Questions from an incoming transfer applicant (Fall 2014)

International95
Sat, 24 May 2014 13:12:25 +0000

Haha I know who you are.

Anyway,

1) No course at Reed is “easy”, so take classes that you would like to genuinely take because otherwise it’s not going to end pretty. From what current Reedies tell me, those inclined to physics/math usually take up economics to fulfill the Group B requirement. Basically, just look at the classes offered and read the descriptions. Are you not required to fulfill the Group X requirement?

I, personally, am excited to take up a language at Reed. You will probably not get this chance again and there may come a time in your life when you will regret not studying a foreign language in college. So, milk the opportunities offered by the liberal arts as much as you can?

2) I’m not too aware of what’s up with physics but I should point it out to you that physics is extremely demanding at Reed. A friend who attends Hamilton, for instance, tells me that he just has 1 problem set to do per week for physics, while at Reed, you will have to do one every other day for even the introductory class.

3) --

4) Working at the research reactor would be demanding, yes. Many who are excited by it in the beginning lose interest midway through the seminars because they just don’t feel that it’s worth the time or energy. Only you can tell if it’s worth it. If it were impossible, no one would be running the reactor and it would be shut down.

You ought to speak to a physics major at Reed to gauge the difficulty. Ask the admissions office to find you someone. From what physics majors at Reed tell me, the program is extremely demanding and very difficult indeed. Someone who enjoys physics, however, would enjoy the difficulty and find it to be fulfilling.

5) Don’t know yet. Reedies tell me it is cloudy all the time.