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Reed College

3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 97202

http://www.reed.edu/

Photos:

Reed College's Eliot Hall on a rare snowy day.
Reed College's Eliot Hall on a rare snowy day.
[source]

School Description

Provided by Reed College

The curriculum at Reed is highly structured and extremely rigorous. The four basic elements-the required humanities sequence, the breadth of study requirement, junior qualifying examinations, and the senior thesis-mix a strong component of interdisciplinary work with study of traditional majors. First- and second-year students at Reed College develop a strong background in humanistic and scientific study. The junior and senior years provide opportunity for intensive examination of the subject matter and techniques of a more narrowly defined academic discipline, culminating in the senior research project and thesis. At Reed we believe the balance of a general and more specialized education is best achieved where students and faculty members work closely together in an atmosphere of shared intellectual and scholarly concern, and where individual interests andchemi student disciplines are pursued not in isolation, but with a sense of the larger intellectual life of which they are a part.

Education of this kind, animated by critical inquiry, is in a real sense its own reward, but it also contributes substantially to such objectives as social responsibility and professional success. The effectiveness of such an educational experience as a foundation for widely varying careers is indicated by the outstanding records of Reed graduates in scholarly pursuits, business and industry, the professions, public service, teaching, and fine arts.

Since its founding in 1908 as an independent undergraduate institution, Reed College, in Portland, Oregon, has remained steadfast to one central commitment: to provide a balanced, comprehensive education in liberal arts and sciences, fulfilling the highest standards of intellectual excellence. The distinctive Reed experience includes a challenging curriculum involving wide reading, conference and laboratory-based teaching in small groups, and a student body motivated by enthusiasm for serious intellectual work. Reed offers a B.A. in one of 22 major fields and numerous interdisciplinary fields, as well as a master of arts in liberal studies degree.

Established early in the twentieth century on the site of the former Crystal Springs Farm, the Reed College campus features the best of the traditional, the new and innovative, and the natural, just what you would expect in Oregon.

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Reed College

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Reed College is a private, independent, liberal arts college located in southeast Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1908, Reed is a highly selective four-year residential college with a campus located in Portland's residential Eastmoreland neighborhood, featuring architecture based on the Tudor-Gothic style, and a forested canyon wilderness preserve at its center. Reed is distinctively known for its mandatory freshman humanities program, as the only private undergraduate college with a nuclear reactor supporting its science programs, and for the unusually high percentage of graduates who go on to earn PhDs and other postgraduate degrees.

History

The Reed Institute (the legal name of the college) was founded in 1908, and Reed College held its first classes in 1911. Reed is named for Oregon pioneers Simeon Gannett Reed and Amanda Reed. Simeon was an entrepreneur in trade on the Columbia River; in his will he suggested that his wife could "devote some portion of my estate to benevolent objects, or to the cultivation, illustration, or development of the fine arts in the city of Portland, or to some other suitable purpose, which shall be of permanent value and contribute to the beauty of the city and to the intelligence, prosperity, and happiness of the inhabitants." The first president of Reed (1910–1919) was William Trufant Foster, a former professor at Bates College and Bowdoin College in Maine.

Contrary to popular belief, the college did not grow out of student revolts and experimentation, but out of a desire to provide a "more flexible, individualized approach to a rigorous liberal arts education." Founded explicitly in reaction to the "prevailing model of East Coast, Ivy League education," the college's lack of varsity athletics, fraternities, and exclusive social clubs — as well as its coeducational, nonsectarian, and egalitarian status — gave way to an intensely academic and intellectual college whose purpose was to devote itself to "the life of the mind."

