Hi all,
I’m a prospective applicant to Harvey Mudd next year and just had a quick question for all of you. I’m very interested in a math & physics double major as I’m highly interested in both subjects. However, I came across the following link: https://www.hmc.edu/dean-of-faculty/institutional-research/institutional-statistics/majors-and-minors-of-graduates/ the other day, and it seems like incredibly few Harvey Mudd students double major. I contacted one of the admissions officers who seemed to indicate that it is in fact possible but was just wondering whether it’s only possible in theory or whether it’s manageable/relatively easy to do (if so, why the low statistic?). I’m very interested in Harvey Mudd so was just wondering whether any students/alumni might be able to shed some light on whether double majoring (especially in interrelated fields like math and physics) is a)possible and b) easy/manageable.
Any thoughts? Has anybody on here either double majored at Harvey Mudd themselves (especially in interconnected fields like math and physics) or else knows how easy/difficult double majoring is at Harvey Mudd?
Ok, so I’m just the parent of two HMC students (present and alumni) neither of whom double majored. I think the between core and the humanities requirement, a double major would prove to be a challenge credit-wise and just sanity-wise. HMC is hard and the the first 1.5 yrs of core are the hardest. I would suggest you add up all the credits you would need to complete core, humanities requirement and the double major and see if there is any time left over for a life. Physics at HMC is really hard too and I’m guess the math major isn’t a walk in the park.
Anyway, I would suggest visiting HMC if you the ability and maybe talk to someone in both departments to get a feel for each major requirement. Maybe there is a way. But, nothing at HMC is easy.
Good luck!
Thanks @Mom2kids ; that’s really helpful. For me, it’s definitely a big consideration when looking at colleges as I’m pretty adamant about double majoring. HMC sounds like a fantastic place, so I’m really hoping there’s some possibility of a double major. If it helps, I’ll be entering with some advanced math classes (Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, Intro. to Abstract math, and Intro. to Real Analysis), so maybe some of those could help to alleviate 2-3 requirements/pre-reqs.
If anybody currently at HMC on this forum is double majoring or knows somebody who has, it would be great if you could let me know your experience.
Double majoring isn’t really necessary. You take a lot of math as a physics major I don’t see why you don’t major in physics and use math electives for extra math. Or switch once you choose one. Either you are going to go to work, in which case it doesn’t matter too much, or you are going to go to grad school in physics or math–you won’t be going to grad school in both so you have to pick one. Just my two cents that it isn’t worth passing up Mudd for imo.
Double majoring within 4 years is pretty much infeasible unless there is a good overlap in course requirements.
@BrownParent , thanks for that insight. For me the reason I want to double major is as I don’t feel like I’ve done sufficient coursework in either to really make a decision as of now (only knowing that I love both from what I’ve done so far). I also feel like they’re highly interconnected, so it would be nice to have the skill set of both. My issue with being a physics major and just doing the required math for that is that the math I want to do is mostly theoretical (like real/complex analysis, etc.) which is very different from the more applied math I need for physics.
I could do several courses in each and then just make a decision, but then, I’m putting a lot of effort/investment into each and only getting a degree in one, which seems like a shame. I feel like I love both enough to want to take some really advanced classes in both before making my decision. I’m planning on going to grad. school and into academia and definitely understand I’ll have to make a really hard choice between the two at some point. However, I want to make that choice 3 years down the line when I’ve done original research, advanced level classes in each, etc. rather than right now.
I feel like double majoring allows me to fully explore both roads rather than making a decision about one over the other based upon my relatively limited experience with both now (despite being in AP Physics C and being in AP Calc. BC- and about to do all of this advanced math over the next year, I feel like I’m barely skimmed the surface of all both fields have to offer). I’m sure/I hope I’ll come to a point where there’s one which I clearly love more than the other, but I don’t know when that point is but think it will be after a few years of having studied both intensely.
Mathinduction - I spoke with both my HMC kids - almost no one they know double majored (there are some dual majors that are available, but they are structured majors like a Computer science/math major) My alumni knew of one person who double majored in engineering and Chinese, but that person took a 5th year to finish.
I think that the advantages of a college like HMC, the small classes, opportunity for summer research (one of my kids did summer research freshman year and was a listed on a paper that was accepted at, and then they went to, a major conference before the end of sophomore year), the core studies and the community, are worth the trade of not being able to claim a double major on your diploma.
Also, I think you should enter into college with an open mind to future paths that might not be obvious at the moment. But, that is a old person talking…
Good luck in your college search!
OP
you will HAVE to take a LOT of math if your major is Physics. There will be plenty of time to declare your major once you are in college.
Now is NOT the time to impose a limit on what your major(s) will be. You may not have the choice of a doing a double major- its totally dependent on where you actually get accepted and HMC is NOT easy to get into!
That said-Colleges that do NOT require students to take Liberal arts classes in order to graduate, may make it easier to do a double major.
Relax - focus your time on finding safety colleges that you can afford and would be happy to attend.
I am an admitted student and planning on attending Mudd in the Fall. At the admitted students program, the speakers basically told us that double-majoring is pretty much impossible and unnecessary. They said in the last decade or so, that maybe two or three people have ever done it. I don’t think–if you have your heart set on HMC–that you should seriously consider a double major
@toolhenry49 , thanks so much for that insight. It’s a shame about not being able to double major as I’m incredibly passionate about both fields. I think I’ll still apply to HMC for the potential to receive a world renowned education and will just have to make a choice between these two incredible subjects.
I am pretty sure I know someone who is currently double majoring in math and physics (graduating this year), so it’s probably doable? Physics also has the least requirements and there are definitely classes that can count for both physics and math. Not many people double major. I personally only know 3-4 people, and they do take on a heavy load of coursework every semester so I don’t recommend it. Spend that time enjoying college life instead. Instead of double majoring, choose one and take classes in the other field. I know plenty of people who do this!
Short answer: Yes. Almost anything is allowed through the “design your own major” option.
However…it’s clearly pretty difficult. You’d need to convince some administrative people it’s really the best option for you. You might have to overload your schedule a few semesters. And, there is really no point since you can take classes outside your major (I, myself, am planning to do their joing Math/CS major while still taking 1-3 physics classes as electives). It’s not uncommon at all to have a math major undergrad and study physics in grad school, or vice versa.
Also, Mudd’s physics major comes in many flavors: http://physics.hmc.edu/program/. You might enjoy studying Mathematical Physics, then taking some pure math classes on the side.
Yes, click on the “options” item on that page linked to in post #12. My kid is doing the physics & computers program.