Article on the admissions offices

Colleges & Universities Harvey Mudd College
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<p>From the college’ newspaper"
"…Peter Osgood, Director of Admissions at Harvey Mudd, where only forty-two of the nearly 140 Early Decision applicants were accepted, explained that of the already very specific student who applies to the college, Harvey Mudd admissions officers look for the student who fits into the distinctly “Harvey Mudd” culture. That student has typically done “more thinking about themselves and about the college,” Osgood said.</p>

<p>“We look at how well the student would fit with the culture of our school,” Osgood said. “Not just fit curricularly, but with a culture, sort of the ways that we interact, the things that we think are funny, the things that we think are cool… it has to do with the intensity of it, the playfulness of this place.”</p>

<p>However, Osgood added that as the numbers of applicants increase, admissions officers are faced with more difficult decisions on what qualifies a student for a coveted letter of acceptance from the college.</p>

<p>“There are going to be a good number of students who are going to have perfect scores on their SATs and we’re just going to have to say ‘well…’ and it gets harder and harder,” Osgood said. “It gets to the point where, it’s ridiculous that we’re judging this.”</p>

<p>As difficult as it may be, the bottom line for Osgood and the rest of the Harvey Mudd admissions team is that they are looking to build a strong, happy community.</p>

<p>“Anyone at the Claremont Colleges knows there’s stuff that happens here that doesn’t happen anywhere else,” Osgood said. “Some of that stuff’s ridiculously cool. And we like that. It’s not because it’s eccentric, it’s because it’s imaginative and it gets other people involved.”
[Early</a> Decision Applicant Pool Increases Across 5Cs | The Student Life](<a href=“Anti Film-Bro: Can Greta Gerwig save Barbie? - The Student Life”>Anti Film-Bro: Can Greta Gerwig save Barbie? - The Student Life)</p>

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<p>Very interesting article, thanks for sharing. As a parent with a daughter awaiting the April 1 decisions, I know how extremely competitive Mudd has become. And as Mr. Osgood has said (in the article and to us personally) they really do focus on FIT once you are competitive enough academically to get past the first pass on the application.</p>

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<p>You are just right, EdSupporter. I think this is one reason it’s really important to visit HM if possible for a tour and interview. I know a pile of smart kids whose numbers make them competitive for HM but who (in my view) just wouldn’t fit.
One of the many things I like about HM is that it does have a very particular feel and that the numbers at admissions are still ‘reasonable’ - moderate enough that the admissions staff can look long at each one.
Best of luck to your daughter!</p>