Hall publishers is great to get you up to speed on Excel basics. For more information: Pearson (books for older Excel versions also exist).
• If you have a Mac computer please be aware that not all software packages run on Macs, and software versions may have different functionality on PCs and Macs. In our courses we assume people are using a PC. Mac users are expected to adjust to the software used in class.
• Math Modules on Differential Calculus
• Math Modules on Linear Algebra
• How to Download R
• Basic Tutorial on R (Registration is free; R does not have to be installed to take the course)
• Additional R Tutorials (#8 on Reading Data from Files is recommended)
• Get Help/Experiment with R Functions
• R Programming Course
• Database Mini-Courses

• In preparation for the M.S. in Quantitative Finance and Risk Analytics program, please brush up on your quantitative background, including multivariate calculus, linear algebra, partial differential equations, numerical analysis, statistics, and probability. For supporting material: websites like Khan Academy or Coursera.
• R will be introduced in your financial computation and financial simulation courses, but if you get a head start you can reduce some of the load and focus on other aspects of the courses. Find supporting material at YouTube and Code School. Meanwhile, Python will be introduced in some selected courses and it is a commonly used program language in the financial industry. It is highly recommended that you get familiar with Python.
• Excel is still one of the most widely used tools and will be used in our program. The “Exploring Microsoft Office/Excel” series from Prentice Hall publishers is great to get you up to speed on Excel basics. Here is the most recent version (books for older Excel versions also exist).
• QFRA students should have a good understanding of economics (both micro and macro-economic), finance, and investments. Economic topics include resource allocation, price determination, monetary and fiscal policy. Finance topics include the time value of money, project evaluation, capital structure, corporate governance, and markets for financial assets, and the structure of yields. Investment topics include sources of and demand for investment capital, operations of security markets, determination of investment policy, and procedures for analysis of securities. You can read any entry-level economic, finance, and investment books if you have no such background.
• QFRA students should be excellent in writing, speaking, and presentation skills (in English). YouTube has many free videos about how to improve your English skills. Please use the summer to practise your English as much as you can.
• Math Modules on Differential Calculus
• Database Mini-Courses
• R Programming Course
• Get Help/Experiment with R Functions
• Additional R Tutorials (#8 on Reading Data from Files is recommended)
• Basic Tutorial on R (Registration is free; R does not have to be installed to take the course)
• How to Download R
• Math Modules on Linear Algebra

In preparation for the M.S. in Supply Chain Management program, please brush up on your basic statistics and analytical modeling background. You can use websites such as Khan Academy or Coursera to find supporting material on basic statistics and operations research. You can brush up on the basic operations research you might have done as an undergraduate. 

It would also be useful to get oriented towards supply chain management as a profession and the career paths available. Check out the APICS website for this.

In preparation for the MBA program, please read, "No, Management Is Not A Profession," from Harvard Business Review. Additionally, it would be helpful to read books that have had an influential impact on the field of business, including Innovators Dilemma (by Clayton Christensen), Blue Ocean Strategy (by Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne), and Crossing the Chasm (by Geoffrey Moore).   

When to Register:

All students, international and domestic, can register prior to the start of classes. The advantage of registering early is that you can secure seats in desired elective classes with limited space. Once you have been issued your Rensselaer ID Number (RIN), you should email the registrar at registrar@rpi.edu to request a time ticket, and then you will be able to register.

How to Obtain Your Graduate Plan of Study:

To request your Graduate Plan of Study, please contact Charlieann Chacon at chacoc2@rpi.edu. This document outlines the courses you need to take each semester, ensuring you stay on track with your academic goals.

How to Register:

As a new graduate student, you are active in the Student Information System (SIS) and a registration time ticket has been assigned that allows you to utilize SIS to register for fall courses now. SIS also allows you to access grades, update personal information, and access financial information. Please visit this link to learn the registration process. 

Note: SIS will not permit a student to register for classes until the student has successfully responded to a financial agreement notice from the Bursar’s Office. Once you have responded to the notice, you can access the registration page. If you have problems using SIS and need assistance, send an email to registrar@rpi.edu.

Pay your tuition after you have registered for classes. See the Bursar's Office Payment Information for all details and contact information.

When you come to campus in August, the first thing to do is to get your student ID card and then request an RCS user ID so you’ll be able to get your computer set up.

How to get my new Rensselaer ID Card

Students are automatically enrolled in the Rensselaer-sponsored health insurance plan. You must decide to stay in it or waive out of it by the deadline indicated via the Student Health Center online portal. You will need your RIN.

You will be notified of textbooks and other required materials on the first day of class. You can also use the Rensselaer Collegiate Store.

Explore Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from anywhere in the world with our episode of the award-winning TV series The College Tour. Meet a group of our incredible students and hear firsthand about their college experiences. Watch the episode now.

Do I need a New York state driver’s license to drive a motor vehicle?

Yes, you need a license but it doesn’t necessarily need to be from New York state. If you are from the United States, you can use the license from the state you are from. If you are an international student, please see Welcome To Troy > Transportation on the ISS website for further details.