<p>All mentioned school are excellent. Reed is the one I know something about:</p>
<ul>
<li>top-notch education (see <a href="http://web.reed.edu/ir/phd.html%5B/url%5D">http://web.reed.edu/ir/phd.html</a>)</li>
<li>get to actually know my professors and learn</li>
<li>small classes and student-faculty interaction</li>
<li>do research with my professors</li>
<li>balance between social life and academics (but tilted more towards academics)</li>
<li>distribution requirements (except for one common core class, Hum 110)</li>
<li>suburban school (Portland, OR)</li>
<li>aesthetically pleasing campus (one of the most beautiful)</li>
<li>1,500 - 3,000 students (close, currently 1,407)</li>
<li>social conscience ... aware of social issues ... care about society</li>
</ul>