College Thursday Newsletter

Includes a featured college, scholarship, college major, career, and alumni spotlight each week...plus, details about upcoming college & career events and programs! For a wealth more of resources, visit the Lane Tech College & Career Center.

Website: hmc.edu

Harvey Mudd College (HMC), located in Claremont, California—just 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles—is a premier private liberal arts college dedicated exclusively to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Recognized as one of the most rigorous undergraduate institutions in the nation, Harvey Mudd approaches technical education through a broad, interdisciplinary lens. For a student interested in biomechanics, bioengineering, and sports medicine, HMC provides a distinct quantitative sandbox. While traditional kinesiology majors do not exist here, pre-health students pursue rigorous concentrations in Biology, Mathematical and Computational Biology, or Chemistry. Harvey Mudd’s technical foundation—demanding upper-level physics, linear algebra, and data science—equips pre-med and biomechanics students to approach human motion, rehabilitation, and medical device design with advanced quantitative precision. Additionally, as a member of the prestigious Claremont Colleges Consortium (5Cs), Mudders can easily cross-register for specialized courses and access human performance resources across the neighboring campuses.

Harvey Mudd is a ideal match for intellectually fearless, quantitative, and deeply collaborative students who thrive in a small, intensive environment (around 900 undergraduates) set within a sunny, four-season Mediterranean climate. With a tight 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, all classes and laboratories are taught by faculty who act as direct research mentors. The campus culture is governed by a student-run Honor Code, fostering an environment built on trust, un-timed take-home exams, and intense collaboration over cutthroat competition. It attracts analytical thinkers who want to bridge quantitative fields with clinical care, utilizing close access to regional hospital systems, biotech hubs in Los Angeles, and undergraduate clinical research opportunities.

The "Mudder" experience is defined by a brilliant, quirky campus culture and surprising athletic energy. Athletic pride centers on the joint CMS (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps) Stags and Athenas Division III program, where HMC athletes partner with Claremont McKenna and Scripps Colleges to field top-ranked varsity teams in soccer, track and field, cross country, and swimming. For students looking to balance intense problem sets with physical activity, HMC supports a high-energy club and intramural sports scene—including popular programs in ultimate frisbee, martial arts, and rugby—alongside access to the modern Roberts Pavilion fitness complex.

Campus life is rich with eccentric traditions that reflect the student body's creative energy. Highlights include Foster Room unicycles, late-night milk-and-cookies study breaks at the Hoch-Shanahan Dining Commons, and legendary residence hall pranks ("jacks"). The climax of student creativity shines during Mudd Hole and Pi Day celebrations, alongside inter-dorm games and the annual Scavenger Hunt. Whether you are modeling mechanical stress forces on human joints in a biomechanics research lab, training with the CMS track team, or working through complex problem sets in a open-door study lounge, Harvey Mudd College delivers an intense, highly rewarding collegiate experience that prepares analytical thinkers to revolutionize sports science and clinical medicine.

Quick Facts:

• Small Sized: 913 total undergrads
• Tuition & Fees: $76,070
• Admissions Requirements: ACT or SAT - Required
• Acceptance Rate: Very Selective, 12% of applicants admitted
• Unweighted GPA Average: 3.94

Merit Scholarships:

Harvey Mudd offers a variety of merit based scholarships for first-year students. Learn more here.

Inspired by Burger King Restaurants co-founder, Jim McLamore, The Burger King Foundation believes in empowerment through education and lending a helping hand, when needed, thus allowing you to live life your way. To this end, we supply emergency relief to our employees and provide essential resources to help the students of today and the scholars of tomorrow discover their full potential.

Amount: Up to $60,000

Deadline: December 15

For more info CLICK HERE

Meteorology focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of the atmospheric envelopes surrounding the earth, the effect of earth’s atmosphere on terrestrial weather, and problems of environment and climate. Coursework includes instruction in atmospheric chemistry and physics, atmospheric dynamics, climatology and climate change, weather simulation, weather forecasting, climate modeling and mathematical theory.

