<p>For current students, how much work do you have? I read a LOT about HMC's heavy workload, which is a little bit scary, considering that I feel like I have a pretty hefty load right now, and the descriptions of Mudd make my schedule seem miniscule in comparison. I don't want to burn out if it really is "worse." This is my biggest reservation about HMC, but I've already had an interview, asked for my recommendations including CSP, sent SAT scores, etc. All I have left is to write the essays, pay the fee and push submit.</p>
<p>I'm a really big fan of the consortium and would very much like to take Mudd's classes even if I'm not a student there, so I was considering Pomona in case I decided that Harvey Mudd was not for me. The thing is I haven't sent scores or recs to Pomona yet. Your thoughts/advice?</p>
<p>Speaking of the first semester of frosh year...
The workload is manageable. You won't feel terribly stressed if you don't procrastinate. Tonight I have to work on 4000 words of essays that are due tomorrow and decide my humanities course grade, study for a chemistry midterm tomorrow that I haven't learned anything for, do math homework, and rewrite a chemistry essay. If you procrastinate like I do, you will end up getting these kinds of ridiculous amounts of work. Otherwise, you'll be fine. The workload really isn't that much larger than what I experienced in high school while I was taking 7 classes, 5 AP. I'd estimate that I'm doing about 30 hours of work per week and get ~5.5 hours a night of sleep during the weekdays.</p>
<p>It's just that Harvey Mudd has a great social life. If you decide that you want to take part in it, you will have less free time and time to sleep. It's all about finding a balance between academics, social life, and sleep.</p>
<p>I have gotten depressed at times from the workload, but now I don't really mind anymore. I accept it now. But then again, this is pass/fail right now so I'm sure I'll work harder during the rest of college when my grades actually matter.</p>
<p>Mudd is doable for most people who get in. There are a few that get sick of the workload and opt to not come back. However, for the rest of us, it is merely a practice of time management.</p>
<p>The difference between Mudd and HS (in terms of work) is that at Mudd you'll have a lesser number of problems.... but often the problems will be MUCH harder. If you know what it feels like to spend an hour or more on one problem, you know how most Mudd people feel.</p>
<p>You bring this question up at an interesting time...
I, as well have a whole lot of stuff due tomorrow...20 page paper, 10 page physics tech report, physics lab writeup, stems lab, math hw... not to mention approaching finals.</p>
<p>Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and work for a few days straight to get everything done. Luckily this only happens once or twice a semester.</p>
<p>Yes, quite so. If you manage your time, you will not run very often into situations that require loads of all nighters and nonstop working. I myself have gotten a bit better at that - for example, I did my physics tech report in advance, and now I only have the lab writeup to do, which I am working on right now and am nearly done with (I am in rocketDA's lab section, funnily enough). However, I also have 2 weeks worth of frosh physics homework to grade by 10 tomorrow, so the sign is that I can still improve my own time mangament skills. But the point is, as time goes on you learn good study habits and skills, and when to slack off and when to sit down and work.</p>
<p>Since you're talking about courseloads at this time of year...when are finals? (i.e., do you really get a break when you go home or are exams hanging over your head?) I know some schools get semester exams over with in December, and other do it in Jan.</p>
<p>Finals start monday next week and go until friday. Then our winter break begins friday :)</p>
<p>I should mention that, like at most schools, the worst time of the year for courseloads is just before finals or midterms, because the professors have to finish up everything and go extra fast. Usually you won't find that any three random students have as much work as atomicfusion, rocketDA, and myself just had.</p>
<p>Yeah... I've been working since Tuesday, non-stop. I'm still not finished... after averaging 4 hours a night of sleep and pulling an all-nighter thursday night/friday morning. I'm on hour 60-70 right now...</p>