Anonymous
Post 02/16/2023 12:51     Subject: Reed College
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Given the things you like about Reed, you might also want to consider other liberal arts schools that focus on undergraduate education. USNews has such a list, based on reputation (Reed ranks at #16):

1. Carleton
2. Amherst
3. Agnes Scott
3. Bowdoin
3. Davidson
6. Grinnell
6. Swarthmore
8. Bates
9. Colorado College
9. Pomona
11. Macalester
11. Wellesley
13. Bryn Mawr
13. College of Wooster
15. Middlebury
16. Berea
16. Reed
16. Smith
19. Kenyon
19. Spelman

etc. (https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/undergraduate-teaching)


As a Williams grad, I'm stunned at how low the College is in undergraduate teaching (23rd). Haven't looked at the methodology for the ranking, but I hope Williams is trying to see if they have a real problem which can be addressed.


These sort of ranking is meaningless, they're arbitrary. I have literally never met a LAC grad who didn't think their undergraduate teaching was terrific. There's probably not a difference between #5 and #35.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2023 12:49     Subject: Re:Reed College
Very intellectual. The few grads I met are smart and interesting, but not doing anything remotely lucrative. DD was accepted and decided against it because of the drug culture. She knew there were some heroin overdoses and it freaked her out. She ended up at another LAC, Kalamazoo, and likes it.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2023 12:44     Subject: Reed College
My DS applied and was accepted to Reed last year. We encouraged him to apply because it's a great school with a fantastic academic reputation, especially on the West Coast. He got in elsewhere via ED, one of the schools on the list posted above, and that was ultimately a much better fit in terms of culture.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2023 12:38     Subject: Reed College
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP - what are you thinking? This is a pretty damning set of comments...


DP: I wouldn't rely on DCUM for advice--it often just amplifies a stereotype.


Or does it allow others with differing thoughts & experiences a chance to comment ?
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2023 12:36     Subject: Reed College
Anonymous wrote:OP - what are you thinking? This is a pretty damning set of comments...


DP: I wouldn't rely on DCUM for advice--it often just amplifies a stereotype.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2023 12:35     Subject: Reed College
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Looking seriously at Reed for our son, who has a deep interest in history.

It seems like a good environment. Socially progressive but academically traditional. No modern flashy majors. No business or marketing. A focus on liberal arts and sciences.

I've been very impressed with Oxford and Cambridge graduates where the emphasis is on depth rather than breadth. A lot of people even at Ivies often graduate with only a superficial knowledge of their subjects. The average Oxbridge history grad probably knows much as history as an American MA in history.

Reed seems to get the balance right. They get a general education in the humanities and distribution requirements, but in-depth study of their subjects including a required thesis for all.

Very high number of students go on to get PhD's too. Only moderately competitive in terms of admissions, but self-selected. This isn't a trendy college, or somewhere where management consultants recruit etc.

Can anyone speak to the Reed experience?


OMG I would not describe the actual, real life Reed culture like what you were saying at all. Look at St Johns in Annapolis instead. Reed seriously has always had a lot of unstable kids, with a VERY small Uber left intellectual group that the market the heck out of.


I agree that St. Johns could be a good fit but, and I say this as the parent of a current Johnnie who is thriving there, don't think for a minute they don't have more than their fair share of unstable souls there too.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2023 12:33     Subject: Reed College
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Given the things you like about Reed, you might also want to consider other liberal arts schools that focus on undergraduate education. USNews has such a list, based on reputation (Reed ranks at #16):

1. Carleton
2. Amherst
3. Agnes Scott
3. Bowdoin
3. Davidson
6. Grinnell
6. Swarthmore
8. Bates
9. Colorado College
9. Pomona
11. Macalester
11. Wellesley
13. Bryn Mawr
13. College of Wooster
15. Middlebury
16. Berea
16. Reed
16. Smith
19. Kenyon
19. Spelman

etc. (https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/undergraduate-teaching)


As a Williams grad, I'm stunned at how low the College is in undergraduate teaching (23rd). Haven't looked at the methodology for the ranking, but I hope Williams is trying to see if they have a real problem which can be addressed.


Real problem ?

Undergrad teaching is probably the best at community colleges and at the least selective schools. Why ? because the students need to be spoon fed since many are not motivated to engage in deep intellectual thought.

