Biology
Interviews are very important, but strangely informal (at least on campus). Relax and be relatively casual with your interviewer who at least in my case was a current student.
Biology
Be yourself. Reed looks for individuals and is not as focused on test scores as some other schools. Each application is read by the admissions office as well as student volunteers. Your essay is very important- be creative.
Chemistry
I applied and I wrote an honest essay. I actually wrote in my "Why Reed?" essay that I was planning on showing up and attending classes whether or not they admitted me. I was a good student in high school, with good test scores, but I think my interview and my essay went over well because I was relaxed, had a sense of humor, and knew on some level what I was getting myself into.
English
You really have to show in your "Why Reed" essay that you understand the values the school represents and feel you have something to bring to that community. Also, I think they take teacher recommendations and your essays in general more seriously than most colleges.
Psychology
I wrote a killer essay, had a great interview, and got awesome letters of recommendation. I really wanted to be here and I think that showed through in my application.
| Psychology
I applied to a wide variety of schools in high school. I got into all but one, including Dartmouth. Now, I can't remember why I didn't go there, but I didn't, so it's irrelevant.
When it came to Reed, I didn't prospie, I didn't visit, I didn't contact anyone at the school to get a better sense of what I'd be getting myself into. I just came here, and within a week, I knew this was the place for me.
Psychology
I applied Early Decision for financial aid reasons. I had a 1490 on the old SAT and three SAT IIs: I think I took Chemistry (710), Math IIC (770), and Writing (800). I wrote my essays the night before they were do. My grades in high school were very good (we had a weighted GPA that was a little odd, but my GPA was a 4.45 I believe) and I graduated 4th in a class of about 500. I was a National Merit Scholar. So basically I just filled out the application and mailed it in. Didn't have an interview.
If you're applying and your grades and scores are good, you have a great foundation for getting in. Reed puts a lot of emphasis on the essays and I've heard that if your grades in high school weren't so good that a good interview can really make up for that. Be sure to schedule an interview if you can and take time on your essays. It helps probably if you've had some particular interest in the past that you've pursued. Recently there's been a big controversy over the declining "quirkiness" in admitted applicants, so signs of being quirky may be a plus.
If you can, come prospie at Reed. To prospie is to pay an overnight visit to the school, where you'll stay in the room of a dorm host. However, if you have a bad time when you prospie, don't rule Reed out. I had a terrible prospie experience, but I love Reed now that I'm here.
History/Histories (art history/etc.)
Pay attention to your essays. Make sure that you involve yourself in a variety of activities and experiences during high school. Challenge yourself academically as much as you can.
History/Histories (art history/etc.)
Swear your loyalty to the Doyle Owl.
Undecided
If you talk to the admissions office before you apply, they will brag to no end about being unconcerned with numbers--GPA, SAT and ACT scores, etc. While this is true to some extent, don't get cocky about your chances if your "numbers" aren't impressive. The degree to which the admissions office actually cares about the average GPA of each entering class is higher than they would have you believe.
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