The Anatomy of an Invitation

If you're a high school junior or senior (or the parent of a high school junior or senior, for that matter), then you've already experienced the joy (?) of having your mailbox constantly stuffed with college pamphlets. Most of them will end up as scratch paper, doorstops, bonfire fodder, etc. -- so part of my job is to make sure we're producing things you'll actually want to read. Every college has its own approach to publications -- some go for the unsmiling black-and-white photos, some prefer the classic glossy-photo-of-college-students-laughing-on-the-lawn (guilty as charged). Here at Mudd we try to mix in a healthy dose of quirky science-y stuff whenever possible.

Case in point:



This is my favorite piece we've done to date, not because it's the snazziest (I think the left brain/right brain lenticular designed by the fabulously creative Janice Gilson takes the cake), but because it was actually inspired by Mudd students. Johnson, one of our favorite tour guides, was telling me about a prank he'd pulled on another much-loved tour guide, Lilian. He and some friend had labeled everything -- and I mean EVERYTHING -- in Lilian's dorm room. Ratio of red shirts to black shirts. The fabric breakdown of the sheets. The chemical composition of the air. Hmm, I thought. A scientist's view of the world? And so using the prank as an inspiration, we took a photo of Mudd and labeled everything we could (I admit the binary tree is a bit of a stretch, but we had to work in computer science somewhere). So Johnson, Lilian, Leon, Fiela, Hannah, this one's for you. Thank you, Mudders.

Oh right -- the event. Well, we'll get to that too. July 12 & 23, we're hosting "Mudd Unveiled: Discovery Days" (acronym: MUDD. Oh, we amuse ourselves). Tour, information sessoin, and even a free lunch, all in four compact hours. You can RSVP online at www.hmc.edu/rsvp.

How to Rock Your College Interview (Condensed Version)

1. Be yourself.

2. Ask questions.

3. Brush your teeth.

Lizards on treadmills and other excitement

I'm not sure I even need to elaborate on the title of this post. Lizards! On treadmills! What more do you need to know? That this little skink in the photo below (FYI, that would be the lizard; the gentleman in the picture is Professor Steve Adolph, chair of the biology department) can run at a mighty fast clip? Despite being chilled on ice for twenty minutes beforehand so he would be less fidgety and more photogenic? That iguanas run on two legs when they're at maximum speed? That for one particular research project, the iguanas have even been outfitted with miniature respiratory masks to measure their breathing? (Really -- you can see the research poster in the biology hallway. There are photos!)



And don't think the treadmill is just for lizards. A student did her senior thesis this year on tarantula locomotion. I wouldn't have considered tarantulas the most cooperative subjects, but as the research is continuing this coming year, presumably they behaved themselves and/or embraced the LA Fitness lifestyle.

Which is more than I can say for this little sucker. While iguanas might be quite the sprinters when they're on the treadmills, this one doesn't seem to be going anywhere in a hurry. Pesky freeloader.

What, no ramen?

What with reduced dining hall hours in the summer, I had visions of our poor Mudders surviving on ramen and stale pizza. HA. Turns out that ten or so Mudders have formed a supper club and even Gordon Ramsay would be impressed with the fare. Here are a few examples from the summer so far:

1. Stuffed pork chops
2. Mussels topped with roe
3. Shrimp omelettes
4. Etouffee
5. Chicken risotto
6. Homemade challah
7. Jeep's Thai food
8. Salmon and fried rice
9. French toast
10. Vegetable pasta medley

So, um, where does this supper club meet and how can I join?

To all you SoCal hopefuls

If you're from Southern California, there's one thing you absolutely must do if you're interested in attending HMC . . . VISIT CAMPUS. It always astounds me when we receive applications from local students -- some as local as right here in Claremont -- who haven't so much as set foot on HMC soil. Especially baffling because we're a residential college. All first-year students live on campus; upwards of 95% of upperclassmen do as well. You won't just take classes here (although it would be a good idea to check out the lab and classroom facilities as well); this will be your home. Your friends. Your life. For four years.



What happens on a campus visit? It's painless, I promise. You'll take an hour-long tour, led by a current Mudd student. You could chat with an admission rep, attend an information session, have lunch in the dining hall. Go inside a dorm room and a laboratory. If it's during the academic year, you'll see some of my favorite things on campus: study groups at the white boards in Platt. The hammocks in South. The latte machine.

While you're on campus, you might want to think about interviewing, too, but that's a topic for another time. For now, just visit! Especially now, before it's mid-August and approximately 217 degrees outside.

Just a warning

Things that will appear on this blog that are not directly related to college admission:

1. Caffeine. English breakfast tea, vanilla lattes, homemade chai . . . yum.

2. Jane Austen references. I can't help myself. Sorry.

3. Louie. My affable canine sidekick. I suffer from the belief that the rest of the world thinks he's as unsurpassedly adorable as I do.