Harvey Mudd: The Big Picture
Come to Mudd because the professors want to teach you. As an all-undergraduate institution, the professors are here because they can teach the best students here, not because we have the best research (although we have some of the best undergraduate research opportunities). At Harvey Mudd you get a top-notch education: there isn't a college in the country that has a clearly better curriculum in math, the sciences, or engineering. If you can handle the workload, Mudd can give you the best education you're likely to recieve, and that's the best part of Mudd. Add to that the close community and cooperative atmosphere, available and interested professors and opportunities for non-science education at the other 4 colleges adjacent and you have (in my opinion) a college second to none.
Harvey Mudd Academic Life
I personally know every professor in my department (Computer Science) and at least one professor in every other department at Mudd ("Humanities", Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics, and Engineering). Not every class is perfect, but most are excellent, providing an interactive learning environment that encourages questions and interaction with the professors. The supportive student climate means that you can get help almost any time from your peers, and the trusting relationship between students and professors is a great thing. The academic requirements are extremely tough: classes in each of the departments mentioned above, a major in one of them, and what ammounts to a minor in "humanities" which gets spread across at least six different disciplines. I've enjoyed the depth and bredth, however, and to some degree I pity people who haven't studied some of the sciences that I have: the bredth of my knowledge gives me a unique perspective on my field and the ability to work with and understand other fields.
Harvey Mudd's Student Body
Harvey Mudd has a strong and supportive community. That said, our community isn't very diverse, and has the normal quotient of frictions between members. Still, I think that it's an overall very supportive community and that if you're willing to put in a little effort to do so, you can find a group of friends to hang out with no matter who you are.
Harvey Mudd Student Activities + Social Life
Mudd has great parties, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. My knowlege of alcoholi parties is second-hand, but they're widely acknolwedged as top-notch events. The homework load is pretty severe, and certainly cuts into social life (or sleep) but I find myself with just enough time to do most things that I want to.
Harvey Mudd Naked Truth
Don't come if you can't handle it: know what you're getting yourself into. Mudd destroys some people because it requires so much. You'll be averaging a bit more than 5 classes per semester during your time at Mudd which probably means that you'll take 6 or even 7 at one point. Also, these classes are difficult. There are a few easy ones, but most of the core requirements (90% of your classes for the first two years) are individually tough classes, and you'll be taking a lot of them at once. If you can't handle that, don't come to Mudd.
