To any parent on this thread…in case you didn’t know, you also have a resource to reach out to other Mudd parents (admitted, current and alumni) through our Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1647584125496753/
(replace the asterisks with facebook dot com)
or search for “Harvey Mudd College Admitted Families”
The latest news makes me sad. My D and I visited the school twice this fall and she loved it. We immediately felt like it would provide a special and enriching education. My D goes to very a small high school and it has a similar atmosphere. Unfortunately, in a small school you are in a bubble which can be suffocating to some. With all the negative news, I still think my D would thrive at HMC. Unfortunately she is on the waitlist, so highly unlikely she will get to go. To the other HMC parents, I’m envious! I feel like HMC is the best kept secret of schools, not everyone will get it but those that do, know. (If that makes any sense!)
I just have to remind myself that my D will be happy and thrive anywhere…but it’s hard to let go of HMC!
When we first visited HMC, our student definitely loved the students, the campus, the challenging classes, the supportive professors, the amazing clinic and research opportunities, and the collaborative environment. We could definitely see it could be a great place for STEM students who have tackled challenging courses in high school and want even more in college. When we learned of the Wabash report at Accepted Students Program, we as parents were very anxious about the level of overwork that was referenced. We worried that it would be an unhealthy work-life balance for our student who would be far from home and from family support. We did allow our student to choose HMC over Cal Tech and Georgia Tech, because we felt it had to be our child’s choice. It was definitely scary for us.
Two weeks in, I’m very happy to report that Harvey Mudd is a happy place for our student. The student matching survey provided a roommate that is a perfect match. If that didn’t work, freshmen are welcome to trade after getting a little peer counseling to see if it’s an issue that could be resolved. Our student has made friends, loves interesting, challenging classes, balances work/life, and even cycled to Target just for a fun outing (we had encouraged use of Uber or Amazon Prime delivery), but our child just wanted to do something active for fun…something we feared there would be no time for with the homework load. We hear that some classes have lots of homework and others have little outside of class/lab. Currently, it seems very do-able and a good balance. Not to say there is not work, but our student carried a rigorous load in high school and definitely seems capable of balancing what is being asked at this point. We keep reminding that first semester is pass/fail, so it’s a great time to learn what to do well and what to skim, which is hard but important for those who were high achievers in high school.
No school is perfect, but this one definitely cares about its students and works hard to fix things if they are not right. It’s a very expensive college, but they do many things like having free storage pods over summer for the students and having reasonably priced, delicious healthy meals with a myriad of choices, including allergen sensitive options. The director of food services encouraged my student to tell a staff person if nothing in a given meal was something s/he liked–the staff would be happy to prepare something else. The students can eat at any of the 5 Claremont College dining halls with their swipes. They can take classes at any of the 5 C schools–whichever one has Spanish or writing or business or whatever courses at the time that is the most convenient. Study abroad sounds like a great option too, as we’ve heard the kids only pay tuition (not room and board) that semester and only have to buy their plane ticket. We constantly learn of new amazing research equipment that HMC has been received through grants or other sources. So many of the top schools we visited seemed to have out-of-date and/or limited equipment that an undergrad would rarely get to utilize.
I’m really sorry that we had such an anxious spring as we worried if HMC was a good choice for our child. It was a very stressful time as parents. But I can honestly say that I’m that only parent of any of our friends that left their child without tears or sadness, despite the fact that we are much farther away and I had expected those normal parent tears. I just saw how happy my child was and could not be sad. (Not saying that no HMC parents cry!)
I think Mudd is a very special school–if it is the right fit for you, it can be a very happy place. One parent commented that it was like dropping your child off at Hogwarts–your child was with their tribe and therefore was very happy.
If any future parents or students have questions, please feel free to message me. I’ll try to answer as honestly as I can from our experience. Please don’t fret. There is no single perfect school. It’s just a matter of finding a school that is a good fit for you and then making the most of your opportunities.
Can anyone help a regular applicant out? I just checked my financial aid portal and got the form, authorization of allowable charges which is only for people who have enrolled with Harvey Mudd. Is this for all applicants? Like do they send this form to all applicants who applied for financial aid? I’m thinking that this is just a form they send to everyone regardless of your decision. Any light on this issue would be appreciated!