Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvey Mudd College
1

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>White, female, first-generation, Ohio resident, rural public school, intended major is math.
I might apply ED. We'll see.
I can't visit, but I'll do an alumni interview if possible.</p>

<p>Numbers:
GPA: 3.99 UW
Class rank: 3/147 (top 3%)</p>

<p>SAT: 2340 (790 CR, 750 M, 800 W)
ACT: 35 (35 E, 36 M, 34 R, 33 S)
PSAT: 227</p>

<p>SAT II:
Literature - 780
Math II - 800</p>

<p>AP:
4 - Biology, Chemistry, English Literature, Calculus BC<em>, US History</em>
3 - Statistics<em>, US Government</em>
*self-study
This is all my school has.</p>

<p>Other:
I've taken two years of Spanish, and I might get a third year through independent study next year.
I tested out of pre-calculus and the regular calculus class at my school. I also tested out of physics, and I have a pass/fail credit for it. What will they think of this?</p>

<p>Senior year courses (dual enrollment at university):
First semester: Intro to Ethics, Linear Algebra, Intro to Differential Equations, Intro to Number Theory
Prospective second semester (assuming first semester classes don't kill me): Multivariable Calculus, Intro to Discrete Math, Numerical Analysis, Abstract Algebra</p>

<p>Awards:
National Merit Semifinalist, at least (12)
AP Scholar with Distinction (12)
Yale Book Award (from school, 11)
Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award (from school, 11)
Published in Teen Ink magazine (twice, 11)
Student of the Month (from school: Language Arts 10, Science 10)
Community Service Award (from school: 10, 11)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Local chemical engineering mentorship (11)
Piano lessons (9, 10, 11, 12)
Working at McDonald's (11, 12)
Cofounded book/filmmaking club at public library (10, 11)
Scholastic Bowl (11)
Environmental club (11)
School musical ensemble (10)
School science fair (10)
Alateen (9, 10, 11, 12) ==> not sure if appropriate, but it's given me a couple public speaking opportunities</p>

<p>Summers:
Physics of Atomic Nuclei Program at NSCL (12)
Volunteering at public library children's program (9, 10, 11, 12)
Two local non-selective science camps (12)
Volunteering at local arboretum (12)
Volunteering at Safety Town (10, 12)</p>

<p>Other:
Essays should be good. I'm not an awesome writer but I intend to spend a lot of time on them.
My teacher recommendations should be pretty good.</p>

<p>Additional information:
I didn't take honors classes freshman year because I went to this weird possibly-unaccredited private school in eighth grade and didn't have the prerequisites.
I was in foster care from when I was 9 to when I was 12, after which my 80-year-old grandmother became my legal guardian. She died the summer after my freshman year and I live with my biological parents now. I didn't do after-school extracurricular stuff during freshman year because my grandma was starting to get sick and I didn't want her to have to drive out to my school and pick me up.
Next year I'm going to be a full-time dual-enrollment student at a university that isn't particularly local, so I'm moving in with my cousins (who live closer). So I can't do ECs at my high school during senior year.</p>

2

<p>I would think your chances are quite good (just comparing you to people from my school who have been accepted at Harvey Mudd).</p>

3

<p>I would say your chances are quite good. Your stats are pretty comparable with my daughter’s stats, and she was accepted regular decision for this coming fall (and is attending). You are well positioned with your test scores, show strength in math & English (they like that), have shown some initiative to find experiences related to science, are geographically diverse (for them), and are female. My D also had these same strengths in her application and was accepted.</p>

<p>One thing to consider about ED is that you don’t get a chance to compare financial aid packages if you are accepted, nor are you well positioned to ask for a financial aid review that might improve your package (no ability to show how other schools viewed your financial situation). </p>

<p>I think good essays, particularly the Mudd specific ones, would also obviously help. So spend some time on those, make sure they are well edited and thoughtful.</p>

4

<p>Would I have approximately the same chance applying RD as ED?</p>

<p>On the second Mudd-specific essay, I was thinking of using this prompt:</p>

<p>What is one thing we won’t know about you after reading your application that you haven’t already reported in the Common Application “Additional Information” section?</p>

<p>and talking about something that isn’t related to science, because I don’t really know enough about math to know what kind of problems I would like to solve. Would that be okay or would it look like I’m not interested?</p>

5

<p>The senior year classes - are those your only ones? There’s some English and History missing. I’ll assume you just listed your advanced classes. Assuming all academic requirements are met, I don’t think you need ED to get in. And I think you should apply to Ivies and other schools that meet full need. You are a great candidate!</p>

6

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<p>Yes, unless I get a third foreign-language credit somehow.
I completed my graduation requirements early so I could take whatever I wanted. By the end of my junior year, I had 4 English credits, 5 math credits, 7 science credits, 2 foreign language credits, 2 history credits (this is all my school offers, and I self-studied APUSH).</p>

<p>The only thing I’m concerned about is the fact that they require physics and my physics credit was pass/fail because I tested out of it and basically picked what kind of credit I wanted before I saw the grade.</p>

7

<p>Oh, ok. That makes sense. On the physics, I think if you want an accurate answer, call admissions at Harvey Mudd. If you need it, you can switch it for one of your math classes. You’re so strong in math, you could prob do intro college physics with your eyes closed.</p>

8

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<p>Is that a question for this year? I don’t recall my D answering that question last year… I think their specific questions last year were:</p>

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<p>and</p>

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<p>Of course, they may change them this year. But she did not have the question you listed as an option on the Common App.</p>

