 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
scoop
Member
| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 546 |
| Mana: |    |
|
Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 10:19 am |
|
I loved reading your report Descartes. I am planning to have my D read your paragraph on the typical Reed student..I have never read anything in print that so aptly describes her persona..sadly, they don't have the art program she needs. She came home from school the other day glowing. She had led the discussion of a book in AP English and she said it was the first time she really felt that the kids in her class cared deeply about what they were discussing. She was literally jumping up and down.
I would like to compliment you on your reports. Even if the school is not on our radar, I learn so much about what to look for when we visit. Your attention to detail astounds me. Thanks!
Last edited on Tue Apr 1st, 2008 01:34 pm by scoop
|
Descartes
Super Moderator
|
Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 01:25 pm |
|
I think you were responding to my post, Scoop, although I'm sure Mackinaw, a Reed alum, has much to say about Reed students, too.
My somewhat ignorant perception was that the arts are not central to Reed's focus. There seemed to be (as viewed from the outside) nice buildings for theater and studio arts, but they were not as lavish as other schools might have. I don't remember seeing a music building--I recall a house only. My impression: enough support for the arts to meet the needs of students who value but are not dedicated to arts performance.
Perhaps someone more knowledgeable would care to correct me.
Last edited on Tue Apr 1st, 2008 01:27 pm by Descartes
|
scoop
Member
| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 546 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 01:34 pm |
|
| That was a typo Descartes...I was responding to your post and have corrected it. I should know better than to type before coffee. D read your description this morning and loved it. I doubt the emphasis on classics would suit her but she found it quite interesting. Last edited on Tue Apr 1st, 2008 01:39 pm by scoop
|
mackinaw
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Michigan |
| Posts: | 776 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 03:52 pm |
|
Descartes, I hardly know where to start, or maybe to end, my comment on your sensitive observations of Reed, which Carolyn aptly characterized as describing Reed to a tee.
I think that conversation between two students that you overheard says it all. Reedies are inquisitive and questioning not so much of authority but of the conventional wisdom. They are asked to come up with their own understanding of things. That's the essence of the "conference" method in their courses. It's not so much that students and faculty discuss and debate every topic with the end-goal of declaring a winner or reaching consensus. Rather it's an opportunity through interchange and expression, and reviewing text or evidence in question, for each participant to come to terms with the problem or the literature or the argument by and for himself or herself.
The instructor usually participates using the Socratic method but doesn't pretend to be seeking the one and only truth. But it's in the Socratic spirit in the sense that "education" using that method reflects the etymology or literal meaning of the word (in Latin, not Greek) as "drawing out" insights and interpretation from the student rather than forcing information and interpretations into the student -- with the implicit assumption that each student is capable of finding answers within himself or herself, if only the right questions are asked. (Edit: Just checked the etymology. Latin educere to draw out, from e- + ducere to lead.)
Three of your observations illustrate perfectly why I have sometimes put forward what I call . . .
"The 10-minute 3-step college visit plan"
for those who don't have much time during a campus visit
1. Go to the bathroom (perhaps in the library or the union). Take a seat. Read what's on the walls, the grafitti. If it's the usual "roses are red" or "For a good time call 444-5476" or scatological stuff, you're at a low-brow campus. If it takes the form of an epic poem (bawdy or not; political or not; subsantively compelling or not), with successive visitors cleverly adding stanza after stanza -- indeed keep in mind that the Odyssey and Iliad had many composers and Homer was perhaps just a scribe -- then you're at a high-brow campus. (Of course eventually the "mad eraser" comes by and washes off or paints over the accumulated literature; after all there has to be space for the next generation to express its views.)
2. Go the library. Don't bother looking at the catalogue, the books, the periodicals, the computers. Just head to the main reading room, take a seat, and listen. If the students there are talking, yucking it up, flirting, flitting about, doing anything but reading, you've got yourself a party school. If, on the other hand, you hear just footfalls, the occasional book closing or opening, maybe a brief outburst of someone uttering "hmmmmm," well you've got yourself a very studious place and a very serious student body.
3. Go to the coffee shop or student union. Eavesdrop on conversations. Of course you may hear reference at this time of year to NCAA basketball brackets or discussion of personal issues, parties, clothes, the election, etc., and if that's all you hear about you've got yourself a typical student body. If, in contrast, you overhear some conversations about things totally untopical, say, about politics in the 19th century or in 344 BC, or about literature or film, or about Descartes, you're likely in a place where students aren't preoccupied with current fads and fashions, but engaging in intellectual discourse.
You can head home or to the next college now, perhaps visit a couple of classrooms or walk around the grounds. But everything else you may want to learn you can find on-line or just by making observations as you're walking to and from your car, such as the "style" of the students including shoes (if any), hair styles (if any), and make-up (if any).
Of course this "method" betrays my own priorities. One of them is not to waste time on college visits, and another is to just acknowledge what we've all seen: our kids scope out and draw firm conclusions about colleges in the first couple of minutes of a visit. All I've done is formalize the quick visit, with some instructions for parents or students who might require 10 minutes to reach a conclusion.
Last edited on Sat May 24th, 2008 11:38 pm by mackinaw
|
Descartes
Super Moderator
|
Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 03:33 am |
|
Thank you, Scoop, Mac, and Carolyn, for your kind words. I do try hard to stay honest, useful, and kind in my reviews.