For intelligent, motivated students, disruptive, thought-provoking guidance is far more important than having a PhD hand feed material to students.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2023 12:32     Subject: Reed College
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Given the things you like about Reed, you might also want to consider other liberal arts schools that focus on undergraduate education. USNews has such a list, based on reputation (Reed ranks at #16):

1. Carleton
2. Amherst
3. Agnes Scott
3. Bowdoin
3. Davidson
6. Grinnell
6. Swarthmore
8. Bates
9. Colorado College
9. Pomona
11. Macalester
11. Wellesley
13. Bryn Mawr
13. College of Wooster
15. Middlebury
16. Berea
16. Reed
16. Smith
19. Kenyon
19. Spelman

etc. (https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/undergraduate-teaching)


As a Williams grad, I'm stunned at how low the College is in undergraduate teaching (23rd). Haven't looked at the methodology for the ranking, but I hope Williams is trying to see if they have a real problem which can be addressed.


I agree. Weird list. Odd, even by USNWR standards---which by the way, has punished Reed for years with a ridiculously low rank because Reed doesn't play ball with USNWR and provide data to them.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2023 12:31     Subject: Reed College
OP - what are you thinking? This is a pretty damning set of comments...
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2023 12:12     Subject: Reed College
Anonymous wrote:I have known two people who graduated from there. One of them is a heroin addict. This is not recent but I don’t think the drug culture has changed too much. It’s a very intense and intellectual place. Probably not helpful info but it’s what I know.


No drug problems at Reed. You name it, it's available.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2023 11:28     Subject: Reed College
Anonymous wrote:Given the things you like about Reed, you might also want to consider other liberal arts schools that focus on undergraduate education. USNews has such a list, based on reputation (Reed ranks at #16):

1. Carleton
2. Amherst
3. Agnes Scott
3. Bowdoin
3. Davidson
6. Grinnell
6. Swarthmore
8. Bates
9. Colorado College
9. Pomona
11. Macalester
11. Wellesley
13. Bryn Mawr
13. College of Wooster
15. Middlebury
16. Berea
16. Reed
16. Smith
19. Kenyon
19. Spelman

etc. (https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/undergraduate-teaching)


As a Williams grad, I'm stunned at how low the College is in undergraduate teaching (23rd). Haven't looked at the methodology for the ranking, but I hope Williams is trying to see if they have a real problem which can be addressed.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2023 11:28     Subject: Reed College
Anonymous wrote:The DD of my close friend goes there. She is transferring to University of Oregon in the fall. Loves Oregon, but Reed is very small and very stressful.


That’s the take from a lot of kids on Reddit and College Confidential. Lots of unhappy kids at Reed.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2023 11:11     Subject: Reed College
Given the things you like about Reed, you might also want to consider other liberal arts schools that focus on undergraduate education. USNews has such a list, based on reputation (Reed ranks at #16):

1. Carleton
2. Amherst
3. Agnes Scott
3. Bowdoin
3. Davidson
6. Grinnell
6. Swarthmore
8. Bates
9. Colorado College
9. Pomona
11. Macalester
11. Wellesley
13. Bryn Mawr
13. College of Wooster
15. Middlebury
16. Berea
16. Reed
16. Smith
19. Kenyon
19. Spelman

etc. (https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/undergraduate-teaching)
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2023 11:09     Subject: Reed College
Anonymous wrote:Looking seriously at Reed for our son, who has a deep interest in history.

It seems like a good environment. Socially progressive but academically traditional. No modern flashy majors. No business or marketing. A focus on liberal arts and sciences.

I've been very impressed with Oxford and Cambridge graduates where the emphasis is on depth rather than breadth. A lot of people even at Ivies often graduate with only a superficial knowledge of their subjects. The average Oxbridge history grad probably knows much as history as an American MA in history.

Reed seems to get the balance right. They get a general education in the humanities and distribution requirements, but in-depth study of their subjects including a required thesis for all.

Very high number of students go on to get PhD's too. Only moderately competitive in terms of admissions, but self-selected. This isn't a trendy college, or somewhere where management consultants recruit etc.

Can anyone speak to the Reed experience?


But the students who graduate from Ivies get lots of lucrative opportunities--unlike Reed grads. Why ? Because high paying positions seek intelligent problem solvers--not pigeon-holed drug addicts.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2023 11:07     Subject: Reed College
Anonymous wrote:very high % students go on to get PHDs

Why is this good? They couldn’t get employed with an undergrad degree? What fields warrant a PHD? Universities are cutting tenure so the future of the Professor path forward is bleak.


+1