Admittedly, the Reed College student body is filled with weirdos of all shapes and sizes. Postmodernist literature-reading hipsters, RPG and Dr. Who fanatics, science aficionados, and lovers of the just plain bizarre populate Reed’s green campus in the heart of Southeast Portland. For those of you interested in attending Reed, we want to debunk a few misconceptions about our home here in the City of Roses.
- MYTH: “Woah! Let’s explore Reed’s underground labyrinth!” Okay, so Reed might actually have heating vent tunnels beneath the campus, but are they as filled with mystery and lore as Reedies claim they do. The truth? The tunnels are not like Gringotts nor Khazad-dûm, but more like… well, boring and cramped heating vents. But what about the gnomes? Check out the Reed Admissions site for more stories.
- MYTH: “There are no sports at Reed.” While Varsity teams and cheerleading squads are a laughable possibility at Reed, the life of the athlete does not directly conflict with Reed’s life of the mind. The truth? With its mandatory P.E. requirement, an odd addition to the liberal arts curriculum, Reed students pick from a variety of physical education classes offered each semester. From archery to Zumba, the Sports Center boasts a myriad of options. Okay, so the meditation class isn’t really a sport, but that doesn’t negate the active sports culture at Reed.
- MYTH: “The workload is INSANE! UGH, I am so stressed.” Reed prides itself on rigorous academics and a commitment to the liberal arts education. Reedies genuinely love learning and sometimes delve quite deeply into their studies. Many current students hype up the amount of stress they have, but this does not truly reflect the real life of Reedie. The truth? While schoolwork remains a high priority for many students, it does not need to dominate a Reedie lifestyle. I won’t lie, the academics at Reed are challenging and relentless, and you have to work very hard in order to succeed. But that work and effort should be rewarding, not exhausting. Plus, all of those complainers who grumble about their work waste all of their time procrastinating on Tumblr. Reedies work hard, but they know how to play hard and have a good time too! Check out the Gray Fund, Reed Arts Week, and other fun Reed traditions for examples of Reedies at play.
