WISTEM FAQs

About the Program

Is it possible to only participate in the residential/online portion of the program?

No, WISTEM students must agree to participate in the entirety of the residential and online components in order to be accepted to WISTEM.

What will be included in the WISTEM Online program? How much time can I expect to dedicate to the program?

There will be three Saturday sessions lasting approximately two hours starting in December 2024 and ending in April 2025.

• Want more info? Preview our schedule!

About the Application Process

Who should apply to WISTEM?

The WISTEM program is open to high school juniors (or equivalent) who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, live in the United States and its territories, are considering the STEM fields as they begin their college search and application process, and are interested in strengthening their understanding of the experiences of women in STEM

Can undocumented students apply to WISTEM?

Undocumented students are welcome to apply to WISTEM but should know that ultimately they would apply for first-year admission to HMC and need-based financial aid as international students. Our funding for international student financial aid is limited.

How do I apply?

See the Applying to WISTEM page to learn about the application process.

What should I do if my junior year grades aren’t ready by the deadline?

We understand grading schedules vary between schools. If final grades for the fall semester of 11th grade are not available, then we ask students to include a copy of their progress report or quarter grades. We only require UNOFFICIAL transcripts, so we can accept screen shots from electronic grade books, scanned report cards/progress reports, etc.

Are Standardized Tests required to apply to WISTEM?

No, standardized testing (e.g., SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests) results are not required to apply to the WISTEM program. You will notice a section of the application will ask for the results of any standardized tests you have taken as this can assist the admission committee in the decision-making process. However, we understand that many students will not have taken standardized tests by the fall of their junior year in high school.

About WISTEM Decisions

How many students are invited to WISTEM?

The WISTEM program is small by design. Typically 20-25 students will be invited to the 2024 – 2025 WISTEM cohort.

When will I be notified about my WISTEM application?

Students receive email notification by no later than November 25, 2024. All WISTEM correspondence is done via email, so make sure you enter a valid email address in the online application form.

What if I’m not invited to the program?

Given the small size of the program, we are unable to accommodate every interested applicant. Unfortunately, we end up turning down very talented students who apply to WISTEM every year. Please know that a negative decision is a result of our space and budget constraints, and not due to a lack of confidence in you as a potential first-year applicant. WISTEM application results have no effect on your first-year HMC application.

If you are not invited to join WISTEM, you should absolutely continue to consider HMC for first-year admission, and if time and expenses permit, visit our campus!

• Register for a campus tour and information session via our events calendar. (Visits during your senior year could include an overnight stay and/or admission interview.)
• Check out our required application materials for first-year admission.

About Travel

Who will pay for my travel to HMC?

The WISTEM program is completely FREE for invited students. Harvey Mudd will fully fund round-trip travel to Claremont, CA. More information will be communicated with students once they are admitted into the WISTEM program.