<p>So here's my dillema: I was filling out an application for a different school, and one of the questions was, "If you could design your own college curriculum, what would it be like and why?"</p>
<p>As I answered it, I realized that the kind of college I would design was pretty different from practically all of the ones I am applying to. Furthermore, I realized that my constructed college sounded almost exactly like Reed.</p>
<p>Now, the clinch: my parents are hardcore Baptists. My dad is even a pastor. There is probably no way they're going to pay for me to go to Reed. But, even if they did, (which, actually, they might) I would feel like I would be putting a huge strain on our relationship, which is already fragile, considering I just recently came out to my mom as homosexual.</p>
<p>However, I can't get Reed off of my mind. Whenever I think of a school, I end up comparing it to Reed. This is bad. So: can any Reed students just convince me that Reed totally sucks, thereby allowing me to attend a Pretty Good State School regret-free?</p>
<p>Why don’t you instead try to come up with things about Reed that both you and your parents can appreciate? That sounds more productive to me.</p>
<p>(btw, if you anticipate your parents’ objections to Reed to be mainly about the ~drug culture and the godlessness, be advised that there are religious students on campus–they even have their own student club, though it’s more about eating pizza together than it is about the salvation of the soul, from what I’ve been told–as well as a substance-free dorm, which is entirely, well, substance-free. I live in it and can assuage your/your parents’ anxieties via PM, if they’re worried about you being forced to take up crack at Reed.)</p>
<p>Anyway. Reed is awesome and convincing your parents of that should be easier than convincing yourself of the opposite. But in any case, good luck with your college applications!</p>
<p>I’m just a prospie, but I think you should apply to Reed despite your current reservations and just see how things work out–a lot can change (your preferences, your relationship with your parents, etc) from now to when acceptances actually roll in. Further, I think describing your college options as Reed vs state school is a false dichotomy. Surely there are some liberal arts colleges that don’t have such an iconoclastic rep that have a similar curriculum set-up/student body/what have you. No matter what you choose, I wish you the best!</p>
<p>Ok, Reed sucks. It rains all the time and everyone *****es about how much work they have to do, which is not unfounded. The most happening social scene on campus is the library, because that is where students are buried all day every day, coming up to breathe (cigarette smoke) every so often. The professors and fellow classmates are too smart and make you feel like a little inconsequential fish in a little insular pond in comparison, causing you to question your supposed intelligence and achievements from your former life (high school). You have to read a bunch of irrelevant dead white guys and everyone asks hard questions and has overly theoretical discussions that make your brain hurt, so by the end of the semester your brain stops functioning and you sit on stupid college confidential instead of doing your work. Also, everyone shops at urban outfitters and wears the most unflattering hipster clothes, so it’s not as if there is even some good eye candy to take your mind off the misery of your studies. IT’S AGONY AND DEPRESSION, JUST GO TO LEWIS AND CLARK INSTEAD!</p>
<p>Ghostt: Thanks! I assume that most of the students involved in the group take a more liberal interpretation of Christianity? </p>
<p>Oniontears: I’ve thought about that. The problem is, I’m homeschooled, and as such, I would have to collect quite a lot of materials to apply. Ah well. Whatever, I’ll probably end up doing it anyways.
Regarding the state school comment: I am also applying to a couple of other “elite” universities (Duke, Rice). I just very much doubt my chances of admission. (I only have a 31 act, with a low 24 math.)
Secondly, I’m from Texas, and I’m not terribly keen on moving to the Northeast, especially considering I’ve never been farther north than Missouri. The Northwest (i.e., Portland) is an exception, because I feel that Reed is legitimately offering a significantly different approach to study than other Universities, and kind of merits the move. I checked out St. John’s but I didn’t care for certain aspects of the program. Also 400 students what the ****.
And I figure UT isn’t so bad, if I get accepted to one of their honors programs.</p>
<p>racheljps: Thank you for your brave attempt. About the hiptser thing: is it actually that bad/prevalent?</p>
<p>EDIT: I’m really tired so this is probably ranty/whatever</p>
<p>Hmm. Strange. I’m torn between Texas and Reed right now as well (if I get into Reed, of course). Plan II is probably as close to Reed as you can get in a State school, if that’s the honor program you’re referring to.</p>