Progress?

Oh, technology.  This year we transitioned to online reading and a new data system!  Yes, both in the same admission cycle!  While I won't bore you with tales of our export and list-running tribulations (who designs an "export" function that maxes out at 500 records?!?!), they have been numerous -- and have made for more than one embarrassing e-mail stating incorrect information or requesting materials we have already received.  Yikes. 

I'm not quite ready to term our little technological leap "progress," but at least we can all read Raissa's writing this year. Here's how admission committee has changed since last year:

Committee then:

Committee now:

Decision making then:

Decision making now:

As you can see, online reading does not necessarily lead to less physical clutter.  And though it's pretty nifty to have our admission decisions projected onto a big screen (you can't tell from the photo, since I had to crop out all the confidential information, but that ADMIT: UNCONDITIONAL is about a foot wide!), I miss my Red Pen of Power.  A computer mouse just doesn't have the same flourish. 

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There was a question about merit scholarships (and I bet a lot of you are curious!).  Here's when recipients will be notified:

Harvey S. Mudd Merit Award - recipients are notified at the time of admission

So Scholarship - award is included in the recipient's financial aid package 

FIRST Scholarship - recipient is notified in early April

President's Scholars Program - finalists are notified in late March and awardees are selected in mid-April

RIF Scholarship - awardees are selected by the math department and notified in late March or early April

National Merit Scholarship - all National Merit finalists who have not been matched with corporate scholarships and list HMC as their top choice institution receive this award

Need-based financial aid packages are mailed about a week after the admit packet