Reed College Top Questions

Stereotypes are always based on some nugget of truth, right? In Reed's case: 1. There are a billion hot men and women on campus. It's true, though, that a certain nerdy aesthetic predominates. I prefer a man in glasses and argyle, so that's fine by me! We don't have a huge number of surfer-type boys or cheerleader girls (though they exist, as well). 2. Reedies aren't stuck-up. Mostly. Well, some are, I suppose. But there are jerks everywhere. Instead, many Reedies are awkward. Many Reedies are ridiculously bright. Many Reedies are too busy to hang out with you all the time. We're sweet people, though. Just get to know us! 3. I think that, by some, Reed really would be considered a boring place. For example, it isn't uncommon to overhear conversations about Plato or cell theory or Meyerhold in Commons (the cafeteria) or at a party. Some people might call that boring, but I call it absolutely wonderful. On the other hand, one of the great marks of a Reedie is extreme interest diversification (I just pulled that term out of my ass, but it sounds good). I am as likely to participate in a conversation about Family Guy or sexual positions or Obama or The Lord of the Rings as anything else. We're coooool peooople! 4. The last is, in my opinion, the least true. You cannot. Cannot. Cannot be a burn-out and still be a Reedie. To be perfectly honest, this place is much too freaking difficult. As far as drug use itself, I'm not convinced that there are more drugs here than in any other school in the world. Reedies are curious, so perhaps that accounts for some of the use. Also, we're honest, so that accounts of the visibility. I've never done hard drugs, and I've been here for 2.5 years already. I've never even been offered anything scary. So...in my experience, labeling Reedies as "druggie burn-out[s]" is just simply incorrect.

Pretty much, although I never had pink hair and I still don't have a tattoo, and I never did make it to a kegger in the library.

A Reedie discusses some of the stereotypes associated with Reed college and comments on their accuracy.

A student discusses some of the stereotypes associated with Reed college and comments on their accuracy.

A student discusses some of the stereotypes associated with Reed college and comments on their accuracy.

A student discusses some of the stereotypes associated with Reed College and comments on their accuracy.

-More or less true depending on your major -Not really true. The majority of Reedies do not use drugs (alcohol being a notable exception), but Reed gets a reputation for being a druggie school because Reedies are more open about drug use than students at other schools. Yes, drug use occurs, but no more than at any other college. It's just that the drug culture here is much less underground, and as a result, it's generally less seedy and dangerous. It's also more experimental. You have science majors taking acid not because they want to get "fucked up" but because they're interested in the neurochemistry that's taking place in their brains. In sum, most students don't do drugs, but the ones that do are pretty adventurous and open about it, and that's where the reputation comes from. Also Renn Fayre. -When I was a freshmen, I told a fifth-year senior I was having girl problems. He responded, "Reedies are the most awkward people you'll ever meet in your life." He was right. -Absolutely true. They're fucking brilliant to boot. -A little bit. It varies from person to person, but we do have a tendency to be snarky and sarcastic to people we consider to be ignorant. -Not really true, although I have met a couple of athiests who are assholes to Christians and other believers, but they're few and far-between. That said, Reedies are mostly non-religious, but the one's who are religious aren't evangelical about it. -Reed has a reputation for being a bastion of socialist thought, but the students today are far less politically radical than they used to be. That said, Reed is still a liberal school, so if you come here and you're open and out about being Republican, be prepared for some harassment.

Yes.

Most are not completely accurate, but are based on some grain of truth. A majority of Reedies are in fact white and from middle to upper-middle class, Reed has a permissive drug culture so it is more visible than at other schools

yes

Not in a bold-faced black and white kind of way. Reed has a strong personality. I do NOT advise anyone to go to Reed without visiting first. Intuition about Reed is like intuition about a person; you have to go with it, and you either click or you don't. Reedies are, overall, incredibly passionate, enthusiastic and intellectual. True, there are quite liberal attitudes towards things like drugs, clothing, showering etc. But it is not the case that in order to come to Reed and have a fruitfull experience, you need to be a stoner hippie. I would say, the stereotypes do come from truth, like most stereotypes. But it is important to see them as such, and recognize that hippie can mean 'happy, nature loving person' as easily as it can mean stoner, and (unfortunately) intellectual elite can also mean pretentious jerk.

The stereotypes are only somewhat accurate. Reedies are incredibly smart and the relaxed approach to discipline does lead to an availablity of drugs on campus. However, contrary to popular belief, the entire student body DOES NOT USE DRUGS. Some people do, some people don't. It is true that nudity is acceptable on campus, and it is also true that Reedies are often percieved as arrogant by the Portland community.

Some people are very social althrough we do probably have more introverts than normal. I think it’s true that everyone feels perpetually guilty for not doing more schoolwork. During finals week, a large group of kids never leave the library and yet seem really happy about it. It’s as if they finally feel like they’re doing enough studying.

There is a certain degree of truth to them.

Yes.

These stereotypes do have a measure of truth to them. However, Reed is made up of all kinds of people. We don't all do drugs and we're not all intellectual masterbators, but we do all work hard.

no stereotype or other generalization can be 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} accurate. But the above at Reed come close to about 70{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} accurate, in 70{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the people. the other 30{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} and other 30{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of people is pure genius, ethnically, spiritually, experientially, creatively, or otherwise.

Reed will drive you motherfucking insane A particular crowd within the student body at Reed use a whole helluva lot of drugs (mostly psychedelics and research chemicals, as well as good ol' herb, but there is also a seedy heroin and cocaine scene that you won't notice unless you look for/fall into it.) All reedies are brilliant in their own funny way, most are quite poetic, and Reed as a whole is one of the most creative places I've ever been Reed is, in fact, very, very small. If you don't like small places it can be too small. If you like them, it could be just right. Reed has a sublime little basement area with a fantastic jukebox and lots of murals that is known as the poolhall.

Well, in order to do well here, you will find yourself doing more work than you thought possible. By your junior or senior year, you will be in a serious state of panic on a regular basis. But you'll love it.

Why the fuck else would I write those as stereotypes. What kind of a question is this? Of course they aren't true, stereotypes are by nature not accurate. There are always exceptions. Who ever thought this would be a good question is fuckin stupid, how about ask "what are students at _____ college like?" Then the answer will entitle a more accurate interpretation and eclectic collection of people. You'll find friends at Reed. There are all sorts of people there, except Republicans, or african americans, because the rich white kids that go to Reed are scared to death of black people apparently, although they'll fight tooth and nail do defend everyones rights, they just won't be everyone's friends. But then again what do you expect from any college liberal. This is a dumb question.