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What kind of student thrives at Harvey Mudd?

We call ourselves the Liberal Arts College of Math, Science and Engineering, and we take this identity to heart. We are looking for students who love 无忧视频 but who can鈥檛 imagine giving up the humanities, social sciences and the arts. Students who thrive at Harvey Mudd are those who seek collaboration, are willing to ask for and offer help, and care deeply about the impact of their work on society.

Holistic Admission

What is holistic admission and why does it matter?

Put simply, holistic admission means that we will consider all pieces of your application in making our admission decision. The Mudd community is an intentional one that values collaboration, support, and trust. Most of the students who apply to Mudd are academically qualified, so we are able to move past reviewing the academic pieces of your application and use all of the components of your application to determine if this is the kind of community in which you would thrive.

You are more than your transcript and test scores, and we love getting to learn more about you from reading your entire application. To learn more about what we are looking for in shaping our community, read our mission statement.

Application deadlines and fee waivers

Where can I find admission deadlines?聽

All of our first year and transfer deadlines can be found here.

Do all聽required application materials聽need to be received by the application deadline?

No. While we ask for your Common Application to be submitted by 11:59 p.m. of your local timezone, we don鈥檛 expect all application materials to be received by the application deadline. So please don鈥檛 panic if your application is missing materials to be submitted by your school(s). We know that they are processing many requests and understand that delays can occur.

Keep in mind that we are also processing a high volume of application materials. We may have your material in our queue, we just haven鈥檛 gotten to it yet. Once we have processed the majority of the materials, we will send a series of emails about incomplete applications and missing materials. We promise to let you know if we鈥檙e missing anything.

Are waivers available for the application fee?

Absolutely. We don鈥檛 want a student鈥檚 financial situation to get in the way of them applying to Harvey Mudd. The Common Application includes an option where students can identify their need for a fee waiver.

In addition to the Common Application fee waiver question, you will also find a separate 无忧视频 fee waiver question with the following options:

• DACA or undocumented or veteran status
• Experiencing financial hardship due to a natural disaster or pandemic
• Experiencing financial hardship not covered by the Common App fee waiver options
• FAST or WI无忧视频 program attendee

Early Decision vs Regular Decision

What should I know about Early Decision at HMC?

• Early Decision is a great option for students who have done their research and know that HMC is their first choice.
• There is a slightly higher admit rate for Early Decision students, but that only matters if you know for sure that HMC is your first choice.听
• It is important to consider that Early Decision only allows students to consider one financial package.听
• The only difference between Early Decision I and II is the deadlines.听
• On average, 40-45% of our class is admitted under one of the Early Decision rounds.

Essays

What does HMC look for in essays?

We love reading your essays. It is a moment during the application reading process where we get to move away from the numbers and grades and hear directly from you. Therefore, the most important thing we are looking for in your essay is authenticity. We want to hear about something you really care about 鈥� not just something you think we want you to care about. The topic doesn鈥檛 matter; what matters is that you feel like you have something to say about it. While we鈥檙e not approaching your essay with a red pen ready to edit mistakes, we do suggest that you edit it. When we sit down to read an essay, we want to be focused on your message and not being tripped up by missing words or typos. After you鈥檝e written it, ask yourself if it sounds like you. If not, what is missing鈥攜our humor, your care for others, your curiosity?

Avoid using your essay to list your activities and achievements. Instead, show how those interests and activities affect your goals. Or you might elaborate on experiences or insights you鈥檝e gained that influence your outlook toward others and your work. We want to know about you to determine how well you might fit into our community. In most cases, the more specific you can be, the better.

Am I allowed to use AI to help me with my essay?

While HMC does not have a formal policy about the use of AI in essays, we encourage students to consider the purpose of the essay. Essays allow us to hear the voice of our applicants and discover what they care about. Therefore, we assume that both the topic and content of the essay are authentic to the student who wrote it. AI may have a role in helping students brainstorm, but the essay itself should be all yours.

