<p>I sent you a message & I think you have gotten some good suggestions of schools that have some similarities to Reed ( I would also look at UChicago- they have some of same kind of students), but there is no place like Reed.
[Reed</a> College | Sports Center |](<a href=“http://web.reed.edu/sports_center/cabin/]Reed”>http://web.reed.edu/sports_center/cabin/)</p>
<p>Thanks Benny1— I’m not really worried about the “supposed” huge drug problem. I think there are going to be drugs at any college and at the smaller LAC’s, it seems to be more pervasive because there are less students. My S is not interested in drugs or drinking… unfortunately he had the opportunity to see first hand what drug abuse does to a person and their family by watching his much older brother go through this. He wants no part of it, but is somewhat accepting and very much non-judgmental of people that choose to do them. I trust that he will be able to handle it and he LOVES that Reed basically treats you that way. The only thing that I worry about is the work load… he doesn’t do his homework now as it is… although he says it’s because he never learns anything at high school and is bored most of the time, so what’s the point. I worry that he has no study habits to sustain him through those long hours of reported studying time of Reed students. He said he would love to study if there was a real learning going on. I’m still suspicious of that. So far, since he insists on being next to some sort of mountains and rugged outdoor opportunities, that eliminates most of the mid-west schools. We’ve come up with so far, based on people’s suggestions; Bard & Whitman. What about Wesleyan? I know it’s pretty selective, so don’t know if he could get in anyway, and don’t know if there is an outdoor club or not. Still looking for suggestions… like Reed, near the mountains, maybe not soooo intense academically.</p>
<p>5boys…definitley have your son check out Colorado College. I am a junior here and also looked at Reed when I was applying to schools. Trust me…there is an abundance of wacky, free thinking people on our campus…and for mountains, hard to beat the location at the base of Pikes Peak. I find the block plan is awesome and the intellectual conversations we can get involved in during 3 hour classes is amazing. I love the fact that ther is no bell going off after an hour in the event we are in a really deep, interesting conversation in class. If your son liked Reed, I think he might like CC as well. I also considered WHitman but did not feel there were mountains close enough and it was too isolated from any major cities. Good luck with everything.</p>
<p>Thanks Flyboy… you have always gave me great suggestions in the past. Yes, Colorado College has always presumed to be his first choice… but only from what he’s read about it and of course the great location and proximity to amazing climbing, he hasn’t visited yet, probably in the Fall. I’m glad to hear that you also looked at Reed and I think you said Whitman. What did you like or not like about these schools… I think I remember you saying you really like Whitman but thought the location was too remote and small. We were bummed we couldn’t make it there last weekend.I would of liked to have seen the contrast between Reed. I think, besides the location, the big plus for CC is the block plan. My S really likes that idea. He likes school, but really needs his time to do all of his outdoor stuff. It’s how he clears his head. I’m worried that he would spend so much time studying at Reed that he would have no time to climb, and he would just shrivel up and die. I’m hoping he finds CC to resonate with him the things he felt at Reed.</p>
<p>You definitely should have him ask on livejournal- my daughters roommate at Reed ( and now) is a huge climber/hiker/biker- plus I think he double majored ( or at least double qualled).</p>
<p>On the other hand- I don’t think my daughter has ever been to the Reed cabin and she has lived in Portland since she started @ Reed in 2001.</p>
<p>Before taking this “drug problem” statement seriously, you may want to consider this:
It isn’t difficult to get booted from the school if you don’t do well in class. Any class. So a student with a serious drug problem wouldn’t be there long.
I graduated from Reed in 2003 and am now working on my Ph.D.</p>
<p>I want to concur about the myth of “terrible drug problem”. What Reed has a lot of is substance honesty and openness. There are schools where students die or leave because of drug problems, but the school doesn’t send parents email explaining what happened, the school doesn’t talk to the press. </p>
<p>Substance use and abuse is endemic to college campuses. Reed is just a little more open about it, especially these days.</p>
<p>Reed was the first college we visited when we were looking. My daughter fell in love with it. We went on to look at an ungodly number of schools after, she applied to 10 (I think) and of course ended up at, guess where? Reed. She has never been happier. </p>
<p>She’s been in a substance-free dorm from the beginning and none of her friends are into the party scene. They <em>do</em> talk about books-- and everything else-- all the time. And, despite the reputation for quirkiness, there are some sweetly old-fashioned moments. One is the photo I’ve seen of a sing-a-long they held in the hall of the dorm. </p>
<p>The other is the picture of a bunch of freshmen getting ready to go on the freshman orientation backpacking trip. Sticking out of the top of one of the packs is a copy of <em>The Illiad</em>. That pretty much sums up Reed. </p>
<p>Reed seems to resonate deeply with some kids. I think that’s important to listen to.</p>
<p>Klklk… Why do I think this is going to be the same thing that happens to my S:-))) Reed definitely resonated with him and I really don’t think there is another school totally like it. He just was really happy with everything and he said he couldn’t explain why he liked it so much other than he felt happy inside when we were there. I was totally surprised with his reaction. He started reading the viewbook… and by the way, one of the best ones I’ve seen so far, on the plane over and was totally enthralled by everything in it, so by the time we got to the school it was everything he saw and more. He loved the dorms and that they are not segregated by year. He loved the student center and the swing set in the grass… and it was pouring rain the entire time. Anyway, he will probably visit and apply to a lot of schools as well, so it will be interesting to see how it all pans out. How did your daughter handle the work load? That’s what I worry about the most with him. He loves to do so many things so sitting in the library studying for 12 hours straight is not going to happen I’m afraid.</p>
<p>Hello. Let me just be blunt. If you are considering other colleges besides Reed and do not have a real preference between the two, PLEASE choose the other. My best friend is on the waiting list there and if she does not get in, her mother is going to force her to go to a school in the Midwest that she absolutely despises. I know this is an odd plea, but I personally know that her life would be miserable if she was forced to go there and live far from home. She has already done A LOT to increase her chances and all it might take is one or two openings in their Class of 2014. If choosing a different college will not mean a lot to you, then doing so may save the happiness in a young girl’s life.</p>
<p>RayEvett, you might want to contact posters like vegirl who are still ambivalent about Reed. Even if you don’t, I’m sure there will be a few waitlist spots open, so I hope things work out for your friend.</p>
<p>Unfortunately most colleges employ actuarial calculations to admit say, 3x the number of kids that they really have space for. If you turn down Reed, the admissions office was sort of already expecting it. If you and 500 of your closest friends turn down Reed, on the other hand…</p>
<p>Although, RayEvett, this year is a very strange year for a number of reasons, so I suspect a lot of admissions departments will be making some pretty huge errors in this regard. So don’t lose hope, the possibility of getting off the waitlist is real.</p>