Things that Bring Mudders Joy: Part 2

ASP (Admitted Students Program) at Mudd took place recently, and I thought it was really fun to see the prefrosh getting the opportunity to experience Mudd not only through information sessions, but also through fun and lighthearted Chocolate Society and Skate Club events. I didn’t have the opportunity to attend ASP when I was admitted, so seeing it for the first time was pretty cool but I realized what I had missed out on. In light of this realization, here’s part two of minor elements of life at Mudd that bring students joy:

The Platt Piano

Mudd has private music practice rooms, and we also have access to Scripps practice rooms, but the Platt grand piano is a staple of life at Mudd. The piano is in a room just off the Platt living room, and a lot of students I’ve talked to mention how they love it when they’re studying and can hear someone playing. As a pianist myself, I feel like I don’t yet have the confidence to use the Platt piano, but I’ve found that people don’t really care whether you’re playing a perfect sonata or messing up a basic scale so there’s no pressure at all.

Jay’s Place

I have yet to meet someone at Mudd (or across the 5Cs) who doesn’t love Jay’s Place. Jay’s is the best place to find food and refuel late at night, but it’s particularly a great place to wind down after parties. People will go to an extremely high-energy party and then end up at Jay’s to relax, grab a snack, and get all kinds of weird scientific conversations out of their system before calling it a night. It’s always fun to see Jay’s become a gathering place for students on busy nights.

Jalapeño Cheddar Cheese Bagels

For freshmen, finding enough energy to show up to 8 am Core classes every day is a common struggle. Skipping breakfast at the Hoch doesn’t always solve the problem, but the extra sleep always feels great. A lot of people end up going to the Mudd café to get a quick breakfast instead. When I asked one of my friends what brings her joy at Mudd, the jalapeño cheddar cheese bagels from the café were among the first things she mentioned. The café is also a great early morning environment that generally helps me get in the right frame of mind before a day of classes.