<p>If you have to work so hard to convince yourself that Reed (or, for that matter ANY college) is the right place for you, maybe you should listen to what your gut instinct is telling you. Focus on the colleges that you feel more positive about, rather than trying to talk yourself into a school that doesn’t feel like a fit. It is OK to let Reed go, if you feel it’s not right for you.</p>
<p>That said, my son has been happy with the math department at Reed. He has found the profs and courses he’s taken so far to be very challenging, and right up his alley (he has a strong preference for abstract mathematics, rather than applied). Want more challenge in physics than what’s offered in the catalog? Neither Vossron or Mackinaw mentioned this but Reed is the only college in the country that has a nuclear reactor that is entirely run by undergraduates. So, in addition to the courses in the catalog, you have the option of taking a very demanding “extracurricular” program to earn your nuclear reactor license. </p>
<p>But again, don’t talk yourself into Reed or ANY college. As someone who has counseled many students looking to transfer, I can tell you that one of the main things students say when they’re thinking of transferring is that they knew in their hearts that the school they ended up at wasn’t the right one for them, but they talked themselves into it. If your gut is telling you that a school is not right for you, then you will probably be better off focusing on the schools on your list that you feel more comfortable with. As I said, it’s OK to let Reed go if you believe it isn’t right for you. Good luck!</p>