Two more Reed points:
-- The campus is in a kind of transitional part of Portland, with a neighborhood of large older houses on the south side, more modest homes to the north and east, a private golf course on the southwest, and a commercial/industrial area on the northwest corner. It seemed to me that the whole north side, but especially this last corner, was very underdeveloped and had plenty of potential. Already new dorms are being built nearby.
-- There were counseling services available right in the heart of campus. Our guide told us there were at least 10 full time counselors available on a few days notice. I asked her if she had ever had cause to use one and she replied she had and that it had been both easy and helpful. I was glad to hear this as it suggested to me that the school was directly addressing the emotional toll the intensive environment can have on students.
|
mackinaw
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Michigan |
| Posts: | 776 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 04:48 am |
|
A large part of the north side ("Cross-Canyon") was purchased in recent years, as Reed took over and demolished the defunct Eastmoreland hospital and adjacent property in 2004. This was actually a pretty fair addition to the campus. A Campus Master Plan, published in 2006 and updated a year later describes both the history of the campus and its buildings and some of the plans for the future, in particular the expansion of on-campus housing. http://www.reed.edu/campusmasterplan/
Regarding the arts, Reed has made some progress in recent years, and is planning a new performing arts center. Here's a recent notice of a Mellon Challenge Grant: http://web.reed.edu/news_center/press_releases/2007-2008/090607Mellon.html
Last edited on Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 11:25 am by mackinaw
|
outwest
Member
| Joined: | Sun Mar 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | CA |
| Posts: | 540 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 04:52 am |
|
I loved your post Descartes. I have had two kids look at Reed. The first would have fit right in, had it had a music program of any umph. She was accepted, vacilating about whether the music might be just good enough for her or not. She loved Reed. My youngest went to look out of curiosity and came away intrigued, but certain that she was not a Reedy.
The only 'run down' thing I noticed at Reed as opposed to other LACs is that they have a distain for grass edgers and weeds were okay around the tennis courts. After seeing so many perfectly squared off green corners, I rather liked the frumpish grass edges. To me, it felt more real and homey. The buildings and everything else were very well tended!
The oddest thing about Reed to me was that swing set (with the grass growing up around its supports, of course). What's with the swing set?
Last edited on Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 04:58 am by outwest
|
Descartes
Super Moderator
|
Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 01:03 pm |
|
Outwest, I would tend to agree, the lawncare looked more on the level of that in my yard than the private-golf-course-level I have seen at some LAC's. And at least as good as at most public parks. And I agree, more inviting, too.
Mac, I'm glad to hear of the plans for a performing arts center (to be placed on the north side of campus?) I'd be willing to bet they lose a trickle of arts-oriented students every year that would otherwise be good matches for the school.
|
revkat
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jun 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 47 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 02:25 pm |
|
| The swing set has been around since the mid-80s (a few years after I graduated). A student group formed and was funded to provide a play place for students. I always thought it would have been nice to be able to watch the sun set over the west hills of Portland while swinging. I haven't been back to the campus in 15 years, so I don't know if anyone still swings. . .
|
CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3191 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Thu Apr 3rd, 2008 03:20 am |
|
I am laughing about the lawn comments. You see, we have three dogs. So, when we visited Reed, my husband's first comment when he saw all the unleashed "Reed dogs" walking about was, "how the heck do they keep the lawns looking so nice???" 
Mackinaw, that was an inspired post about the ten minute college tour. As you know, my son's moment of "Reed enlightenment" came when he stood in the thesis tower for the first time.
Also, he was absolutely positively thrilled to learn that they just discovered tapes in the Reed library of Alan Ginsberg's first public reading of Howl. Even better, it happened on the steps of the Reed library. What more could you ask for?
My son said Reed is the only place he's ever been where people his age know who Gary Snyder is, and that was a big selling point...but, now, Ginsberg on the library steps -- he sees it as a sign that he picked wisely. (But I think he will be disappointed when he gets to Reed and realizes that the original beat poets have all moved on...)
|
mackinaw
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Michigan |
| Posts: | 776 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Sat May 24th, 2008 03:23 am |
|
Here's an informative article on Reed College admissions, from the Reed magazine (Spring 2008), entitled "Many Apply, Few Are Chosen":
http://web.reed.edu/reed_magazine/spring2008/features/many_apply/index.html
|
outwest
Member
| Joined: | Sun Mar 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | CA |
| Posts: | 540 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Sat May 24th, 2008 04:26 am |
|
I read the whole article. I have always had a soft spot for Reed since my oldest wanted to do ED, we told her no ED due to financial aid, she applied RD, they let her in with a terrific aid package and she chose a different school with a stronger department in her interests.
The article was very interesting. I think you should post it in the general college admissions thread, too.
|
CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3191 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Sat May 24th, 2008 10:20 pm |
|
Thanks for posting this Mack. My son and I just read it together, and we are both so grateful that he was admitted. Thank goodness he applied ED. 
Last edited on Sat May 24th, 2008 10:25 pm by CarolynLawrence
|
mackinaw
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Michigan |
| Posts: | 776 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Sat May 24th, 2008 10:29 pm |
|
Carolyn, I have a sense that your son is definitely Reed-Good.
|
outwest
Member
| Joined: | Sun Mar 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | CA |
| Posts: | 540 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Sun May 25th, 2008 04:09 am |
|
In this Forbes list of results oriented college, Reed jumps to 12th from 54th on USNWR. I think I will post this elswhere, too, as it is interesting to see some colleges jump way up or way down:
http://www.forbes.com/opinions/forbes/2008/0519/030_3.html
|
Current time is 06:31 am | Page:   1 2 3 |
|
|
|
|
