When asked how HMC has helped her prepare for life after college, Judy Hsu said, “The number one thing that HMC taught me was the importance of finding a solid support network of people whom I can turn to during the good times and the bad.”

“I came away from Mudd with an incredible group of friends and faculty mentors. I was fortunate to have not one, but two marvelous undergraduate mentors: Professors Lori Bassman and Jenn Rossmann. Both played a big part in my applying to graduate school, and both taught me about how to keep myself on a whole and proper path through life. It’s so important that you have people to advise you about difficult situations and about work/school balance.”

Judy said that she came away from Mudd knowing how to work hard, how to work with people in a team setting and how to lead organized projects.

“Mudd is a humbling experience initially when you figure out how smart everyone is around you,” said Judy, who added that she learned to appreciate the atmosphere. She feels people should strive to be in environments where they are pushed to be better— “that way you’ll always be improving yourself.”

Attending graduate school at Stanford was a boost to Judy’s career trajectory toward a management consulting position at McKinsey.

“As unfair as it sounds, going to a top-tier graduate school absolutely helps you find a job,” she said. “Companies have limited recruiting resources, so they focus their big recruiting efforts on top-tier schools like a Stanford or Harvard. Also, a degree from one of the top institutions does help you connect once you’re in the door.”

Judy was quick to add that graduate school isn’t for everyone. “I think there’s a lot of momentum coming out of Mudd to go straight to grad school, but I would think long and hard before getting a Ph.D. The decision-making process should be well thought out.”

Judy enthusiastically touts the benefits of an HMC education. “I think the best thing current students have at Mudd that I hope they appreciate is the individual faculty attention. You go to any other institution and chances are you will not get the kind of focused, personalized mentoring and teaching you get at Mudd. I would suggest that students get to know professors outside of class, involve them in your decision-making process, do research with them during the summers and go to their office hours to ask them for help. This kind of interaction is so rare at most institutions.”