Is Mudd the place for me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvey Mudd College
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<p>I’m currently a junior and I’ve been doing research on colleges for a few months now. The UCs were the first ones I looked at but then I found Mudd. After reading through many reviews and the HMU website, Mudd sounded really appealing to me. I’m pretty convinced about going into some engineering major. I feel that going to a small private school will give me a better opportunity to learn than a large UC. I like working in groups, but not huge ones. I really want to stay in California so Stanford, Caltech, and the top UCs would probably be my other options. If I go to Mudd, I’ll probably go to another top engineering school for grad (and maybe consider some east coast schools like MIT). I don’t have a big desire for parties, but I still want to have some fun in college.</p>

<p>Here’s some stuff about me:</p>

<p>Asian Male – Bay Area CA – public high school
UC GPA (10-present): 4.3
Rank: Don’t know right now, but probably top 5% ish.
I have two AP’s and one Honors right now, five classes total <Is that too low?
I’ll have 2-3 AP’s in my senior year, probably 6 classes total.
I’m taking the math and science AP/honors but not all of the humanities ones. My school doesn’t offer too much APs, no IB, I think it’s because of our low budget.</p>

<p>SAT: 2150 (800M 700CR 650W) retaking next year, W should raise to 750ish
SATII: Math IIC- 790, Chemistry-taking soon, expecting 780+</p>

<p>For Extracurriculars, I basically spend all my time in my school’s Robotics Club. I’m quite ‘passionate’ about what I do in the club. About the club:
-FIRST Robotics Competition: team builds a robot to compete in a game. I’m a driver of the robot (fun job).
-Currently the Chief Engineer, likely to be co-president senior year.
-I’m probably the most active member in the club, I do all sorts of stuff including t-shirt design, video producing, teaching/mentoring within the club and in the community, some grant writing, some website work. 10+ hours of activities a week, more during the competition season and summer.</p>

<p>I have a job making videos for a local after school/tutoring center. I might start teaching there as well.</p>

<p>I’m a bit concerned about the cost of Mudd. I’ll get the Merit award once I raise my SAT W score. Other than the National Merit Scholarship, I’m not sure about what other financial help I can get. I won’t be receiving any large ‘need-based’ awards.</p>

<p>What do you guys think? Does Mudd seem like the place for me and what should I do to help myself get in? Thoughts on UC or private school? Any comments would be greatly appreciated.</p>

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<p>Well, to be quite frank, Mudd is a great place for learning. The professors are really amazing and it can get quite challenging.</p>

<p>I'd say that you seem like a fairly typical Mudder. The only problem with Mudd's curriculum (in my opinion) is that there are not a lot of opportunities for engineers to pursue things like robotics at Mudd, unless it is on your own time...and even then you will not have THAT much free time. I know of a senior who came to Mudd thinking she was going to be doing robotics and now she is leaving Mudd not wanting to do engineering...though she will go into management engineering. She thought Mudd would be more hands on but really...there is a lot of math and such and unless you come and join my rocket club (to which I'd be delighted) there are only a few opportunities to work with your hands. </p>

<p>I hope that helps and good luck wth your decision about HMC.</p>

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<p>Off topic: I'm also a driver for my FIRST team and I definitely agree - lots of fun and so exciting. Yeah, it takes up most of my time, too. Can't wait for kickoff.
I'm applying to Mudd this year - I like the sense of community as well. I can't tell you much since I'm not actually a student there, but from what I know, the environment there seems matched to your interests.</p>

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<p>woah I'm on a FIRST Team too! What team are you from? I'm interested in Harvey Mudd, but it's disappointing to hear that there aren't many opportunities for hands on learning.</p>

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<p>Wow, it's great hearing from people who love FIRST.
I'm from team 846, the Funky Monkeys. We're going to the Silicon Valley and Hawaii regionals.
Maybe a robotics club could start at Mudd if several FIRST participants get in.</p>

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<p>Hey! I'm from Team 987 the High Rollers. I think we were alliance-mates at Silicon Valley last year!</p>

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<p>!!!! Great job winning the Championship alessandro!!!! I'm on WildStang (111) and I don't know if you remember but your alliance beat us in the semifinals of Newton. Well since I'm not near the West coast, I hope to play both of your teams in Atlanta.</p>

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<p>"Maybe a robotics club could start at Mudd if several FIRST participants get in."</p>

<p>I know that there are robotics classes and an elite club...but I think it is mostly for CS types.</p>

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<p>cantaloupe: congratulations to YOU on the Chairmans win!! I hope to see you guys in Atlanta too!</p>

<p>rocketDA: Are there other activities at HMC similar to the club you previously described?</p>

<p>*Not intentionally stealing your thread OP....sorry :P</p>

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<p>When HMC visited my high school, my friend asked about robotics. I recall the rep giving a very elaborate answer, but I forgot anything that he said.</p>

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<p>"rocketDA: Are there other activities at HMC similar to the club you previously described?"</p>

<p>Auto club
Motorcycle club (I think)
Rocket club (I'm president)
Aviation club (barnstormers)
many I'm forgetting....</p>

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<p>What happened to mudd's robotics team? They used to have one. A friend of mine was on it and he was a physics major.</p>