Hi, all.
I’m wondering which of the two schools has a better chance of admission, IF applied early decision II.
Feel free to ask me questions, if needed.
If your school has Naviance, look up Vanderbilt and Mudd to see the outcomes of any recent applicants from your HS whose stats are similar to yours. You may find that for whatever reason, one school has favored applicants from your school more than the other one has.
Otherwise (if you don’t have Naviance), you can Google for the same statistics (admit rates, avg scores, etc.) that the rest of us can. All bets are off as to how either of them will assess your ECs, essays, or LORs.
Try looking at the Common Data Set for both schools and looking for:
Number of early decision applications received by your institution
Number of applicants admitted under early decision plan
So Vanderbilt has a higher percentage of ED accepted than Harvey Mudd. Should I apply to Vanderbilt then?
Do you like both schools equally?
Harvey Mudd is an engineering school. While Vanderbilt has engineering, that is not what it is known for. What do you want to study? Pick whichever comes closest.
I’m planning to study bio-molecular engineering or chemistry.
So I’m applying to Vanderbilt as a chemistry major and to Harvey Mudd bio-molecular engineering.
And I like both schools equally.
To be more specific, I’d like to know which school has a better chance of admission and the quality of campus life.
I think it should be about a wash admissions-wise. Both will be difficult because they’ll get a lot of ivy league applicants for whom the school is their second choice. So which do you like better? My brother went to Harvey Mudd, and I applied ED1 to Vanderbilt, so I know that they’re very different schools. Here’s some factors to think about:
What vibe do you want? Both, from what I know, are very happy, but very different. Harvey Mudd has a geeky-cool vibe, while Vanderbilt is much more preppy and southern.
Do you care what your campus looks like? Vanderbilt is gorgeous. Harvey Mudd is butt ugly (and they know it).
Do you want to be in a city? Vanderbilt is smack dab in the middle of Nashville, with a ton of walkable attractions. To get to LA from Mudd, you would definitely need a car (Claremont is nice but not much happens there)
Do you care about sports? Vanderbilt is in a high excitement D1 conference. At Harvey Mudd, no one really pays attention to sports.
Where in the country do you want to be? West Coast vs East Coast. Constant warm vs seasons.
Do you care about core requirements? Mudd has a lot of very specific core requirements (which my brother enjoyed) while Vandy’s requirements are a lot looser.
Do you think you want to join Greek life? Vanderbilt has a ton of Greek life. Harvey Mudd has none.
I hope if you look at these questions, it’ll help you decide. Questions like this definitely helped me decide between Vanderbilt and Brown (my other top choice). Good luck, and let me know if you have any questions!
Another important factor is the amount of financial aid. I’m more inclined towards Vanderbilt because I’ve heard Vandy offers a lot more financial aid to their students than Harvey. Money is a bit of an issue, as there will be two people attending universities next year.
I’m not sure about need based aid, but Vanderbilt definitely has more established merit based aid. However, my brother got a nice scholarship from Mudd. I also know that (I think all schools) do take into account that you have a sibling in college when calculating your aid.
Actually, Vanderbilt fund 100% of demonstrated financial need (and the fact that you have a sibling in college will help). You’ve probably looked at Opportunity Vanderbilt, but if not, here’s the link: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/financialaid/ . Vandy is probably stronger in biomedical engineering than many of its other engineering areas. This is partially attributable to its medical school and affiliation with a research medical center, which is always helpful. Mudd is a fantastic school, but almost certainly more intense.
ED should be used for a clear first choice school. If you don’t have a clear top choice, you shouldn’t be applying ED.
How can anyone else tell you which school you REALLY want to attend?
OP, you do understand that if you apply Early Decision and you are accepted, you are contractually bound to withdraw your applications from other schools and agree to attend the school where you have been accepted Early Decision?
And that you can’t count on the school that accepts you ED to fund your education for you?
The question you really need to ask is this: Can I/my parents afford each school in case I am accepted, irrespective of any financial aid? If the answer to that question is Yes, then you can proceed to answering the question that you posed originally. I bring this up because in Post #8 you state, “Money is a bit of an issue.”
I’m applying to these top schools BECAUSE money is an issue. Most students apply to Ivies not only because of their excellent education opportunities but also because of the amount of generous financial aid offered each year to their students.
I think I’ll be applying to Vanderbilt as a chemistry major, although the chances aren’t high.
If money is an issue you should be applying RD so as to compare offers.
What are your statistics – test scores, GPA, number of AP classes, and ECs? What is your state of residence? What makes you think that you have a chance for admission – ED or otherwise?
I’m not really sure that you understand the implications of an ED application. As NavalTradition suggests above, RD applications may be the best way for you to compare financial aid offers.
I know RD is better for comparison, but I wish to get into Vandy, and ED increases your chance of admission.
Whoever said that Harvey Mudd’s campus is “butt ugly”: really? I can show you unattractive campuses, but HM is not one of them. Some may find the architecture on the bland side, but I like the HM campus, and if it is not pretty enough for you, walk into the courtyard at adjacent Scripps College, which is downright gorgeous, or wander the grounds of Pomona College, a couple of blocks south.
Whoever said you need a car to go into LA? HM is a relatively short walk (15 minutes?) to the train station, with trains going right into downtown LA (about an hour, 19 daily trains) and connections via bus, shuttle, subway, and light rail to many parts of the city. Of course it’s not as convenient as being in the heart of the city, but it’s still pretty good.
Bio-molecular engineering is not a major at Mudd. My guess is that you don’t understand Mudd well enough to pass the “fit” test on your app. I don’t see the typical Vandy and Mudd students as having a lot of overlap, either.
And for the comment that Mudd is “just an engineering school”, not true. My Mudder hates engineering, but loves Physics – and loves Mudd. It is more accurate to call Mudd a STEM school or a science & technology school.
Going to LA? The train is easy, no car needed, but what Mudder has time? The workload is intense.
@FifthDegree my brother graduated in 2013, but it was always a common joke how ugly mudd is compared to the other schools. The buildings have “warts” haha… I have toured many colleges and have seen maybe one uglier than Mudd. You’re right though, Scripps is beautiful, as is Pomona.
I certainly know that you can get to LA without a car, but it is much more of a hassle than at Vanderbilt (which was the comparison given). My brother found he really needed his car in later years, for drives to the airport and whatnot.
FWIW, OP, my brother didn’t even want to visit Mudd because he saw it as an engineering school as well, but my mom made him and he loved it. It also set him up for the great job he has now.