Help Me Beat a Dead Horse

<p>Okay, I understand this topic has been discussed but I still have more questions so I'm gonna bring it up again. I am applying this fall and am going to apply ED to either Grinnell or Reed. I tend to lean a bit towards Grinnell but both schools absolutely fascinate me. My question is about the 4-year experience in Grinnell v. Portland. I come from a small town and was hoping for a change when I go to college but I don't think the city should be a deciding factor in a college application. So I was hoping for more information about the different atmospheres of Reed and Grinnell, I am liberal and lean towards an open-minded environment like the ones I believe are present at both schools, and I am also hispanic, so I strongly value diversity. My plan is to major in International Studies/Relations or Global Studies, so if you know anything about those specific programs at these schools, I would really appreciate it!! </p>

<p>Obviously as a Reed student I’m biased, but I think Portland is a much better place to live than rural Iowa, and I don’t even like Portland that much. Portlanders have easy access to a variety of nature-oriented activities, like skiing, mountaineering, hiking and going to the beach (though the Oregon coast is no Acapulco, it’s gorgeous in its own way), so if you like nature and want to get away from the city, there’s always a way. Reed has a ski cabin, actually, so you can even do it for free. And Portland, albeit not a metropolis by any means, offers some perks of urban life, such as good and varied food and a thriving music scene. And you wouldn’t have to drive for hours if you needed a new pair of socks.</p>

<p>I have a friend who recently graduated from Grinnell, and she loved it. She’s a very social person, however, and had no problem building her entire life around her classmates and the activities they were able to engage in. As a city person I’d go crazy if I were stranded in Grinnell.</p>

<p>That being said, Grinnell is closer to Chicago than Reed is to a truly big city and my friend was able to go there for fall break a couple of times, which was the one thing I was jealous of.</p>

<p><a href=“A tricky choice... Reed or Grinnell? - #16 by juillet - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1596047-a-tricky-choice-reed-or-grinnell-p2.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Is your friend going to a ‘prestigious’ graduate program soon, Ghostt?</p>

<p>Anyway, do you need financial aid, OP? Grinnell may be more generous to middle-class students, but try the NPCs first.</p>

<p>Neither Grinnell nor Reed is known for its IR/IS/GS programs (at Reed, the ‘ICPS’ program is basically an appendage to a traditional major like economics or political science; it isn’t anything you couldn’t pursue on your own by crafting a schedule based on your interests - <a href=“http://www.reed.edu/registrar/new_planners/icps_econ_new.pdf”>http://www.reed.edu/registrar/new_planners/icps_econ_new.pdf&lt;/a&gt; , and only two or three complete the program every year). Amongst LACs, the stand-out school for IR is Macalester (Tufts, though not an LAC, has a distinguished program as well), although I’ve heard great things about the programs at Williams and Vassar (I know people who study at each school, and they had significant opportunities to travel to South Africa and Cuba and other places to explore their interests), as well. I don’t know if this matters to you, but Mac has a LOT of international students (perhaps second only to Mount Holyoke?)</p>

<p>Lol, yes, she is. Her plan worked out perfectly.</p>

<p>By the way, the ICPS program at Reed is actually known for being very rigorous because of its extensive requirements. It may be something you can pursue on your own–I don’t know about that–but no one outside of ICPS does it. You also start work on your thesis earlier than everyone else.</p>

<p>The Bolt bus takes you from Portland to SEattle in about 3 hours for $10 or so. Portland is a really nice town with great neighborhoods, coffee shops, clubs and restaurants, quirky, liberal. (See an episode of ‘portlandia’ for a satirical portrait of the city). </p>

<p>Grinnell and Reed lead the nation in percentage of campus forceable sex offenses per student.</p>

<p><a href=“http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/local/sex-offenses-on-us-college-campuses/1077/”>http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/local/sex-offenses-on-us-college-campuses/1077/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Okay, that’s simply incorrect.</p>

<p>What you mean is ‘reported sex offenses,’ which, at least in Reed’s case, is the result of concerted efforts to raise reporting rates and makes students feel safer on campus.</p>

<p>The proportion of female college students who experience sexual assault in the United States may be as high as 25%. Many more rapes happen on virtually every campus across the US than get reported. Reed is a national leader in sexual assault response and prevention, and the recent spike in reported assaults reflects the student body’s rising confidence in the administration’s sincere desire to protect survivors.</p>

<p>I normally try not to sound like I work for Reed’s PR office (I don’t), but on this subject I have to commend Reed and defend its good name, so to speak. Reed is not perfect, but it deals with sexual assault far better than 90% of American colleges. You can ask any Reed student and they’re likely to say the same thing.</p>

<p>I suspect the reason for Grinnell’s high reporting rates is similar.</p>

<p>rhg3rd is evidently a disgruntled former Reed student. I recommend treating him/her the same way you would treat any ■■■■■. You can easily search for past posts to determine for yourself whether you appreciate his/her tone and “contributions” to various forums. I obviously have my opinion. YMMV. </p>

<p>^ Boorish, superficial and informed poster. The Washington Post findings were published just last month.</p>

<p>“Several prestigious liberal arts colleges had some of the highest rates of reported offenses per thousand students. Among them were Grinnell (more than 10), Reed (more than nine), Amherst (more than nine), Hampshire (more than eight) and Swarthmore (more than seven).”</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/sex-offense-statistics-show-us-college-reports-are-rising/2014/07/01/982ecf32-0137-11e4-b8ff-89afd3fad6bd_story.html”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/sex-offense-statistics-show-us-college-reports-are-rising/2014/07/01/982ecf32-0137-11e4-b8ff-89afd3fad6bd_story.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The best ED option for someone undecided between two colleges is neither. ED is binding.</p>

<p>@rhg3rd: Ad hominem attacks seldom work, but thanks for calling me “informed.” Can’t disagree with you there.<br>
Have you considered the possibility that Reed has more reports because it actually takes them seriously? You know what they say about lies, damn lies & statistics. Superficially yours, ATS</p>