Why Reed?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Reed College
1

<p>I haven't seen anything about the "Why Reed" essay. Is that what people choose as their own topic for the common application essay? Is it something additional people send of their own volition with the common application? Or is it something that Reed officially asks for? If the latter is the case, I haven't seen anything on the website about specific essays. </p>

<p>Additionally, if the "Why Reed" essay is a "choose your own topic" essay for the common application, why have I heard mentions of 6 page "Why Reed's" if common application essays are meant to be between 200-500 words?</p>

<p>As an aside, I've written a draft of a "Why Reed" essay, and if anyone's willing I'd love to know if I'm deluded as to what Reed is and why I want to attend and if my essay conveys enough of an "I really want to go here" attitude.</p>

2

<p>See page 5 of <a href=“Apply - Admission - Reed College”>Apply - Admission - Reed College; for some essay instructions.</p>

3

<p>A) The common-application word limit is new this year; before, there was a minimum, but nothing else.</p>

<p>B) It’s part of the supplement, not the common app.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the help, both of you.</p>

5

<p>Try to have some fun with this :)</p>

6

<p>I am. Do you like the phrase “Reed is a place of quirks and quarks?”</p>

7

<p>Yes, but remember that the readers know what Reed is like; they want to know what you are like! ;)</p>

8

<p>^Great message. The first draft of my essay essentially resulted in a brochure for the college, but I left out (except for trace remarks) why Reed was good for ** me **.</p>

9

<p>are you applying ED?</p>

10

<p>Me? No. Sorry it’s late. Haven’t been on in a while.</p>

11

<p>I visited in September and attended a session on the “ins and outs” of the application process. Naturally, the topic turned quickly to this essay. The speaker, who I’m pretty sure is one of the assistant deans of admission, indicated that they didn’t like VERY long essays. Of course, they have a small staff and, like all college admission offices, they are going to read quite a few essays. That being said, the dean basically said that if you can get your point across in a reasonable space, all the better. Obviously, “reasonable” is a pretty relative term, but put yourself in their shoes. Just think to yourself, “After reading hundreds of these things, would I really want to read this long of an essay?” He specifically stated that he did not want to read something like “6 page ‘Why Reed’s.’”</p>

<p>As far as the content goes, I would recommend that you just be yourself. The other speaker, who is also an assistant dean, said that in this essay, you should “just tell us why you want to go to Reed,” that’s it (With a smile, of course). If you are honest and sincere about your desire to attend, then it will show in your essay and they’ll probably notice.</p>

12

<p>is that the essay they give back to you when you graduate?</p>

13

<p>^ I think they give back the general common app essay, not the Why Reed? essay.</p>