<p>Another Reed alum here. Yes, Reed is intense academically, but remember that most Reedies study and learn for the sake of intellectual inquiry. In other words, much of the intensity stems from curiosity. Because of this vibe, I felt stimulated by the intense environment, not pressured. The best example of this comes when all the seniors work on their year-long theses. You’d think this would breed a lot of competition, but for me and my friends it was very much a communal, unifying experience.</p>