President’s Scholars Program

The President’s Scholars Program (PSP) is a renewable, four year, full-tuition scholarship program that identifies and encourages outstanding first-year students who have the potential to be future leaders in engineering, science, mathematics and technology, and who are from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented at Harvey Mudd College or are the first in their families to attend college.

The Scholarship

Each incoming first-year President’s Scholar will receive a full-tuition scholarship to Harvey Mudd, renewable for four years (subject to satisfactory academic progress).

President’s Scholars Program award recipients are ineligible for the Harvey S. Mudd Award.

Eligibility

To be eligible to be selected as a President’s Scholar, you must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  • Demonstrate a potential for leadership at Harvey Mudd College.
  • Show a proven record of academic success, including a rigorous course schedule and excellent grades and be among the top students in your secondary school.
  • Be a first-year applicant for admission to Harvey Mudd College.

We encourage students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM to apply –  women, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, students from low-income backgrounds, rural backgrounds, students with disabilities, and students who are first-generation to college.

How to Apply

Candidates for the President’s Scholars Program (PSP) must submit the online President’s Scholars Program Application by February 1. You must log in to the HMC Applicant Hub to access and submit this form, which requires that we have received your first-year application.

Required Scholarship Statement

Harvey Mudd College’s mission statement asks our students to consider the impact of their work on society. We also practice collaboration and value working across differences. Imagine that you have unlimited resources; what impact would you like to make? Who’s on your team?

  • Limit your response to 550 words.
  • Scholarship applications are read alongside your first-year application and not separately. Therefore, you can assume that the scholarship reader will have also read your other essays. It is not necessary to include the same information in both unless you choose to do so.

PSP and Early Decision

Early decision candidates are required to commit to Harvey Mudd College and withdraw, in writing, their applications to other colleges by January 15 (or March 15 in the case of Early Decision II). Because President’s Scholars are not notified of their selection until mid to late April, candidates whose commitment to Harvey Mudd is dependent upon winning the President’s Scholars Award should apply via Regular Decision.

Application Review Process

Once we receive your application:

  • The selection committee will review all students who have submitted both an application for admission to Harvey Mudd and the application materials for the President’s Scholars Program.
  • A group of finalists will be selected and contacted to schedule an interview specifically for PSP. The interviews will be conducted at Harvey Mudd College in mid April.
  • Award recipients will be selected and notified within a week of the on-campus interview.

Number of Recipients

The College strives to enroll approximately eight President’s Scholar Program recipients in each incoming first-year class.

Ideal Candidates

Qualities that would strengthen one’s candidacy for PSP include:

  • Exceptionally strong high school preparation, including evidence that the applicant has actively sought out learning opportunities beyond those normally available at his or her school.
  • Evidence of leadership in school, church or community organizations.
  • Evidence that the applicant demonstrates intellectual curiosity and an exceptional sense of responsibility and self-reliance.
  • Evidence that the applicant has the personal qualities and motivations that would allow him or her to especially benefit from what Harvey Mudd has to offer.