<p>um... the "hot girls" part of your statement doesn't appeal to me so much, as I'm pretty darn straight...
So does this mean if I join the squad I'll be sure to have at least one spectator? hahah once again, I kid.</p>
<p>oh... i'm sorry about messing up your name. </p>
<p>yeah i have a problem... i can type but i can't read... it's a complicated syndrome.</p>
<p>Haha I thought dncrditzx22's name stood for dn credits or something. :p</p>
<p>So yea. I'm basically choosing between USC and Mudd (just like dncrditz). I'm sorta leaning towards Mudd, because my fin. aid package from USC is crap. Hopefully by May I can say: Mudd Class of '10.</p>
<p>for5aken, although money is an important factor when choosing colleges, don't let it dictate it. money can always be made... but you can only live once.</p>
<p>dn credits? what's a dn credit? I haven't found out my USC financial aid package yet--it's driving me nuts. hey you aren't visiting USC anytime soon are you?
I'M not letting money dictate my choice, but my PARENTS sure are!!
And if I were Hindu, I would say I live more than once. But um... I'm not. Good little Catholic girl.</p>
<p>siddhartha was a pretty amazing short book... but that was buddhism. lol.</p>
<p>i just felt like saying that.</p>
<p>Hm. Siddhartha was a Hindu (originally) who just happened to be a contemporary and acquaintance of the Buddha, so it was more Hinduism than Buddhism. But anyways, amen on the awesome book thing.</p>
<p>I just felt like saying that too.</p>
<p>My bio study partner and I are having a difficult time distinguishing b/t Hinduism and Buddhism. their beliefs all mush together.</p>
<p>yeah, thanks for clearing that up, s'vrone. its been 2 years since i read it.</p>
<p>dncr: I'm going to the reception on 4/23.</p>
<p>Wow. I was checking out the webcams on MuddVision, specifically the dining halls. The girls are pretty cute! :p</p>
<p>Not that I'm interested in girls, but what's MuddVision?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.hmc.edu/muddvision/muddcams.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.hmc.edu/muddvision/muddcams.html</a></p>
<p>Thanks!!!!</p>
<p>I'm quite intimidated about Harvey Mudd. It's not that I mind graduating up to my neck in loans as long as I receive a solid education (and preferably acceptance into a good graduate school AHH MIT), but I feel that HM is a second chance at something I failed the first time around.</p>
<p>Continue reading if you don't mind a long story...I really need advice.</p>
<p>I went from a middle school where ~60% of the students were not predicted to pursue a post-secondary education to the magnet high school. The transition was rough--I worked to pay for advanced summer courses that covered a year of material in five weeks, I took online classes, I took evening classes. I was ranked 1/393 until last semester...when I was doing 16 credits at a community college + 5 hs courses + stanford EPGY calc course + working 10hrs/wk + 3-4 ECs + familial responsibilities...and I got a B in Latin.</p>
<p>Last summer, I was admitted to the Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) Program at MIT. (Everyone who was accepted (~10%) received a 7K sponsorship!) The program is targeted towards underrepresented minorities, and although being Asian doesn't qualify, I'm sure I was accepted because I'm low income, first generation, from a non-English speaking family, and my parents neither support my ECs or my desire to major in science or engineering. </p>
<p>At MIT, I took five courses: biochemistry, humanities, internet programming, multivariable calculus, and physics. I never worked harder--averaging five hours of homework a night and considerably less sleep. I managed to fall asleep standing up and thought of ways to torture myself to stay awake. The workload was equivalent or more challenging than the MIT freshman work, but it was a chance to learn without penalty, so there were no grades. I developed new study habits and metacognition skills, but I still failed two classes. </p>
<p>MIT has a lot of excitement--intense to the brink of insanity, but those were also the most enjoyable six-and-a-half weeks of my life. I loved the collaborative and supportive environment, and the program-sponsored events + outings to Boston/Harvard Square. I made some amazing friends who I know I will keep in touch with for a very long time to come. There's something about living, laughing, crying, and stressing over physics problems at 4AM together that creates bonds. I could see myself at a place like that--intense, but with balance, if there is a supportive environment.</p>
<p>When I returned home, I was ready for a greater academic challenge. My heavy involvement in ECs caused much stress, and during my entire junior year, I was too burned out to care whether I learned the material in-depth. I worked to solidify my background in many areas because I never before learned for the sake of understanding. </p>
<p>I imagine Harvey Mudd to be four years of MITES, but there is no doubt that I would break under the pressure. I'm scared to pay so much for a school that might not ensure acceptance into a graduate school, or for a school that I possibly might not graduate from...I definitely want to be in an environment where there are many people smarter than I am because it motivates me, but if the intelligence gaps are too wide, it's so easy to fail.</p>
<p>Right now, my choices are basically Harvey Mudd and UW Honors (full ride)...(waitlisted at MIT and Pomona)...</p>
<p>Any advice?
And for current students, does HM foster that collaborative network?</p>
<p>"I'm scared to pay so much for a school that might not ensure acceptance into a graduate school, or for a school that I possibly might not graduate from..."</p>
<p>hmc must be doing something right for it has the second highest PhD productivity (Caltech is #1). having a good shot at grad school is not a problem.</p>
<p>hmc is a pretty fostering community. you'll be fine.</p>
<p>And as far as actual percentage of students getting PhD's goes, we are higher than even Caltech. Caltech just has more than us because it has more undergrads. Keep that in mind :)</p>
<p>So, For5aken... how are the guys? ;)</p>
<p>A little off topic, but I'd like to point out that the "pb" in my name is for peanut butter, not lead.</p>
<p>I don't know about the guys. Some of them are pretty. Tall. LOL :)</p>
<p>Sadly, it has been the general consensus among my friends that the girls are definitely more attractive than the guys. And not just in terms of percentages... despite having fewer girls than guys at this school, there are more attractive girls than attractive guys. But there are definitely a few guys that are worth looking at.</p>
<p>Wow, this makes me sound really shallow. I swear I look at personality, too. And most Mudd guys have great personalities.</p>