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Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Northwest
Setting:
Large City Setting
Type:
Private
Size:
Small (Under 2,000 Undergrad)

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
1,312
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
100%
Athletic Programs:
Unavailable
> More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 32,590
Students Receiving Aid:
51%
> More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 40
Selectivity:
Highly Selective
> More Admissions

Degree Programs at Reed College

Bachelor's Level Programs

  • Arts & Humanities

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    • English Language and Literature See more schools with programs in English Language and Literature
      • English Language and Literature
        A general program that focuses on the English language, including its history, structure and related communications skills; and the literature and culture of English-speaking peoples.
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    • Film and Theater See more schools with programs in Film and Theater
      • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts
        A program that focuses on the general study of dramatic works and their performance. Includes instruction in major works of dramatic literature, dramatic styles and types, and the principles of organizing and producing full live or filmed productions.
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    • Foreign Languages See more schools with programs in Foreign Languages
      • Chinese Language and Literature
        Students in this major study the Chinese language and its associated dialects and literature, including Chinese philology, Archaic and Classical Chinese, Modern Standard Chinese (Guóyu), Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Wu, Min, Hunanese, Hakka, other dialects and pidgins, and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
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      • Classics and Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
        This general program focuses on the literary culture of the ancient Graeco-Roman world and the Greek and Latin languages and literatures and their development prior to the fall of the Roman Empire.
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      • French Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the French language and related dialects and creoles. Includes instruction in French philology, Metropolitan French, Canadian French, African and Caribbean Creoles, French regional dialects, and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings.
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      • German Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the German language and related dialects as used in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, neighboring European countries containing German-speaking minorities, and elsewhere. Includes instruction in German philology; Old, Middle, and High German; Plattdeutsch and other regional dialects; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
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      • Linguistics
        A program that focuses on language, language development, and relationships among languages and language groups from a humanistic and/or scientific perspective. Includes instruction in subjects such as psycholinguistics, behavioral linguistics, language acquisition, sociolinguistics, mathematical and computational linguistics, grammatical theory and theoretical linguistics, philosophical linguistics, philology and historical linguistics, comparative linguistics, phonetics, phonemics, dialectology, semantics, functional grammar and linguistics, language typology, lexicography, morphology and syntax, orthography, stylistics, structuralism, rhetoric, and applications to artificial intelligence.
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      • Russian Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the Russian language. Includes instruction in Russian philology, Old Russian, Modern Russian and dialects, literature, and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
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      • Spanish Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the Spanish language and related dialects. Includes instruction in Spanish philology, Modern Castillan, various Latin American dialects, regional Spanish dialects, and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings.
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    • History See more schools with programs in History
      • History
        A program that focuses on the general study and interpretation of the past, including the gathering, recording, synthesizing and criticizing of evidence and theories about past events. Includes instruction in historiography; historical research methods; studies of specific periods, issues and cultures; and applications to areas such as historic preservation, public policy, and records administration.
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    • Music See more schools with programs in Music
      • General Music
        A general program that focuses on the introductory study and appreciation of music and the performing arts. Includes instruction in music, dance, and other performing arts media.
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    • Philosophy See more schools with programs in Philosophy
      • General Philosophy
        A program that focuses on ideas and their logical structure, including arguments and investigations about abstract and real phenomena. Includes instruction in logic, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, symbolism, and history of philosophy, and applications to the theoretical foundations and methods of other disciplines.
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    • Religion/Religious Studies See more schools with programs in Religion/Religious Studies
      • General Religion/Religious Studies
        A program that focuses on the nature of religious belief and specific religious and quasi-religious systems. Includes instruction in phenomenology; the sociology, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, literature and art of religion; mythology; scriptural and textual studies; religious history and politics; and specific studies of particular faith communities and their behavior.
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    • Visual Arts See more schools with programs in Visual Arts
      • Art/Art Studies
        Art and Art Studies is a general, introductory program that focuses on the study and appreciation of the visual arts. Students of these two or four year programs receive instruction in art, photography, and other visual communications media.
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  • Interdisciplinary Studies

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    • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
      Any instructional program that is derived from two or more distinct programs to provide a cross-cutting focus on a subject concentration that is not subsumed under a single discipline or occupational field.
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  • Life Science

