If you’ve flipped through our view book, browsed our website, visited our campus, and are thinking to yourself, “This is definitely the place for me,” then you’ve got Early Decision written all over you.

With Early Decision, you let us know we’re your top choice, and we reward you by giving you a decision earlier than the rest of our applicant pool. Learn more to decide if Early Decision is right for you:    

Early Decision
Regular Decision

Early Decision

What is it?
You apply earlier than our regular application date and promise that if HMC accepts you, HMC gets you. This is a binding program—that means you’ll withdraw any applications to other colleges and you won’t submit any new ones. And remember, you’re only allowed to apply to one school’s early decision program. 

Why do it?
You know Harvey Mudd College is perfect for you. You’re craving the challenge and ready to join the ranks of our distinguished community. You want hands-on learning, professors who mentor and teach, and the ability to pursue other passions in addition to math and science.
            
Early Decision lets you wrap up your college plans earlier in the school year, so you can sit back, relax, and let senioritis kick in (ok, so we’re kidding about the last part. While you’re certainly done sweating the college search stuff, we’ll still be asking for those final semester grades and expect you to continue demonstrating the academic success we witnessed in your application).

And with Early Decision, you face a clean slate. We’re just starting to build our next entering class, and we’re all about filling slots with students with the most HMC potential. In the past few years, we’ve brought in about 25 percent of our entering class through Early Decision.

When do I apply?  
To apply in the first round of Early Decision, submit your application by November 15; we’ll send you our decision by December 15.  If you're not quite ready to apply in November, but are still sure that HMC is your top choice, you might be interested in our second round of Early Decision.  Apply by January 2 (the same deadline as Regular Decision) but hear back almost two months earlier (by February 15).  Review all HMC admission deadlines.

How do I apply?
Complete your testing requirements (SAT or ACT and SAT subject tests) by the November SAT testing date, and submit your application by the November 15 deadline for Early Decision I.  For Early Decision II, you must finish your SAT/ACT testing by December.  Students can apply to only one college's Early Decision program. Applying to Early Decision will not affect your chances of receiving financial aid but you should plan to apply for financial aid as early as possible. Learn more about your aid application for Early Decision. 

When do I commit?  
If you apply for and are eligible for financial aid, a tentative offer of financial aid will be sent to you soon after the offer of admission. Ninety-nine percent of the time, this aid offer is generous enough for you to commit to HMC. You send us your commitment by January 15 (March 1 for Early Decision II) and withdraw any applications to other colleges.

Regular Decision

What is it?
When you apply through the Regular Decision program, you simply apply by our regular application date (January 2).

Why do it?
You want a little more time to get your application ready, or you need to take your ACT or SATs in December or January. Or maybe you have your eye on a few schools, and want more time to weigh your options.

But remember: Since so many more students apply for Regular Decision admission than Early Decision, it takes us longer to evaluate these applications. We also want to see grades from the first term of your senior year before we make a final decision. About 25 percent of the freshman class will have been reserved for Early Decision students, so a larger pool of applicants competes for a smaller number of spaces in the freshman class.

When do I apply?
Apply by January 2; HMC notifies all Regular Decision applications of our admission decisions by April 1. If offered admission, you need to decide on the college to attend by May 1. Review all HMC admission deadlines.

How do I apply?
Complete your testing requirements (SAT or ACT and SAT subject exams) by the January SAT testing date, and submit your application by January 2.