I really don’t know enough about either Oberlin or Bard to compare the three. From what I’ve read the dress, musical tastes and general cultural outlooks are similar, so they all may be hipsterish. What makes Reed intense is it’s academics. Reed is perfect for the true intellectual that seeks the life of the mind, many (many) hours are spent poring over original sources in the library. Reed sends exceptionally high numbers of students on to pursue PhDs. The 6 year graduation rate is 78%, quite a bit lower than most other highly ranked LACs, and I’m guessing that some people don’t adjust well to the depth and demands of the academic rigor, but for those who find intellectual inquiry to be the air that sustains them, Reed is heaven.