This past weekend, 1,682 new students will make their way to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to start the next stage of their academic careers. The first-year students hail from 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. As a reflection of Rensselaer’s global reach, almost 300 students come from countries around the world. The first-year students will move in on Saturday, August 26. Classes begin on Thursday, Aug. 31