harvey mudd essay prompts 2023

• Search All Scholarships
• Exclusive Scholarships
• Easy Scholarships to Apply For
• No Essay Scholarships
• Scholarships for HS Juniors
• Scholarships for HS Seniors
• Scholarships for College Students
• Scholarships for Grad Students
• Scholarships for Women
• Scholarships for Black Students
• Scholarships
• Student Loans
• College Admissions
• Financial Aid
• Scholarship Winners
• Scholarship Providers

Student-centric advice and objective recommendations

Higher education has never been more confusing or expensive. Our goal is to help you navigate the very big decisions related to higher ed with objective information and expert advice. Each piece of content on the site is original, based on extensive research, and reviewed by multiple editors, including a subject matter expert. This ensures that all of our content is up-to-date, useful, accurate, and thorough.

Our reviews and recommendations are based on extensive research, testing, and feedback. We may receive commission from links on our website, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. You can find a complete list of our partners here .

How to Respond to the 2023/2024 Harvey Mudd Supplemental Essay Prompts

Cait Williams is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cait recently graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Journalism and Strategic Communications. During her time at OU, was active in the outdoor recreation community.

Learn about our editorial policies

Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Harvey Mudd College is a small college located in Claremont, California. While they are a premier engineering, science, and mathematics college, they actually consider themselves a liberal arts school. They believe that science, math, and engineering should not be separate endeavors from arts and humanities. The school is highly competitive, so any applicants should be sure to submit the best Harvey Mudd supplemental essays they can. Let’s break down how you can turn each prompt into a stellar essay!

Before you apply

It’s always a good idea to do some research about a school before you apply. Before you start on the Harvey Mudd supplemental essays, try reading about their history and values. Harvey Mudd’s mission is to raise up future leaders in science, engineering, and mathematics who truly understand the impact of their work. It is their emphasis on studying the humanities alongside science that sets HMC apart from other top STEM colleges.

Harvey Mudd is looking for students who take initiative with more than just their studies. They want to see that students are exploring the world around them through non-scientific avenues, in order to create well-rounded, full views of humanity. If you’re unfamiliar with the history of Harvey Mudd College , take some time before answering their application prompts to familiarize yourself with their mission and vision.  

“Scientific research is a human endeavor. The choices of topics that we research are based on our biases, our beliefs, and what we bring: our cultures and our families. The kinds of problems that people put their talents to solving depends on their values.” – Dr. Clifton Poodry HMC’s collaborative community is guided by our mission statement. Through an intentional interdisciplinary curriculum our students seek to build a skillset adaptable to society’s needs. How has your own background influenced the types of problems you want to solve, the people you want to work with, and the impact you hope your work can have? (500 words or less)

Perhaps this question does not excite you at first, as there’s a quote and three questions all in one. However, while there are multiple parts to respond to, they are not so complicated. So, let’s take it part by part and break it down!

First, let’s look at the quote that is shared. To understand why this quote is being used, you should first understand what Harvey Mudd stands for as a college. If you want more context about the quote, take a few minutes to research the speaker. Time to answer some questions! Let’s rewrite their question to make it a little clearer. 

Think about the following questions

• How has your background influenced the types of problems you want to solve?
• How has your background influenced the people you want to work with?
• How has your background influenced the impact you hope your work can have?

The main thing you should be thinking about is what your influences and background have been. This is the base for every question they ask. This essay really wants to know about you and your past! So, don’t skip over this part by just talking about your future as there are a plethora of things outside of academics that influence who you are. 

Consider your background

• What type of area did you grow up in?
• What does your family demographic look like?
• Where did you attend elementary, middle, and high school?
• Have you worked or participated in any internships?
• Have you traveled around the US or the world?

These are not all questions you need to answer, but one or two of these areas may have had a substantial impact on who you are. You can also think about some of the areas highlighted below. Are there any that you have given a significant amount of time to or that you’re particularly passionate about? 

Look for inspiration in:

• Sports, music, technology, writing, literature
• Jobs, internships
• People who inspire you (whether you know them personally or not)
• Other personal interest

This prompt gives you 500 words to answer in, which is a decent amount for a college application. Take your time to talk about topics that are meaningful to you. You don’t have to use all 500 words you’re allotted. However, if a college is giving you space to share who you are, you should always try to take full advantage of that opportunity! 

Many students choose Harvey Mudd because they don’t want to give up their interests in the Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts – or HSA as we call it at HMC. Briefly (in 100 words or less) describe what you’d like to learn about in your dream HSA class. Your class can either be one chosen from existing classes at HMC, or you are welcome to create your own. (100 words or less)

If you still don’t know by now, Harvey Mudd is all about exploring the intersection of science and humanities. A humanities course can be about religion, history, philosophy, literature, performing arts, and more. This question is not asking you to pick a class from their catalog. They’re asking you what topic you would like to study. This could be anything! You get to be creative here!

This prompt gives you a hundred words or less to answer. So, your response needs to be concise and have a clear answer. Write out a short list of your interests and try to see where those interests intersect with each other. 

