sleep/Christianity at Reed: need honest answers

<p>Hi all,
Reed sounds like a wonderful school and we are seriously considering it for our son, who is intellectual and quirky. We would value an honest opinion in two areas. 1) Sleep: S needs 10 hours or his brain shuts down. He gets this and is very disciplined about getting to bed early. No worries about his self discipline. But we keep seeing posts about lack of sleep. So our question is, if someone makes sleep a priority, is it physically possible to get 10 hours and keep up with their classes? Is lack of sleep a necessary byproduct of being at Reed?
2) Would a Christian find any place there? We are liberal Democrats who are comfortable, for example, with homosexuality. S is not judgmental of other people's choices. But a relationship with Jesus and Bible reading is also important to him, as well as finding even a couple of like-minded people. Are there other Christians? Is Christianity scorned? (or just the very right-wing politically conservative variety that we also have trouble with?)</p>

<p>I will have a student comment about the sleep issue, but here is a link to an article from Reed Magazine which addresses the Christian question:</p>

<p>[Reed</a> Magazine: A Spiritual Odyssey (1/4)](<a href=“http://www.reed.edu/reed_magazine/summer2009/features/spiritual_odyssey/index.html]Reed”>Reed Magazine: A Spiritual Odyssey (1/4))</p>

<p>Wow, aghast, thank you!! An incredible article that absolutely addressed and satisfied the Christian question. Yes! I even own the book Blue Like Jazz but have not yet read it. I’ll dig it out. Thank you again.</p>

<p>Your son could certainly handle classes along with an early bedtime, but I doubt he would have much of a social life…</p>

<p>The part about the social life is true and is a problem now. We’re actually thinking that college will be better because of later class start times. So as long as classes are manageable with that much sleep, he’ll be fine. I know this seems like an odd thing to worry about but, well, it’s our reality. Thank you for the response.</p>

<p>It’s not an odd thing at all to worry about!
I can tell you that, as a freshman, at least 3/5 days of class will start no later than 9 (Humanities lecture). I’ve heard of a Calc class starting at 8, but there are afternoon sections too.</p>

<p>EDIT: Of course, he could always skip Hum lecture if he needs the sleep (they inform the readings, but he’ll get all the info he needs from conference).</p>

<p>Sleep- If your son has excellent time management skills (i.e. will do homework in advance/between classes/instead of socializing), I think he could manage 10 hours of sleep per night, especially if his classes were later and he could sleep in. But like it was mentioned, it would probably cramp his social life because late night conversations/ shenanigans are the norm in most college dorms. I usually try to get around 8 hours of sleep and tend to be successful except during midterms and finals weeks. HOWEVER, as a senior, the 10 hours/night might go out the window because of his thesis (my 8 hours did but I have mediocre time management skills). Maybe by then he will have a good system down or his circadian rhythms will change. </p>

<p>@Matt- don’t encourage skipping Hum lecture. ;)</p>

<p>Christianity- Reed has traditionally had a reputation as godless and anti-Christian but seems to have loosened up in recent years (maybe that died with Olde Reed). Most students (and professors for that matter) would probably identify as atheist/agnostic and are suspicious of organized religion, and it can be the butt of jokes, but I have never heard of individuals being mocked/scorned because of their beliefs. However, if students are vocal about their beliefs (whether Christian, Buddhist, or Wiccan), they should be prepared that others will raise questions and start (hopefully fruitful) discussions about it. Reed/ies tend to put everything up for debate (whether religion or literature or politics or pop culture), which has the effect that many students often re-examine their long-held beliefs and convictions, for better or worse. It’s like Descartes, starting with doubt to arrive at truth.
There is a small Christian group on campus that meets regularly and probably has a stance similar to yours (more liberal/open-minded/socially conscious). There is also a Jewish student group on campus. If he is not judgmental and won’t try to push his beliefs on others or convince everyone in Hum conference that evolution never happened, he should be fine. However, if he is of the very right-wing, All True Christians are Hardcore Republicans, I’m right-you’re wrong-I’m holy-you’re sinful, trying to proselytize at every opportunity persuasion, I don’t think Reed would be the place for him. Actually, I don’t think Christianity would be the place for him either.</p>

<p>Rachel, just being realistic ;)</p>