<p>hey, here’s some stuff that was posted in response to similar questions on other threads. sorry for the discontinuity between them…you’re smart, so you can piece it together…</p>
<p>"My class (09) is the last class to have the traditional coursework. They are revamping academics (in particular the humanities, and changing the core CS requirement from Java to Python). They are making the load a little bit more flexible for the students. Your class will be the first. 8-9 classes per semester is a challenging load, especially when 7 of them are technical.</p>
<p>You know, to be quite honest, I hate and love Mudd at the same time. I emailed MIT to see if I could transfer last minute (last week) but unfortunately, I missed the deadline. Mudd is extremely difficult (probably still with the revamping as well). </p>
<p>You are lucky to get 5 hours a sleep a night— infact that is a good night’s sleep. Last night, I was very excited to get 6. A normal sleeping amount for frosh Sunday-Tuesday is 4 hours (hw till 3:30, up at 7:30, class at 8). Perhaps this is why my beard has gone formed white patches. Rest assured, however, you can sleep after class or on Thursdays and Fridays a lot. </p>
<p>Now for the reason I am still here— You honestly receive an education that is unparalleled…virtually to anywhere. I know, deep down (thru the battered depression), that I am getting my money’s worth…and that is saying a lot considering it is $44k/yr. People hype on their schools because they are proud…that is understandable. I hear a lot of crap… “UCB is so much better than Harvey Mudd. Infact, what kind of a name is Harvey Mudd?! Haha”. Caltech students rip on you because they think that Mudd is a cheap imitation. It is not. In fact, Mudd has pulled up into the ranks (and beating) of MIT, Caltech, Harvard, Yale, and Stanford when our students compete against each-other in academic challenges.</p>
<p>Mudd is only an option for you if you are a strong enough to put aside pop-culture recognition and common prestige. I am a pretty resilient/tough person. I have done div I drumcorps, drumline for 4 years, worked at JPL, and got myself through school. I was the best in math/science (and in some fields of music) at my HS. I tutored the tutors.</p>
<p>When I got to Mudd, everything changed. You have to find it in yourself to not let an opportunity like Mudd slip through your fingers if you are able/willing to accept. You WILL get depressed. You WILL cry. You WILL think you are stupid. When you leave Mudd (even for breaks), you then realize how incredibly smart/sharp you are even to those that you revered genius before…those friends in HS who went to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, UC Berkeley.</p>
<p>Mudd is a bubble. It has some crazy phenomenon going on. People here are absolutely brilliant (60% are). This school is worthy of a movie script. Although it may be depressing to never see an “A” again, the rigor/talents of Mudd do not go unnoticed by graduate schools. As an example, a guy down the hall just got into UC Berkeley, Stanford ($170k fellowship), CalTech, and MIT for grad electrical engineering. "</p>
<p>this student was curious about chem at mudd vs cit and wanted to do undergraduate research…here’s my response…
"Admiral,
You bring up some good points about they differences between Mudd and CalTech. In my opinion, CalTech is by far a prettier campus, as you said…don’t worry…we all know we go to an ugly school!
I’m afraid that there are a few things that are misleading in your undergraduate endeavors to pursue chemistry (more specifically, do research as an undergrad).
First, CalTech boasts a very low student to faculty ratio. It is something like 3-1 or 4-1. Unfortunately, they include research faculty in the count, which you will never interact with as an undergrad. (I know this because I actually just talked to my phyics lab professor today who is full-time research faculty at CalTech and is a visiting professor at Mudd but just decided to come to Mudd as a full-time professor.)
This leads me to my second point, which is that although CalTech is a world-famous research institute, that does not mean that undergrads are guaranteed any research during their four years. CalTech gets most of their money and prestige from the grad school, not the undergrads. You will be taught heavily by TA’s, like my physics lab professor (when she was doing grad at CalTech).
While CalTech has astounding facilities, they neglect to tell you that 90% of it is off limits to undergrad. I know this from talking to my prof and because I worked at JPL (paid by CalTech) 2 summers ago. This issue is swept under the carpet for undergrad. (As I understand, there are a few acceptions from time to time though.)
