<p>I love the location of this school along with what I've read so far. However, I've heard they don't give grades and that it is extremely tough, along with being ranked considerably lower than many "easier" LACs. Why is that? Will the 40k a year that I may pay at this college be worth it? Where do you see Reed going in the future? </p>
<p>I hope there is a Reed expert on CC. :)</p>
<p>Furthermore, Reed has a transfer rate of 41%. Is that because so many ppl are getting the hell out of there?</p>
<p>Do you think Reed is ranked low b/c</p>
<p>*This school refused to fill out the U.S. News survey; limited data appear.</p>
<p>First of all, Reed DOES give grades. They have transcripts. You can find out your grades if you really want to, and most students eventually do. Also, if you get into academic trouble of some kind, you will know. And you have regular "grade conferences" with your academic advisor to review your overall standing.</p>
<p>But Reed doesn't emphasize grades. Instead they want the interactions between students and faculty to be substantive -- about what you may have to say in class, in papers that you write, through your research and creations, and so forth. I can say from my own experience that it was refreshing. I can also say that it really wasn't difficult to know how I was being evaluated, because there's a lot of contact and a lot of feedback through written comments on papers, the results of tests, and so on. (In subjects with clear right and wrong answers, you find out for sure what you got right and wrong -- e.g., math, most science, language.)</p>
<p>When I was in my senior year and about to apply to grad and professional school, it never occurred to me that Reed's grading was tough, and I can say to you that even though as I found out later my cumulative GPA was only something like 3.3, I got into the following grad schools (this was some time ago but I still think it tells you a story): Stanford, Berkeley, Chicago, and Hastings law schools; Princeton and Wisconsin doctoral programs. Fact is that these schools all probably made adjustment for Reed's tough grading policy.</p>
<p>Wow thanks for that info; it is really helpful. I'm glad there is a Reed alumni in this forum. I don't want to bother you with a ton of questions, but I do have a few. </p>
<p>1) Did you get a job after graduation or go straight to grad school? If so, was finding a job reasonably easy? I've heard some bad stories a/b the corporate world knowing very little a/b Reed. </p>
<p>2) Is there as much drug usage as I hear about? I'm fine with drinking and smoking some things that need not be mentioned, as that was pretty prevalent in high school, but I'm not getting involved with all the other "goodies" and I don't want to be all alone in a world of druggies.</p>
<p>3) How is Portland? Is there skiing nearby and are they good slopes (not little crap like Dartmouth)?</p>
<p>4) Did you also post on s t u d e n t s r e v i e w.com, because you sound familiar?</p>
<p>Thanks for the info.</p>
<p>1) Did you get a job after graduation or go straight to grad school? If so, was finding a job reasonably easy? I've heard some bad stories a/b the corporate world knowing very little a/b Reed. I went directly to grad school.</p>
<p>2) Is there as much drug usage as I hear about? I'm fine with drinking and smoking some things that need not be mentioned, as that was pretty prevalent in high school, but I'm not getting involved with all the other "goodies" and I don't want to be all alone in a world of druggies.</p>
<p>*My impression from just watching the news and talking to the occasional Reedie of more recent vintage is that Reed's rep continues to exceed reality. I do think that drug use is probably more common at Reed than many other schools, but the "mind bender" of choice is still alcohol. Reedies are not all a bunch of stoners. They just can't be. There's just too much academic work to do! Having said this, I really can't comment from recent experience. But when I was there what you chose to do or not to do was just that, a choice. You had a lot of freedom to make choices, because the college stayed off your back and out of your private life. Some didn't know what to do with that kind of freedom; they'd never had it at home. But most did just fine. </p>
<p>Last year I attended a the Reed reunion, and can say that these folks turned out quite fine! (Then again, these are the ones who returned to tell their story.) And their careers were extremely diverse, though as has been typical of Reed for a long time the single most common was an academic career (still far less than a majority) but there were folks in medicine, finance, librarianships, government service, farming, software development, musical performance, and many other careers.*</p>
<p>3) How is Portland? Is there skiing nearby and are they good slopes (not little crap like Dartmouth)?</p>
