Kim will be traveling all over Southern California touring and learning about some of the best universities California has to offer. Follow her here for her insights into the various colleges -- what they're like and what it takes to get in!
Harvey Mudd College
WHY IS THIS SCHOOL AWESOME?
Kim: What other college boasts that one of the most prominent buildings on campus looks like a pixelated wart? And I can't think of another college who's mascot actually is a wart. Harvey Mudd was founded during Space Race and claims this is one of the reasons the school only provides majors in STEM. Since the Cold War was also happening at this time, there are tunnels all over campus-- you can get from each building through these underground passageways! Perhaps the best part of HMC is that because the school is undergraduate only, it offers more undergrad research opportunities than any other university.
The Shanahan Center, which is supposed to look like a pixelated wart!
FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS?
Kim: Hard to say! I really liked the outdoor classrooms outside the math department, as well as the Clinic rooms in the engineering department.
One of the outdoor classrooms
The engineering Clinic room. Almost every surface can be written on!
5 WORDS TO DESCRIBE CAMPUS?
Kim: RESPECTFUL, SAFE, MOTIVATED, INDUSTRIAL & TRUSTING
THE "TYPICAL STUDENT" IS...
Kim: HMC was sure to mention that the school is not just for nerds! There are a lot of students who have interests outside of STEM-- music, theater, sports, etc. There's even a break-dancing club on campus! One well-known annual school tradition is Foster’s Run, organized by the Gonzo Unicycle Madness club, during which unicyclists ride to a local donut shop, which I think speaks to the wide variety of students attending Harvey Mudd.
Students are also incredibly respectful and honest. Each student signs an honor code when admitted to HMC, and students abide by this code.
Our tour guide, a typical HMC student
South Hall dorms
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE?
Kim: One great thing about Harvey Mudd is the Clinic program (mentioned below), which is also offered globally and allows students to work with partner schools in Singapore, China, Japan, India & Israel!
Harvey Mudd is need-aware.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS/OFFERINGS APPLICANTS SHOULD CONSIDER?
Kim: It's important to understand that all students take the same course load their freshman year and that 1/4 of the classes are in humanities and social sciences. Two classes that sounded particularly exciting to me are Underwater Robotics and Rockets!
Students also participate in many research opportunities. One of these opportunities includes the Clinic program, which allows students of different majors to work together to complete projects for real businesses. Check out more about this great program here.
One of the many tunnels that connect the departments
TIPS FOR THE APPLICATION PROCESS?
Kim: Be honest, authentic and genuine! While the process is very holistic, students should show they're ready for the rigorous course load from HMC. Note that some courses must be completed before applying to Harvey Mudd. These include: calculus, chemistry, and physics. Also, students must take at least 2 SAT Subject Tests in the maths and sciences; Math I doesn't count!
FUN FACTS?
Kim: After all students are admitted to Harvey Mudd, they are asked to submit photographs of themselves. The president, Maria Klawe, then spends the summer learning each new students' names, and by the time the school year starts, she knows each student!
There are also skateboard racks all over campus so students can rack their boards. Because of HMC's honor code, things are rarely every stolen on campus!
These skateboard stands can be found all over campus!
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