Graduation rates by year. Much better than the 80s, but still considerably lower than many peers.

https://www.reed.edu/ir/gradrateshist.html

Visited a friend there in the 90s and it seemed like a fun school with smart kids. Went back to tour with my own dc and felt it was on the small side and maybe too quirky even for my d&d playing child. The neighborhood is pretty and you can walk or bike to a lot of cute shops and restaurants in Sellwood Moreland. The one kid we know there is lgbtq and seems happy.

Honestly why would any responsible parent allow their 18 year old into that environment? Especially from the east coast, 3500 miles away from home?

No one going to bring up Steve Jobs?

The only thing that was concerning was: renn fayre; supposedly drugs are passed around openly during this celebration. Inline with others commenting about drug abuse.

We (DD and I) visited last spring, so no actual experience with a student but at least we have been on campus. The vibe didn't connect with DD ... he only time we saw students on campus was in the library and no one seemed happy. It kind of fulfilled my 80s-era stereotypes of Reed, which was intense/intellectual kids, significant drug use, rain and gloom. We heard a lot about the thesis (which is fine, but my undergrad also requires a comps and a thesis but its not harped on -- although maybe that was our tour guide), the crows, and the spring Renn fair. The (quite lovely) campus is in a suburban area of Portland. In theory it looks like students could get to downtown Portland in 30 minutes or so by transit.

To be honest, I think many other LACs, including several in the PNW, also have very strong PhD and other graduate school results -- so if that is driving your kid's interest, you may want to check out other options too.

Anonymous wrote:Very liberal drug usage.
Everyone is out there!!!

My friend’s kid did go down a dark hole there, associating with drug abusers and mentally unstable peers.

Maybe that could happen anywhere, but look at UNIGO. I think drug experimentation is highly tolerated there.

Anonymous wrote:The kid I know who went was OUT THERE. Brilliant, but rigidly left. She transferred to Berkeley because the kids at Reed were even more out there than she was. Seriously.

Says it all. (And I’m generally a leftie.)

The educational experience at Reed and Berkeley are so different that I don't believe that politics was the main thing driving the change.

Very liberal drug usage.
Everyone is out there!!!

This is a school that one needs to visit before applying. Some say that Reed makes Portland look conservative by comparison.

Great academics.

Graduating in 4 years is a problem. Less of a problem than 20 years ago, but still a big problem. Do they charge 5th year tuition? They might. Find out.

Lots of required courses -- 38% of freshman year is humanities (3/8 courses). Half of the humanities -- I kid you not -- is North American humanities. This was a perverse reaction to "de-westernizing" the humanities curriculum. So much for Islam...

Extreme barbell school: has good endowment but no merit aid. Because "equity." It is self-selecting but intellectual kids from donut hole families get screwed: they go to a school with similar selectivity and merit, or go to a higher-ranked school with better career placement.

Graduate school placement is very good. Career advising has improved but a problem still for school with that cost (see merit aid above).

Good dorms -- many freshman year have own room (have to walk through room to get to own room, but still no shared bedroom).

The kid I know who went was OUT THERE. Brilliant, but rigidly left. She transferred to Berkeley because the kids at Reed were even more out there than she was. Seriously.

Says it all. (And I’m generally a leftie.)

Very highly regarded by grad schools as the rigorous curriculum is structured like a mini PhD program with qualifying exams and senior thesis. Known for grade deflation, a teaching nuclear reactor on campus, no varsity sports, and a very politically liberal climate (even amongst its liberal peer group). The comparatively high acceptance rate belies the academic quality. Definitely not for everyone so plan to visit if seriously considering.

I'm curious too... bump!

LAC in Oregon that produces a large % of Rhodes scholars and PhDs. No merit aid unfortunately but seems to have a strong intellectual vibe. Around 20 mins outside Portland. Anyone have kids who go to Reed? What have been their impressions on culture, other students, professors, etc.?