Admission Alumni Representative
College Fair Questions
What's the best way to get into Reed?
There aren't any tricks or numbers games that will get a student accepted without question. We take the time to look at every application, and want to see a dynamic student who is passionate about learning, who is interested in asking questions, and who has established a strong academic record (this needn't be all A's per se, but grades do count. We also look at the level of courses taken, and other areas of academic activity and a demonstrated level of enthusiasm for all kinds of learning.) It's also good to try to visit Reed, or work to schedule an Alumni interview if a visit is not possible: as you know, Reed is a unique place, and the Admission Committee is also thinking about how students will fit in here, and how knowledgeable they are about Reed in choosing to apply.
How will I ever be able to afford $50,000 a year?
College is really expensive these days, but Reed is committed, within its own financial realities, to making the school accessible to qualified students of all backgrounds. Part of this comes through having only need-based financial aid, as opposed to merit aid. Also,when Reed determines a student's financial need, we commit to funding 100% of that need, as opposed to many other schools that "gap fund," or only meet a certain percentage of a student's need. It's also important to try to dissuade "sticker shock." Reed can often end up being affordable for many people who can't imagine ever managing such a high cost, and it also can sometimes be less expensive with aid than schools that have a lower sticker price. Feel free to direct students to financial aid's website.
If Reed's so great, why isn't it ranked higher in U.S. News & World Report?
As you may know, Reed has chosen since the early 90's not to participate in the U.S. News and World Report college survey. The reasoning is twofold: first, what exactly do rankings measure, and how do they represent institutions? The measurements tend to be highly arbitrary and consider factors that either have very little to do with the actual educational experience of students, or simply reinforce a competitive hierarchy amongst colleges that does little to enhance or explain their educational offerings. Very little if anything can be derived from a school's ranking in terms of what kind of education a student will receive. Second, the ranking process has also twisted both the ways some parents and students approach the college search process, as well as encouraged unethical and often deceitful practices in the ways institutions recruit students and represent themselves on the U.S. News survey form. Because of this, Reed thinks it is better not to participate at all than to do so and make apologies for having done it because everyone else does.
What does diversity mean at Reed?
Since its founding in 1908, Reed College has welcomed students of any race, ethnicity, gender, class, or religion, united in their serious intellectual focus. At Reed, people of all cultures, viewpoints, lifestyles, and appearances work and study together in an atmosphere of open discussion and spirited debate. Reed College believes in treating each student as a unique person, not as a classification or number in a category. Every student takes equal part in Reed's distinctive, rigorous, and rewarding educational process, which begins with the interdisciplinary Humanities 110 course and ends with each student writing a senior thesis while working one-on-one with a faculty adviser. Students from all backgrounds benefit from Reed's atmosphere of serious intellectual pursuit--backed by a strong and supportive community.
| FALL 2009 STUDENT BODY (1,447 students) |
FALL 2010 ENTERING CLASS (373 students) |
| African American: 4% | African American: 2% |
| American Native: 1% | American Native: 3% |
| Asian: 11% | Asian: 11% |
| Hispanic: 7% | Hispanic: 6% |
| Caucasian: 57% | Caucasian: 53% |
| Other or multiracial: 2% | Other or multiracial: 1% |
| Unreported: 17% | Unreported: 20% |
| First generation: 11% | First generation: 11% |
| International: 7% | International: 7% |
In 2009-10, students came from 41 countries in addition to the U.S., including Argentina, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
For more demographics, view the Institutional Research pages.
Reed's really hard: what if I need help with my work?
Students need to be prepared for a very challenging experience at Reed (as you know), but its also important to assure them, and often their parents, that Reed isn't simply a sink-or-swim place. Students can receive up to one hour of free tutoring per week for each of their classes, and there are help centers for writing, math and science, in addition to a new quantitative skills center. There's also a broad range of support, from faculty advising, to counseling support through student services � that aims to help individuals grapple with all that is Reed.
Talk to a current student
Feel free to refer students who have questions that your are uncomfortable with or unable to answer: they can email admission@reed.edu or call 800/547-4750. Students who might be interested in talking with a currently enrolled student can email write.a.reedie@reed.edu, and they will receive a response from one of the student interns in our office.
Thanks for your help, and please remember to return as soon as possible all of the inquiry cards that students have filled out (this means we'll be in touch with them that much faster). If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to be in touch.