Columbia or Harvey Mudd?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Academics in STEM will know Harvey Mudd well. It sounds like some PPs are reigniting the debate DCUM so often seems to fall into re. name recognition among lay people and other factors pretty distant from the academic environment.

That said, I agree there are pros and cons to both. You've made a good list, OP. What is your DC thinking?

We can finance Columbia. Daughter definitely prefers the vibe at Mudd, but is afraid about what could happen if she decides she doesn't want to do STEM. All her friends/family are puzzling over Mudd as well, so while she knows Mudd has good tech outcomes, what happens if she didn't want to do that?

Mudd seems like a riskier option, basically.

Well that's easy - Pomona, Scripps, Pitzer, Claremont. Take classes or enroll there. One of my friend's DDs who could not get into Clarement enrolled at Scripps at takes classes on the other campuses.

You can cross register within the 5c. But OP's concern is what happens if the student doesn't want a STEM major? You still need a major at Harvey?

why you guys can't google is beyond me. YES - big political science, etc, opportunities and major at Mudd AND at the other colleges. Or she can just apply to one of the others for a transfer to that college if she chooses. https://www.hmc.edu/hsa/

[Anonymous]

OP here. Did some research on the topic. Students can do either:

Off-campus major with a Harvey Mudd minor

or

Double major in Mudd + off-campus major

However, regardless of whom the student is, they have to complete Mudd's 2 year STEM core which involves one course in bio, one in comp sci, one in engineering, three semesters of math, two and a half semesters of physics + lab, one and a half semesters of chem + lab, and a designated stem lab course. It's a very regimented STEM education no matter who you are.

[Anonymous]

Harvey Mudd has seriously good name recognition among anyone who matters for hiring stem grads.

I love Columbia. I went there and think it was great, but your kid didn't connect with the vibe there. The school is intense, with a strong intellectual atmosphere and a smooth transition from grad to undergrad. It isn't for everyone, and it sounds like it isn't for your kid.

Harvey Mudd is also known for being intense. Intense enough that we would have ruled it out for our kid even if he could have gotten in. Again, that he s about fit, and not a criticism.

Given that your kid isn't enamored with Columbia, I'd pick HM and use that money to enrich his life in other ways.

Congrats on your kid's serious accomplishments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a Kid at TJ who would love to go to Mudd for Engineering for undergrad. Most kids he knows who are interested in engineering are looking at applying— except the 1st Gen Asian kid whose parents don’t think a school has no value unless it is an Ivy. It’s small— about 200 kids total per class- and it does offer merit aid. No grad school, which I think can be a huge positive. Very small classes and profs focused on the undergrads. Lots of research opportunities. Most classes under 20 kids, and not big lectures.

Flyover America is probably unaware of Mudd, but people who know about STEM definitely know and respect it. A kid who graduates from Mudd will have no trouble going to any grad school, anywhere.

Mudd offers degrees in other STEM fields as well.


75% SATs are 1580. They want kids who can handle STEM and basic humanities. It’s a wonderful opportunity.

Yes, I'm frankly surprised at the number of people claiming they don't know of The Claremont McKenna schools. Mudd in a heartbeat!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Academics in STEM will know Harvey Mudd well. It sounds like some PPs are reigniting the debate DCUM so often seems to fall into re. name recognition among lay people and other factors pretty distant from the academic environment.

That said, I agree there are pros and cons to both. You've made a good list, OP. What is your DC thinking?

We can finance Columbia. Daughter definitely prefers the vibe at Mudd, but is afraid about what could happen if she decides she doesn't want to do STEM. All her friends/family are puzzling over Mudd as well, so while she knows Mudd has good tech outcomes, what happens if she didn't want to do that?

Mudd seems like a riskier option, basically.

Can't she transfer to one of the other Claremont colleges? She is admitted to Fu SEAS, right? That is pretty steamy, too.

She should go to Mudd for almost free, and if it doesn't work out, transfer. She didn't like the vibe at Columbia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:University professor here. Liberal Arts Colleges are better for undergraduates. They'll receive more attention from the professors, and are easier to navigate and for individual students to shine. Harvey Mudd is much better known in the science/tech fields than Columbia. Generally speaking, big name brand "ivy" universities are better for graduate/professional school.

