Harvey Mudd College - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Plain and simple—Mudd is about academics. Students who last here rarely take the easy way out. Mudders are always looking for new challenges to push themselves academically. It’s a rough time in the beginning if you have always been used to getting good grades (this is pretty much everyone on campus), because high scores won’t happen automatically here. However, as time goes by with a lot of hours spent on homework, students gradually adapt. Sometimes, the stress level can run high because academics are so rigorous; however, Mudders are generally less competitive with each other than at other schools. Therefore, there is an enormous support network within the student body, and the professors are equally supportive. In listening to the students speak about their professors, you come away with two impressions: the professors work them hard and are available for help. The smallness of the campus provides for a homier atmosphere, and it is quite common for a professor to socialize with the students outside of the classroom.

Overall, the compassionate professors are the foundation of Mudd. Professors meet with their students whenever needed, and it’s easy to get extensions if you are truly having trouble with a concept. Small class sizes let you experience individual attention from professors, and rarely will a question go unanswered. Mudd professors are very friendly with all of their students, so although the classes are hard, the teachers work harder to make sure students get the most out of their college experiences.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

You want to go have dinner with a... You want to go have dinner with a professor? Just ask the school, and they’ll give you money to go off campus and have a great meal while chatting with a brilliant physicist. Go bowling with your math professor! It’s the best system ever, and it gives you a chance to really meet your professors as people, and not as just teachers in the classroom. 12345 Academics Report

HMCJD says: Harvey Mudd College 2016 Physical Sciences

The professors are engaging and... The professors are engaging and are almost always willing to help. They always tell more students to come to office hours because they really want to help. The workload is very heavy, but other students are there to support you. Working on homework together is encouraged. Harvey Mudd is known for its academics, and for a good reason. Academics are great. 12345 Academics: February 26, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

The professors are brilliant,... The professors are brilliant, amazing, and wonderful. They’re very friendly, very approachable, and very dedicated to students. The whole ‘focus on undergrads’ line really does mean something. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

You’ll never be taught by a... You’ll never be taught by a teaching assistant or a grad student. Even though that might not sound like a lot, it’s nice to know that the professors really know their stuff. The student evaluations are a really important factor when deciding whether professors get tenure here or not. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

I’ve had one bad experience with a... I’ve had one bad experience with a professor that just wasn’t a good teacher, but for the most part, the teachers are great at what they do and really passionate about their teaching. 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Approximately one quarter of Mudd’s freshmen are National Merit Scholars.

In the Claremont Consortium, or the 5C for short, there are 175 buildings, 6,500 students, and 500 faculty members, and students have more than 2,500 different courses to choose from each semester.

About one quarter of “Mudders” (HMC students) are high school valedictorians.

Mudd has the highest percentage of graduates who go on to receive a Ph.D. of any undergrad program in the nation.

The Clinic Program, an internationally recognized hallmark of Harvey Mudd College, engages juniors and seniors in the solution of real-world, technical problems for industrial clients. Founded as an innovation in engineering education in 1963, this program has been expanded to other HMC academic departments and copied by institutions worldwide.

Since the Clinic Program’s inception, more than 1,150 projects have been completed for corporate, national laboratory and agency sponsors. Companies retain all intellectual property rights that arise out of the project, and it is not uncommon for HMC students to be named on patents.

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