<p>so I am a strong science student academically and I'm even doing a science summer program but I've never done robotics or research or any other science extracurricular (I do lots and lots of theater instead.) do you think this puts me at an extreme disadvantage (I understand that it does hurt but how much do you think?)</p>
<p>another thing I want to know is how much does social life revolve around the parties? I'm not really a party-person and I don't think I'd be much of a drinker either. </p>
<p>one more thing...I know it's extremely difficult and challenging and that it's supposed to be, but, for anyone's who's attended, were you ever depressed or felt like dying over the work? and is there a lot of cutthroat competition or more collaborative?</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your input</p>
<p>I can take a shot at some of this:
- I think Mudd is looking for people who have a passion for science. So if you have no science related ECs, I expect it is a disadvantage in the admissions process. The science summer program is a great start. Not every school has robotics, so you just have to find other opportunities. Does your school have a math club? What about some kind of science olympiad activity? Does your school’s quiz bowl team need a science specialist? how about a programming club? What about science hobbies outside of school (entomology, etc.). Is there a local science museum or nature center you can volunteer at? My kid hadn’t done research, so don’t be too stressed about that.
- My kid is much of a partier at all (does not like parties, drinks very little). She has found plenty of other activities to do without partying (in fact… for a while the 5C quiz bowl team was practicing on Friday nights, and she was doing that).
- I think is is a VERY difficult place academically, a crazy amount of work. But the thing that makes it bearable (and even fun quite a bit of the time) is that it is super collaborative. Students help each other a lot (as allowed within the honor code, but I think there is a ton of hanging around together doing problem sets, giving hints to people who are struggling with something, mentoring and tutoring by older students, etc.). My kid has never made a peep about it being cutthroat, and is always talking about how much help is available from friends, older students, tutors, and professors. That doesn’t mean she hasn’t been up until the wee hours a LOT doing homework. But she is usually not alone… And she has a couple of friends who are getting better grades – but they always help her when she needs it, too.</p>
<p>I actually didn’t have that many science extracurriculars. I wrote my “what else do you want us to know” essay about something not science-related. Yeah, a lot of people here have done robotics or something like that, but it doesn’t necessarily put you at a disadvantage. </p>
<p>HMC is a school where people mostly either party every weekend or stay in and do homework or play video games every weekend. I think some people would party more if they had more time, but honestly there are plenty of times when you just have to spend Saturday night doing work. It can be a bit of a bummer to have to stay in doing work seemingly all the time, but I wouldn’t say that Mudd is a depressing place. I have had a lot of things happen in my personal life during college that probably greatly contributed to any time that I was sad or depressed, but having so much work to do and not always being able to get much sleep doesn’t make it better. On the other hand, Mudd tries really hard to create a supportive environment. There is always someone to talk to when you’re feeling bummed about anything, even classwork. The student mentors and proctors and the deans are all supportive and friendly. Mudd even has a “Dean of Health and Wellness” who is basically a psychologist who is there to talk to you for free. I have found this resource to be greatly helpful to me during my time at Mudd. </p>
<p>Awesome, thank you guys so much. It seems like a really cool place and I think I’ll definitely apply there :)</p>