Does essay length affect an applicant鈥檚 evaluation?

In short, no. The Common Application requires that the personal statement be between 250 and 650 words in length. The minimum length ensures that students write enough for admission readers to have something to consider, and the maximum length takes into consideration the amount of time readers have to spend on each essay and hopefully helps students focus their thoughts.

Recommendation letters

Why does HMC require a letter from both a 无忧视频 teacher and a humanities, arts or social sciences teacher?

This requirement goes directly back to聽our mission. We hope all of our requirements do! HMC is committed to educating students who love their work in the 无忧视频 fields but can鈥檛 imagine having to give up studying the humanities, arts or social sciences. Therefore, we want to hear from your teachers how you approach work in all of these areas to get a better sense of whether HMC would be the right fit for you.

How should my counselor/teacher submit a letter of recommendation if they do not submit it through the Common App?

Your counselor/teacher may email the letter to admission@hmc.edu. Please ask your counselor/teacher to include at least your (the student鈥檚) name and date of birth so that we may match it to your application.

Note:聽The email/letter must be sent directly by your counselor/teacher. We cannot accept letters of recommendation from students.

Can I submit additional letters of recommendation?

HMC requires three letters of recommendation鈥搊ne from a counselor when available and two academic recommendations (one from a 无忧视频 teacher and one from a humanities, arts or social science teacher).

We will accept only one additional letter of recommendation, but we advise applicants to only submit an additional recommendation if they believe it will add something significantly different to the rest of their application file. The additional letter of recommendation should ideally come from someone who knows you in a different context than your counselor or teachers, such as a supervisor, mentor or employer.

If more than three recommendations are submitted (in addition to your counselor recommendation), only the first three will be read. Trust us鈥攋ust by submitting the required pieces of our application, you鈥檝e given us plenty to think about!

What subjects count as humanities, social sciences or arts (HSA)?

Courses that count as HSA include, but are not limited to, English, history, foreign languages, economics, psychology, philosophy, Classics, cultural studies, music & music theory, visual art & art history, and dance. If you have a question about whether a subject will count, please email us at admission@hmc.edu.

Will my application still be considered if I do not have a humanities recommendation?

In most cases, an application will be considered incomplete without a humanities, social science or art recommendation. Students can request that their application be read without this requirement, but it is unlikely to lead to admission.

However, students who are enrolled entirely in 无忧视频 courses for their last two years of high school 鈥� typically those studying for A Levels or other national curricula 鈥� can request a waiver of this requirement and instead submit a 2nd 无忧视频 recommendation. These requests must happen after students submit their recommendations since we are unable to waive requirements unless an application has been submitted.

Interviews

How important is the interview in the application process?

Interviews are not required in our admission process, and students will not be penalized for not having one. Interviews help both the College and the applicant to learn more about each other. These interviews are low-stakes conversations where we ask students to share more about themselves with us and can also provide students with the opportunity to further explain anything they wish. All of our interviews are virtual which we hope allows more students to take part.

Who conducts the interviews, and what kind of questions do they ask?

Students interview with admission senior interns, alumni, or staff members and each allows students to gain a different perspective of the college. The admission committee assigns equal weight to all interviews, regardless of the interviewer. To reduce the possible stress related to interviews, we share our interview questions on our website. Feel free to read them ahead or not!

Supplemental materials, application updates, music & art submissions, resumes, and college transcripts

Can I submit supplemental material with my application?

In the Common Application, there is an option to upload additional information. Given our large number of applications, we ask that students do not upload entire research papers but instead include an abstract (summary) of their research if they choose. Some students have used this same section to upload a brief profile of projects they have done, often with photos and/or brief descriptions. Again, we ask students to be thoughtful about what they might include, and all applicants should know that they will not be at any disadvantage if they choose not to submit anything additional.

How do I share updates for my application?

