Really? Does EVERYbody work that hard?

[apathy]

<p>I am going to disagree with both of you…</p>

<p>

@BicoastalMamma

I still think that if you did not score 750/800 on Math II, do math problems for fun and think physics is easy, give HMC a pass. Also it does not hurt to have gone to a excellent high school with excellent physics, chemistry classes, have done math in the summers, and so forth. It is a great school for math geniuses and there are a dozens and dozens of math geniuses. The geniuses have a lot of fun.

</p>

<p>No, I think give HMC a shot, just know what you’re getting into. Most students do poorly, has your son talked to any of the other students? They’re probably doing just as bad, honestly. (Well, the semester is over, you’ll find out grades soon, I bet he passed everything)</p>

<p>

@SimpleLife

I think you sound like a very stressed out parent with a very good point to make – that inner city kids (or ANY kids at ANY not-so-good school) who may have made straight-A’s in high school, but whose high school may have “failed” them in other ways – namely from inadequate preparation followed by misleadingly high grades – will likely struggle at HMC. At least I think that’s what you’ve been trying to say. And I think it’s a very legitimate, very important point to make!

</p>

<p>Misleadingly high grades??? Seriously? The inadequate preparation comes from the fact that the schools are only equipped/paid enough to prepare them to that level. It doesn’t just inflate the grades thereafter because it’s unable to prepare its students as well as private schools. They’re not at the standards of private schools, their grades aren’t supposed to reflect how well a student does at a private school.</p>

<p>

Perhaps you should be angrier at your son’s school district and take your anger and frustration to those channels rather than at Harvey Mudd, though. I mean, from what I’ve read on various threads, you believe your son was not properly prepared for a rigorous college. That’s very sad and I think it’s unfortunately too common in our country. You sound like you may have the righteous anger to make a difference where it needs to be made – in your local schools.

</p>

<p>No, BicoastalMamma has a point. There is a HUGE cultural imbalance between Mudd, a top private school, and the inner-city kids they accept. Yes, the problem is that inner-city schools are weaker academically than private schools or top-tier public schools, but Mudd isn’t doing anything to help that problem. Sure, they accept them, but they kind of do throw them to the dogs, even if they are the same dogs as everyone else gets, and you get drop-outs as a result. Therefore Mudd does become more hegemonic and laden with rich students who could afford preparations as a result. It’s tough. My friends who are struggling the most/ITRed are from public, poor high schools. (I don’t count the ones who are struggling because they party too much, that’s their own fault)</p>

<p>Schools are supposed to encourage diversity - where is it? Sure, the gender imbalance is lessening, but what about racial diversity? There’s 7 black students at Mudd, out of >700 total students. So much diversity lol.</p>

<p>This is not just about getting students - Mudd tries very hard at that, it looks to me, and I know it’s hard because Mudd is not as well known as other big-name schools which top minority applicants then tend to go to - but about retention too. I don’t know what Mudd could do better in that aspect, because they do already give ridiculous amounts of help, but those that actively get it ARE the ones who know better how to ask for help - the ones from rich families, who attended top high schools.</p>