Financial Aid? (plus chance me?)

Im a rising senior and am looking at Reed for ED. I would love to major in neuroscience; but since Reed has no major for it, i would choose Biology. I live in California so choosing to go to a UC school (UCLA, UCSD, or Cal) would be second choice options to Reed. A UC school would also be WAY more financially wise than Reed.

If anyone has applied to Reed, either through ED or Reg, can you tell me how your financial aid package is? What was/is your price per year for Reed?

30 ACT (retaking in sept)
1960 SAT
6 passed AP classes, 5-6 more planned for senior year
2 sport athlete (one varsity sport of the two)
50 hours + library community service
In the process of starting a GSA club
certified Red Cross volunteer
impending volunteer at my local hospital (top 100 in the nation)
*I also had an interview with a student at Reed in June. I felt that it went extremely well.

thanks!!!

I am in the class of 2019. At first, my financial aid was doable, but it would have left me with 80-100k in debt after 4 years. After they got the W-2 forms, the amount of debt dropped to $40,000 after 4 years, which was great. Then, through a monthly plan, my parents were able to pay more, and I’m probably going to graduate with the 22k in federal loans, though it will still be a struggle to pay that much.

Your number of AP classes is great. Don’t slouch your first semester of senior year. Your test scores would be okay, but a 33+ would really help. Remember, GPA and test scores are only 20% of Reed’s admissions criteria. Essays are just as important, as are recommendations, extracurriculars (Yours seem fine), and personal qualities.

if i may ask, what’s your major? @cosmological Do you know a lot of people in the biology department (and even the psych one, that would be my second choice)?

i have a few good essay topics floating in my head right now. i need to check the common app to see the questions though

I want to major in Physics or Physics-Math. I don’t really know anyone in Bio or Psych (I mean, I know some students who want to major in that, but I don’t know anything substantive about their studies). I might take Psych to fulfill one of my group requirements. You have to do at least a couple of those.

Also, there’s the common app essay, but also the Reed essay. The Reed essay is almost always the same, Why Reed?

@Cosmological awesome!! thanks for the insight. i definitely think reed is where i would want to spend my undergrad years. it seems like an experience that isnt offered elsewhere!

Just make sure you don’t get hung up on a school. It’s not 100% certain that someone can get admitted, so it would be in your best interest to really care about Reed, but also get excited about other schools.