<p>D is junior and we're flying there. Scheduled the tour but would like to know places to visit or sit down and get a feel of the college. We will also visit other Claremont Colleges so ideas for fun restaurants where students hang out would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Right now this is her dream school so hints on places to visit that would expose us to the not so great aspects of Claremont Consortium would be appreciated. Goal isn't to damper her enthusaism but to give us a realistic view. It may be her only chance to visit.</p>
<p>Mudd is very small so after the tour I suggest that you go simply talk to as many students as possible and visit the cafeteria, the student center and the main classroom area. Also visiting the dorms is very entertaining. The town of Claremont is very quaint ( reminds me of the 1950"s), quiet and safe. Many students walk downtown occasionally for special meals and just to do something different. </p>
<p>My son is a senior and Mudd was an outstanding experience for him. The teachers are great, they really know the students and there are summer research opportunities available for the students. Your student will know after a visit if Mudd is the right school.</p>
<p>First - if you can, fly into Ontario airport. It’s small , quick, convenient and much easier than LAX. I think you can get from the plane to the school in 25 minutes if you hustle a bit.
(including picking up your rental car and figuring out the map…)
Mudd is , indeed, very small. All the consortium is fairly small - it’s nice to walk through the other colleges to get into Claremont.
Bert and Rockys is great for ice cream. There is the small “Jay’s Place” on campus. It’s just pizza and such, but probably a good spot to get the Mudd vibe.</p>
<p>Re “the not so great aspects” – visit the FA office and go over the cost of attendance. That’s about it, really, aside from grade deflation. Parents tend to react negatively to the disarray of West dorm; just know in advance that it’s that way because the Westies want it to be, and the fact that it stays that way is an indication of the Honor Code working and the administration consequently not feeling a great need to micromanage student life. Really. :)</p>
<p>I think most of the “hanging out” really happens on campus – in the dorm lounges, Jay’s Place, or Platt. Some students, not necessarily Mudders but sometimes including Mudders, hang out at Pizza’n’Such in the Village. Podge’s is a sandwich shop that gets some student traffic, including my Mudder on occasions. Some Mudders make quasi-regular pilgrimages to a local fro-yo shop, either Yogurtland or 21 Choices (both near Indian Hill and Bonita), and the sushi and Thai places seem to be popular choices too. But again, your daughter’s best bet for Mudd life is probably on campus. Ask the Admissions rep if a student would be willing and available to show her around and maybe to take her to lunch at the Hoch or Jay’s Place. If so, she’ll find out pretty quickly whether “her people” are there.</p>
That’s about it, really, aside from grade deflation. Parents tend to react negatively to the disarray of West dorm; just know in advance that it’s that way because the Westies want it to be, and the fact that it stays that way is an indication of the Honor Code working and the administration consequently not feeling a great need to micromanage student life. Really. :)</p>