If you’re struggling to come up with class ideas, try not to research examples. Try asking friends and family what they might want to study. This question isn’t meant to be difficult, so don’t over- complicate it. Have fun, and know that HMC wants to learn more about you. And who knows, maybe one day your idea will become a real course that they offer!

Additional resources

Once you’ve finished your Harvey Mudd supplemental essays, give yourself a pat on the back. But remember, supplemental essays are just one part of the college application process. Although there is still more to do, we are here to help you through it.

If you are wondering whether or not to send your SAT/ACT scores , we can help you decide. Don’t forget to check out our other resources that might help with the college application process, such as how many colleges to apply to and how to find safety, reach, and match schools . 

Start your scholarship search

• Vetted scholarships custom-matched to your profile
• Access exclusive scholarships only available to Scholarships360 members

Other colleges to consider

• Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA)
• University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
• University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
• Pomona College (Claremont, CA)

Scholarships360 Recommended

10 Tips for Successful College Applications

Coalition vs. Common App: What is the difference?

College Application Deadlines 2023-2024: What You Need to Know

Trending now.

How to Convert Your GPA to a 4.0 Scale

PSAT to SAT Score Conversion: Predict Your Score

What Are Public Ivy League Schools?

3 reasons to join scholarships360.

• Automatic entry to our $10,000 No-Essay Scholarship
• Personalized matching to thousands of vetted scholarships
• Quick apply for scholarships exclusive to our platform

By the way...Scholarships360 is 100% free!

How to Approach the Harvey Mudd Essay Prompts

Written by Sara Calvert-Kubrom on November 7th, 2019

• essay prompts ,
• writing college essays ,

amet, adipisicing elit sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt?

Follow these pre-application steps to help your student stay on track for admissions success., related resources.

Read | Posted on November 17th, 2023

Are Optional College Essays Really Optional?

Read | Posted on November 6th, 2023

4 Tips for Writing the University of California Essays

Read | Posted on September 21st, 2023

Speak Your Truth: Sharing Your Identity in College Essays

Browse categories.

• Applying For Financial Aid
• Choosing The Right College
• College Admissions Consulting
• College Applications
• College Coach Mentionables: News & Events
• College Entrance Exams
• College Essays
• College Loan Advice
• College Visits
• Finding Scholarships
• How To Pay For College
• Meet a College Finance Expert
• Meet An Admissions Counselor
• Uncategorized

Interested?

Call 877-402-6224   or complete the form for information on getting your student started with one of our experts.

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, advice for writing harvey mudd essays.

Hi all, I'm currently working on my Harvey Mudd application, and I'm feeling a little bit stressed about the supplemental essays. Any tips or advice on writing these? What do they want to see in a strong application? Thanks for any help you can give!

Hey there! It's normal to feel some stress during the application process, especially when writing supplemental essays. The key to Harvey Mudd essays, like any other college essays, is to showcase your personality, unique experiences, and what you bring to the table. Here are some quick tips to help you with your essays:

1. Answer the prompt clearly: Admissions officers expect you to answer the question posed in the prompt. Make sure your essay directly addresses the topic and stays focused on it.

2. Be genuine: Write about your real experiences and passions. Avoid trying to guess what the admissions officers want to hear - they're more interested in getting to know the real you.

3. Show your fit with Harvey Mudd: Highlight aspects that demonstrate your alignment with the college's values, academic programs, and campus culture. This will help show the admissions team why you're a good fit for their institution.

4. Proofread and revise: Give yourself plenty of time to revise your essays and have someone check your work. Grammatical errors or spelling mistakes can distract the reader from your main message.

Good luck with your essays and application! I'm sure you'll do great!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

• Success Stories
• AI Scholar Program
• Startup Internship Program
• Research Scholar Program
• GOALS Academic Support Program
• Test Prep Program
• Passion Project Program
• For Families
• For Schools
• For Employers
• Partnerships
• Content Guides
• News And Awards
• College Admissions
• Events and Webinars
• Applications

Essay Scoop: How to Answer Harvey Mudd Essays

Sophia Minhas

College admissions creative designer and lead admissions expert, table of contents, how to answer harvey mudd essays, harvey mudd essay, short answer question.

Stay up-to-date on the latest research and college admissions trends with our blog team.

Are you gearing up to answer the Harvey Mudd essays? Harvey Mudd College is an unsuspecting heavy-hitter. As part of the Claremont Colleges network, the school is naturally well-funded to dedicate plenty of resources to each student. Despite this materially supportive environment, however, something else sets Harvey Mudd apart in the eyes of high-achieving students: the competitive atmosphere.

Are you intrigued and excited by a challenge? Do you thrive on healthy competition and a high pressure atmosphere? Then you might be the perfect fit for the intellectual forge of Harvey Mudd.

Not interested in that kind of intensity? Remember; there is more than one path to success, so you don’t need to force yourself to jump into the deep end!

Let’s review the stats. Located in Claremont, California, this science and engineering school shares resources with the entire Claremont College system. Though expensive (highest cost for 2 years running from 2015-2016 in the whole country) you get a bang for your buck: the experience is intense. You benefit from small class sizes, great professors, and inspiring collaboration and brainstorming sessions with some of the best rising technical minds in the world. 

