Hey Guys, It's Another Chance Me

Colleges and Universities A-Z Reed College
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<p>So I found Reed my Freshman year of school and I have been OBSESSED ever since. The true spirit of academia, the late-night conversations about anything from philosophy to kid's books, the amazing student organizations, the P.E. credits for things like belly dancing that I've done since I was 10, the 'all are welcome, free love' attitude, the Doyle owl, the lore, the tradition, the thesis, Renn Fayre, the canyon, the rain, the library, the coffee shops. Portland! Throughout my high-school career I have never envisioned myself anywhere else. In my mind, Reed is the epitome of what the college experience should be: working hard, playing hard, living independently and as your own self, and enjoying everything in-between. It's truly a dream come true. </p>

<p>But now that it's the last semester of my Junior year, I have to step out of the clouds for a moment a face my reality. </p>

<p>My grades are not that great. I have a GPA of a 3.73-ish. And I'm not quite sure if that's weighted or unweighted. Here's a quick look at my 'academic history', if you will: I guess you could say that I love challenging myself (cliche, I know). In 7th grade I decided that I could not stand another year of the busy work middle school was offering. I wanted so badly to skip the 8th grade completely. I then began my Freshman year as a 14 year-old. I was extremely happy with my grades all year which were straight a's. Then my 10th grade year my grades went down due to stress (it was a very long, rough year for my family). I ended the last semester with some pretty terrible grades. The bad report card and small-town blues enticed me to transfer to a school 10x as big as my old one for the International Baccalaureate program. I am so currently a full-Ib diploma candidate with all a's and b's. (JFYI, this means I'm taking ALL weighted classes. A bit higher-level than AP and requires a lot more personal academic passion and hours out of your day) The transfer was probably the best decision I've made besides selling my soul to Reed.</p>

<p>Brief on my extra-curriculars since this is already becoming unnecessarily long. Lots of sports- B-ball, track, soccer, Cross Country; Belly Dancing, spinning puoy, Theater, LOTS of clubs, I've been a part of a youth advocacy and action program for youth homelessness for about 7 years, camp counselor, I have a waitressing job.</p>

<p>But my passion is the arts: specifically photography. I've won awards, contests, blah blah blah. I also love literary analysis. I love to sit and pick things apart. And I love working with and helping people. If I were to go to Reed, I would double-major in the Arts and Sociology so I could work to become a photojournalist. I have a whole spiel on why I would choose photojournalism, but essentially I want to help people. I also want to do several terms in the Peace Corps so I'm not just sitting behind a camera, but also first-handedly assisting people.</p>

<p>And I am so so so sorry for majorly digressing there, but I thought maybe you should have a sense of me? Maybe not. But most importantly for you, I guess, is that I have a very low GPA and have yet to have taken the SAT (though I plan to in a few months). Although I'm very sure I will get a 6 or a 7 on my IB art exam and probably do well in English and Biology. Do you think I have a chance to go? What SAT score range should I shoot for? </p>

<p>Thanks a heap for taking the time to read this lengthy thing, I'm just really worried I won't get in. Reed is beyond my dream college, it's my only acceptable reality. Everything the IB program stands for is what I see Reed standing for, and myself as well. And a good friend of mine that I made this year is planning on going to Reed with me and being roomies and all of that. We're both in love with Reed, though she has a much higher GPA than me as well as experience abroad. We're visiting and interviewing in September and we are applying EDI.</p>

<p>Thanks again! <3</p>

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<p>I’m reluctant to ‘chance’ anyone because I’m not a current student, but since I was accepted ED I with similar grades at an IB school, I thought I’d comment. I believe my GPA was close to yours, definitely somewhere in the 3.7-3.8 range. Unlike you, my crappy grades were in ninth grade, which could make a difference. If you’ve got a legitimate reason for them, I suggest you include that in your application somehow. I think that as long as you do reasonably well on your SAT and produce a well-written Why Reed? essay that really gets across your passion for the school, you should be fine. IB grades come out long after you’ll be accepted (or not). I had my predicted scores sent. Anyway, I don’t really have any advice to offer, but I can say that I was accepted with similar grades. </p>

<p>About the double major: it’s pretty difficult, from what I understand, to double major at Reed. You’d have to write two theses. I’d look into doing something interdisciplinary. That’s pretty far away though. Best of luck with applying.</p>

<p>Edit: I just read the last paragraph of your post, which I skimmed over initially. Part of the reason I chose Reed, personally, was because I wasn’t a big fan of several aspects of the IB program. One of the top Chemistry examiners once told my teacher at a conference that the Chemistry exam existed solely to separate the sevens from the sixes, and the sixes from the fives and fours and whatever else. I personally find that the IB creates far too much focus on the examinations, and am not particularly comfortable with the fact that CAS is mandatory and distributed in the way it is. The IB definitely has some good qualities, but I wouldn’t be looking for anything resembling it in a college.</p>

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<p>Thank you so much! </p>

<p>And I definitely agree that the way the IB program is set up is not how I would want college to be, I just think their goal of creating independent thinkers through mainly critical thinking is what I like, I guess? Or I think it’s really the ‘idea’ of what IB is supposed to promote, and I know it is not perfect. I do, however, like how IB has TOK and Reed has Hum 110. The EE and the thesis. Just some similarities. Haha</p>

<p>Thanks a heap!</p>

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<p>Those parts of the IB, if taught well, are definitely highlights. I adored TOK, and the EE was fun (although mine was just a bloated poetry commentary, really). Another thing that I should have mentioned is that I’m graduating from an international school, while you seem to be at an American IB school. That could also play a role, though I like to think that having spent a few years abroad wasn’t a big factor in Reed’s decision concerning me. Lastly, I should mention that the standard of writing expected of IB candidates is quite high, especially in HL English Lit if you’re taking it, and that that’s going to help you when you get to writing your essays. Once again, best of luck.</p>