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    • Biology See more schools with programs in Biology
      • Biochemistry
        Study the chemistry of living systems in these four, six, or eight year programs. Students of biochemistry learn the intricacies of the chemistry of living systems and their chemical pathways and information transfer systems. This program includes instruction in bio-organic chemistry, protein chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, bioseparations, regulatory biochemistry, enzymology, hormonal chemistry, calorimetry, and research methods and equipment operation.
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      • Biology/Biological Sciences
        Students in this program study general biology at an introductory level. This major provides students with a broad overview of biology and includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.
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  • Mathematics and Statistics

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    • General Mathematics
      A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations.
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  • Natural Sciences

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    • Chemistry See more schools with programs in Chemistry
      • General Chemistry
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.
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    • Physics See more schools with programs in Physics
      • General Physics
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
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  • Social Sciences

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    • Anthropology See more schools with programs in Anthropology
      • General Anthropology
        A program that focuses on the systematic study of human beings, their antecedents and related primates, and their cultural behavior and institutions, in comparative perspective. Includes instruction in biological/physical anthropology, primatology, human paleontology and prehistoric archeology, hominid evolution, anthropological linguistics, ethnography, ethnology, ethnohistory, socio-cultural anthropology, psychological anthropology, research methods, and applications to areas such as medicine, forensic pathology, museum studies, and international affairs.
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    • Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies See more schools with programs in Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies
      • American/United States Studies/Civilization
        This program studies the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of the United States and its Pre-Columbian and colonial predecessors, including the flow of immigrants from other societies.
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    • Economics See more schools with programs in Economics
      • General Economics
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. Includes instruction in economic theory, micro- and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.
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    • International Relations and Affairs See more schools with programs in International Relations and Affairs
      • General Political Science and Government
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies 0f specific political institutions and processes.
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      • International Relations and Affairs
        A program that focuses on the systematic study of international politics and institutions, and the conduct of diplomacy and foreign policy. Includes instruction in international relations theory, foreign policy analysis, national security and strategic studies, international law and organization, the comparative study of specific countries and regions, and the theory and practice of diplomacy.
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    • Psychology See more schools with programs in Psychology
      • General Psychology
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. Includes instruction in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.
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    • Sociology See more schools with programs in Sociology
      • Sociology
        A program that focuses on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. Includes instruction in social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, social deviance and control, and applications to the study of specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems.
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Master's Level Programs

  • Arts & Humanities

    See more schools with programs in Arts & Humanities
    • General Studies See more schools with programs in General Studies
      • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
        A program that is a structured combination of the arts, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities, emphasizing breadth of study. Includes instruction in independently designed, individualized, or regular programs.
        See more schools with programs in Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies

Students

General

Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 100%
Part-Time 0%
Men vs. Women
Women 57%
Men 43%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 64%
Other 25%
Asian 6%
Hispanic 4%
African-American 1%

Geography

In State vs. Out-of-State
Out-of-State 93%
In-State 7%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
California 24%
Oregon 7%
Washington 6%
Colorado 3%
New York 3%
Percent of Students International: 4%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 62%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: No
Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) Expenses  
Published Tuition and Fees:
 $ 32,590    
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
 $ 32,360    
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads:
 $ 230    
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
 $ 4,006 16%  
State and Local Grants:
 $ 2,539 2%  
Institutional Grants:
 $ 21,548 49%  
Student Loans:
 $ 2,663 49%  
Any Aid:
   51%  

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 45% (Highly Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 95%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 660, Math: 620
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 760, Math: 710
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 28%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 29, Verbal: 28, Math: 25
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 32, Verbal: 33, Math: 30

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 40.00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Not Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Not Required
High School GPA: Recommended
High School Rank: Recommended
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Required
TOEFL: Required
Test Scores: Required

College Advice

Yahoo
Riyaa
Riyaa

Question: Reed College requirements?

