Reed College

Reed was perfect for me. The professors were inspiring and I still teach with a mix of the styles I learned from them.I also got a lot out out of learning from other students: the Paideia informal courses can be excellent, and I got a lot from them. I also got a lot from just watching students do their computer programming or other work.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

I've taken classes or earned degrees at at least 10 or 11 US universities, and Reed had by far the most challenging courses and most dedicated students.

1st Year Female -- Class 1991

Education Quality: A+, Social Life: B

So far, I've found Reed to be wonderful. Reedies are, beyond smart, talented. Many are excellent at one or two things, rather than "good" at everything they've tried. Admittedly, many aren't "well-rounded," but passion makes for, I think, I far more dynamic student body.

Aesthetically, Reed is lovely and oozes charm.
Professors, in my experience, are actually great teachers.
There are usually really cool free events happening on campus, and Gray Fund is fantastic if you're looking to do something off campus that you otherwise wouldn't be able to afford/make happen.

The food here is quite good. In fact, it's rather fancy, and much of it is organic and locally grown.

The workload, so far, has been manageable. Just don't try your luck and procrastinate.
Reed is lovely. Academics are absolutely top notch and the quality of life here is very high. My understanding is that Reed hasn't always offered much in the way of support, but now there are a myriad of resources available to students (free tutoring services, a "mind spa" offering a massage chair and accu-puncture in the health center, an army of psychologists, etc...).

Facilities wise, there's so much to rattle off: a semi-sketchy but excellent pool hall, a coffee shop, a new cafe, band practice rooms, a new multi media lab in the library, a new theater is being built, dorms are usually really nice, a bike shop, a print shop, a convenience store, a comic book library...Oh, Reed's pet friendly...No dogs, though (although, you can petition to keep one in your room if you're depressed, so I've heard), but people sneak all sorts of things (one student has an owl...).

1st Year Female -- Class 2015

Education Quality: A, Social Life: B+