<p>I was wondering what the advantages/disadvantages are of majoring in science at Pomona rather than at HMC. D2 wants to major in math/physics but also has strong interests in humanities. She is also a quirky kid with interests in live action role play. What's the difference in nerd/geek culture between the 2? Thanks!</p>
<p>Because there are so many joint options available between Mudd and Pomona, especially in the areas you listed, the academic differences between the two are minimal. The biggest difference is emphasis. Mudd has a very demanding core that Pomona does not. In fact, I would argue that it is Mudd, not Pomona, which emphasizes the liberal arts curriculum. All Mudders must take 1/3 of their schedules in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Pomona only requires 3 of these courses total, and the options available is even more diverse. Mudd emphasizes an extremely strong, commonly shared technical education backed by the human aspect of their other core. Pomona emphasizes flexibility and the value of individual decision and growth, and that comes with a definite benefit and drawback from Mudd’s system. </p>
<p>There are several implications of this difference:</p>
<p>*Pomona students have a schedule which tends to be less academically demanding. A common course load at Harvey Mudd can have 6-7 courses, while Pomona would have 4-5. However, I’m not sure if this as significant of a difference between science majors, as the 4-5 number does not include labs, while Mudd’s 6-7 do. Furthermore, I use tend to because academically motivated Pomona students could make Pomona just as demanding if they wanted to, but their interests in other areas makes them less willing to do so.
*The student bodies widely differ. Pomona students are an extremely diverse, uncharacteristic bunch of students. You will definitely find students here who absolutely loath math and science. Harvey Mudd attracts a group that is very passionate about math and science, and the fact that a core in math and physics is required by all students probably speaks to that. The schools do seem to vary in their treatment of the humanities. I’ve noticed that Pomona science students champion the humanities and social students, while it is not treated with as much respect at Mudd. The humanities are simply not as good at Mudd, and many see that core as a necessity, not a benefit. However, because excellent humanities are offered through cross-enrollment, this may not be a problem for your daughter.
*Pomona is the type of school where the student that can be proactive and extremely driven is the one that benefits most from the education. Its 2 billion dollar endowment is more than 8 times bigger than Mudd’s, allowing the student that communicates their goals and projects with the school to have their ideas to be funded. Mudd’s technical education rewards the student that works the hardest and is the most innovative in technical, defined projects, but because all are smart, innovative, and hard-working, and put along a similar track, the quality seen is more homogeneous. The implication of this is that there is a divide between the students during graduation time at Pomona, while Mudders are all likely to be around the same place- PhD, a well-paying job, or a competitive fellowship- by graduation time.</p>
<p>Honestly, the best way to really think about it is trying to distinguish MIT (Harvey Mudd) from Harvard (Pomona). Both are neighbors that benefit greatly from each other, both attract distinguished student bodies, but they vary greatly in what they emphasize, both directly and within their student bodies.</p>
<p>@nostalgic wisdom, thanks so much for your detailed and insightful reply. I will pass along to D2 and keep it in mind as she makes her college list.</p>
<p>@nostalgicwisdom: at one time, we were considering similar questions about Pomona vs. Harvey Mudd. As it happened, DS wound up getting into a first-choice early, so it’s just academic for us, but I would have greatly appreciated your post if we were still wondering. And, to my friends who say “why do you still go on CC now that your DS is accepted,” your thoughtful post is the answer.</p>
<p>Current Pomona freshman. IMO if your D is sure about math/physics, HMC should be her first choice. Cross enrollment enables you to take world-class humanities at any of the other 5C’s. Also, the “nerd/geek” culture is much more prominent at HMC; I think she’d feel right at home given her interests!</p>
<p>I would be cautious about making a statement like that. Pomona’s math and science offerings are just as great as Mudd’s (though physics may not be to as par, cross-enrollment makes that less of an issue, and a sparkling new physics building is in the works for completion in Fall 2015). Furthermore, having significant experience with the math and physics crowd, they are distinctively more “geeky” and “quirky” than other departments at Pomona- perhaps just the nature of students interested in these areas? </p>
<p>Going to Mudd is wonderful, but it is not for everyone. Everyone who goes must be ready to take a significant core in math, physics, chemistry, biology, and the humanities. You must love both the idea of majoring in math and science (though a few exceptions occur), and you must be ready to take 1/3 of your courses of your humanities. This contradictory duality of a Mudd education is something all applicants must think about. However, I should point out that several Pomona students have considered and even transferred to Mudd, due to their realization that they benefited better from the goals emphasized at Mudd (<a href=“HMC's Humanities Program Surpasses Pomona's - The Student Life”>http://tsl.pomona.edu/articles/2013/9/20/opinions/4087-hmcs-humanities-program-surpasses-pomonas</a>).</p>
<p>Pomona is more of the all-around school that fits anyone that is academically driven. Pomona emphasizes a different kind of “liberal arts”- flexibility. As a molecular biology or chemistry major with a deep passion for the humanities, Mudd would have also worked for me, but I didn’t apply because of a worry that I would find that the sciences weren’t what I wanted to major in. There are also definite differences between the student bodies and the course-load. Mudd is rigorous and demanding for pretty much everyone because their almost exclusive focus is the academic experience. Pomona is what you make of it because of the flexibility it emphasizes, and for some, that isn’t necessarily a good thing due to a fear of not being able to make the best decisions by themselves. </p>