What can I do with this major? CLICK HERE

Put out fires. Rescue people. Workout a lot. Have a work schedule that alternates between 24/7 on the clock & 24/7 off. If you love heroics, danger, & physical work, you might love this careers. Wildland firefighting is also a career option. Wildfire fighters put out fires in forests and other open places. They move dirt, clear brush, and cut down small trees to control the spread of wildfires. They patrol fire areas to put out (or mop up) any remaining burning material.

Median annual salary: $57,120

For more info CLICK HERE

After high school, Allegra attended New York University, where she majored in English Literature. Drawn to NYU for its location in a vibrant city, diverse academic programs, and unparalleled global opportunities, she fulfilled a lifelong dream by spending her freshman year living and studying abroad in London. Living overseas stands out as her favorite memory, alongside the meaningful relationships she built with professors who actively helped students network inside and outside the classroom.

Today, Allegra works as a Student Success Coach at National Louis University, guiding first-year college students through their higher education journeys. Her experience navigating a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) inspired her current path, where she works directly with first-generation students to empower them through their challenges. For Allegra, the most rewarding part of her career is watching her students overcome hardships to achieve their goals and earn their degrees.

Read Allegra's full story HERE

November 7 @ 10:00 AM

What is Splash at Northwestern? Splash at Northwestern is a student organization dedicated to providing unique and fun learning opportunities to high school students in the greater Chicago area, especially for students coming from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds. Our goal is to empower high school students to select classes they enjoy and allow them to experience a day in the life of a college student. We also want to provide the Northwestern community with valuable teaching experience and outreach opportunities.

For more info & register CLICK HERE

November 8 @ 12:00 PM

NACAC Virtual College Fairs are a great opportunity to connect with colleges and universities all from the comfort of your own home. Have a quick video chat with a rep, drop-in on a virtual presentation, send a question through the chat - make a connection your way.

For more info & register CLICK HERE

November 9 @ Lunch Periods - CCC

Juniors and seniors can sign-up to work quietly in the CCC on scholarship applications as part of our Money Mondays. Every week, a list of potential scholarships to apply to during the time will be shared-- but students are welcome to work on other scholarship applications.

For more info & register CLICK HERE

November 10 @ 6:00 PM

Join the City Colleges of Chicago School of Engineering to learn about engineering degree pathways, transfer opportunities, student support resources, internships, research experiences, scholarships, tutoring, and admissions. Meet School of Engineering staff and learn how City Colleges engineering students successfully transfer to leading engineering universities. Students, families, and community members are welcome to attend.

For more info & register CLICK HERE

November 18 @ Advisory - CCC

Lane Tech invites representatives from military branches, ROTC programs, and service academies to participate in our Third Annual Armed Services Fair, which will take place during one of our weekly advisory periods. Students will be invited to attend and learn from reps at tables in and around our College and Career Center.

For more info & register CLICK HERE

November 18 @ 6:00 PM

The CPS Scholarship team will be offering virtual scholarship presentations for CPS students, parents and community based stakeholders.

For more info & register CLICK HERE

Seniors, need help completing your FAFSA? Our College Coach, Ms. Driesbach, is available to guide you through the application process and answer your questions. Schedule an appointment to get one-on-one support and make sure your FAFSA is submitted correctly and on time!

To schedule an appointment CLICK HERE

Seeds of Fortune Inc. Scholars in Partnership with Yale Women in Economics is a 10-month program that delivers an Economics capstone project and college prep. 40 scholars are selected to learn economics with Yale University professors with the goal of having youth enter the field of economics and use the knowledge to rethink the economy for their communities.

Are you applying to college or wondering what campus life is really like? Former student Sydney Tzur is currently thriving at UNC and wants to help! Through Talk2Students, you can book a chat with Sydney to ask about the application process, college life, or anything in between.