a personality thing

<p>So I've heard lots about reed and I think that it may be a great school for me for a number of reasons, most notably its (I've been told) great Russian program (also academics and general, it sounds so intellectual!) and its outdoorsy/quirky reputation. But a lot of the accounts of the reed "vibe" are seemingly contradictory. On the one hand, I've heard that students are very smart, but laid back "hippyish" individuals, which I really like. However, I've also heard that academics are very intense and students are studying all the time. Coming from a pressure-cooker sci/tech school, I would really like a slightly more laid back school academically, with strong academics/intellectual environment, but where stress isn't too high. What would students say about reed's stress culture? I really enjoy studying when it is in subjects that I love, but, to be honest, I wouldn't want to be studying all the time, which is what some sources seem to indicate is the norm at Reed. Any comments? i hope to come visit to see for meself!</p>

<p>What you've heard about Reed seems accurate to me. Reed's reputation for "students never stop studying" is well-deserved; academics are indeed intense; the atmosphere is not laid-back. Students also have (brief?) periods of intense fun, and most seem to love the place. Try these links:
<a href="http://web.reed.edu/apply/news_and_articles/reed_paradoxes.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://web.reed.edu/apply/news_and_articles/reed_paradoxes.html&lt;/a>
<a href="http://web.reed.edu/apply/news_and_articles/knowledge.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://web.reed.edu/apply/news_and_articles/knowledge.html&lt;/a>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed_College%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed_College&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Some students seem stressed by the academic intensity, others not so much, but I don't know what the mix is. Reed does seem to be one of those schools where an overnight visit and attending a couple of classes is an important part of deciding on fit. Reed is unusual and quirky.</p>

<p>Links re Russian:
<a href="http://web.reed.edu/news_center/press_releases/2005-2006/110805PustynskyPR.doc.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://web.reed.edu/news_center/press_releases/2005-2006/110805PustynskyPR.doc.html&lt;/a>
<a href="http://web.reed.edu/reed_magazine/winter06/columns/NoC/jewish_studies.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://web.reed.edu/reed_magazine/winter06/columns/NoC/jewish_studies.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Thanks for the responses. The funny thing about Reed is that many of the college books focus on the quirky students and seem to exclude the constant studying they do. I'm gonna try to go see the campus before I think about applying. :-)</p>

<p>devushka, I am a Reed alum (from an earlier era). I studied Russian there and made an academic career of Russian studies (not primarily language). Reed is demanding, no question about it. Some people deal with it better than others. For me, it was intense academically. But I don't think I could have chosen a better school (for me). I hope you make a visit and engage in many conversations, visit classes, etc.</p>

<p>Another Reed alum here. Yes, Reed is intense academically, but remember that most Reedies study and learn for the sake of intellectual inquiry. In other words, much of the intensity stems from curiosity. Because of this vibe, I felt stimulated by the intense environment, not pressured. The best example of this comes when all the seniors work on their year-long theses. You'd think this would breed a lot of competition, but for me and my friends it was very much a communal, unifying experience.</p>