<p>Reed has invested quite a lot in recent years in new studios and in enhancing its art program. I was impressed with what I saw in June – a whole lot more than there was in my time at Reed.</p>
<p>As far as time to graduation is concerned, your statement isn’t accurate. I will base this response on the Common Data Set (CDS) posted on the Reed website: <a href=“http://web.reed.edu/ir/ReedCDS200405.html[/url]”>http://web.reed.edu/ir/ReedCDS200405.html</a> . A caution: these data are a couple of years old, though they’re the latest available, and refer to to the entering class of 1998.</p>
<p>First of all, Reed does have a fairly high attrition rate (which the current admin. is working hard to reduce): on that CDS, we see that 70% of the entering class of 1998 graduated in 6 years. Specifically, of 338 who entered, 166 graduated in 4 years, 57 in 5 years, and 13 in 6 years. Thus, 49% of the entering class in Fall 1998 graduated in 4 years, and another 21% graduated in 6 years, while 30% did not graduate in 6 years (most probably transferred, and some probably dropped out).</p>
<p>So, to answer your specific question, one can say that according to the latest available data from the entering class of 1998, 49% graduated in 4 years. But of those who did graduate in 6 years, 70% graduated in 4 years.</p>
<p>(I graduated in 4 years. From my observation, some of the “late” graduates are those who took a year out but came back to finish; some are students who didn’t file their senior thesis on time but actually completed all their coursework in 4 years and were awarded the degree a year later when the thesis was defended and filed).</p>
<p>I might add that about half those who do not graduate in 6 years leave before the second year. They may find Reed not to their liking or not what they expected. But again, of those who continue after freshman year, most graduate in 4 years. So this speaks to the importance of visiting the campus and becoming familiar with the program before you apply or enroll.</p>
<p>This is maybe more information than you wanted to have, but I thought I’d try to flesh this out.</p>