Academics

You want to go have dinner with a professor? Just ask the school, and they’ll give you money to go off campus and have a great meal while chatting with a brilliant physicist. Go bowling with your math professor! It’s the best system ever, and it gives you a chance to really meet your professors as people, and not as just teachers in the classroom.

Athletics

Varsity sports are something I don't pay much attention to. We have some good D-III teams, but it's background noise to me. The intramurals are pretty intense. We have events for all the typical sports and some dorms even send out multiple teams. However, we also throw in a few non-traditional competitions, such as hot dog eating. Even more fun is when the professors send out the Geezer team for a sport. They're very good at soccer.

Campus Dining

The food at the dining hall is generally pretty good but rather repetitive. To break the monotony, most people occasionally go to one of the other five dining halls on the 5Cs, which have varied strengths. Jay's Place is definitely a favorite spot for evening study breaks and snacks.

Campus Housing

Usually for frosh, if you fill out the hall matching questionnaire honestly, they’ll put you in the dorm you want. Also, you can request a particular dorm, and most of the time, you’ll get it. There are stereotypes and they are based somewhat in reality, but don’t go solely by that. However, if you hate video games and like to party drunkenly, East Hall probably isn’t for you.

Campus Strictness

Mudd does not pay for alcohol at parties. It does, however, pay for parties, all of which are free for all students. Mudd goes by the "work hard, play hard" philosophy, and part of that is encouraging students to let off some steam on the weekends. If the students throwing a party want to have alcohol, that is up to them. And yes, the alcohol is free to all students.

Computers

The computer network is fantastic. There is 24-hour access to at least four labs on campus with more available for those who have need. Labs can be full if there is a big assignment or tutoring going on, but generally it is easy to get a computer. Many students bring a computer or laptop, and it can help as professors send a lot of announcements through e-mail. However, one is not necessary.

Diversity

I never thought much about diversity at Mudd, but then I realized that my best friend is Egyptian, my dorm president is Jewish, and my boyfriend of eight months is half Israeli. It’s something you don’t even notice unless you’re looking, but Mudd really is a diverse place.

Drug Scene

I have a lot of friends who smoke pot, but it’s never been an issue between us. I sometimes rail on them for being unhealthy, but it’s all in good fun, and they’ve never pressured me to try. The first time I was hanging out with them, they asked me if I wanted a hit. I said no, and that was it for the next two years. There isn’t a lot of tension between smokers and non-smokers here.

Facilities

Mudd loves to spend money on student facilities. We've got a really great study lounge with ridiculously comfortable couches and a free coffee machine. There's also the Activities Center where you can play pool, ping pong, air hockey, foosball, and watch TV. It has a gym with all the basic machines. If you are looking for a larger gym, the other four Claremont Colleges allow us use of their facilities as well.

Greek Life

People here live in dorms. Each of the dorms has a different character, and that’s why you live there. I think a lot of Mudders have more pride for their dorm community than do some of my friends who are in fraternities.

Guys & Girls

It is impossible to make generalizations about the guys or the girls. Neither group is particularly attractive. However, once you’re here for long enough, you start to see people in a new light. Not that the ugly people suddenly seem Ashton Kutcher-level attractive because you’re so desperate, but you start to see other great qualities in people.

Local Atmosphere

Claremont is a safe-feeling place, and LA is only an hour Metro ride away. Claremont can start feeling small, and things tend to close early in the evenings. The other four Claremont schools have connected campuses to Mudd, and each has a distinct feel.

Nightlife

For some reason, we're known as the party school. It's not that we always have parties, although they are fairly common. It's not that we always drink, our average drinking rate is lower than the national average. It's because the parties are themed and incredible. For example, one dorm hosts Wild Wild West, a party where they even rent out an electric bucking horse and spread hay across the courtyard. Plus, since everyone lives on campus, everyone can come to the parties. There aren't too many off-campus bars and such. Most of the time you can find enough booze on campus.

Off-Campus Dining

The Village, within walking distance just south of Pomona campus, offers plenty of affordable off-campus dining from nice restaurants to pseudo-fast food places and sandwich shops. There are plenty of other restaurants and fast food places within driving or biking distance. There are pizza and Thai places that deliver to campus. Bua Thai is one of the best restaurants in the Village.

Off-Campus Housing

There are apartments just across the street from the outer dorms, which are very convenient. A huge proportion of Mudders live on campus all four years, so it’s rather difficult to make the move off campus and still feel like part of the social life of the college.

Overall Experience

People here work hard, party hard, do laundry hard—I’ve never been around so many passionate people. Students do crazy spontaneous things, like prank friends for no reason, but that, well, the spaghetti is sitting right there, and I might as well use it. Mudders are great—absolutely insane, but great.

Parking

Parking can be tight. Since everyone lives on campus, the need for a car is more dependent on your external activities. Most things in Claremont are accessible by foot or bike. However, you sometimes feel the need to go to the mall down the way or need some way to get to that interview down the freeway. That being said, I would guess 1/3 to 1/2 of the students have cars on campus and most are willing to lend you a ride.

Safety & Security

At the beginning of the school year, during orientation, the sponsors pass out whistles to every student. Each student then has a whistle on their keychain in case they need help. Everyone knows what to do if they hear a whistle. It’s a small thing, but it really helps you to feel safe.

Transportation

The Amtrak is nice to get to LA if you don’t have a car, but be careful about the timetables. A friend of mine got stuck sleeping on a bench in LA one time when he missed the train home, and nobody was there to come pick him up.

Weather

It’s beautiful for about 70 percent of the year, but when it gets cold, it gets really cold. You need a variety of clothing, from shorts and sleeveless tops to heavy sweaters and long underwear, or maybe I’m just wimpy because I’m from Florida