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<li>How is the Chemistry Dept. at Reed when compared to other similar LACs?</li>
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<p>This is seven years old, but is all I could find, as far as results are concerned:</p>
<p><a href=“LAC department size versus selectivity: PhD productivity - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums”>LAC department size versus selectivity: PhD productivity - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums;
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<p>Thanks
Reed looks like a good fit but there are some issues</p>
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<li><p>Being an International, I am somewhat appalled by the fact that there are only 25-30 (? read this in an early post) international freshmen. </p></li>
<li><p>I know that there is a drinking culture/drug culture in almost all schools. But in most of the threads I have seen on CC, this is the first time when someone has reported seriously a smoking problem. I know there is no compulsion to smoke, but it is still disturbing to note that a large percentage of people smoke. Are there any substance-free dorms available?</p></li>
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<p>1) Why would you be appalled by that? I really think you need to learn how to interpret statistics you read on the website. There will be students who don’t need aid. 25-30 is the number of those who do (again, that is the number of intls who are ACCEPTED, not admitted – there will be fewer students). And that is very, very competitive (<10%). Usually, those intls who can get into Reed get into other schools as well. </p>
<p>2) More than the drinking, from what I’ve read about Reed and heard from students there, the smoking and drug culture is prominent. Of course nobody would force you to do anything but parents have addressed that all dorms smell like marijuana lol. Drugs are not so obvious, but yep, it’s there, and even goody-goodies end up doing it apparently.</p>
<p>I like Reed too, but 2) is what pushes me away from it. The stress seems to be so overwhelming that lots of kids resort to stress-relieving drugs.</p>
<p>I felt comfortable enough with the students at Reed that I let my 11 yr old stay with her sister on campus.
Every school has some drug & alcohol use, but yes there are sub free dorms.
If Reedies lived up to their reputation of being druggies, no one would ever pass a qual let alone their orals.</p>
<p>Those efforts to paint Reed as some sort of a gulag, where students are organized in chain gangs and slave away to the wee hours of the morning, sustaining themselves only on dope and all kinds of dangerous substance, are so ridiculously funny that one cannot help but laugh (sinister intent notwithstanding).
On a serious note: I am a Reedie parent, and no, I never smelled any drugs in any of the dorms I visited.</p>
<p>Those are 2 reassuring comments :)</p>
<p>The chemistry department at Reed is really good but I’m not familiar enough with the chemistry depts in other LACs to know how it compares.</p>
<p>International enrollment hovers around 10-15%. The entering freshman class is only about 350 people, so that would be 35-50 internationals. There is enough financial aid allotted to assist about 25 of them. [Reed</a> College | Admission | Reed College Admission Office](<a href=“Apply - Admission - Reed College”>Apply - Admission - Reed College)</p>
<p>There are sub-free dorms. I don’t know where you are getting your information, but goody-goodies who resort to drug use due to overwhelming stress sounds a little crazy when compared to the reality of Reed. To reiterate emeraldkitty, you can’t graduate from Reed while doing hardcore drugs all the time. The academics are simply too demanding for it to really be a party school. Of course there are some students who do drugs, mostly marijuana, but usually not to the point where it interferes with school. Those who do will likely fail out, drop out, or be expelled.</p>
<p>Also I don’t think it’s accurate to say that a ‘large percentage’ of the student body smokes. Last I heard it was a quarter or less and that stat might have been inflated. There was a lengthy discussion on CC about smoking at Reed by some parents of prospective students and other unrelated adults who wanted to weigh in, but I’d take it with a grain of salt. I’ve never heard actual students complaining that smoking is a widespread problem. There are 2 places on campus where it can be a point of contention, but most students who smoke try to be conscientious about it and would stop or move elsewhere if asked. Talk to some current students and see what they think. </p>
<p>Actually I would highly recommend talking to many current students, faculty, and staff about Reed and your concerns, and relying a little less on hearsay and stereotypes promulgated on the internet. It would be ideal if you could visit Reed and see it for yourself, but that might not be feasible as an international applicant.</p>