We love hearing about your latest achievements. The best way to send us updates is directly through your HMC Applicant Hub. Log in to the Forms section, and fill out the form labeled Application Update. This puts your news right alongside the rest of your application materials so your admissions counselor can easily see everything in one place.

Quick note: Please do not submit attachments as part of your update form. Due to the high volume of applications we review, attached documents often can鈥檛 be opened or read by our counselors. A short written summary in the update form is all we need.

Can I submit music or art supplements?

Harvey Mudd does not accept separate submissions of music or artwork as part of the application process. The large number of musicians and artists who apply to the College makes it impossible for us to review these submissions as we would hope to. We hope that students who want their performing or visual art involvement considered would include their activities in the Extracurricular Activities section.

Is there a way for me to submit a resume?聽

There is no need for you to submit a resume with your application. We trust that your Extracurricular Activities section accurately reflects your involvement.

Why does my HMC Applicant Hub show that I鈥檓 missing a college/university transcript?

If you indicate in your application that you have taken college courses, our system automatically adds the college/university transcript to your requirement checklist. We need this transcript for the review of your application, though it is easily waived if the college courses appear on your high school transcript or if you attended a summer program where grades or credit were not awarded. Please email us after you have submitted your application to waive this requirement.

If the college courses don鈥檛 appear on your high school transcript, but you are not able to submit the college/university transcript, please email us and we鈥檒l figure it out together.

For the review of your application, the required college/university transcript can be official or unofficial. You may email unofficial transcripts to admission@hmc.edu. Admitted and depositing students will be required to submit official transcripts for enrollment to HMC.

Standardized testing

Please note: We are test-optional for students applying for Fall 2027. We will return to requiring standardized testing for all students for the Fall 2028 application cycle.

Which test scores can I self-report?

• ACT (we do not consider the optional ACT Writing)
• SAT (we do not consider the optional SAT Essay)
• AP
• IB
• DET, TOEFL or IELTS (International Applicants only)

What role does standardized testing play in the admission process?

Testing will only be one piece of data we consider as we read your application. We want to assure you that you are much more than your test score. Our holistic selection process means that all components of your application will be used in our decisions.

When is the latest I can send SAT or ACT results and still have them considered for admission?

Typically, the dates below are the latest test dates that allow us to guarantee test scores will be considered for admission.

• Early Decision I 鈥� November test date
• Early Decision II 鈥� December test date
• Regular Decision 鈥� December test date

How do I submit my test scores? Can I self-report my scores?

Yes, all test scores can be self-reported either on the Common Application or by using the form found in your HMC Applicant Hub. You may submit the form as many times as you need.

If you wish, you can send an official score report directly from the testing agency.

• Our College Board code is 4341
• Our ACT code is 0282

All matriculating students will need to submit official test scores before they enroll. Of course, any discrepancies between self-reported and official test scores may affect a student鈥檚 offer of admission and place in the class.

What is the latest date I can self-report my scores?

• Early Decision I 鈥� November 30th
• Early Decision II 鈥� January 25th
• Regular Decision 鈥� February 5th
• Transfer 鈥� April 10th

Does HMC superscore?

Yes. HMC will consider only your highest scores in each section.

Should I self-report all of my scores?

You are welcome to submit only your highest section scores. If you choose to report all of your scores, we will superscore them for you.

• If you self-report your scores through the HMC Applicant Hub, you will be required to include the total/overall score and all section scores.

• If you self-report your scores through the Common Application, you will indicate the number of times you have taken each test, but enter only the highest score for each section.

Why do you only allow students to switch from 鈥淒o not consider ACT/SAT scores鈥� to 鈥淐onsider ACT/SAT scores鈥�?

We know that some students may continue to test for the ACT/SAT after they submit their application and may earn a score that they would then like to have included in our consideration. Therefore, we will only allow students to change their preferred testing plan to 鈥淚 would like my SAT and/or ACT score to be included in my HMC application鈥� for up to 5 days after their application deadline.