But the gauntlet doesn’t just start once you set foot on campus. Admissions are cutthroat too. The most recent admissions statistics show an acceptance rate of a mere 13.7% of the pool, and sky-high test scores almost a prerequisite for consideration.  

I’m ready

Ready to take on the challenge? Let’s kick it into high gear, because there’s no time to waste. In addition to the Common App or Coalition prompts, Harvey Mudd requires 2 pieces of writing: one essay (500 words), and one short answer (100 words). 

If you’re interested in reading more about the Harvey Mudd essays, check out their whole site here . Below, we’ve got the exact wording of the prompts and advice on how to get started on the right foot:

Please answer the following (500 word limit): What influenced you to apply to Harvey Mudd College? What about the HMC curriculum and community appeals to you?

This is your chance to answer the one word that’s not in the prompts: “ why “? This boils down to a pretty straightforward “Why Us” prompt that you’ve probably already answered for another school. Don’t need to overthink it, but do take the time to flesh out your response fully and with evidence. 500 words is nothing to sneeze at, and considering this is the biggest chance to convey your passion, now is the time to double down. Dig through all the information about the school to find the unique connections and opportunities that resonate with your life goals.

Many students choose HMC because they don’t want to give up their interests in the Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts – or HSA as we call it at HMC. Briefly (in 100 words or less) describe what you’d like to learn about in your dream HSA class.

Stretch your wings and let your imagination run a little wild for this prompt! It’s short and snappy, weighing in at only 100 words total, so if you can cut to the chase you can pull it off. Demonstrate your well-roundedness (and aptitude for applying technical skills of analysis and logic to broader contexts and settings) with active curiosity and thirst for knowledge.

And then you’re already off to the races. Empowerly believes in you. We’re more than happy to support your family at any stage of the process, whether that’s deciding whether you honestly think you would thrive at a school like HMC, or finding the perfect university you’ve never heard of.

If you want to be part of the 13% that gets to call Harvey Mudd home, start now.

Share this article:

College apps can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. empowerly college counseling is in it with you., related articles.

Filling Out the Common Application for College Admissions

How to Approach College Admissions Essays

4 Tips for College Admissions Essays from a Stanford Grad

Harvey Mudd

Harvey mudd overview.

Harvey Mudd College is a private, 4-year college located in Claremont, California. Founded in 1955, Harvey Mudd College is best known for integrating a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education with an emphasis on liberal arts. The college is named after Harvey Seeley Mudd , a mining engineer who planned the undergraduate College of Science and Engineering and served as chairman of the Board of Fellows of Claremont College for 25 years.

U.S. News ranks Harvey Mudd College as #29 in National Liberal Arts Colleges. Forbes ranks Harvey Mudd College #71 in America’s Top Colleges. Additionally, The Princeton Review featured Harvey Mudd on the following “Great Lists”: “Great Professor Accessibility,” “Great Professors,” “Students Study the Most,” and “LBGTQ-Friendly.”

Check out CollegeAdvisor.com resources on Harvey Mudd here .

Harvey Mudd Admissions

According to U.S. News , Harvey Mudd College has an acceptance rate of 10%, making it a “more selective” school. In the most recent application cycle, the Harvey Mudd Admissions team reviewed 4,794 applications and admitted 628 students. The small Harvey Mudd class size is a large factor in the low acceptance rate. 

Roughly half of the students admitted to Harvey Mudd College had an SAT score between 1480-1560 or an ACT score of 34-36. In 2020, Harvey Mudd Admissions announced additional changes to their standardized testing policies . Harvey Mudd College no longer considers SAT subject test scores in the admissions process. Additionally, Harvey Mudd Admissions will be SAT/ACT test-optional for all applicants in 2021, 2022, and 2023 graduating classes.

Prospective students can submit their application to Harvey Mudd Admissions either through the Common App or the Coalition App . In addition to the longer personal essay prompt found in the 2023-2024 Common App and Coalition App , there are two Harvey Mudd College supplemental essays –a cultural diversity essay and another that focuses on humanities social sciences, and the arts (HSA). Both the cultural diversity essay and the HSA essay are required. For more information on writing great Harvey Mudd supplemental essays, read on for a link to our Harvey Mudd essay guide. 

The Harvey Mudd Admissions team also requires a $70 application fee or fee waiver, a school report and counselor recommendation, two teacher recommendations, and an official high school transcript.

Additionally, students can arrange an optional admission interview . Although not required for admission, interviews are highly encouraged. The optional admission interview is a chance for students to share more information about themselves with the Harvey Mudd admissions committee that may not be highlighted elsewhere in their application. It is also an opportunity for students to learn more about the Harvey Mudd class size, Harvey Mudd majors, Harvey Mudd online courses, and more.

Harvey Mudd College’s Early Decision I application deadline is November 15. Early Decision II and Regular Decision share a January 5 application deadline. Curious to learn more about which application option is best for you? Check out our guide on when to apply!

For a detailed list of application requirements, please visit the Harvey Mudd Admissions website.

