Admission Overview

We hope that every aspect of our admission process reflects the mission and values of the college. Our requirements have been set such that each piece of information works together to help us determine who would be the best fit for HMC.

Each application is given a careful and thorough read during the admission process. Most applications are read by two staff members and then discussed in committee. As a committee, we consider each application in light of the student鈥檚 individual circumstances and academic and personal qualifications.

A Holistic Approach to Admission

HMC鈥檚 applicant pool tends to be fairly self-selecting, meaning that most students fall into a narrow (and high-caliber) range in terms of their academic profile. Because of this, the admission committee looks beyond GPAs and standardized test scores when considering an applicant. We estimate that over 70% of our applicants could thrive at HMC, and so we are not choosing between qualified and unqualified students. Therefore, we pay very close attention to a student鈥檚 fit with HMC and evaluate how they may contribute to the College and our community.

We hope to see students:

we are confident can not just survive but thrive academically at HMC
who have challenged themselves appropriately not only in math and science courses, but in the humanities, social sciences, and arts as well
whose activities, recommendations and essays suggest they are eager for our collaborative, challenging, and supportive environment
who are a good fit for the HMC community

Early Decision Versus Regular Decision

Early Decision is only intended for students that are certain Harvey Mudd is their top choice. Students that apply Early Decision are making the commitment to attend HMC if admitted. Due to its binding nature, students are only allowed to apply to one school鈥檚 Early Decision program, and are required to withdraw any applications to other colleges if admitted. The only exception to the binding agreement is if families feel the financial aid is insufficient.聽

HMC has two rounds of Early Decision admission. There is no difference between the rounds other than timing.聽
We typically admit approximately 45% of our class in between the two rounds of early decision.聽
Unlike many institutions, the admit rate for our Early Decision students is only slightly higher than our overall admit rate. This year our admit rate for ED students was 17% while our overall admit rate was 13%.聽
Most students who are not admitted during an ED round will be denied since we try to be as definitive as possible. A very small number will be postponed to Regular Decision if we would like to see them in the context of the entire pool.

Benefits of Applying Early Decision

Students can wrap up their college plans earlier in the school year and can focus on their last year of high school.
While our admission rate is (slightly) higher for Early Decision, we never use this as a selling point for students.

Benefits of Applying Regular Decision

Students get more time to perfect their application materials
Families can compare need and merit aid awards for different colleges and universities. This can have a tremendous impact on a family鈥檚 ultimate decision.

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