<p>Ok so I am new here, but I was wondering if anyone had any advice on these two schools. I've decided that I want to go to either Macalester or Reed, but I don't know which one. Reed is so unique and weird, but I love that about them! They also gave me a great financial aid package, but (I've visited the school) I feel like they might be a little too hipster for me. Also it seems as if they have cliques at the school. I was going to visit Mac, but there was a last minute change in plans, but Mac was my number 1 choice before I visited Reed. Also the financial aid package isn't so great and I don't want to go into debt. I was hoping maybe you parents on the Parent Forum could give help me out .If you have a child that goes to one of these two schools, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know if and how much they like it and the reasons why.(Reed has a pretty high number of its students transferring to other colleges.) Also what were some of the deciding factors for your child when choosing a college. Thank you for your time and consideration.</p>
<p>If you love the feature that makes many think twice abut Reed, then go there. Especially with a great cost incentive. I don’t know anyone who has gone to Reed, so I don’t even have second hand anecdotal feedback, but Macalester has become a popular choice here in the NE.</p>
<p>Reed has a reputation for very intense workloads. It also has a fair number of smokers (tobacco and other). It is in beautiful Portland, as you know, so winters are not too bad. </p>
<p>DH graduated from Mac. It’s a great school with a very international bent. It is known as a happy, diverse place. Winters are . . . significant. </p>
<p>Me, I’d pick Mac in a heartbeat – but I can see where different personalities would go Reed. It’s not that one is “better” than the other – it’s more of “What flavor is your favorite” sort of question. So, which flavor are you?</p>
<p>I believe that Macalester just went tobacco-free [Macalester</a> College - Student Handbook - Smoking and Solicitation](<a href=“http://www.macalester.edu/studentaffairs/studenthandbook/campuspoliciesandprotocols/tobaccofree.html]Macalester”>http://www.macalester.edu/studentaffairs/studenthandbook/campuspoliciesandprotocols/tobaccofree.html) last fall. As a first year in 2009 my daughter was surprised by how many students and faculty hung around the building entrances smoking. As for the “other”, yes, there are a fair number!
I was looking up a couple of course descriptions for classes my daughter is planning to take and I came across this [Ahh</a> Spring - News - Macalester College](<a href=“http://www.macalester.edu/news/2011/04/ahh-spring]Ahh”>Ahh Spring - News) and I thought, “Yes, late April in the upper Midwest-pale kids, not-yet-green grass, and nary a leaf on a tree!”</p>
<p>I have lived in the Portland area for quite some time, and I love it here. If I had a child interested in attending Reed, I would want him or her to go the local newspaper website and search “Reed College” to see what the institution has made headlines about in the last couple of years.</p>
<p>If Reed is significantly cheaper, my advice is to follow the money.</p>
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I wouldn’t advise that for Reed. The media was pretty harsh about the college after the deaths of two students by heroin overdose (both of which incidents occurred off campus and had nothing to do with the college).</p>
<p>[Can</a> Colleges Be Prosecuted as Crack Houses? - Newsweek](<a href=“http://www.newsweek.com/2010/05/04/college-threatened-with-crack-house-law.html]Can”>http://www.newsweek.com/2010/05/04/college-threatened-with-crack-house-law.html)</p>
<p>I attend Reed and could not imagine myself at a more perfect fit. Whether you are the right fit is for you to decide.</p>
<p>My sophomore daughter loves Reed. It seems a lot of people have very strong opinions about Reed on CC, many of whom have never visited or met anyone who has gone. None of us can tell you if it would be the right fit for you. Financially speaking, it’s an obvious choice.</p>
<p>Our daughter went to Reed and loved it. Some best friends’ daughter goes to Mac and loves it. Two quite different kids, two quite different schools, a perfect match for each. Not being able to visit Mac is a big disadvantage. If you choose Reed and it doesn’t work out, you could still try a transfer to Mac, and if you’re happy at Reed, well, then, all’s well! If you choose Mac, I bet you’d like it there, too. I know, not much help!</p>