Harvey Mudd Cost

For the 2023-2024 academic year , Harvey Mudd tuition is $65,954. Comparatively, the national average cost of tuition was $39,723 . In addition to the Harvey Mudd tuition, the total cost of attendance (including room and board, student body fee(s), personal expenses, and books and supplies) averages $89,115.

Although Harvey Mudd tuition is more expensive than the national average, don’t let the sticker price stop you from applying. Students and families can use tools like a Net Price Calculator to estimate how much financial aid a student may be eligible to receive to cover the Harvey Mudd tuition. A student’s “net price” is the difference between the estimated financial aid and the total cost of attendance. The average net price for a student in the 2022-23 school year at Harvey Mudd College was $44,734 .

So how exactly does Harvey Mudd College calculate your family’s ability to cover the Harvey Mudd tuition and other related costs? To determine a student’s financial aid package, Harvey Mudd College obtains information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) , the College Board’s CSS Profile , and any additional documentation needed, such as federal tax returns. A student’s financial need is the amount that a student can be expected to pay in order to afford an education from Harvey Mudd. An individual’s financial needs might differ from year to year. Additionally, you can expect that Harvey Mudd tuition, like most other colleges and universities, will increase each year.

Harvey Mudd College states on its Harvey Mudd Admissions pages that they are dedicated to providing 100 percent of every student’s demonstrated financial need through federal and state grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study. In the 2021-2022 academic year, about 70 percent of Harvey Mudd students received some form of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, loans, and/or work-study. Additionally, about 45 percent of students received need-based aid. The average financial aid award was $44,743 , with about $36,326  coming from grants and scholarship aid. 

To learn more about the various types of financial aid resources available to cover the cost of Harvey Mudd College’s tuition, check out our college financial aid guide .

Want personalized guidance from an advisor who's helped our clients get into Harvey Mudd?

Harvey mudd academics.

At Harvey Mudd College, the student-to-faculty ratio is 9:1 . About 57% of classes at Harvey Mudd average fewer than 20 students.  The small Harvey Mudd class size ensures that you will have the opportunity to know your professors and classmates more personally. Additionally, the Harvey Mudd class size will allow you to receive individualized attention as compared to a larger college/university.

In addition to the average Harvey Mudd class size, potential Harvey Mudd students should know that the curriculum at Harvey Mudd has three components. The first is the Common Core , designed to give students a broad scientific understanding of all the STEM disciplines. In addition to the Core, Harvey Mudd College students are required to take one quarter of coursework in the Humanities, Social Science, and the Arts. The third component of a Harvey Mudd education is choosing a  major, in order to “build depth and technical competence in a chosen field.”

Harvey Mudd Majors

Harvey Mudd College offers a Bachelor of Science degree for all graduating students. The following majors are available at Harvey Mudd: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, and Mathematical and Computational Biology . Harvey Mudd also offers joint major programs in Chemistry and Biology, Computer Science and Mathematics, and Mathematics and Physics.

Two non-traditional major options are the Individual Program of Studies (IPS) and the off-campus major . The IPS is a great opportunity for students to explore a more specialized field during their time at Harvey Mudd. The off-campus major allows students to major in fields offered at any of the other Claremont Colleges .

According to the U.S. News Best Colleges of 2023 report, Harvey Mudd ranks #2 for the Best Undergraduate Engineering Program. Engineering was the most popular major for the recent graduating class. Furthermore, Harvey Mudd College is ranked #29 for the Best Computer Science Program, which is the highest ranking of an undergraduate-only institution.

Each major at Harvey Mudd College is designed to emphasize an interdisciplinary approach so that students learn problem-solving skills and can adapt to any challenges they may face inside or outside of the classroom. Harvey Mudd College utilizes a project-based experiential model for each of its majors. Students can expect to learn through hands-on techniques while engaging in real-world research and design projects. 

Want to learn more about choosing a major? Read our guide here .

• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Computational and Applied Mathematics
• Bioinformatics
• Mathematics
• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Liberal Arts and Humanities
• French Language and Literature

Harvey Mudd Online

Harvey Mudd College does not currently offer any online degree programs or distance learning programs. Like most colleges and universities, Harvey Mudd College transitioned to online remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is no present indication that Harvey Mudd plans to add online courses to its curriculum in the future. 

There are, however, Harvey Mudd online courses available on edX , an educational website that offers free massive open online courses, or MOOCs, to the general public. These courses are available for anyone to enroll in and offer a variety of educational topics through online learning. Some examples of these Harvey Mudd online courses include Digital Design and Computer Architecture .

Our clients got into Harvey Mudd last admissions cycle. Are you next?

Harvey mudd students.

For the 2022-2023 academic school year, Harvey Mudd College had a total undergraduate enrollment of 906 students. Overall, Harvey Mudd’s enrollment numbers have steadily increased each year since the college’s inception. The gender ratio of students at Harvey Mudd College is split fairly evenly at 49.4 percent female and 50.6 percent male.

While there are no national fraternities or sororities at Harvey Mudd, the college offers a variety of student activities on campus including student government, clubs and organizations, athletics, and community service. 

