<p>All right, my first post on college confidential.</p>
<p>I'm a high school Junior who's been looking at Reed a lot. I like how they appear to have a good science program; I love the intimacy of the school (1,400 students 10:1 faculty ratio). I love the admission process (or what it used to be) because Reed isn't concerned with prestige or competing with Ivy League schools and they try to admit students who have that "spark." I love the idea of a community with a free thinking libertarian vibe. I am looking for a school where the systems, the people, professors etc will just be intelligent and open. Please correct me if this doesn't sound like Reed to anyone. The trouble is, at $50,000/year I don't think I can afford to go. </p>
<p>What schools have similar communities to Reed's or what scholarships should I try to win so that I can ease the financial burden of potentially attending Reed?</p>
<p>You have more or less the right idea about Reed. Although be careful about using the word libertarian. I suppose we are libertarian, in the sense that student freedom of choice is a pretty big value here. But libertarian is strongly associated with right wing US politics, and Reed is politically very left wing. I’m probably just nit-picking word choice though.</p>
<p>Anyhow, Oberlin, Swarthmore, and (to some extent) St. John’s College are all colleges that I’ve heard people say are similar to Reed in some respects. I don’t actually know too much about them, other than that they’re all quirky and strongly intellectual like Reed is. I may be totally off the mark though.</p>
<p>Most people consider UChicago to be very similar to Reed.</p>
<p>Oberlin and Swarthmore are just as expensive as Reed. Check out New College of Florida, the honors program of the Fl system. Even for out of state students there are scholarships and you might not pay the full price. I went there, while my grad. student housemates went to Reed (a long time ago). The schools are quite similar in terms of free-thinking people, lots of discussions on the meaning of life, etc. New College, like Reed, requires a substantial thesis to graduate. Unlike Reed there is no core curriculum. Like Reed, there is no emphasis on grades. Great weather, too. I didn’t regret my choice hearing about my cousin’s winters in Maine at Bowdoin, while I was out at the pool in Sarasota.</p>
<p>Minor point: Reed’s “core curriculum” is one freshman course (Hum 110) and distribution requirements (a course from this group, that group).</p>
<p>You could try checking out Marlboro, though it’s much, much smaller and more rugged than Reed is. They’ve still got the free and independent (albeit rigorous) thought it seems you’re looking for. I can’t speak for their science program, though. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t let the price tag automatically turn you off from Reed. During the application process, I was very worried about the cost. Hell, I would be worried about the cost of most private liberal arts schools. But it in the end, Reed gave me a financial package large enough that I am paying about the same price as many of my friends who are going to in-state colleges. Though not everyone is so fortunate, if you really do love Reed, it can’t hurt to try.</p>
<p>A note about New College of Florida:
Unlike Reed, there are no letter grades.</p>
<p>Reed seems to have hit that happy medium, “hiding” and de-emphasizing grades on campus (anyone can ask to see their grades, but the culture is not to ask), but recording them on a traditional transcript for grad schools and employers.</p>
<p>Thank you guys for the suggestions. I will check these colleges out.</p>
<p>Also, bear in mind that Reed doesn’t give merit money, whereas some other well-regarded liberal arts colleges (including Oberlin) do.</p>