Pomona vs Harvey Mudd.

Based on typical score ranges at top U.S. colleges, international students seeking substantial financial assistance would benefit from a 1500+ on the SAT.

@circuitrider Why do you say that about engineering and HMC? Most Mudd students are not engineering majors. There is one required intro engineering course in the Core, but otherwise a CS major at Mudd isn’t getting an engineering degree.

That said. I doubt HMC will be affordable for the OP as an international who needs almost a full ride.

The school websites talk about aid for international students. OP, have you looked at that information yet?

I asked the question because the OP described herself as a “STEM person” only after some prodding and - who knows? After further prodding, she may reveal herself as a possible engineering candidate in which case HMC would have a clear advantage over Pomona.

There are a lot of musicians at Mudd. Mudders have a secondary concentration, and quite a few Mudders choose music for that concentration. But again… affordability is an issue. OP, do you have grades and test scores you can share with us?

Well I haven’t taken my sat test yet but i will on this ocotber i am aming for a score between 1400 and 1500+. Other than that, I am a straight A student in all my classes and I am so engaged in my activities especially music and technology.

@intparent
That’s really good to know about Mudder musicians. Do they generally taking music courses in Pomona? Is minor in music feasible for Mudders?

There is no minor at Mudd (in any subject). They can take classes at the other colleges and play in 5C-wide ensembles. My kid’s secondary concentration wasn’t in music, but she had friends who did it. So I’m not sure what school they were going to for classes. I do remember one of her friends leaving to go to Scripps for a lesson one evening when I’d taken a group out to dinner.

I could be wrong, but, it sure sounds like what Harvey Mudd refers to as a “concentration”, isn’t a choice but part of a larger distribution requirement consisting of (at least) 10 courses in the humanities, social sciences and the arts (HSA.) At least four of those courses have to be outside the student’s chosen field of concentration and if that concentration happens to be music, at least two (2) of the remaining six (6) required courses must focus on “theory, criticism or historical analysis” of the subject:
https://www.hmc.edu/hsa/curriculum/approved-concentrations/

Just sayin’.

Right, but students sometimes also take a few more humanities courses than just the required number. My kid did.

My son has a music concentration. His music classes have been at Mudd and Scripps, but of course any campus that offers them would be acceptable (and I would assume Pomona offers quite a few too).

@ClaremontMom
I didn’t know Mudd offers music classes. That is good to know.

@makemesmart - They offer several humanity courses and Mudd students are required to take some portion of their humanities requirement at Mudd.

I found this list online:

https://www.hmc.edu/hsa/curriculum/descriptions/

Mudd has a nationally known composition professor specializing in microtonal and electronic music. Really cool classes. And he runs Microfest.