Additionally, Harvey Mudd College is a member of NCAA Division III athletics and the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). Students who are not involved in intercollegiate athletics are able to participate in intramural sports teams and club sports at Harvey Mudd.

As a residential campus, 99% of students live in one of nine residence halls during their four years at Harvey Mudd College. Consequently, the community is considered to be close-knit, as students build long, supportive relationships. 

Student life at Harvey Mudd College is centered on four ideals : experiential learning, inclusive communities, leadership development, and wellbeing and holistic development. Ultimately, Harvey Mudd College wants to prepare each student to become a global citizen and scholar. Their hope is that lessons learned at Harvey Mudd College would push them to positively impact their respective communities in significant ways.

Harvey Mudd Related Essay Guides

In addition to the main essay prompt found in the 2023-2024 Common App or Coalition App , Harvey Mudd College requires two supplemental essays, including a community and cultural diversity essay and an essay that focuses on humanities, social sciences, and the arts .

The first essay asks students to think about their past experiences and how they will apply in within the Harvey Mudd community. Specifically, how has your background impacted the way you solve problems, the people you want to work with, and the impact you want your work to have? Strong applicants will use specific experiences to show personal growth as well as motivation.

The second essay prompt asks you to describe what you would learn in your ideal Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts (HAS) class at Harvey Mudd College. This prompt is much more creative than the first supplemental prompt. It aims to assess your academic interests and intellectual curiosity. Much like the first essay, this supplemental essay should include specific details about your interests and passions. 

Remember that these are “short” response essays, so make sure you get straight to the point. Explain the topics your ideal class would include, then connect these topics to your own academic interests. 

For more tips on how to write the Harvey Mudd College supplemental essays, read our Harvey Mudd essay guide . Although the prompts have changed, you can apply some of the general tips!

Not sure how to approach the “Why Harvey Mudd” essay and other Harvey Mudd essay prompts? With advice from a trained Admissions Expert, CollegeAdvisor.com’s guide to the Harvey Mudd supplement […]

Harvey Mudd Related How to Get Into Guides

Wondering how to get into Harvey Mudd? In short, every potential student vying for acceptance to Harvey Mudd College needs a personalized strategy. Begin your Harvey Mudd admissions journey with CollegeAdvisor’s How to Get Into Harvey Mudd Guide . Here, you’ll find in-depth information on Harvey Mudd enrollment, potential Harvey Mudd majors, the Why Harvey Mudd essay, and more.

How to get into Harvey Mudd—General Information Harvey Mudd College is a private college in Claremont, California, and is part of the Claremont Colleges, a group of prestigious colleges that […]

Harvey Mudd Related Blog Posts

Best Small Colleges If you’re interested in learning about small colleges and what they offer their students, then you’re in the right place! While the majority of students across the […]

Best Colleges in California: Introduction With one of the most robust public university systems in the nation—as well as many top-ranked private colleges—California has a lot to offer college students. […]

Looking to avoid applying to the most expensive universities? Our expert guide to Most Expensive Colleges in the US and World can help you!

Harvey Mudd Related Schools

Harvey Mudd is a member of The Claremont Colleges , a consortium made up of five undergraduate and two graduate schools. The Claremont Colleges include Pomona College , Claremont Graduate University , Scripps College , Claremont McKenna College , Pitzer College , and Keck Graduate Institute . This partnership allows students to take classes at any of these colleges and provides access to many of the resources available at each school. 

Prospective students who are interested in attending Harvey Mudd have also indicated interest in the following related colleges and universities: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) , Stanford University , University of California-Berkeley , and the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.  

Harvey Mudd Campus Videos

Personalized and effective college advising for high school students.

• Advisor Application
• Popular Colleges
• Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice
• Student Login
• California Privacy Notice
• Terms and Conditions
• Your Privacy Choices

By using the College Advisor site and/or working with College Advisor, you agree to our updated Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy , including an arbitration clause that covers any disputes relating to our policies and your use of our products and services.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Get Into Harvey Mudd College: Admissions Stats + Tips

What’s covered:, how hard is it to get into harvey mudd college, average academic profile of accepted harvey mudd students, what is hmc looking for.

• How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into Harvey Mudd  

How to Apply to Harvey Mudd College

One of the seven colleges in the Claremont consortium, Harvey Mudd College is known for its rigorous focus on science and engineering. At HMC, students all work towards a Bachelor of Science degree, but also complete the Common Core, consisting of required courses in the humanities, social sciences, and arts. 

Interested in applying to Harvey Mudd? Read on for a deep dive into what it takes to get accepted into this selective school for STEM. 

For the 2020–2021 admissions cycle, Harvey Mudd College (HMC) received 4,737 applicants, of which 473 were accepted. This means that last year, the acceptance rate was 9.9% , making it a highly selective school. That same year, Harvey Mudd received 485 early decision applicants, of which 104 were accepted, which yields a 21.4% acceptance rate for early decision. Harvey Mudd does not have early action. 

