Aiming way too high?

redfedora711 · 10-14-2009, 06:27 AM

Knowing that a friend made it last year with similar test stats (not sure about GPA), I've also decided to give HMC a go after visiting the place once and reading about it (and I happen to love it despite all the other things i hear about the workload =P)

GPA : 3.725 / 4 (Bs in Honors math classes except for one semester of honors geo with an A-, Bs in Bio, and Honors Chem, As in AP Env Sci.)
SAT/ACT : 1950 (670-700-580) (still waiting for new results) / 30
SAT II : 700USH 650M2 530German (not native speaker) (retaking last Math and German)

Past Honors/AP Classes: Honors Geo,Alg2,Pre-Calc , Honors Chem, AP Env. Sci (AP Score of 5) , AP US History ( AP Score of 4)

Senior Course-load:
AP German
AP Calc AB
AP Physics B
Honors Gov/Econ
Adv. Orch.
Creative Styles in Writing

recommendations : awesome
essays : (hopefully awesome by the time I finish)

Extracurriculars/Activities :
My own self-employed Computer Technology/IT Company + Homebrewing computing solutions from old, used computer parts (makes 2-3k a year) - 5 years
Web Designing in PHP,mySQL,CSS 4 years
Linux Club 1 year
Environmental Club 2 years
Key Club 3 years
Another School-based Service Club - 3 years
Local Arboretum/Botanical Garden Volunteer - 3 years
Local City Holiday Events/Festivals Volunteer -3 years
Volunteer at Local Elementary Schools - 3 years
Orchestra - 3 years
Cross Country/Track - 2 years

Community Service Hours : 500+

Postions Held : Webmaster/Media Coordinator for 3 Clubs Total , Arboretum Camp Counselor , Linux Club Co-President , President of TBC Global

It seems weak in terms of academics but most of my buddies have said that my passion towards hands-on work with computers makes it a valid reason to give it a go. My counselor has said the same thing.

In reality, am I aiming too high? (call me crazy =P) Oh and I'm being more crazy by doing ED. XP

Blackroses216 · 10-14-2009, 03:59 PM

Well your SAT and GPA are WAYY below average.. but the company thing you have going is definitely different and impressive, along with some of your other extracurriculars.

Give it a shot, it is a private school, so they will look at you as a person as a whole. I don't know if your scores are too low though so they might just cut you? I really don't know.

redfedora711 · 10-14-2009, 04:59 PM

While I have my hopes for 2050-2100 on the Oct SAT, I'm hoping to raise my M2 score hopefully by 70-100 points... Would this significantly boost my chances?

Blackroses216 · 10-14-2009, 07:40 PM

yes that would help. Wait, is 3.7 your weighted or unweighted GPA? Because if it's unweighted, it's not THAT bad.

redfedora711 · 10-14-2009, 10:42 PM

it's unweighted out of 4.0

Blackroses216 · 10-14-2009, 10:51 PM

dude, you're okay. I'd apply.

You're GPA isn't that far below average. You have a shot.
Same with your SAT. If you got it up this last time, even better.

Really cool extracurriculars. You have a pretty decent shot.

redfedora711 · 10-15-2009, 04:53 AM

Thanks =) ...just that I'm actually struggling with Physics and Calc at the moment and it's killing me ! (as well as the fact that I have to get lots of things done quickly...senior year sure is a drag)

redfedora711 · 10-15-2009, 07:24 AM

Hmm other stuff I left out

NHS (National Honors Society) 2 years
CSF (CA Scholarship Federation ) 2 years
National German Exam Ranked 88th percentile first year Level 2 , 80th percentile second year Level 3 (not sure if this really counts)

geek_mom · 10-15-2009, 11:50 AM

If you're struggling with high school Physics and Calculus, bear in mind that HMC's Core Physics and Math requirements are more difficult by orders of magnitude. Help is available everywhere at HMC, but (if you really are having difficulty grasping your current classes) you may have to commit yourself to drastically curtailing your ECs and social activities and working harder than you ever imagined in order to pass those classes -- especially in freshman year. It's not a deal-killer, but something to keep in mind as you weigh your options.

Seiken · 10-15-2009, 03:40 PM

To be blunt, even if you did get in I have high doubts that you would be able to succeed here. To most students here getting over 750 on M2 would be trivial, as well as getting As in high school math classes.

Good luck to you, but bear in mind that getting into Mudd might actually be the easy part.

BicoastalMamma · 10-23-2009, 02:04 AM

Even if you curtail every single activity other than homework and work study, you will not be able to pass if physics and math does not come automatically to you. Most of the kids are genius that find higher math as easy as 1+1 = 2. If you get in, it will a nightmare and you will flunk out. You can have a good life and fine career at a normal state university. If you are not a genius, don't let Harvey Mudd ruin your life. My son did not get close to a 750 on the SAT II and they let him. I asked before he accepted whether he was really Mudd material and the nightmare admissions people said no problem. Now Mudd is destroying his mind, spirit and confidence. I just hope they don't kill him.

rocketDA · 10-23-2009, 10:41 PM

My stats circa 2005

SAT (one sitting):
710 Math
580 CR

SAT II (one sitting):
800 Math II
790 Physics
560 Writing
800 Chem (they lost my test... but i KNOW that i got an 800)

AP:
Physics B - 5
Chem - 5
Calc AB - 5
Calc BC - 5

U/W GPA: 3.9
W GPA: 4.25

I struggled a bit in Mudd especially in the math classes. I probably had a C/C+ average in math. I also had a hard time with my first few humanities/social science classes at Mudd. However, once I got to upper-division classes I did quite well...mostly A's.

The core is tough. I probably was ~30%ile in core overall.

So, perhaps my stats are an indicator when things may be a little difficult first year at HMC. I also learn differently than most people so I don't know how stats play into that...

geek_mom · 10-23-2009, 11:59 PM

On a different note to BicoastalMamma, would you share which dorm your son is in? Perhaps his proctor could look in on him and make sure he's ok over the weekend.

braden · 10-24-2009, 07:49 AM

BicoastalMamma, I'm no math genius. It's a struggle for me, and I quite dislike it. However, with the prof's help, academic excellence, countless willing peers and tutors ready to explain concepts I haven't quite gotten, and the wonderfulness that is pass-fail right now, I'm doing fine. Higher math does not be any means come as 1+1=2 would to me, but I'm balancing extracurricular activities and my social life fine. There's just way too much support here to go that wrong.

BicoastalMamma · 10-24-2009, 07:09 PM

See rocketda stats, that is the kind of math genius that can survive and thrive at Harvey Mudd. If you don't score at least 750 on the math, don't go. Support is not that helpful if you are embarassed to be the stupidest person, who never gets it without help. being sick since the beginning of the semester does not help either.