I was rejected from my ED colleges, so Reed is my first choice now for RD. Should I have a decent shot at getting in? I feel like I should have moved on from being the type to make chance threads but it’s 3:00 AM and I’m bored.
UW GPA: 3.72
ACT: 32 & 31, (33 if superscored but unsure if Reed does so, I sent both anyway)
In top 16% of class
ECs: A few but but very passionate about them (Science-related), we won nationwide awards for our work. I also have a job where I work around 16-22 hours/week.
Major: Physics
From Missouri
Significant financial need (Reed net price calc will give us basically free tuition, but I know they are need-aware so it may affect admissions)
Essays: Common app is great, depicts a passion for astronomy and a love for learning. Why Read essay is pretty good, imo demonstrates an affinity and interest for Reed.
No real hook
Lots of AP classes. Strong upward trend (received A’s and B’s throughout HS, but took only one honors class in fresh and soph years, junior & senior year took almost all AP/honors classes. Got Straight A’s first semester senior year)
Should I get my hopes up? Reed still does have a low acceptance rate even if I fall into a statistically viable range for admissions.
Also, where does Reed’s 3.9 average GPA figure come from. Is that weighted or UW gpa? It would seem odd for me to for that to be the average UW gpa, since many other schools with such higher avg. gpas also have higher avg. class rank, test scores, etc. Reed only has 52% of accepted students in top decile of class, avg. ACT is 31.
The average GPA is UW. Don’t stress too much about it, though. GPAs and class ranks vary across high schools, so they are poor indicators to measure yourself against. Instead, I would look at the average test scores. What matters to Reed more than the GPA is your actual grades in different subjects.
I would also worry about the significant increase in applications.
If it makes a big difference , I have been doing my best senior year. First semester I received all A’s and in the hardest subjects I could take (AP Chem, AP Physics, AP Lit, etc.). Freshman year I took no honors/AP and received mostly A’s and a few B’s. Sophomore year I took one honors/AP class and got mostly A’s and a few B’s.
Also, where can I read about the significant increase in applications? did they release some info/e-mail applicants or something? I had applied EDII to Swarthmore and they said they had received a 42% increase in applications, which I imagine was a significant reason for my rejection. Has this been regular among colleges this year??? It seems like so many are getting huge % increases in applications.
I am kind of desperate to get into one of these selective LACs. I have big financial need and naturally the most generous LACs are the most selective. Me not being in the top decile of my class is really hurting me, I think. Most “highly-ranked” colleges need to maintain that high % of students who were in the top 10% of their classes, so they can have good numbers for USNews. I am glad Reed thinks those rankings are a joke and refuses to participate, and it compels me to believe they will view applications more holistically.
(Just to note, I have an economic safety that I’ve been accepted to, but it’s not exactly where I really want to go)
Although there have been 3 apps to Reed from my school in the past, all 3 were rejected… can’t view their stats due to privacy.
My knowledge of the increase in apps (from 3900ish last year to 5300ish this year) comes from simply being part of the Reed community. You will not be able to read about it unless the Quest writes about it or the college makes an announcement.
In your case, the decision could go either way; what will make the difference is how you have presented yourself in your application.
Alright, fair enough. I wonder what accounts for such a large increase!
After having done some research in this Reed forum, I learned about the importance of the Why Reed essay. I do wish I had spent more time on it… but I think it shows real interest in Reed and demonstrates true compatibility.
Do you have any idea how much weight the alumni interviews have with Reed? I had mine months ago, but I think it went really well!!! Talked a lot about my interest in astronomy and how much time I spend with it; I had also revolved my common app essay around the same topic.
Unfortunately, I do not know how much admissions weighs alumni interviews (it probably matters on a case-by-case basis).
Just a quick note (not really part of this thread but I knew the answer, so I thought I’d chime in)
The massive increase in applications this year comes from the fact that Reed abolished its application fee this year in an effort to draw more applications from less economically privileged students. That means that the competition is definitely going to be tougher this year than it has been in years past.
Reed ‘abolished’ its application fee last year.