While Harvey Mudd’s admissions rates are low, they don’t necessarily reflect your own chances of admission. Our free chancing calculator can help you better understand your chances of acceptance into any school. By taking into account multiple elements of your profile, including your grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and more, we’ll estimate your odds of acceptance, and give you tips on improving your profile! 

While standardized test scores are usually required for applicants, HMC is test-optional for three years, beginning with students entering in Fall 2021. Of the students who enrolled in Fall 2020,  the top 25% of students scored above a 1540 on the SAT, with 96% scoring above 1400. The top 25% of those who submitted ACT scores scored above a 36, with 100% of students scoring above 30 . 

Class Rank & GPA

Harvey Mudd doesn’t offer information on its freshman class’ high school class rank or GPA, but given the high standardized test scores, you should aim to graduate in the top 10% of your class, and with all A’s. 

How Harvey Mudd Evaluates Applications

According to their 2020-2021 Common Data Set, Harvey Mudd considers the following factors “very important” in a student’s application:

• Course rigor
• Academic GPA
• Application essay
• Recommendations

These factors are “important” :

• Extracurricular activities
• Character/personal qualities

These are “considered” :

• Standardized test scores
• Talent/ability
• First generation
• Alumni/ae relation
• Geographical residence
• State residency
• Racial/ethnic status
• Volunteer work
• Work experience

And these are “not considered” :

• Religious affiliation/commitment
• Level of applicant’s interest 

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into Harvey Mudd 

1. aim for all a’s while taking the most challenging classes available.

While Harvey Mudd doesn’t have a “cut-off” GPA, accepted applicants across the board have strong academics. Since almost 100% of enrolled first-years last year graduated in the top quarter of their class, a competitive candidate for Harvey Mudd will need to have A’s in nearly every class. Additionally, Bowdoin wants to see that students challenge themselves, so you should try and take advanced honors, AP, or IB classes.

If your GPA is lower, and you’re still a freshman or sophomore in your high school, check out our tips for increasing your GPA . If you’re a junior or senior, it will be harder to increase your GPA, so the easiest way to increase your Academic Index is to get a higher test score.

2. Write engaging essays and supplement responses

In addition to the Common Application or Coalition Application essays, HMC will require you to write two additional short answer essays as part of the Harvey Mudd Supplement. 

Use these essays and response questions to show your strengths, character, your authentic voice, and what you may bring to the Harvey Mudd campus, as well as your passion for STEM. 

For a detailed guide on how to approach the Harvey Mudd essays, take a look at our article How to Write the Harvey Mudd College Essays 2021–2022 .

3. Cultivate at least one or two Tier 1-2 extracurriculars (find your “ spike ”)

Harvey Mudd is a challenging and invigorating academic environment, and a large part of a student’s time there is participating in real-world research and learning the social implications of science. While stellar grades are still the most important for your application, the admissions committee also wants to see your out-of-classroom passions and your skills that are less able to be assessed on paper: your extracurriculars. 

In general, any activity that you do regularly outside the classroom counts as an extracurricular, as long as you can demonstrate that the activity has contributed to your growth as an individual. However, not all extracurriculars are created equal. Extracurricular activities can generally be divided into four “tiers.” To increase your chances at HMC, you should have one to two “Tier 1” or “Tier 2” extracurriculars. 

• Tier 1 activities demonstrate exceptional talent, achievement, leadership, or merit. Activities and roles on the national level or which garner field-wide recognition count as Tier 1 activities. This may include winning a national award, qualifying for international competition and therefore gaining prestigious recognition, or starting a nonprofit that gains national traction. Having a Tier 1 activity marks you as a distinguished youth in the field of your activity, so having Tier 1 activities is rare. 
• Tier 2 activities are more common than Tier 1, but still show high levels of achievement and potential. Holding school-wide leadership positions like student government president, winning regional competitions or awards, and local recognition as a student athlete or musician are all considered Tier 2. 
• Tier 3 activities demonstrate sustained participation rather than exceptional achievement, and are frequently seen in applications, both across the board as well as in any given individual student’s application, as some students may have more than one Tier 3 activity. These activities can include holding minor positions in school clubs or being on a Varsity team.
• Tier 4 activities are the most common and have the lowest entry bar; they demonstrate interest without particular dedication. However, they are still important to include, especially if you have higher tier activities, because they can help show the diversity of your interests. Tier 4 activities can include regular volunteering, general membership in clubs or organizations, or taking any kind of music or art lesson over several years. 

4. Fulfill Harvey Mudd’s required courses for enrollment 

Harvey Mudd requires its students to enroll with a few specific courses already under their belt in order for them to be prepared for its rigorous STEM curriculum. Applicants should have: 

• One year of high school chemistry
• One year of high school physics
• One year of high school calculus 

Applicants who haven’t completed these courses by high school graduation may be offered conditional admission. 

5. Ask the right teachers for recommendation letters

Harvey Mudd requires three letters of recommendation: one from a counselor, one from a math or science teacher, and a third recommendation from a humanities, social sciences, or arts teacher. HMC is a small college with a high student–faculty ratio (8:1) where students collaborate closely with each other and with professors. 

