<p>Next year, I will be going to reed for one class. I want to know what to expect. I feel like I have definitely exhausted all the academic opportunities my school has to offer and I also feel that I don't fit in with a lot of my peers. I'm hoping that next year, by taking a class at Reed I'll be able to make friends with Reed students and possibly attend parties and such. That being said, I just turned 17. So I am young! I am a little nervous that people will treat me like a kid or that no one will really pay attention to me because of my age. With the program I am enrolled in, you don't have to say you are in high school or anything but if people asked how old I am, I wouldn't lie. I'm going to be taking classes at my high school as well as extra curriculars. I will be very busy but I also want an inlet into the social aspect of Reed. Any advice current Reedies could give me would be great! Also, what to expect on the work load. Thanks</p>
<p>Also, does any one have suggestions for colleges similar to Reed that are in the West? I am interested in going there for sure but a little apprehensive since I have always lived in Portland.</p>
<p>About 1/6 of freshmen are 17 when they start in the fall, so age won’t be a factor. It will likely be more significant that you’re not living in the dorms; that’s where most socializing happens. I think issue will not be how you’re treated, but that you won’t be around much.</p>
<p>Expect twice the workload of your hardest HS AP class.</p>
<p>I think this should be great for you (depending on whether the course you’ll take is a good one!). What are you taking?
I had high school students in my classes 3 times - from Cleveland, Lincoln (or Wilson?) and Franklin - and it didn’t really seem like an issue. They were in an intro Poli Sci course, an intro Religion course and my language courses. It probably took us a few weeks to figure out that someone was a high school student, actually. Reedies are pretty busy, but I bet if you are friendly and participate in class (don’t be a shrinking violet! please don’t intimidated by Reedies) that you could make friends in your class and maybe hang out outside of classroom hours. Like vonlost said, it will probably be an issue that you aren’t around (and aren’t in the library/commons/the pdox/other courses) much.</p>
<p>I’m not really sure that there are exact equivalents, just thinking about academic intensity/overall culture, to Reed in the West. I think you might find a closer equivalent in the East. However, there are probably colleges that have what you are looking for… Lewis and Clark is going to be much less strenuous in terms of academic work (but would probably afford you much more time to devote to hobbies/work/social life/etc.). From what I can tell, it is much easier to have an active life in Portland & outside of college (and to study abroad), if you choose to attend L & C. Willamette or Whitman probably offer roughly the same environment as L & C, just in a more rural environment (Salem/Walla Walla). Evergreen is a lot more ‘out there’ and maybe comparable to Reed in terms of ‘weirdness’ - whatever that means. I hear Oly is great. I think that UPS - University of Puget Sound, in Tacoma - is again not an equivalent, but my friends who’ve gone there really enjoyed it. So if you’re looking for a small liberal-arts college, you do have options (and many more in California).</p>
<p>If you’re looking to go to Reed from a Portland high school, though - well, that’s up to you. I have definitely seen friends and acquaintances succeed and enjoy their time at Reed after arriving from Portland-area high schools… but it could be intense, however, if you have lived here all your life. I still haven’t decided if I would’ve been able to handle it…</p>
<p>What do you mean by it would be intense if I have lived here my whole life?</p>
<p>Thanks for all the good info! I will be taking Chem so I am expecting it to be really tough. Lewis and Clark is even closer to my house then reed so I am not too interested haha. Thanks for all the info on the other schools though! I definitely should visit Whitman and Willamette. Do you know how their financial aid is? Also what colleges in california could be comparable?</p>
<p>My sister applied and was admitted UPS but their financial aid package was about 10k more per year than our EFC so she could not attend. I was interested until I found out about that.</p>
<p>Honestly, probably exactly as we treat other each other, assuming you’re respectful and reasonably pleasant. Reedies tend to be extremely open-minded; I can’t imagine that you’d be ostracized on the basis of your age. </p>
<p>If you assimilate into the community, people will likely be happy to have you join them for on-campus activities. </p>
<p>My only real advice would be to avoid establishing your identity as “a seventeen year old high school student.” Grade level in school is pretty meaningless. There are plenty of students who, at twenty two after several years of college, wouldn’t make good “Reedies.” </p>
<p>On the other hand, some people, (even as “lowly” high schoolers ;)) are far enough along in their development that chronological age is irrelevant. I think it bulls down to maturity. </p>
<p>Chemistry at Reed as a high school senior. How exciting!</p>
<p>There’s a rising sophomore who’s turning 17 next year, so there’ll be students even younger than you there! As vonlost said, your main obstacle to socialization is going to be your distance from the campus, as pretty much all social life takes place there. That’s not to say you can’t meet some friendly Reedies with a car ;)</p>
<p>Edit: Or, you know, take the bus/bike if you can. It is Portland haha.</p>
<p>Definitely not being on campus will be a problem. However, I would feel weird just sort of showing up on campus during the weekend to try and meet people. Of course I could bus/bike to campus and hangout. The only thing is, for what purpose? If that makes any sense. I could ask people in my class if they wanted to, but it is probably hard to meet friends in classes as they are so rigorous. It just sort of poses a problem of finding ways to meet new people at Reed without as much time on campus and none in the dorms.</p>
<p>My sister has a friend who is going to be starting next year. Although I don’t know him, I could ask her to introduce me so I could try to get to know him and new friends he might make. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the input!</p>
<p>Based on my experience sharing classes with two visiting students (including one high schooler who was probably taking a class at Reed via the same program as you), you’re not going to make friends. The people around you will have entirely different concerns and things to talk about, and they may not always be aware of how rude they’re being by not trying to include you in their conversations, and by the time you get over the gulf of social awkwardness stretching between you and your classmates, the year will be over. So no, you’re probably not going to meet your new bff at Reed.</p>
<p>And really, why should you? You’ll only be on campus for several hours a week, and you’ll be taking a demanding class with lab and lecture components. No one will notice or care how old are you, or indeed much else about you.</p>
<p>Focus on doing well academically, which would be both easier and more beneficial to you than infiltrating Reed’s party scene or whatever. You’ll make college friends when you’re in college.</p>