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Harvey Mudd College

Claremont, CA
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Harvey Mudd College

Photo: Harvey Mudd College. Retrieved from: commons.wikimedia.org

Harvey Mudd College has a reputation of producing the most educated and well-rounded scientists, engineers and mathematicians all embodying the spirit of leadership. This college belongs to the Claremont University Consortium alongside Pomona College, Claremont McKenna and other schools in the Claremont area. Students of HMC can choose from various majors offered, among which natural sciences and applied sciences are the most popular. Many students go for the strong science program, including courses in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics and physics.

Students may opt for the independent study program, take up an off-campus major and sign up for joint programs in biology and chemistry, computer science and mathematics, as well as mathematical biology. Harvey Mudd College is a selective school and accepts only the students with high potential for innovation and leadership.

The emphasis is on undergraduate research, as it always has been since the school’s founding. As a result of the intensive undergraduate training, most students move on to pursue graduate courses in technology, engineering and the natural sciences.

School History

Harvey Mudd College was chartered in 1955 and opened for enrolment 1957 prompted by the participation of the USA in the space race. The school greatly contributed to the expansion and development of a technical education curriculum in the country. The college got its early reputation for academic excellence by attracting the brightest students and turning them into trained scientific and technical personnel. A strong emphasis is also placed in the social sciences and humanities.

In 1963, Harvey Mudd College was a pioneer of the Clinic Program, a nationally renowned training scheme that allows government and non-profit agencies to sponsor research works for teams of students, allowing these students to solve complex problems of real companies.

The school’s namesake was Harvey Seeley Mudd, a mining engineer who graduated from Stanford and Columbia universities. He served as a director of the Southern Pacific Company, the Hospital of The Good Samaritan, the Texas Gulf Sulphur Company, the Founders Fire and Marine Insurance Company and the RAND Corporation. He was also a trustee of the California Institute of Technology, as well as the Southwest Museum. He had a specific love for The Claremont Colleges and took over the chairmanship of the Board of Fellows of Claremont Graduate University for 25 years. Before he died, he was instrumental in the planning of a new undergraduate college that focuses on the sciences and engineering, which was established and named in his honor.

Campus Life

Most of the students in Harvey Mudd College aspire to become scientists, spacecraft personnel and engineers, and many of them graduate with enough knowledge and potential to make their dreams come true. Almost all of the enrolled students live on campus, which is made up of nine academic buildings and eight dormitories. The common dining area is located at the center of the cluster.

Students adhere to a common Honor Code, that has been created and enforced by the students themselves. The Honor Code mandates that all students should uphold his or her integrity as well as the integrity of the school. Because of the general adherence to this code, students are entrusted with access to school facilities such as libraries and laboratories twenty-four hours a day. The college also allows take-home exams, which can either be open-book or closed-book types. Some of the take home examinations are under a time limit, which the students implement.

Financial Aid

Assistance is given according to the demonstrated financial need of the student, which involves submission of tax and other financial documents upon application. Over eighty percent of the student body in Harvey Mudd College receives financial aid. Financial aid can come in various forms, including grants, scholarships, student loans and work opportunities.

Overview

Despite college rankings and countless beautiful college websites, most students and families know very little about the actual student experience at particular schools. College websites, campus tours and conversations with high school guidance counselors provide very limited information.

The Voice of the Student Survey compares the responses of over 7,500 liberal arts college undergraduates on more than 40 questions about college life. As a result, we learned what “real life” looks like at individual schools.

Some of the best (and worst) performers in our research are surprising. Some are among the U.S. News & World Report’s top ranked liberal arts colleges in the country, while others are ranked much lower but provide a successful student experience.

Our Liberal Arts Insider members know exactly how these colleges compare.

We surveyed thousands of liberal arts students to help you get the real scoop about the student experience… the good, the bad and the ugly.

Campus Community Coach & Safety Sherpa

How safe, accepted, and comfortable students feel on their college campus is one of the largest influencing factors as to how satisfied they feel with their college experience. Having a tight-knit college community is the cornerstone of a successful college experience, as proven by our Voice of the Students survey.

We can compare what the college brochures advertise to what students are actually experiencing; sometimes the admissions representatives have no idea how students on their campus really feel. This “Community” section is a way to find out exactly what students think about their campus, in their own words. Here, we have data about student satisfaction, housing, social cliques, and student’s sense of safety.

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Academics Advisor

Without a doubt, academics are a major focus, if not the top priority, for many college students. Schools will often advertise their classrooms as collaborative, but we’ve found that students sometimes describe the academic environment as highly competitive. Are students helping each other with academic work or trying to get ahead? Do students spend every waking moment with their nose in a book?

We asked students both qualitative and quantitative questions to find out how the academics at this school challenge them, and contribute to their college experience. Find out directly from the students how they feel about academics, challenging or otherwise, at their school.

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Social Life Navigator

In addition to academics, social life is integral to the campus experience, and it’s dictated by a few different elements. Do students feel discriminated against based on their identities? Where do students spend most of their time socializing? Do drugs and alcohol dominate the social scene? This is the kind of information that schools will NOT advertise.

So, to find truthful answers these to questions, we asked students for their perspectives. We looked into social aspects such as extracurricular involvement, opportunities in the local community, and alcohol/drug culture on this campus.

Get Our In Depth Analysis of Liberal Arts Colleges

The smartest way to cut through the college marketing hype and pick a college that is a perfect fit for your child is to become a Liberal Arts Insider member. Our research reveals inside information that colleges will never tell you.
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