Your letters of recommendation will show admissions officers what kind of student and peer you are. Letters of recommendation should come from instructors who know you the best and who can speak positively of your character and abilities. Take some time to think about which teacher will write you the most promising recommendation letter, and take a look at tips from CollegeVine to help guide you through the process. 

Planning on applying to Harvey Mudd? Here are some dates to keep in mind.

Application Requirements

Harvey Mudd accepts the Coalition Application and the Common Application. To apply, you will need:

• All parts of your Common or Coalition application, including the personal essay
• $75 application fee or fee waiver
• Supplemental essay (500 words) and short answer response (100 words)
• Secondary school report (information about school’s offerings and environment)
• Official secondary school transcript
• Counselor recommendation
• Bowdoin Supplement
• Two letters of recommendation: one from a math or science teacher, one from a humanities, social science, or arts teacher 

Optional materials include:

• Admissions interview
• Standardized test scores (optional through 2023)

Learn more about Harvey Mudd

Take a look at our other resources on HMC to help you with your application process:

What Does It Cost to Attend Harvey Mudd College?

How to Write the Harvey Mudd College Essays 2021–2022

What Are the Claremont Colleges?

Harvey Mudd Essay Example: Breakdown + Analysis

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Supplemental Essay Guide 2023-24

What do the 2023-24 supplemental essay prompts really mean, and how should you approach them? CEA's experts are here to break them all down.

Acceptance Rate

Undergrad population.

• Liberal Arts (51)

* Tuition filtering is based on out-of-state fees

Agnes Scott College 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Alvernia University 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide  

American university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, amherst college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, babson college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, bard college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide  , barnard college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, baylor university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide  , bennington college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, bentley university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, berry college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, bethany college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, bishop’s university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, boston college (bc) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, boston university (bu) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, bowdoin college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, brandeis university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , brown university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, bryn mawr college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, bucknell university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, butler university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, california institute of technology (caltech) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, california lutheran university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, capitol technology university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, carleton college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, carnegie mellon university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , catawba college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, centre college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, chapman university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, claremont mckenna college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide  , clark university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, college of mount saint vincent 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, college of william & mary 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, college of wooster 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, colorado college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, colorado school of mines 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, columbia university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, cornell university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, culver-stockton college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, d’youville university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, dartmouth college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, davidson college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, drexel university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, duke university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, earlham college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, elon university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, emerson college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, emory university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, flagler college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, fordham university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, george mason university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, georgetown university 2023-24 essay prompt guide, georgia state university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide  , georgia tech 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, gonzaga university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, harvard university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, harvey mudd college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, haverford college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, hillsdale college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide  , hofstra university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, illinois institute of technology 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, illinois wesleyan university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, indiana university bloomington 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, ithaca college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, johns hopkins university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, kalamazoo college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, lafayette college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, lehigh university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, lewis and clark college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, linfield university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, loyola marymount university (lmu) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , lynn university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, macalester college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, malone university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, manchester university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, marist college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, mary baldwin university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, massachusetts institute of technology (mit) 2023-24 essay prompt guide, meredith college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, monmouth college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, moravian university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, morehouse college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, mount holyoke college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, new york university (nyu) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, north park university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, northwestern university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, occidental college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, oklahoma city university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, olin college of engineering 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, pepperdine university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, pitzer college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, pomona college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, princeton university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, providence college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, purdue university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, rensselaer polytechnic institute 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, rice university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, saint elizabeth university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, santa clara university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, sarah lawrence college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, scripps college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, seattle pacific university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, smith college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, soka university of america 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, southern methodist university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, st. john’s college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, stanford university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, stonehill college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide  , swarthmore college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, syracuse university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, texas a&m university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, texas christian university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, the college of idaho 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide  , the george washington university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, the new school 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, trinity college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, tufts university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, tulane university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of california 2023-24 essay prompt guide, university of central florida 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of chicago 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of cincinnati 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of colorado boulder 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of florida 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of georgia 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of illinois urbana-champaign 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, university of maryland 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of massachusetts amherst 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of miami 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide  , university of michigan 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of minnesota twin cities 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of north carolina (unc) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of north carolina at charlotte 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of north carolina at greensboro 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of notre dame 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of oklahoma 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of oregon 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of pennsylvania (upenn) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of pittsburgh 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of richmond 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, university of san diego 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of san francisco 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of southern california (usc) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of texas at austin 2023-24 essay prompt guide, university of tulsa 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of vermont 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of virginia (uva) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of washington (uw) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of wisconsin-madison 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, vanderbilt university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, vassar college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, villanova university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, virginia tech 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, wake forest university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, washington and lee university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, washington university in st. louis 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, wellesley college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, worcester polytechnic institute (wpi) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, yale university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide.

Contact us to learn more about our one-on-one advising services!