Since we read a number of completed applications before our application deadline and applications may have already been evaluated with test scores, students are not allowed to change their preference from 鈥淐onsider ACT/SAT scores鈥� to 鈥淒o not consider ACT/SAT scores.鈥�

I鈥檓 ready to submit my Common Application for HMC and have previewed my application. Why can鈥檛 I see my test scores on the Common Application preview?

The PDF preview of the Common Application will not show any testing that was entered in the ACT/SAT tests section and AP/IB/SAT Subject tests section. These tests are not required in our process. Hence, the PDF setup defaults so that our reviewers do not see scores for these tests. If a student chooses the preferred testing plan option 鈥淚 would like my SAT and/or ACT score to be included in my HMC application,鈥� then their test scores will be viewable by the application reviewer within our system. In the Applicant Hub students will be able to review the preferred testing plan option they have chosen as well as the test scores (self-reported and official) we have in our system. Lastly, English proficiency tests are required for international students. DET, TOEFL and IELTS scores entered in the Common Application will display in the Common Application preview.

Demonstrated interest

Does HMC consider demonstrated interest as part of the admission process?

No. We assume that you鈥檝e applied to Harvey Mudd because you are interested in the college, and we know that not all applicants have access to the same resources available to learn more about us. We hope that HMC鈥檚 virtual events have created ways to connect to the College, but we know that there are still inequities in what students can access.

International Student Admission

Who does Harvey Mudd consider an international student?

An international student is a student who is not a US citizen or permanent resident.

Is there a different admission process for international students?

There are only two differences in the admission process for international students.

• We are need aware in the admission process for international students seeking financial aid, so a student鈥檚 financial need may be considered.听
• International students whose primary language of instruction is not English need to demonstrate English proficiency by providing test results.

Where can I learn more about international student admission?

Additional information about applying as an international student can be found here.

AP Credit, IB Credit, College Credit

Will I be able to transfer any college, AP or IB credits into HMC?

Harvey Mudd does not award any credit for AP or IB exams and does not transfer any college credit that was completed before high school graduation. However, some departments at HMC offer diagnostic tests that allow students to place out of required core courses.

Major interest

Do I need to have a major selected before coming to Harvey Mudd?

Mudders are not required to select a major until the end of their sophomore year. An advantage of the Harvey Mudd Core Curriculum is that students get to experience each academic department before being faced with that major decision, allowing them to make a more informed choice.

Does it matter which major I say I want to pursue on my application?

To some extent, yes. We ask students to identify which HMC majors they are leaning toward because we want to create an incoming class that will be eager to study across our curriculum. That said, we know that students will change their mind, and all students will have the chance to do so. HMC students will study in every department we offer as part of the core curriculum and are not allowed to declare their major before the end of their first year. That鈥檚 how serious we are about wanting students to keep an open mind. All students must declare their major before the end of their sophomore year. So, be honest about what you want to study, but know that we won鈥檛 hold you to it.

Transfer admission and financial aid

Am I a transfer or first-year student?聽

Typically, any student who has or will have completed at least a year of college when entering Mudd will be considered a transfer student.

What is Harvey Mudd looking for in a transfer student?

In addition to strong academic performance, one of the most important criteria we consider in transfer admission is the extent to which an applicant has completed work comparable to the HMC core curriculum.听

Can I transfer into Mudd in January?

No. Given the structure of our curriculum, the only point of entry into Mudd is the fall semester.

Is financial aid available to transfer students?

Financial aid is available to all domestic and US permanent resident transfer students. We guarantee that we will meet 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students. Financial aid is not available to international transfer students.听

Is merit aid available to transfers?

No. Our merit programs target first-year students. We have limited merit aid available and it is offered at the time of first-year admission.

Where can l learn more about transferring to Mudd?

More information can be found here.听