<p>My fresh D came to Mudd not a very social child. She had a couple close friends, but spent most of her time at home. At Mudd she has completely blossomed. Part of it is that the honor code somehow allows them to do homework in groups, so even when she is working hard she isn’t alone. She has gone to two school subsidized musicals in LA, gone to Disneyland with friends over a long weekend, gone home with a suitemate for passover dinner and is driving back home with her roommate. She wants to start a club! My D isn’t a party girl, but she talks about all the parties she doesn’t go to… she watches movies with friends, one of the girls she knows was teaching them self defense, there a bbqs and dress up nights at the dorm. They walk into town for dinner, ride their bikes to shop at Trader Joes. A social life is not a hard thing to find at Mudd as far as I can tell! (not to mention there are probably lots of opportunities at the other colleges for parties, meals, clubs that my D hasn’t explored). She works hard, but she also seems to have moments for her personal well being.</p>
<p>That said, HMC is a hard school. You D will work hard, no two ways about it. But, there is the possibility of some balance. Listening to alumni talk, they seem to say that HMC taught them a work ethic that has served them well in the future endeavors. I haven’t talked to any unhappy alumni, but I guess they are out there…</p>