<p>I (like everyone else here, it seems) was recently rejected from my top choice, Stanford (although some other girl from my school with a 400 point lower SAT score, 4.1 and far fewer AP classes than I have got in, and I have legacy from both my dad and grandfather and I haven't gotten over the bitterness quite yet. I have the feeling affirmative action was at work, seeing as how she's 1/8 Alaskan Native...), and the other Ivies, and am left to choose from my safety schools. I've managed to narrow it down to Reed and Wash U, but I'm having difficulty choosing between those two. I'm interested in a science- or mathematics-based degree and I've heard really good things about those programs at both schools, but I was wondering if anyone knows if one or the other is substantially better.</p>
<p>Also, I am aware that getting a high GPA at Reed is rather difficult; does Washington University have a similar issue of deflation? Is what I've heard about the difficulty of attaining good grades at Reed even true?</p>
<p>And one last thing: I recently received a package from Reed describing my financial aid situation ($20,000 a year, which isn't anything to scoff at), but haven't heard from Wash U yet. Does this mean they don't plan to offer me aid, or should I be expecting something in the mail?</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! I'm sure I'll be happy at both schools, of course, they're both great, but hopefully you guys can help me out.</p>
<p>SCTAK - I suppose first, find out about what Wash U is offering in aid, if anything. If not, then your decision is probably made for you.</p>
<p>However, if it is a comparable offer, you probably won’t believe the advice I will give you, but trust me it is right. Forget all that stuff about grade deflation. Forget about which school has the “better” science or math programs, because they are both great and it is subjective anyway, within this narrow range. The key is, where will you feel most comfortable? Have you been able to spend time at both? If not, you might as well flip a coin, unless you can base it on weather or city or something else like that.</p>
<p>There is no question that Wash U is a more research based university, and if you go the science route that may end up being important to you. Reed is a more classic LAC, and that has its good points too. Just try to imagine yourself at either place, and if you don’t have enough data and/or experience from visits to do that, then try and think about what seemingly external factors might make your day-to-dat life more favorable, and research those to the extent you can for both places. Then again, the money may decide it for you anyway. Good Luck!!</p>
<p>WashU is not a safety for anyone (see RD decision thread). Both are great schools…If you’re curious about deflation see the WashU undergraduate experience (non pre-med) thread. In it, many current students dispel the notion of deflation at WashU. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Thanks to both of you. You’re right about the financial aid… I’m starting to lean more towards Wash U in terms of academics and how well I’d fit in though… Hopefully they’ll give me something in terms of grants!</p>
<p>I know Reed and WU well. My kids go to WU and my niece went to Reed. You’ll get a great education at both places, but they have very different “cultures”. Reed science/math students tend to go to grad school and less often to med school, whereas at WU the converse is true (i.e. to oversimplify, WU is characterized more by a “preprofessional” culture and Reed by an “intellectual/nerdy” one). Both schools offer good research opportunities, but WU has the obvious benefit of a huge med school where many undergrads do research. Other difference is that Reed has essentially no athletics whereas WU has an excellent DIII program, although even then athletics does not dominate the WU social scene. Portland and St. Louis have very different “feels” as well. Since Stanford was your first choice, I’d speculate that WU would be a closer “cultural” match to that school than would Reed.</p>
<p>Maybe I am being too idealistic, but I think this obsession with grade deflation is just ridiculous. Even if there is truth to it, I find it hard to believe that the admissions committees of these schools don’t know the story pretty well with regard to the characteristics of the different schools, especially at very high level schools like Wash U and Reed. Just forget about that and focus on the other factors mentioned.</p>
<p>^ Well, some remained concerned that grad schools won’t differentiate between inflated and non-inflated grades. That’s likely why Reed sends the page I linked above with transcripts to try to explain. We can only hope that you’re right.</p>
<p>I think you should have heard about FA by now. Call the FA office and ask (they are very friendly). You should find out whether you can afford to go before agonizing over the difference in campus culture or academics between the two.</p>
<p>I am from Portland and I will be going to Wash U, so I thought I would give you my perspective! I have friends who have taken classes at Reed who love it. However, I have visited Wash U and I get the sense they have very different atmospheres. I think Reed is much more “alternative” and it tends to have a reputation in Portland for its drug scene. I have no idea how accurate this generalization is, but it is something to look in to/keep in mind.<br>
In terms of location, Portland would be a great place to go to college. I have absolutely loved growing up here and the city has so much to offer - a great downtown, hiking trails (Forest Park, just like St. Louis!) and the East Side (where Reed is located) has tons of character, lots of interesting shops, cafes, galleries, etc. I must say I was not very impressed with St. Louis…the area immediately surrounding the school is nice (the other Forest Park!) but the trip on the train away from the school towards the arch was a bit depressing. I have heard Wash U students tend to stay close to campus, though.<br>
Like previous people have said, it really depends what you are looking for in a college (more of a LAC experience vs. research university experience) and the FA situation. I’m also interested in Biology, which is part of what attracted me to Wash U because I felt it would be a good place to pursue this interest. I also applied to Stanford, and I feel like Wash U is the same “type” of school, to make a broad generalization. I don’t think you can make the same comparison with Reed. Anyways, good luck with your decision!</p>