<p>I'm not a skier, but Reed has a ski cabin on Mt. Hood (you can find it on the Reed website, I would guess) and also had (probably still has) various outdoor groups including skiing, biking, spelunking, and other activities. But Portland is not Vermont. And it doesn't snow all that much there, so even XC skiing isn't something you can count on. However, Portland is a fine city (it's artsy in various ways, including the greatest ever bookstore: <a href="http://www.powells.com)%5B/url%5D">http://www.powells.com)</a>, and you don't need a car to get around. You can take a bus to downtown in about 15 minutes, or you can hang out on the east side of town in the general vicinity of the campus.</p>
<p>4) Did you also post on s t u d e n t s r e v i e w.com, because you sound familiar? No, never even logged into that site, but maybe I have a Doppelganger?</p>
<p>==sorry, double post==</p>
<p>Reed's most recent six-year graduation rate is 73%. (Some have abandoned four-year rates as not meaningful, due to students' taking time off, especially for study abroad.)</p>
<p>Two-thirds of Reedies use weed between never and once a month. D reports usage to be comparable to that of schools of her peers. Stuff is available, but there's no pressure whatsoever to partake. More data at:
<a href="http://academic.reed.edu/psychology/pluralisticignorance/drugsalcohol.html%5B/url%5D">http://academic.reed.edu/psychology/pluralisticignorance/drugsalcohol.html</a></p>
<p>thanks for the responses everyone i've got a good idea a/b reed now.</p>
<p>Portland is awesome.</p>
<p>for info on reed's ski cabin:
<a href="http://web.reed.edu/sports_center/cabin/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://web.reed.edu/sports_center/cabin/index.html</a></p>
<p>for info on reed's outing club:
<a href="http://academic.reed.edu/roc/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://academic.reed.edu/roc/index.html</a></p>
<p>to read more about reed from reedies and to ask "prospie" questions:
<a href="http://community.livejournal.com/reedlj/%5B/url%5D">http://community.livejournal.com/reedlj/</a></p>
<p>My daughter loves Portland- she chose to stay there at least temporarily after her graduation this spring</p>
<p>Reed assumes that students will behave like th adults they are, and that includes making decisions that adults make, including using alcohol/drugs- they aren't generally going to throw you out if you are behaving reponsibly
they don't condone it, but they aren't going to have police officers patroling the dorms looking for offenders like some schools do.</p>
<p>THat said, I have not been at Renn Fayre, but I have been at Reed on various weekends, and during public school breaks during the last 5 years.
I am comfortable enough with the atmosphere, that I allow my now 16 yr old daughter to stay with her sister.</p>
<p>I dont deny that there is drinking and drug use at Reed, but I think they nurture their reputation and social life there seemed to be centered around the library.</p>
<p>I haven't been to Mt Hood, but it has a reputation for year round skiing, and especially if you have been skiing on the East coast, you will be quite happy with the slopes. My H and younger D have gone, it is really not far from Portland .</p>
<p>( warning- when I clicked on the Reed cabin that was from the tour CD, I actually clicked on the quicktime movie of the TImberline lodge- dont have your expectations raised too high :) )
[url=<a href="http://web.reed.edu/apply/tour/index.html%5DTOURREED%5B/url">http://web.reed.edu/apply/tour/index.html]TOURREED[/url</a>]</p>
<p>( Ididnt mean to imply taht as an adult you are * expected* to use alcohol or drugs- but that as someone living away from your parents, it is ultimately your decision whether you are attending college or living in an apt)</p>
<p>Also they do give grades, but you have to ask to see them as mentioned, however, as a parent of a child who thought she was doing better than she was, I would recommend to see the grades, at least of the classes that you really aren't sure about- because it is as rigourous as advertised.</p>
<p>Mt Hood should be good enough to keep you happy. Mt Bachelor can be reached for a weekend. So skiing isnt a problem.</p>
<p>Reeds academic reputation is far above what any of the guides say. Of the grads I know, as parent I would only be disappointed with one persons career choice not bad.</p>
<p>Reed isnt for everyone but if the fit is right you will have a great experience.</p>
<p>Reed is one of the most respected school on America. From personal experience I can tell you that doctoral programs love Reed studnets. One of the things that sets them apart is the senior thesis, and the amount of research experience they get. Also the letters of recommendation tend to have a great deal of weight because the students are so well known to the faculty. Though he did not choose to attend, my S was accepted at Reed, and it was a very close runner-up. I would have been very happy if had decided to attend.</p>