Admission
International Student Guide
Applying to Reed
Financial aid
Reed community
Graduate schools
Campus activities
Off-campus resources
Canadian students
Download the international student guide (pdf)
Applying to Reed College
Reed welcomes applications from international students whose educational interests would be served by Reed's programs in the sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. The college seeks students who are well prepared academically and who are serious about a broad-based education. Admission to Reed is competitive and is based on a close examination and comparison of credentials from many highly qualified applicants. Intellectual curiosity, academic performance, and an understanding of Reed are among the criteria used to evaluate each applicant's candidacy.
A number of points warrant particular attention as you consider applying to Reed:
- To apply for admission to Reed, students will need to fill out the Common Application and the Reed Application Supplement that includes the "Why Reed" essay and a graded writing sample in English. All application materials can be accessed through Reed's website.
For evaluating applications, the admission committee requires full secondary school transcripts. Students studying under a system that requires examination (for example, the International Baccalaureate or the British System) are asked to submit exam results at the time of completion. Predicted results for exams that are in progress should be sent with the application. British System candidates are expected to sit for A-levels. Students who successfully complete A-Level, International Baccalaureate, Abitur, or Lycée programs may be eligible for up to one year of advanced credit from Reed.- We require test results from the SAT I of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) or ACT. These tests are administered September through January in most major cities throughout the world. For information and application, see the College Board website at www.collegeboard.com or the ACT website at www.act.org. International students should make arrangements to take the SAT I or ACT and TOEFL tests no later than December of the year before they apply and should complete their applications by the January 15 deadline.
- International applicants whose native language is not English are encouraged, but not required, to submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The substance of Reed's courses and the style in which they are conducted demand a thorough understanding of and a high degree of proficiency in the English language. We recommend that students take the TOEFL if they receive a sub-600 score on the SAT critical reading subsection. The average TOEFL score for international students entering Reed is approximately 650 paper-based, 280 computer-based, and 110 internet-based. For information and application log onto www.toefl.org.
- We require two teacher recommendations from two different academic disciplines. If the recommendations are not written in English, the inclusion of an accurate translation is expected.
- If you are a permanent resident of the U.S., you must submit a photocopy of your Permanent Resident Card (I-551) with your application. Permanent residents who wish to apply for financial aid must follow the application process for domestic students, filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CSS Profile. Detailed instrudtions are available on Reed's financial aid site.
Reed makes admission decisions on an early timetable. Early Decision option I application forms must be submitted by November 15. (International citizens cannot apply for Early Decision option II.) Freshman application forms must be submitted by January 15; decisions are mailed from the college in late March. Occasionally an extension of the deadline is granted to overseas applicants; however, students applying for financial aid must meet the February 1 deadline in order to be considered for an award. A student applying for transfer admission must submit an application by March 1.- Corresponding by fax or email reduces the waiting period for international mail. The admission office fax number is 503/777-7553; the email address is admission@reed.edu. If you have a fax number or email address where you can receive messages, please provide us with it so that we may reach you in the most efficient manner possible.
Financial Aid
All financial aid at Reed is granted on the basis of demonstrated financial need. We offer no academic or athletic scholarships. Need is determined through an assessment of your family's financial resources and ability to contribute toward the total cost of your education. This assessed family contribution is subtracted from the total cost of tuition, fees, room and board, books, incidental expenses, and a travel allowance. The amount remaining is your demonstrated financial need.
Even though Reed is an independent college, funds from the United States government provide a significant portion of a student's financial aid package. These funds are available only to students who are U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status in the U.S. As a result, when Reed offers financial aid to international students, the entire package is composed of Reed funds. Since our funds are limited, we can only offer financial aid to approximately 20 to 25 international students each year. In a typical year, 150 to 200 qualified international freshman and transfer applicants compete for these awards. All offers of financial assistance include grants, work opportunities, and loans. Loans must be repaid to the college.
If you are requesting financial assistance
If you plan to apply for financial aid from the college, you must file the 2013-14 College Scholarship Service (CSS) PROFILE and include Reed as a recipient (code 4654).
You should file the College Scholarship Service PROFILE by February 1 for Regular Decision (March 1 for transfers). Since financial aid decisions for international students are made in early March for freshmen (early April for transfers), it is imperative that you submit your admission and financial aid forms early and urge your counselor and teachers to do likewise. Applications not completed in a timely fashion will not receive consideration for financial aid. All students who are employed while attending Reed College must obtain a U.S. social security number. International students who do not work must obtain an Individial Tax Identification Number (ITIN), which is needed to complete and file Form 8843. (The filing of Form 8843 confirms one's nonresident tax status in the United States.) Reed will help you through the process of attaining a social security or applicable identification number once you are on campus.
Cost of attendance can be found here. Direct costs will show on your billing statement from the business office. Indirect costs are probable expenses that are not billed by the business office, but for which you will be responsible. Another indirect expense that should be considered is cost for travel, which will vary by location.
The Reed Community
At the beginning of each year, Reed holds a series of events and activities to welcome new students and their parents to campus. These orientation sessions, including introductory presentations by academic departments, student services, and academic advising, are aimed at helping students transition successfully to life at Reed. A special orientation for international students--to address the range of questions, concerns, and issues relevant to the international student community--takes place before the regular orientation.