Point 3 (or 4)- Harvey Mudd currently has the highest percentage of chemistry grads who go on to get PhD’s in the nation, including CalTech. (I do believe this source says 80% <a href=“http://www.chem.hmc.edu/www_common/...ive/intro06.htm[/url]”>http://www.chem.hmc.edu/www_common/...ive/intro06.htm</a> ) Although Mudd is not recognized by the general public, it has sent shock waves to the grad schools.</p>
<p>Here is the biggie- Mudd requires Clinic, CalTech does not have Clinic. If you want to talk about real research of real-life problems, you are required to do at least 1 year of this at Harvey Mudd. </p>
<p>General Research:
<a href=“http://www.chem.hmc.edu/www_common/chemistry/research/[/url]”>http://www.chem.hmc.edu/www_common/chemistry/research/</a></p>
<p>I can’t find a link for chemistry Clinic right now. I’m sorry.</p>
<p>I’m an engineer, so I’m sure I have different criterion for school. I wanted somewhere that I could do undergraduate research and somewhere that I could talk personally to profs and such. With that, I thought (and think) Mudd is a better choice."</p>
<p>regarding grad school, wait lists, and social life (someone else wrote this)…
"First of all, while many people do have issues with this school’s academics (including me) there are also many who dont (like many of my friends, who have GPAs > 3.5).</p>
<p>Now to adress specific things:</p>
<p>Admiral: The rankings I’ve seen have put Mudd way up at the top for undergraduate chemistry, and as a biochem major, I can personally vouch for the professors here and say that they are incredible. Every one that I’ve met so far (and I’ve met most of them) has been great. Also, there is no clinic for chemistry; instead, all senior chem majors are required to do research. You want to do research as an undergrad? Seriously, come here. Beyond the required senior research, there are also many opportunities within the chem department for underclassmen to do research, as well as several summer opportunities. You might not have as broad a range of topics as could potentially be available at a bigger institution, but there’s definitely a better chance of getting into it, and there’s a pretty good range of project topics anyway. Also, do you really want to pick your school based on it’s architecture? Sure, Mudd doesn’t have the prettiest campus, but it’s not awful… and I can guarantee if you come here, you’ll stop thinking about it pretty quickly. And of course, if you want something a little prettier, that’s when you go visit Scripps and Pomona. On that note, there are a lot of people who cross register. If you want to take any foreign language, you’ll have to go off campus (I took a French class at Pitzer last semester), and the other schools have a lot to offer as well. I suppose it’s technically possible to fulfill all your requirements at Mudd, but it’s kinda nice to get a change of scenery once in a while.</p>
<p>hypernovae: It IS possible to get in off the waitlist. I saw something a page or two back about officially posted stats re: the waitlist the year I enrolled here saying that no one got in off of it, but I’m a little confused as to where that information is coming from, cause there’s a guy that went to my high school that was originally waitlisted but then got a full ride. So you can get in off the waitlist AND get money. I don’t know how often that happens, but it does happen. </p>
<p>hallo88: If you want to have a social life at Mudd, it’s very doable. Many of us love to party, and there’s almost always something going on at least one of the weekend nights. And if there’s nothing at Mudd, you could probably find something at one of the other schools. We become a very close knit group, and you get to know pretty much everyone in your class, as well as many from other classes. I don’t know as many people from the other schools, but I’m working on that. Have no fear, you can still have a social life if you come here, as long as you learn to manage your studies as well (or you can just go out and have fun anyway, and worry about classes during the week, like I do)"</p>
<p>regarding how much we sleep (or lack) and being able to get excellent jobs right out of mudd…
"4-5 hours a night is a pretty good estimate for most school nights. some nights will be 3, some will be 6.</p>
<p>about finding a good job after mudd (or during summers):
career services are pretty good. here are some entry level jobs:
<a href=“http://www.hmc.edu/admin/career/stu...ryLevelJobs.htm[/url]”>http://www.hmc.edu/admin/career/stu...ryLevelJobs.htm</a></p>
<p>you’re worrying too much. i suppose that you just have to “trust” and go for the ride. that’s really all i have to say. </p>
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<p>again, sorry for the mess. i hope that helps.</p>