Harvey Mudd College is a tiny school of fewer than 750 students and nine majors, all in math or science. But it’s also part of the Claremont Consortium (also known as the 5C)—five schools within walking distance of one another in Claremont, California—so students can also join organizations and take classes at Claremont-McKenna, Pitzer, Pomona, and Scripps. Despite Harvey Mudd’s strong math-science bent, the stringent academic requirements are designed to produce well-rounded, liberal arts students, and a third of undergrads’ courses must be in the humanities. “
The academic requirements are extremely tough… I’ve enjoyed the depth and breadth, however, and to some degree I pity people who haven’t studied some of the sciences that I have: the breadth of my knowledge gives me a unique perspective on my field and the ability to work with and understand other fields,” writes a senior majoring in computer science. Some students, though, wish they could focus on science and math and skip the humanities stipulation. “
There are absolutely inane humanities requirements. They take away from science classes, which are the only important ones. In this way, the college takes away from our preparedness for graduate school by making us waste time and money in useless classes,” writes a sophomore majoring in chemistry.
Harvey Mudd also mandates that students complete a year of original research or a Clinic project. The latter program offers students a chance to apply an academic education to the real world by solving technical problems for industrial companies. “
The clinic program (applied research for a corporate client) is an interesting experience where students solve real-life problems in teams over the course of the year for a client, usually resulting in industry utilization and it isn’t uncommon for patents or papers to come from this process. In my first semester of clinic I’m getting published and sent to France for a conference!" writes a junior majoring in engineering.
Mudders almost uniformly discuss the intensity of the workload, but write that professors’ commitment to teaching and collaboration among students help. Students carry their academic work into the social realm—talking about class is common at all times of day. “
The one word to describe Mudd's academics is INTENSE. Academics are a 24/7 pursuit. It’s not uncommon to be incredibly drunk and still be discussing your current class or project,” writes a junior majoring in engineering. Or, as one freshman puts it, “
Quantum physics is always good breakfast conversation, and my roommate and suite mate talk about philosophy a lot. We spend hours upon hours doing homework and studying, and then when we're done we still want to talk about science.” Since the school is so small, professors form close relationships with undergrads and often engage with them outside of the classroom. Students also depend on each other to make it through the workload: “
There is very little competition, mostly because professors encourage you to work together in groups,” writes a senior.
The other four Claremont Colleges offer not just academic opportunities (Mudders often fulfill the humanities requirement at other 5Cs), but social ones, too. Most groups and teams have members from multiple 5C schools—and Scripps, an all-women school, complements Harvey Mudd’s mostly-male student body. “
As far as things like dating go, it can sometimes be a little rough. The good thing is that we have four other undergraduate institutions. Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps are all within walking distance (as close as across the street) and share facilities with us. When Mudd gets too small, you can socialize or take classes at another school,” writes a freshman.
The fact that the gender ratio is evening up also helps: the Class of 2011 is only 57.7% male.
Mudd’s culture is distinct in its emphasis on acceptance, especially of different sexualities, and for its dorm system, which divides students into housing groups based on personality and interests. “
Harvey Mudd has a very accepting community; it feels weird to even say that because I've sorta forgotten that there was any difference between us all in the first place!” writes a freshman. Mudd has no Greek life—the social scene is all about the dorms. “
The social life you have revolves around the dorm you live in as all the dorms have a personality, and this creates an amazing dorm sense of community. As a freshman you take a 3-page survey that will place you in a dorm that works best with you as a person. The people who pick dorms and roommates generally do a very good job,” another freshman reports. The dorms’ characterizations range from stoner to homebody to jock, and each hosts social events. Students report a liberal alcohol scene: “
The alcohol/drug policy is unbelievably relaxed and very illegal...I carry around a beer on campus as if it was a bottle of water even though I'm under 21," writes a sophomore. The freedom to drink denotes the administration’s broader trust in undergrads. Harvey Mudd operates by an honor code that allows students to take exams in their dorms and leave their bags unattended—and facilitates the acceptance and collaboration that Mudders value.
