I have recently been accepted to both schools, and pending the financial aid package from Reed, I’m pretty torn.
I want to study the humanities (literature, medieval studies) and want a highly intellectual, challenging, yet supportive community. Being close with my professors is another factor that is very important to me.
Right now, the pros of Haverford are:
-2 hour flight away (vs. 6 hours to Portland)
-I have visited and know I love it
-Great reputation
-Location right by Philly
-Access to many classes through the tri-college system
-The honor code
-Customs week
Cons:
A more traditional school/student body
The pros of Reed are:
-Quirkiness and traditions
-Great reputation with grad schools
-High amount of students going on to get PhD’s
-Highly intellectual community
Possible cons of Reed:
-Drug culture
-Cutthroat environment
-Overwhelming course load
-Distance from home
I haven’t visited Reed, so before committing I would have to go, but I’m trying to figure out if organizing a trip is worthwhile.
I’m cross posting this so if anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated!!
I am not doubting your assessments, especially since I’ve never even been to Reed, but am curious as to what data you are using to decide how tough the courseload is, or how cutthroat the school is? How do you know Haverford has a less overwhelming courseload? D loves Haverford, but is concerned about workload since she will be an athlete.
@CM421, I’ve never heard the term cutthroat applied to Reed, and I don’t think it is accurate at all. Intellectually demanding and intensely academic, yes. Students at Reed are very driven but they are not necessarily competing with each other. I would think the same is true at Haverford. I don’t know what you mean by a “drug culture” either. Yes, weed and other drugs are on campus but I would not call it a drug culture. What I haven’t seen there is the degree of binge drinking that mark other schools.
I’m not sure but it sounds like maybe you have been to Haverford. If that is the case and you liked it and financially the two schools will cost you about the same, I’d go to Haverford. We went to both schools last year and we had a distinct preference for Haverford. Not that you wouldn’t get a fine education at Reed. Here’s my reasoning: If the schools cost about the same and you’re comfortable that they will both meet your academic requirements, then the decision is driven by some other criteria.
Weather: As awesome as Portland is, in my mind that doesn’t make up for the crap weather. [Context: Grew up in PA and lived in Seattle for two years. I personally couldn’t deal with the constant drizzle and gray skies. YMMV.]
Campus/Facilities: IMO, Haverford is a considerably prettier campus. We also felt the buildings at Reed were a bit shabby compared to other schools. Now keep in mind, none of this prevents you from getting a fine education. They are just small things that might drive a decision one way or another.
Athletics: Reed has no varsity sports and we sensed an almost anti-sport vibe when we visited. They do have intramural sports, if I recall correctly. And while we are by no means some sports-crazed family, my daughter loved running in cross-country and track in high school (primarily for the social aspect) and wants to continue to do it in college. She is an entirely average athlete but in most Division III schools, if you want to participate on a team, you can. There are generally no try-outs. So for students who just love doing a sport, it is a great way to meet other kids and have a non-academic diversion. Since Reed had no running teams, it was crossed off our list. Obviously, this aspect is entirely dependent on your personal requirements.
@TheGFG I’m going based on things I’ve heard on the internet and from friends who visited, so everything should be taken with a grain of salt. I’ve heard Reed has a very demanding course load, and though I doubt Haverford’s would be less rigorous, from what I’ve heard Reedies seem to be perpetually working. This is all assumption, and I am certainly not the most qualified source, it was just a concern I had. Perhaps someone can debunk?
@Mintwood What I have also heard from friends and current students is that there is a lot of drug activity. That doesn’t mean its inescapable, and I may certainly be wrong, but it was something I wanted to address because it is a potential concern of mine. Then again, I am doing my best to make decisions based off of the internet and speaking to current students.
@Pinozul Right now, I’m thinking Haverford because I did visit and indeed loved it. I applied ED and was deferred and then accepted, so right now I’m doing my best to confirm that it is the best choice for me and I don’t want to rule out Reed. From my perspective, Reed is a little quirkier and more focused on intellectualism, but that is based on their advertising materials. Haverford gives me a bit more of a community vibe, but I’m a bit biased considering I have never been to Reed. I actually think I would prefer drizzle to the tundra of the Northeast! And sports are the antithesis of anything I would want, but I think the distance may be the ultimate factor: Haverford is a 2 hour flight away whereas Reed is 5.5-6.5 hours by plane.
@CollegeMartyr421 If you loved Haverford, you’re done. Say yes. Embrace your new life! :)>-
Trust me, a complete stranger, you’re not missing anything at Reed. And unless you’ve actually experienced the drizzle, you just don’t know how insidious it is. And I would heartily concur with your concern about flights times: 2 hours is easy, even an old middle-aged guy who has spent WAY too much time on airplanes can handle that. 5 to 6 hours in an airplane…let’s be honest, that’s just a pain in the…seat.
Finally, let me just add this…20 years from now, absolutely none of this will matter.
I’m going to agree that “cutthroat” is not a term to describe Reed. But I think you would work harder than than Haverford – but if you love the subject you are studying, is that a bad thing? If the costs both work, go visit Reed and then make a decision. I have visited both (and moved to the Pacific Northwest a few months ago, so have just been through my first winter here – personally I prefer it to east coast winters, but that is up to you). You will only fly home a few times a year – once you have to get on a plane at all, not sure that the difference is huge. I like both schools a lot (actually have one kid who would have been a great fit at Haverford, and one that would have been a great fit at Reed – for various reasons they didn’t apply, but I have looked hard at both schools). To me you sound a little more like a Reed student – but you need that FA package to make sure it works.
The weather is really /not/ that bad… at least until November, the weather is pleasant and shorts-worthy, and from March-ish, the sunny weather comes back (last year, the sunny weather came back in January… I couldn’t believe it lol).
I’m not going to deny that Reedies do drugs, but these are during very specific times of the year (like Renn Fayre), not everyday or something. But . I’m sure Haverford students do drugs/alcohol/marijuana/whatever too.
I think calling Reed’s academic program ‘overwhelming’ is not necessarily warranted; it implies that schools like Haverford are less difficult, which I don’t think they are. Reed is a very standard LAC imo. I think what makes it harder is its academic standards; it is more difficult to get an A (but not impossible; you just have to produce consistently high-quality work).
I encourage you to make the visit, if possible. I found it to be a friendly , intellectually stimulating environment
Drug culture : It had that reputation when I was there. But students are there for the academics.
Cutthroat environment: No. I never experienced anything like that .
Overwhelming courseload: No, I have no idea how you got this idea . You have been accepted , so the courseload should be appropriate for you . Also, you will have an advisor and that professor will not want you to get in over your head .
Distance from home: Well, I admit that this is the reason that I am not encouraging my child to apply . But I am a bit of a worrier as a parent . .
Reed is a college where you can enjoy focusing on your studies in an environment that is supportive , friendly , and full of fun like-minded students.
Other pros for Reed:
Honor code
Senior thesis , after junior qualifying exam (a terrific opportunity for all students!)
Beautiful mountains - a weekend or day trip