Curious about Harvey Mudd University

I'm leaning towards Harvey Mudd for my college choice. Does anyone have first-hand experience they could share to give me a more in-depth look at the kind of atmosphere there?

Harvey Mudd College, part of the Claremont Colleges consortium, is known for its intense academic experience and supportive community. While I don't have personal experience attending the college, I've spoken to quite a few students who shared the following insights:

1. Rigorous Academics: Harvey Mudd is renowned for its rigorous curriculum in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The atmosphere is incredibly focused on academics where students motivate one another to excel. Many students report a heavy workload but that they also learn quite a bit and are prepared very well for their future careers and graduate school.

2. Collaboration Over Competition: Despite the academic rigor, the environment at Harvey Mudd is collaborative rather than competitive. Students often work together on problem sets and projects, and it's common to offer help to or get help from your peers. This team-oriented approach extends to the college’s Honor Code, which trusts students to take their exams on their own and to behave responsibly.

3. Active Campuses: The Claremont Colleges offer a shared dining hall system, which allows you to form close connections with students from the other Claremont colleges (Pomona, Scripps, Claremont McKenna, and Pitzer). Socially, there are a plethora of events, clubs, and activities happening on campus and throughout the consortium.

4. Research Opportunities: The faculty at Harvey Mudd reportedly take a great interest in the progress and development of their students, which often translates into research and learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Many students are able to get involved with undergraduate research, both during the school year and over the summer.

5. Core Curriculum: Harvey Mudd has a distinctive Core Curriculum, which requires all students to take a wide range of courses across many disciplines within STEM, plus humanities and social sciences classes, before specializing in their major. This curriculum is something to consider when thinking about choosing Harvey Mudd as it can be challenging but also rewarding in terms of developing a broad base of knowledge, interdisciplinary thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Harvey Mudd is an experience that is as challenging as it is rewarding, with many students finding that the demanding academics are balanced by the supportive, community-focused environment. I would recommend reaching out to current students or alumni via the college's networking platform if there are more specifics you're interested in learning about!