<p>I am planning to apply EDI as a freshman for entry into Fall 2015.
Basically I want to know how admissions looks at international US citizens, as there is no specific category that I can find in means of stats/articles/etc. Would it help my chances? I've never lived in the US, moved around in Southeast Asia.
Also I am a IB diploma student, if that helps.</p>
<p>Very few international students apply ED, whether US citizen or not, so it’s hard to say much.</p>
<p>@International95 how many international students would you say apply ED?</p>
<p>Hi kyprosp! I’m Swati, and I’m a Reed admission counselor. I work specifically with international students, and when I applied to Reed, I was also a US citizen who had never lived in the US. The terminology of “international student” can be confusing, because often it includes both US and non-US citizens.</p>
<p>It sounds like you are a US citizen who lives abroad. Your citizenship affects your application for admission and financial aid due to the kind of aid you are eligible for as a US or non-US citizen. Non-US citizens are not eligible for federal financial aid. As a US citizen, if you are admitted, your financial aid package will include federal grants, loans and potentially work-study as well.</p>
<p>As for living abroad, we will examine your application the same way we examine every application: holistically, and within your particular context. We will look at your high school academic background, and the rigor of the classes you’ve chosen to take over four years, as well as how you’ve dealt with that rigor. We will also look at your essays, your extra curricular activities and your recommendations, to overall get a sense of you as a student and community member.</p>
<p>If you have any other questions, feel free to reply here, or to e-mail me at swati AT reed.edu.</p>
<p>Is US citizen living aboard measured with the international pool of candidates or with the domestic pool of students?</p>
<p>Hi @lavagirl! As I mentioned before, citizenship affects the kind of financial aid for which you are eligible. When we evaluate applications for admission, we look at them in the context of the applicant’s high school and opportunities available to them where they are. We take into account different personal contexts for each applicant as well. We’re not really “measuring” students against each other. I hope that’s helpful!</p>
@reedadmission. Is there a minimum IB score required or recommended to get into Reed?
Hi @ab32312, we don’t have a required minimum IB score in order to be admitted to Reed. However, successful IB diploma candidates have, in the past, scored approximately 36 and above out of 45.
@reedadmission. How is the biology program at Reed College? Can it be compared to those at research universities such as Columbia or Johns Hopkins? If not, then what are the limitations to the reed program that might affect a student wishing to pursue a career in biological research? What are the research opportunities for undergraduate students and does Reed College have the infrastructure and professional support to aid its undergraduate students in conducting research activities. Thank you! 
I suspect that Swati is overworked right now because of the increase in apps (esp since she is the only one who reads intl apps), so I hope this helps:
Biology is Reed’s second most popular major, after psychology. In the life sciences, Reed produces the highest or second-highest % of PhDs among all institutions. Of course it is not possible to compare Reed’s biology program to that of Columbia or John Hopkins: Reed’s size limits the amount of diversity in specializations within the biology department. However, in terms of general preparation, Reed’s biology program is incredible. I can say the same for physics.
I highly recommend you contact a student, preferably a biology major, to gauge the amount of ‘research opportunities for undergrads’.