Not really "requirements," but I lacked a better word. Anyway. I know there aren't really set GPA's one has to get for most colleges, but I was wondering what is usual/recommended for Reed (Portland, Oregon.) And maybe SAT scores too. That sort of stuff would be helpful to know. Thanks in advance.
35 months ago
Professor X
Profe...

Best Answer

Average GPA: 3.90 Average SAT: 1352 Average ACT: 30 The average SAT was taken from the old test, in which 1600 was the top score. So you could approximate what the average score will be this year by dividing 1352 by 2, and multiplying that by 3. Estimate: average SAT 2028 Having said that, Reed admissions are not always "by the numbers." They really go out of their way to find students with both the ability and the drive to succeed there. I recommend checking out the discussion board on http://www.collegeconfidential.com Those boards will be pretty active soon, and that's the best site for students seeking admission to highly selective liberal arts colleges. You can chat with other aspiring Reed students, compare stats (if you're into that), and generally get a good feel for what the Reed admission process will be like. I wish you every success -- Reed is an absolutely fantastic place.
bowlingcap
bowlingcap

Question: Advice for visiting a school?

I am a high school senoir in Kansas and am thinking about going to Reed College near Portland, Oregon. It looks really cool online and in the mail they sent me, but of course you never know until you visit. Since Oregon is really far away I am on unfamiliear ground. Do you know when the best time to visit would be? Is there any general information I should know? Do you think the university would be willing to drive me from the airport to their college? If anyone has any information about travelling alone, travelling to Oregon, or visiting a faraway college, it would be much appreciated.
41 months ago
Professor X
Profe...

Best Answer

Reed is a fantastic college. It is also highly selective, so your SATs better be great if you hope to be admitted. Generally, when visiting a college, one contacts the office of admissions. They'll help you make arrangements, and may also allow you to room with a current student during your visit. Although summertime is the traditional time for visits, it is smart to visit during the school year so you can really get a feel for the campus. If you want to visit during the school year, make sure you don't time your visit during a break or holiday. The admissions office will apprise you of the dates of breaks. Admissions officers generally do not pick up prospective students from the airport, but they will tell you what a cab costs, or tell you about an airport shuttle that goes to campus. Best wishes to you, and I hope you get in!
Nianode
Nianode

Question: Reed College (OR) - has anyone attended it/known someone who's attended it? Good school?

Why would one choose Reed over any of the the other hundreds of liberal arts schools out there?
47 months ago
EmilyRose
Emily...

Best Answer

Great school! I think one of the best things about Reed is the attitude of the students and professors towards education. We're not here for the diploma, but rather the education that goes with it. From what I saw visting schools last year, that's fairly unusual. We don't see our grades unless we ask (we still get plenty of feedback, though), so there's no competition around grades. Also, since there's no graduate school, we're not completing with grad students for the attention of our professors. After every paper we turn in for hum 110 (the required freshmen class - see the Reed website for details), we have a 1-on-1 meeting with our prof to discuss the paper (I know this sounds intimidating, but it's not). Overall, we take our academics quite seriously, but we still find time to have fun. For example, we're planning to make liquid nitrogen ice cream on Thursday. I few weeks ago I attended a workshop on underwater basket weaving. If you look up underwater basket weaving on Wikipedia, you'll see that it is done by submerging the basket materials in a bucket of water. At Reed, we jump in the swiming pool. Sorry if that wasn't very coherent or comprehensive, but you should definelty keep Reed on your list.

Photos

  • Reed College's Eliot Hall on a rare snowy day.
    Reed College's Eliot Hall on a rare snowy day. [source]
  • The Reed College campus
    The Reed College campus [source]
  • Eliot Hall
    Eliot Hall [source]
  • Old Dorm Block and Anna Mann residences
    Old Dorm Block and Anna Mann residences [source]
  • Old Dorm Block
    Old Dorm Block [source]
  • The Old Dorm Block
    The Old Dorm Block [source]
  • The Blue Bridge
    The Blue Bridge [source]
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Reed College
Portland, OR 97202
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