LOL, no it's not.

+ 1,000,000

It sounds like a mortgage brokerage.

Lord, why are the stay at home moms posting like they know anything about Harvey Mudd? Why would you advertise your ignorance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Academics in STEM will know Harvey Mudd well. It sounds like some PPs are reigniting the debate DCUM so often seems to fall into re. name recognition among lay people and other factors pretty distant from the academic environment.

That said, I agree there are pros and cons to both. You've made a good list, OP. What is your DC thinking?

We can finance Columbia. Daughter definitely prefers the vibe at Mudd, but is afraid about what could happen if she decides she doesn't want to do STEM. All her friends/family are puzzling over Mudd as well, so while she knows Mudd has good tech outcomes, what happens if she didn't want to do that?

Mudd seems like a riskier option, basically.

If she changed her mind and doesn’t want to do STEM- she could always transfer to another 5C.

[Anonymous]

I would pick Harvey Mudd even without the scholarship. Hands down. Columbus doesn’t care about undergrads.

Harvey Mudd undergrad and Columbia graduate

[Anonymous]

Those Mudders know how to throw a good party .... I had an amazing experience attending another Claremont College so I’m gonna vote for MUDD.

[Anonymous]

The issue with Mudd is if she doesn't end up liking or doing well with their STEM at all. Transferring is far from a guarantee. IMO you only go with Mudd if you know for sure you're seriously STEM.

[Anonymous]

I WISH my child had that choice! Congrats to her!!!

I'd choose Mudd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Did some research on the topic. Students can do either:

Off-campus major with a Harvey Mudd minor

or

Double major in Mudd + off-campus major

However, regardless of whom the student is, they have to complete Mudd's 2 year STEM core which involves one course in bio, one in comp sci, one in engineering, three semesters of math, two and a half semesters of physics + lab, one and a half semesters of chem + lab, and a designated stem lab course. It's a very regimented STEM education no matter who you are.

OP, those STEM core courses sounds like foundational engineering courses at any engineering college. My D is first year Oberlin, following Columbia engineering foundational courses, in case she might like to transfer. If you compare Harvey core requirements with Columbia engineering foundational requirements, they may be similar. If so, my D's first 2 years at Oberlin will be very similar with Harvey's core. If you are concerned about the possibility of a washout, my D says, after nearly a year at Oberlin, it's doable. Oberlin courses are guaranteed transfers to Columbia if she maintains >3.33 GPA, so these courses are at Columbia level.

Harvey Mudd is hard-core engineering. Your kid is probably stronger than my D in math/science. Hard to imagine Harvey accepts a student who couldn't complete its program.

[Anonymous]

Harvey Mudd is an intense, hardcore, very STEMy school - like the college version of TJ. My TJ strongly considered going there, but decided on another SLAC because he wanted to go to a school with a stronger humanities environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harvey Mudd is an intense, hardcore, very STEMy school - like the college version of TJ. My TJ strongly considered going there, but decided on another SLAC because he wanted to go to a school with a stronger humanities environment.

She has 4 other schools to take humanities. Some of 5he best around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a Kid at TJ who would love to go to Mudd for Engineering for undergrad. Most kids he knows who are interested in engineering are looking at applying— except the 1st Gen Asian kid whose parents don’t think a school has no value unless it is an Ivy. It’s small— about 200 kids total per class- and it does offer merit aid. No grad school, which I think can be a huge positive. Very small classes and profs focused on the undergrads. Lots of research opportunities. Most classes under 20 kids, and not big lectures.

Flyover America is probably unaware of Mudd, but people who know about STEM definitely know and respect it. A kid who graduates from Mudd will have no trouble going to any grad school, anywhere.

Mudd offers degrees in other STEM fields as well.


75% SATs are 1580. They want kids who can handle STEM and basic humanities. It’s a wonderful opportunity.

Yes, I'm frankly surprised at the number of people claiming they don't know of The Claremont McKenna schools. Mudd in a heartbeat!

I bet Mudd has a significant Asian population.