Help from current student - Page 2

BicoastalMamma · 09-30-2009, 11:06 PM

Run, run from Harvey Mudd. My child is a freshman and I think he will flunk out. He studies nonstop. Many students went to much better high schools than he did. He was a 3.99 students good scores, but an inner city high school did not prepare. The professors could care less. I have been crying nonstop. He turned down many full scholarships to go to Mudd. Now his life will be ruined and he will never graduate college.

rocketDA · 09-30-2009, 11:50 PM

"The professors could care less. I have been crying nonstop. He turned down many full scholarships to go to Mudd. Now his life will be ruined and he will never graduate college."

Quite a sad story. Has he been talking to his professors and the college staff? The Dean of Academic Affairs may have some good advice. She is quite a nice lady.

azalia · 10-01-2009, 04:45 PM

BicoastalMamma don't dispair. Give it some time. All the freshmen work like dogs (the workload is really heavy), and it can be overwhelming in the beginning. There is lots of support from other students and tutors, etc. Your son should talk to them and to the Dean like RocketDA suggests if he is feeling overwhelmed. There are others in the same boat.

Not all the students there went to super math and science magnet schools. My son didn't. There is a reason that first semester is pass/fail. It gives the students time to find their way. And there is no grade inflation, so what may seem like a low grade to someone used to getting high marks all the time, turns out to be an ok grade at Harvey Mudd. (The joke I heard was "D is for done.")

BicoastalMamma · 10-01-2009, 07:49 PM

"F" is not for fine. He is working nonstop, but he does not have the background you need for this school. When he flunks out, no one will let him in somewhere else. Assuming he has not died first from overwork and lack of sleep. When H1N1 hits, his immune system will probably be wasted. He gave up several full scholarship for this mess. Don't let your child go to Harvey Mudd unless your child is ready to teach college physics and calculus.

azalia · 10-02-2009, 09:44 AM

I think if you have a passion for math and science, that this is all the prep you really need. My son was could not have taught college level math and physics as a freshman, and he is doing fine. The admission folks are pretty good at figuring out who they think will succeed. There are lots of resources for kids who don't have the background some of the kids have.

samclare · 10-02-2009, 10:05 AM

bicostalMamma...is your kid suffering because he feels too "different" to ask for help or is a URM? ..I went to a tough Yankee LAC from a terrible public school in the south. I was ashamed of my accent and lack of preparation and didn't want to ask for help..it was so humiliating. I felt like if I went for help I would just prove the point--low income southern girl on financial aid--never should have been let in and is only there to add some diversity. I suffered in silence until my parents said...you may be on financial aid but you are still a paying customer at that school. DONT let your son think that he doesn't deserve help...the school let him in, they have a responsibility to educate him...he is a CUSTOMER even if he is on scholarship. He should ask for help with the attitude that he DESERVES help...Later I became a professor myself and I never forgot that it is my JOB to teach and teach successfully. I taught simple econ as well as advanced econometrics. It doesn't matter. A failing student who really is trying is my failure too as a teacher. MANY teachers feel this way and as long as he shows effort and determination to overcome they will also make an effort to get him through this. tell him to be proud of his hard work, be proud of the obstacles he is facintand will overcome, go in with your head held high but with your ears and mind open for advice and help. If he won't do it..it is worth you making a call to the RA/the Dean whatever it takes to let them know he is in trouble. I really believe they want every kid to succeed and they particularly want someone with challenges to succeed.

Blackroses216 · 10-02-2009, 11:52 PM

Hey, what is the typical math sequence at Mudd?

Do the majority of Freshman take Calculus First semester? (I understand this is equivalent to AP Calculus BC)

What is the typical math sequence? From what I understand Calc BC and Linear Algebra can be taken one or the other (not talking about specifically at Harvey Mudd, since you stated LA is offered in the fall) What about after that? Differential Equations? Multivariable? I saw both of these requiredonly Calculus as a prerequisite.

rocketDA · 10-03-2009, 12:26 AM

"Hey, what is the typical math sequence at Mudd?"

I think it is (if I can remember):

Math 12 (Basic calc and stuff)
Linear Algebra I
Differential Equations I
MultiVariable Calculus I
Probability and Statistics
MultiVariable Calculus II
Linear Algebra II
Differential Equations II

Blackroses216 · 10-03-2009, 12:36 AM

Linear Algebra comes before MV Calc?

I'm a bit confused.. my friend (I'm a senior and so is he) is taking MV Calc, and he just finished AP Calc BC. Can you please explain?

rocketDA · 10-03-2009, 01:08 AM

Heh, I'm pulling out my transcripts from behind my diploma to answer this one... :P

correct order:

Basic calc and stuff - Math11
Linear Algebra I - Math12
Differential Equations I - Math13
MultiVariable Calculus I - Math14
MultiVariable Calculus II - Math61
Probability and Statistics - Math62
Linear Algebra II - Math63
Differential Equations II - Math64

These are all required for all HMC graduates (unless you pass out of some).

rocketDA · 10-03-2009, 01:13 AM

"Linear Algebra comes before MV Calc?

I'm a bit confused.. my friend (I'm a senior and so is he) is taking MV Calc, and he just finished AP Calc BC. Can you please explain?"

Basic linear algebra has nothing to do with MV Calc. Of course, when you get into graduate/PhD level studies you'll find that some MV calc problems (particularly in fluid dynamics) require some pretty advanced math like solving Eigenspaces along Characteristic Lines (see hyperbolic equations, etc). I guarantee that your friend was not doing this right out of HS as there are probably only a hand full of people in the world who can comfortably solve non-linear tensor problems.

In short, the order of math at HMC is pretty good and you learn a lot along the way. If you are like me then you'll do horribly in the classes and then look back and finally understand what was going on... like 2 years later.

pixeljig · 10-03-2009, 01:14 AM

Is it true that all kids come in with a HS GPA of 3.9 and above?

rocketDA · 10-03-2009, 01:19 AM

"Is it true that all kids come in with a HS GPA of 3.9 and above?"

Definitely not all. Many, however, do have exceptional GPAs though I'd encourage anyone who is VERY passionate about math/science/engineering to give a good look at HMC even if you don't have fantastic HS grades.

Blackroses216 · 10-03-2009, 01:24 AM

RocketDA can you take a look at my thread?

Muddslinger · 10-11-2009, 06:10 AM

If any of you out there took IB Physics HL with the relativity, waves, the double-slit experiment and that kind of stuff, in hindsight I believe you might have a fighting chance to place out of physics 23.

Also, "Is it true that all kids come in with a HS GPA of 3.9 and above?"

3.86 here. Although you will extremely lucky to have a Mudd GPA higher than the one you got in high school - the distinction between A- (3.66) vs. A/A+ (4.0) is a killer!

And rocketDA's right. After taking Calc BC (i.e. Calculus II), diffeq, multiv and linal are pretty much independent at the intro level. It's sort of nice to have a bit of linal for multiv (curl, flux, etc) and diffeq II requires a working knowledge of mid-semester linear algebra, but for the most part intro math courses don't depend on each other. So if you want to maximize your high school math education, know your Calculus BC *cold* because everything depends on it... *especially* limits and Taylor Series. Or just pay really, really good attention in math 11(m)

Haven't seen a pressing need for the mean value theorem yet