<p>My son is in psych, and he doesn’t seem to have a problem surviving. I think his sophomore year was a little rough, but now that he’s a junior, he seems to have really hit his stride. He’s not worried about quals or anything. He also has a girlfriend, so he’s able to have school and social life, it seems like. </p>
<p>I think that, based on our conversations, he would say that he went to Reed in part to learn how to be someone who was successful at grad school. He had sloppy study habits when he arrived. He was home for the the holidays and he was really on top of his studies in a way that surprised me. I actually tried working on one of my papers the way he was doing his; I think he’s modelling some great habits that I’d love to make my own.</p>
<p>So I guess what I’m saying is that there are supports in place to help you learn to manage the work load, and that if you do the work, you’ll grow as a scholar to the point that you can handle it as it becomes more involved. My son said that last summer, he could not have imagined thesising, but now, he’s feeling really excited about it.</p>
<p>My top college has been Reed for I while now. It seems to have everything I want. Everything seems to be basically up to par with their standards except for my SAT’s. They are above average but not nearly as high as some who I here get into Reed. How important are they and what are my chances? What are your own experienced?</p>
<p>What are science classes/professors/facilities/research opps like? How comparable is it to, say, Williams (not suggesting they’re better. love reed!)?</p>
<p>I heard from one girl(whose judgment I do question) that Reed is a place “where fun goes to die,” so I know academics has been covered, both as intellectual masochism and manageable but challenging. Are the kids laid back, or the kids who believe down time is a waste of time?</p>
<p>Also, my Latin teacher recommended I apply because the classics department is strong, do either of you have experience in it? I couldn’t see going to college and not taking my Latin and Greek studies farther.</p>
<p>Science is serious here, but I’m not the person to ask. StudiousNutcase is in chem, if I recall correctly, so she can field that one.</p>
<p>mcclam, I already talked about the work/fun divide earlier in this thread. That motto is usually attributed to UChicago, by the way.</p>
<p>The Classics department is so good here, especially with hum. I don’t have a ton to say on the subject, but you could look up some profs on the website and email them. Classics people like to talk about classics.</p>
<p>So my roommates are in Bio, which is generally regarded as the science for non-science people. There’s the least math involved in that class, so you get a lot of students who don’t like science taking it, giving the class a bit of a different atmosphere. Intro Bio is taught by six different professors who rotate units, chem is taught by two (you get a new one at semester), and physics is taught by one professor for the entire year. Chem is for slightly more sciencey people, and physics is generally taken only by people who intend to major in a science/physics/math so it tends to be the most intense of the three options.</p>
<p>As I’m only in chem I’ll only be able to speak to it. ARTHUR GLASFELD IS GOD. I mean, I enjoy sciences but that man knows everything there is to know about chemistry and taking his class has honestly been the highlight of my semester (and I intend to major in Spanish). The professors here are extremely knowledgeable and always willing to help. That being said, some professors are obviously better than others (Arthur > Martina). As far as the facilities go the only thing I’ve heard anyone complain about is that we don’t have a bomb calorimeter (Arthur complained, but only so far as he enjoyed blowing stuff up in college and misses the good old days when he could just throw a crumb in, push a button, vaporize it, and find out the specific heat). Plus, we are the only college in the country with a nuclear reactor run almost entirely by undergrad students (that’s a whole different subject, but if you’re interested I can hook you up with people to talk to about it). And then for research opportunities I believe we have a fair number of chances for you to get in on helping a professor with research. Most science students are highly recommended to stay one summer with a professor and work on something, and then there’s your thesis which will be your year long personal research topic.</p>
<p>I visited and didn’t want to leave. I walked down the hill to the south parking lot, and the grass was all dewy. I thought about how it was as if the grass was crying for me as I left. I am wondering about the money aspect, because thats where i’m going to be screwed. The problem is, my family is a mixed one, and my step dad makes a ton of money from his investments that never goes to me. So I am going to write a letter to the fin aid office explaining my circumstances, but I’m wondering how all of you are paying for it?</p>
<p>I have looked into Reed an almost ridiculous amount at this point, and it seems everything I want in a school. However, I know that it is definitely a huge courseload. Does anybody on this thread double-major, or think it would be possible to double major, at Reed? i am thinking about Chemistry and Spanish.</p>
<p>"There’s a cadre of people who are very heavily involved in multicultural issues and who would flatly deny there is diversity at Reed, but their very presence as students who give voice to that sort of contradicts the argument. I would say that compared to other liberal arts colleges of its size and standing, Reed tends slightly more towards diversity, and is trying to trend that way. </p>
<p>“Also, it’s important to mention that the HUM110 syllabus has just been changed starting with the 2010 entering class. The new syllabus addresses the long time concerns of Reed professor Pancho Savery about the lack of cultural diversity in the syllabus, by adding readings outside of the traditional Western canon. This represents a major change recognizing the longstanding call for a more multicultural HUM110 approach.”</p>
<p>I’m supposed to be informed of my acceptance/rejection on the 1st. How does the school go about contacting prospies? (Other than the confetti and the cool video)</p>
<p>So, I know this was addressed briefly earlier in the thread, but I was hoping to get a bit more of an in-depth response. I’m very interested in Reed, but slightly concerned by its reputation as a “druggie” school. Obviously I doubt that this stereotype is entirely accurate, but it does worry me a little bit. I am not a big drinker or smoker, but I do enjoy going to parties, etc. I just tend to keep it moderate. Given Reed’s other reputation as a thrivingly intellectual school, I don’t have the impression that students are pressured into doing drugs. Is there passive pressure, though? That is, do you think that students who are not substance users would feel inclined to do so simply to be able to better partake in the social scene?</p>
<p>driftwood, I do not think Reedies feel pressured to do drugs. The social scene may include drugs, but it is not entirely dependent on drug users. While “druggies” are present and perhaps make up for a large part of the culture at Reed (some would argue that there are “druggies” in all colleges), Reedies collectively are a creative lot and can have fun even if there aren’t mind altering drugs, alcohol or cigarettes on offer. Also, if you feel that you’d like to live in a substance free dorm, that’s an option too. I’m on my deferral year and I recently met a Reedie junior who’s stayed in the sub-free dorm throughout and recommends it.</p>
<p>So since you’re not allowed to bring in substances into the sub-free dorms, would it be acceptable to live there, but still use substances (just not bring them in)?</p>
<p>Yes overdue. A lot of people choose sub-free for a quieter living environment and not because they’re teetotalers/straight-edge. Of course it’s a given, that you do all of the substance related stuff outside the dorm-drinking, smoking, getting and being high.</p>
<p>Yes I do think the academics are as time consuming and challenging as advertised.
I liked the food when I have been there, but it is a small school with one dining hall, however there are kitchens in the dorms and Trader Joes and Limbo close by.
My daughter loved Reed and still lives in Portland after her graduation.</p>
<p>( she had a single room every year- because the Birchwoods are townhouse apts with two bedroom/baths.)
She initially chose sub free because she hoped for quiet to study and we both agreed it was probably quieter in the subfree dorms, than in dorms that were " quiet" after 10 pm.
( She also is sensitive to smoke- etc)</p>
<p>That was her rationale for choosing subfree the first year, the subsequent years were because that was where most of her friends were.</p>
I think his sophomore year was a little rough, but now that he’s a junior, he seems to have really hit his stride. He’s not worried about quals or anything. He also has a girlfriend, so he’s able to have school and social life, it seems like. </p>