Academic assistance and tutoring during the academic year are available in centers for writing, science, mathematics, and quantitative skills. Individual tutoring is available for most classes in which students are enrolled. Information resource centers (IRCs), where students have access to Macintosh computers, are open 24 hours a day. Reed has one of the most sophisticated academic computing environments among the nation's leading liberal arts colleges, and computers for specialized work are also available in labs across campus.
Room and board
The residence halls at Reed offer convenient access to the school's facilities, as well as the opportunity to make friends. In addition, the residence life office maintains a bulletin board listing available off-campus rooms, apartments, or houses.
Food service at Reed provides a variety of options for students who live on or off campus, including vegetarian meals. The Paradox Café and Paradox Lost, small coffee shops on campus, are managed by Reed students.
Health care
Staff members are available to assist students with health and counseling at the health center. All students must provide evidence of health insurance coverage or subscribe to the college's health insurance policy. This policy is designed to help pay medical costs most likely to be incurred by college students. Off-campus referrals to physicians in the Portland area can be made through the health center.
Campus security
Reed's beautiful, wooded campus is a very safe place to live and study. The community safety office is open 24 hours a day, operates the college switchboard and patrols the college campus and facilities. Community safety officers are certified by the State of Oregon, and are trained to assist with CPR, first aid, fire safety, and criminal investigation.
Host families
The international programs office is an important base for international students. This office coordinates the Reed College host family program, which provides ongoing contact with local families for international students. The student and the family make arrangements for visiting and for attending activities and meals together. The international programs office also coordinates opportunities for students to share their cultural perspectives within local community groups.
International Student Services
The international student services office seeks to support the academic and personal well-being of international students and language scholars at Reed. By working collaboratively with various student services offices and the international programs office, international student services provides resources and programs that help international students and scholars with cultural adjustment, academic support, career exploration, and other issues. More information can be found at www.reed.edu/iss/.
InterConnect program
InterConnect helps new international students transition successfully to their life at Reed and in the United States. The program pairs new students with current Reed students, who play the role of mentors. These mentors serve as a resource for first-year students, answering questions about academic, social, and extracurricular life at Reed and offering insight into American life.
International Student Advisory Board
The goal of the International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) is to improve the Reed experience for international students. The board is composed of students, and serves as an information channel between the international student body and members of Reed's faculty and staff. In addition to strengthening the connections between international students and campus offices, ISAB works to provide a forum for open discussion of issues pertaining to the international student population. ISAB also provides recreational opportunities!
Campus activities
Students have many opportunities to participate in activities throughout the academic year, from attending concerts to doing volunteer work in the Portland community. Reed's sports center, which offers classes, has two gyms, an indoor pool, squash, handball, and racquetball courts, a weight room, and a dance studio. The theatre and music departments welcome participation from students in all majors. An endowed fund--the Gray Fund--brings recreational programs to campus and supports outdoor trips and visits to cultural institutions in and around Portland.
Off-campus resources
Reed, located in the city of Portland, is nestled in a residential neighborhood five miles east of downtown. A variety of shops, grocery stores, banks, and a public library are within walking distance from campus. Portland has an economical,
easy-to-use public transit system, including bus lines and a light rail system. The city has demonstrated its support for bicyclists by installing bicycle lanes on many major streets.
Portland is noted for its parks, independent coffee shops, bookstores, and smart urban design. Forest Park, located west of downtown, is among the largest forested natural areas within city limits in the United States, and Powell's City of Books, with headquarters in Portland's Pearl district, is the country's largest independently owned bookstore. Outdoor activities in the surrounding area can include whitewater rafting, rock climbing, skiing, and surfing, all of which are possible within a three-hour drive from campus. Many Reed students pursue these activities through organized college outings; the college's backpack co-op can lend students the necessary gear to aid them in their adventures.
Jobs and careers
All available on campus jobs can be found through a network of job postings online. Specific details about student visa requirements, social security, and income tax for employment will be provided for you when you enroll at Reed. The career services office also assists in job placement after you graduate.
Summer internships and jobs are available through the
career services office. Recent opportunities have included internships at the following institutions:
- Princeton plasma physics lab
- Aegean Wildlife Hospital
- theatre in New York City
- Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
- Harvard biophysics department
- Coca-Cola, Madrid
- Microsoft
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Oregon Health and Science University
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
- Intel
Graduate and professional schools
Reed's focus on academics and research is invaluable in preparing students for continued study. Graduate and professional schools most frequently attended by Reed alumni include the following:
Doctoral study
UC Berkeley
University of Washington
Stanford University
University of Oregon
Harvard University
Law
Lewis & Clark Law School
UC Berkeley
University of Washington
University of Chicago
Yale University
Business
University of Chicago
Portland State University
Harvard University
University of Pennsylvania
Columbia University
Medicine
Oregon Health and
Sciences University
University of Washington
Washington University
(St. Louis)
UC San Francisco
Stanford University
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BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES |
MATH & COMPUTER SCIENCES |
SOCIAL SCIENCES |
ALL DISCIPLINES |
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REED |
Caltech |
Swarthmore |
Caltech |