<p>I know these two were ranked equaly in the USNWR rankings for best engineering colleges (without doctorate available), but I feel like Mudd has a reputation as a school to which it is much more difficult to get admission. </p>
<p>Does anyone know if this is true? Is Harvey Mudd more selective than Rose-Hulman? And if so, any reason why? They both seem to be relatively new.</p>
<p>Yes, Mudd is more selective and harder to get into. “Better” is awfully hard to judge. 
Mudd is my son’s top choice, although Rose-Hulman is close (exclusive of finances).</p>
<p>Similarities:</p>
<p>Both schools are small tech-focused schools with an emphasis on humanities classes as well. They both have engineering majors, other math/science majors, and no humanities majors.</p>
<p>My son has visited both schools, and says both have happy students and caring teachers.</p>
<p>Both have pretty much enough housing for all four years.</p>
<p>Both have a skewed gender ratio.</p>
<p>Both have other schools nearby where you can cross-register and find more girls.</p>
<p>**Differences: **</p>
<p>Rose-Hulman has recently always had the #1 spot in USNWR for engineering schools without PhD. Mudd often shares the #1 spot with them.</p>
<p>Mudd students have a higher average SAT scores, for whatever that’s worth.</p>
<p>Mudd intro classes are presumably harder, since they accept little or no AP credit, and Rose-Hulman accepts more AP credit.</p>
<p>Rose-Hulman has engineering degrees with flavors (EE, ChemE, etc.) and Mudd has only an “engineering” degree. </p>
<p>Mudd gets more qualified applicants than they can handle and has to turn away qualified applicants. I THINK Rose-Hulman doesn’t typically turn away qualified applicants.</p>
<p>Mudd has enough money to give decent need-based aid, and for the most part Rose-Hulman can’t provide as many grants.</p>
<p>Both have hands-on classes and the opportunity for research and internship. However, I don’t know if research/internship is GUARANTEED at Rose-Hulman, and it is at Mudd (for the senior thesis/Clinic).</p>
<p>Also, from my friend who applied to both (and was accepted to Rose-Hulman practically instantly, but is still waiting to hear back from Mudd) and has visited Rose-Hulman, it has a much more socio-politically conservative atmosphere than Mudd (which I’m sure no one would disagree is rather liberal).</p>
<p>Mudd is def much harder to get into.
I actually considered Rose-Hulman my safety (not saying that it’s bad though)</p>
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<p>Thanks for the similarities and differences! Just looking at that, I think Rose is more to my liking (having specialized engineering degrees and accepting AP credit), but I would like Mudd’s setting better (as thefirstdude stated, the conservative vs. liberal atmosphere). </p>
<p>I’m from Colorado too! :)</p>
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<p>I figured. There’s a stigma that follows Mudd as a very good but also very selective school. Rose also has a reputation as a great school, but also seems to have a higher admit rate. I was trying to figure out why.</p>
<p>Perhaps it’s the location of RHIT. Mudd receives a lot of applications from students within CA.</p>
<p>Who wants to go to Terre Haute? 
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<p>Nah, I’m sure it’s a nice place. I actually applied but had to withdraw my application. The email lady didn’t sound too happy.</p>
<p>My guess is that the reason Mudd doesnt surpass RHIT in the rankings is because we only offer a general engineering degree, and a lot of people have a problem with that. But for those who are okay with it, we are the cream of the crop =)</p>
<p>Thanks for summarizing some of similarities/differences. Biggest concern for DS will be “vibe” as he is most certainly liberal in outlook. Will be attending summer program at RH (Operation Catapult) which hope will help him get sense of the school and area as place to be. Otherwise think HMC will remain top for him. Anyone look at Rice?? Opinions?</p>
<p>I have visited Rice a few times. I liked the campus and students seemed very friendly. Campus security is top notch. I only know about EE/CE program. It is very good - strong connections to high tech industry. Houston is ok but Texas … yuk. You turn on any AM station and all you hear is hate talk - zillion Glen Becks screaming at you.</p>
<p>I grew up in SoCal when the air was much worse than it is now. But is there a difference in air quality, for those who care?</p>
<p>I visited HMC campus last August. weather was picture perfect and air was clear. We were told that smog is not a problem - perhaps a few days in summer. My preference is HMC.</p>
<p>My son is interested in CS/Math, not engineering. I like Rice a LOT. It often switches places in my mind for my favorite place for my son to go, although his favorite is always Mudd (he is still waiting for both). The reason I like it so much is that in many ways it is similar to Mudd - very smart students, profs who care, an abundance of research available, similar size when you consider the entire consortium. What I love about Rice is that it might be nice for him to be forced to interact with non-scientists. The college system puts all the kids mixed up together, and he may have a business major or an artist for a roommate. Rice is also ranked highly for mixing among the races - they HAVE to because the college system makes it impossible for people to self-segregate! I think that would be very valuable.</p>
<p>When we visited, the students were all very happy. The weather was bad, so maybe only the deliriously happy among them were able to drag themselves out of the dorms and into the rain on a Sunday. They all had time to talk to us (just like at Mudd) and they were all excited about their research. Mudd has a much comfier hangout place, but Rice has food available at its student center.</p>