From the Vice President...

It’s finally here. We can’t believe by 5pm PDT we will have actually reached the point where the letters (and e-mails for our students living outside the US) will go out the door (or computer.) We know you’ve been patient and read about our technology challenges. We know that we are pushing up against the very last minute to notify you of our decision this year. We know you have already heard from many other colleges. We know that we had over 3500 applications and can only enroll a class of 196. We also know that this process and the trust you’ve put in us by applying to Harvey Mudd is too important to rush. We want to get it right.

What does “get it right” mean though? As Colleen has mentioned over the past several months, we find ourselves in a position where we have an embarrassment of riches. Harvey Mudd is a self-selecting place. We are not a college that someone usually just throws on their list. Therefore, the students that take the time to apply to us already know that they are a good fit for us and the majority of them are more than capable of being strong students. Over the past few days as we have been shaping the class, several of us have commented with awe and frustration that we could fill at least three classes (if not more) with the talented students whose applications we have been reading. That’s where the hard decisions come in, and while it is with great relief that we reach the end of this process (Read a book? See our families? Sleep?), we know that now many of you will be disappointed in what we’ve decided. Rest assured that while we are thrilled with those whom we’ve decided to admit, this is a bittersweet moment for us knowing that we will be missing out on so many of you who would thrive here. We hope you know that we know that this is our loss even more than yours since we know that you will have many wonderful options.

So what do I want you to know before these decisions go out? I want you to know that we read all that you sent us. I want you to know that we became attached to you as we read and that we agonized when we weren’t able to admit everyone we wanted to admit. I want you to know that your essays made us laugh, cry and scratch our heads. I want you to know that college will transform you no matter where you go. I want you to know that we are humbled by all that you have accomplished and will continue to accomplish. I want you to know that we’ve had fun imagining different roommate pairings and hoping you’ll have the chance to meet each other. I want you to know that I have no feeling in my finger tips from signing letters. I want you to know how much we appreciate the time and energy you put into the application process. Most of all, I want you to know that this all works out in the end. I promise.