• I am a * Parent Potential Partner School Counselor
• Name * First Last
• Phone Type Mobile Landline
• Street Address
• Address City State / Province / Region Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania, the United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands Country
• Which kind of private school application are you working on? * Preschool Primary School (K - 8) High School (9 - 12)
• How did you find CEA? Internet Search New York Times Guidance counselor/school Social Media YouTube Friend Special Event Delehey College Consulting Other
• Our Approach & Team
• Undergraduate Testimonials
• Postgraduate Testimonials
• Where Our Students Get In
• CEA Gives Back
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Admissions
• Private School Admissions
• International Student Admissions
• Common App Essay Guide
• Supplemental Essay Guides
• Coalition App Guide
• The CEA Podcast
• YouTube Tutorials
• Admissions Stats
• Notification Trackers
• Deadline Databases
• College Essay Examples
• Academy and Worksheets
• Waitlist Guides
• Get Started

• Faculty and Staff
• Discover Harvey Mudd
• Connect with Harvey Mudd
• Apply to Harvey Mudd
• Afford to Attend Harvey Mudd
• Departments
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts
• Mathematics
• Interdisciplinary Centers
• Hixon Center for Climate and the Environment
• Center for Design Education
• Hixon-Riggs Program for Responsive Science and Engineering
• Majors at Harvey Mudd
• Faculty of Harvey Mudd
• Common Core Curriculum
• English Language Learning
• Dean of the Faculty
• Institutional Research
• Learning Programs
• Study Abroad
• Upward Bound
• Summer Session
• The Makerspace
• Entrepreneurship
• Sponsors and Projects
• Prospective Sponsors
• Impact on Society
• Clinic Events
• History of the Clinic Program
• Clinic Program Contacts
• Research Focus Areas and Labs
• Research Videos
• Faculty Research Resources
• Student Research Opportunities
• Campus Life
• Career Services
• Civic and Community Engagement
• Health and Wellness
• Housing and Residential Life
• Institutional Diversity
• Academic Resources and Student Success
• About Division of Student Affairs
• Meet the DSA Staff
• Commencement
• Orientation
• Accessible Education
• International Students and Scholars
• Mudders Care for Mudders
• Emergency Resources
• Student Handbook
• Title IX and Sexual Assault
• Annual Fire Safety and Security
• Visit Campus
• Harvey Mudd News
• Upcoming Events
• President's Office
• Mission and Strategic Planning
• Make Your Gift Now
• Annual Fund
• Endowed Giving at Harvey Mudd
• Planned Giving
• Current and Special Giving Initiatives
• Ways to Give
• Contact College Advancement

Harvey Mudd College News

Harvey mudd junior kerria pang-naylor named 2024 goldwater scholar, share story.

The most prestigious national award for undergraduate STEM researchers, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, has been awarded to Harvey Mudd College joint computer science and mathematics major Kerria Pang-Naylor ’25.

Pang-Naylor joins 28 previous Harvey Mudd recipients of the scholarship since Congress endowed it in 1986. Harvey Mudd students are well-positioned to compete for the award, aimed at students in the United States who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and a strong commitment to pursuing careers in mathematics, natural sciences or engineering. HMC students participate as colleagues with faculty members, investigating open-ended questions, producing world-class research, presenting findings at national conferences and co-publishing papers in peer-reviewed journals. A total of 438 Goldwater Scholars were selected this year from a field of 1,353 students nominated by their academic institutions. The scholarship covers up to $7,500 toward the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board.

Starting in summer 2022, Pang-Naylor worked in Heather Zinn-Brooks’ research group to develop and study methods for fitting the parameters of bounded-confidence models with social media datasets. During this project, she analyzed the structure of information cascades and relationship networks on social media and generated opinion distributions based on probabilistic assignments of trained binary text classification models. In 2023, she also worked in George Montañez’s AMISTAD Lab on two projects involving probabilistic inference and machine learning theory.

With teammates Ian Li ’25 and Kishore Rajesh ’25, Pang-Naylor completed a paper this summer that presents a quantitative framework for selective abduction. They sought to derive bounds for abductive success under two criteria: (1) rewarding the selection of one most likely cause, or (2) rewarding the selection of any cause whose probability is above some threshold.

“I am also working on a project with Eric Chen ‘24 involving the study of supervised machine learning algorithms with inductive orientation vectors,” says Pang-Naylor, who has worked as a grader/tutor in HMC computer science and mathematics classes. “We quantify the behavior of these algorithms through three well-known theoretical metrics: algorithmic bias, algorithmic capacity and entropic expressivity. These measures describe an algorithm’s tendency to predict the correct class, its ability to adapt to changes in training data and the variance of the algorithm’s predictions.”

Upon graduation from Harvey Mudd, Pang-Naylor plans to pursue a PhD in applied mathematics or computer science with a focus on mathematical data science. “I am most excited about research involving machine learning theory, optimization and probabilistic inference,” she says.

About the Goldwater

The Goldwater Scholarships are the result of a partnership with the Department of Defense National Defense Education Programs and the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. The scholarship program honoring Senator Barry Goldwater was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering. All Harvey Mudd sophomores and juniors are eligible to compete for the Goldwater Scholarship.

Mudd Magazine

Search HMC Experts

Harvey Mudd’s faculty can provide commentary to news media on a broad range of topics.

Search by name, keyword or subject area.