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Reedies and Drugs

At a school full of liberal, bright people, there will be drug use--especially when it's a school that generates as much stress as Reed does on a day-to-day basis. Saying that, there is drug use at all colleges and universities around the country, and to believe otherwise would be foolish. At Reed, we are more open about our drug use that other schools keep under covers, and it's because we care about each other. We know the pros and cons of the drugs we use, and we want to keep everyone safe no matter what decisions they make. Because of this, we tell our peers and friends when we do or imbibe certain substances. It's just about the best environment around for Drug Safety, and though there is substance use, it is completely not peer-pressure-induced, and is not at all necessary for fitting in socially. Reed gets a lot of dirt on its "Drugginess" and it is not deserving of it. We are obviously doing something right, because of how many PhD's we produce and how positively graduate programs view Reed graduates.

So Much to Do

Portland is a fantastic place, and the neighborhood Reed lies within is just a short bus ride downtown.

Fantastic Parking

Parking is available for all classes, and there's so much extra parking space, you will almost certainly find a space, and find a good one at that!

Fantastic

Reed's Financial Aid Department is incredibly personal, and in a great way. You can always talk to them, and almost always get more money if you talk your case well enough. They will do their best to give you as much as the FAFSA says you can't afford, which is usually enough. I have had nothing but good experiences dealing with Financial Aid at Reed.

It's What Reed's Known for

If you know about Reed, you know about Reed's academics. Graduate programs know us for just this reason, as do foreign countries. You go to Reed because it will challenge you, and it will give you more work than you can sanely deal with. Freshman year is usually fairly easy, with the option to take 3 credits, and dealing with Hum 110 (not difficult) and other intro classes. The second you get to Sophomore year, though... watch out! The transition between year one to year two is considered the most difficult at Reed, because you switch to 4 relevant and often upper-division courses, each giving piles of coursework. Also, the classes you take are relevant to your major and future life, so you -have- to do well. Sophomore year is also when you need to start impressing professors and, at the end, you need to declare your major. Then Junior year comes about and the Qual. The Qual is a test you need to pass in order to go on to Senior year. It is different for every department, and can range from a test to an enormous and daunting paper, but universally does not spell for a good time. Pass that and you're onto your last year at Reed and the famous Reed Thesis that you get the pleasure of working on year-long. Your thesis is your life, and it is what will get you in to Grad School. It can be what makes you proudest, and/or it will be your nightmare. If Reed does one thing right, it's Academics. Be excited! You will leave Reed loving learning, and being excited with the prospect of reading 1000 pages on some obscure topic.

Social, Not Ethnic, Diversity

Though Reed is not known for its Ethnic diversity, it is one of the most diverse environments I've met. People here come from different ages, socioeconomic classes, and mindsets. You will see every fashion sense, every learning disorder, and every type of crazy here, and you will love it. One of the things I tell people about Reed which I take pride in is how all of us are so accepting of sexuality that you might as well assume bisexuality. While I have learned a great deal of getting along with every different kind of person, I will not say that Reed is the most diverse campus, for it has almost a homogeneous White, USA-resident population.

Nerds, Hippies, and Hipsters

Reedies are wonderful, awkward, beautiful, granola, nerdy, and against labels. I wouldn't say the majority of students here are of the stereotypical "hot" description, though if you're into happy, adorable people, then this is the place for you--especially if nerds are to you the new blondes (not that they're mutually exclusive here or anything). I absolutely love Reedies and all of their quirks.

Sports...?

Reed has no varsity sports. We don't recruit for sports. We do, however, have some intense sports teams, namely Rugby and Ultimate. Our Rugby and Ultimate Frisbee teams may not be stellar, but they take themselves and their respective sports very seriously, playing hard and fun. We also have a lot of recreational sports and tennis courts, as well as just about any court you could desire in our Sports Center. I love sports and the attitude Reedies have towards sports, though this is not the place for some one who wants to be on the NBA after college.

Blue Clouds...That's What That Blue Stuff Is, Right?

You will either see an A or a C- for weather at Reed. We have rain all year round, very little or no snow, and when it's not precipitating, it's overcast. I have loved rain and clouds my entire life, so neither bring me down--in fact, quite the opposite! When I walk outside to a rainy day, I smile the largest smile you're ever likely to see. Something about the way trees look after a rain, or the way the air smells, or the feel of the freshly-moist air on my east-coast skin, is absolutely wondrous. Not only that, but when the blue clouds DO appear, and that strange yellow orb shows its face, you will see the student body erupt out of their dorms and onto the Front Lawn, shirtless and with the music blaring, tossing Frisbees to one another with the grandest of smiles gracing their faces. I wouldn't trade the weather here for any other in the world.

The Honor Principle

If there's one thing you ought to know about Reed before getting there, it's the Honor Principle. Reed doesn't have an Honor Code, but rather an Honor Principle. Basically, this means there is no set penalty for student conduct. All we do is based on the Honor Principle and discussion. Quite simply, we live by a principle that in words is "Be Honorable" or, alternatively, "Don't be a d***." We're allowed to take finals in our rooms or the library, we're allowed to have closed-book tests without supervision, we're allowed to go around campus without cameras watching our every moment or CSO's following us in an attempt to get us doing something against some Honor Code. We do what is good for us and does not harm others, or even benefits others. Also a key aspect of the Reed Honor Principle is that no one suffers alone. We are a community and we wish the safety of all members of our community, and so we will allow our friends and peers to know and help with our problems, just as we will help them with theirs. If there is a major reason I love Reed so much, it is for the Honor Principle--may it live forever.

It's Reed. It's Academics. You Know It. You Love It.

No one said Reed was easy. No one said we were going to a diploma mill. You go to Reed to go to Reed, and that means you're going to get a world class education. You are going to be accepted into the top graduate programs around the world because of the education and work you do here. By the end of it, you will love learning, and that is a fact.

21 and Older

Portland is the City that Sleeps. I'm sorry to say it, but apparently people who live here like to close down between 7 and 9 pm (or even earlier!). That is, unless you're 21+ years old--then there is a more available nightlife. Still, Portland is no LA, NYC, or Vegas. If you're looking for a school with great nightlife, Reed may be better than, say, Amherst, but I'd suggest looking elsewhere.