9

<p>This is what I was going off of, from their website:</p>

<p>[Supplement</a> Writing Samples | Harvey Mudd College Admission](<a href=“http://newwww.hmc.edu/admission/apply/supplement-writing-samples/]Supplement”>http://newwww.hmc.edu/admission/apply/supplement-writing-samples/)</p>

10

<p>Oh, right. Now that you point it out, there was a choice – my D just picked one of the other ones.</p>

<p>I can say that my D did not come from a super duper strong science background. I mean, she likes it. And had taken the classes at her high school, done a bunch of wildlife biology stuff, and done a few summer-related things (but not research). But the field she thinks she wants to major in isn’t related to that (Physics, she has only had the honors class offered at her high school).</p>

<p>She still picked the prompt about her background and what kind of problems she want to solve. She was very open about the fact that she is just getting started in the subject and doesn’t know yet what direction she will go in. She could say a few areas that she finds interesting in her potential field of study and why she is drawn to it. But she mostly talked about various things she has done through the years that generally have pushed her to want to be a scientist (activities, family traits, trying out the different types of science to find what she liked best). She also talked about a couple of more general traits she hopes to have as a scientist rather than specific focused problems she wants to work on.</p>

<p>I think that was okay with the admissions committee (they took her :)). It seems intimidating that maybe some students know EXACTLY what they want to pursue in terms of specific problems to solve. But I think they also don’t mind seeing an essay about what pushes you in the direction of your field of study, some general areas you want to explore, and what kind of traits you hope to have as a scientist/ mathemetician/ engineer. Like pretty much all college essays, this one is designed to tell them more about you and see how you would fit there. At some colleges I think a “non-STEM” additional essay would be okay, but I sort of think at Mudd you would be better off sticking with a STEM-related topic (unless your common app essay is STEM focused, then maybe you would be okay).</p>

11

<p>Would it help me at all to retake the SAT to get the math score higher? I got a 750 but their 75th percentile score is 800. Or will the Math II and ACT math scores make up for that?</p>

12

<p>I think you are okay as you are, since the ACT is a 36 and the Math II is an 800. I also sent you a PM.</p>

13

<p>I’d say your on a pretty good track to get accepted to Mudd. I also took Multivariable, Linear, Intro. Discrete and Intro. Differential Equations when I was in high school, although my Stats (GPA, test scores) were lower. </p>

<p>I don’t know what your financial situation is, but what intparent said is pretty important if you can’t afford to pay the sticker price of a Mudd education. I applied and got accepted regular decision and am really glad I didn’t apply early because another top LAC gave me a much better package, so i chose not to attend Mudd. Had I attended Mudd it would have been kind of a financial struggle for my family. </p>

<p>It sounds like you have some unique circumstances. I had some of these too, so I explained anything I felt needed explaining in the additional information section of the common app. If you think they might hinder your application, I’d recommend doing the same. </p>

<p>Good luck! If you do get in and attend, Mudd is a fantastic school (though I guess I didn’t need to tell you that).</p>

14

<p>OP: Instead of taking virtually all math for senior year dual enrollment courses, it would be a better idea to take a year of calculus-based engineering/science physics. Math majors everywhere are required to take a year of physics. It would be to your advantage to have the standard first year physics course before college so that you can take the more advanced and mathematical first-year course as a freshman.</p>

<p>I suggest you take only four math courses next year: Linear, ODE, Multivariable AND one of Number Theory or Abstract Algebra, either of which will introduce you to proof-based mathematical reasoning.</p>

<p>Physics is a difficult subject. I don’t think your having P/F credit by a high school placement test will cut it for regular first year physics at Harvey Mudd or anywhere similar.</p>

<p>Further, you should also take an intro or other computer programming course instead of numerical analysis.</p>

15

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<p>If it matters, it was the physics final and I got a 92% on it. I took it pass/fail because I didn’t want my GPA and class rank to be screwed up by a class I didn’t take (and I know that’s shallow, but it just didn’t seem worth it). This physics class is all my high school offers.
I didn’t want to take a course with a lab because it would require me to ride the bus up to the college more often, and the physics class has a lot more students than the math classes. But I could probably do this second semester if it would help.
I don’t really have any math-related ECs, so I guess I’m try to demonstrate my interest in math by having a schedule that isn’t well-rounded. Probably everyone who’s applying will have taken the classes I’m taking first semester.</p>

16

<p>My D who was accepted for next fall has only had AP Calculus AB, and self studied with help from a teacher for the BC course. She has none of the math courses you are taking in your senior year. She is interested in Physics, not a math major. But I think you are overdoing it if you picked that course schedule to prove your math chops. </p>

<p>Note that Mudd is different from schools like MIT or CalTech – they WANT a more well rounded student. I am not sure you help yourself by the math heavy schedule and no English or social studies courses in senior year even if you have fulfilled your graduation requirements in that area.</p>

17

<p>I have a philosophy class.</p>

<p>I’ve taken AP English Lit, two honors English classes, and one regular one because I didn’t take honors in ninth grade. I don’t really see what the difference is between me and someone who took English every year, except in timing. I picked my classes partially to avoid gigantic lecture halls as much as possible (and I know I’ll have to deal with that anyway if I don’t go to an LAC, or maybe even if I do, but I want to sort of get used to what college is like before I do that).</p>

18

<p>You seem like a very strong candidate to me. (My child is at Mudd currently.) I think you would be wise to take a different schedule second semester. You’ll probably retake some of those math courses, so take the opportunity to try something that appeals to you. Don’t bother to retake SATs - really, once you get over the bar the extra bit doesn’t matter, particularly when you can show your skills in other ways. Do you understand the difference between RD and ED? Your chances as an ED applicant may be higher, but you are also bound to go to Mudd if they accept you (and financial aid is sufficient).</p>