Is Reed elite?
Here’s why I’m asking. I’ve been active on CC for a few days, and after receiving some answers to my questions, I followed the advice to go check Naviance. I did. Turns out some top liberal arts colleges like my school…and Reed was one of them. So I didn’t see the usual “kids with 4.0s and 1500s getting rejected,” like for Colgate, Williams, etc.
It may sound like a stupid question, but because there really is no ranking to go off of, is Reed an elite school?
Though the below analysis was based on data from several years ago (and a different calibration of the SAT exam), you should note that it ranked Reed 44th in the nation by its standardized scoring profile. In the context NESCACs, for example, this was sufficient to place Reed in the vicinity of Wesleyan (#40) and Middlebury (#51).
https://www.businessinsider.com/the-610-smartest-colleges-in-america-2015-9
Although I can’t find it anymore, I once saw a video of an interview with a (former?) Reed admissions officer on YouTube. I recall him saying that Reed regularly rejects applicants with perfect SAT scores and 4.0 GPAs.
Reed is probably elite but it is unique and quirky. Do not apply there just because you think you have a good chance of getting in. You need to understand what you are getting into there or you could regret it.
IMO…any school with a yield of 17% is not elite.
I am not saying Reed isn’t a good school, or doesn’t prepare students well for academia, or grad school, or jobs. But that low yield? Concerning.
@joecollege44 I’ve heard that people who commit to Reed usually feel like they really “fit” there, so this might take a visit or two for me to even decide to apply or not.
My child goes to Reed and loves it, but that being said it’s not for everyone. I recommend that you consider a school based upon how well you like it and its ability to meet your needs vs. its perceived “eliteness”. If you’re considering going to graduate school Reed will definitely prepare you for it. Reed grads are often admitted to the top graduate programs in the country. Even if you don’t go to graduate school it provides a great undergraduate education. Compared to the past Reed seems to be focusing a little bit more on careers/job opportunities for students right out of school. Not sure what you want to study but you should also consider the quality of the programs/majors at schools you are considering. Overall Reed is a strong school, but some programs are better than others. Same will be true of other schools you search out. I definitely recommend you visit the school more than once… It would also be beneficial to interview with the school. Not only is it their time to see if you’re a fit, but it gives you a chance to see if it’s a fit for you. Visit some other schools for comparison and if Reed’s still on your list then go back again. It will help you to solidfy if it’s the right one for you.
Because we live in Michigan, my son was not able to visit Reed ahead of time. Still, he did his homework, applied early decision and got in. He wanted an intense academic environment and that is what Reed offers. He likes that there are quirky people in this place. He likes that everyone puts academics first, he likes the diversity of the students, and he likes that no one knows their grades. They are there for the learning, not for the grades. He is now a sophomore there and is in love with the place. He has many good friends and solid faculty mentors. The rewards of small group discussions are so great that a number of his friends have decided to take a semester off (due to the move to on line learning due to covid) and come back when in person classes resume, rather than miss out on that opportunity. Luckily most of my son’s classes are in person this fall. The low yield that others are concerned about means nothing. The students who think of Reed as a safety school don’t do well there and end up dropping out or transferring. The work load is challenging and intensely rewarding. If you’re not there for the academics you are probably in the wrong place.