The RIF Scholarship
General Information
The RIF Scholarship will be awarded each year to an incoming HMC student who demonstrates exceptional mathematical ability, possibly evidenced by strong performance in mathematical competitions.
The value and number of scholarships may vary from year to year, depending on the funds in the RIF Hutchings Endowment. The scholarship is not need-based, and the recipient does not have to major in mathematics. The duration of the scholarship is one year, and is non-renewable. A list of past recipients may be found here. The Endowment also funds related prizes awarded to the top three or so HMC finishers each year in the national Putnam Mathematical Competition. For more on the history of the scholarship, see Aaron Archer's description.
Application
If you would like to apply, please fill out the form below, and press the “Submit” button. This is the preferred method. If this is not a viable option for you, you may apply on paper by printing the form (or answering the questions below) and mailing it to the following address:
RIF Scholarship Committee
Department of Mathematics
Harvey Mudd College
301 Platt Boulevard
Claremont, CA 91711
About HMC
Harvey Mudd College is a highly selective undergraduate institution of science, engineering and mathematics. One year of high school calculus, chemistry, and physics are required prior to enrollment. The middle to 50% SAT range for the freshman class is 740–800 (math) and 690–770 (verbal).
Each year there are over 40 graduates in mathematics, math–CS, and mathematical biology, with approximately half going to graduate school; the highest rate in the nation. In recent years our rate has been even higher, with nearly 60% of our mathematics graduates going on to enroll in graduate programs.
The college enrolls about 750 students and is a member of the Claremont College consortium, which includes four other undergraduate colleges (Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Scripps, Pitzer) and two graduate institutions (Claremont Graduate University and Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences), forming an academic community of about 5000 students. There is an active and vital research community of over 45 mathematicians in Claremont, with faculty seminars in analysis, topology, combinatorics, and applied mathematics, and an impressive variety of courses up through graduate-level mathematics courses. Find out more about the HMC Mathematics Department!
In 2006, the American Mathematical Society gave us the first-ever Award for Exemplary Program, given to one math department in the country. See the feature article in the AMS Notices.
Claremont is situated approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains. The community is known for its tree-lined streets and village charm. It is an easy drive from Claremont to the cultural attractions of the greater Los Angeles area, as well as the ocean, mountains and deserts of southern California.
