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Diversity at Reed

Admission

Keith Todd, dean of admission

"Diversity is a vital concept for all of us in the admission office at Reed. We want to shape a community of young scholars, from around the country and the world, who will bring their best ideas literally to the table, in our conference-style classes. We hold that there are educational benefits to diversity: having students with differing life experiences, ethnicities and national backgrounds, opinions, and beliefs makes for wider-ranging discussions from which every student can take away a new perspective. We hope to bring together the student whose parents went to Reed and the student who is the first in his family to earn a college degree. We recognize that attention to under-represented groups and individuals is important in maintaining a diverse community where each student demonstrates excellence from across a wide range of talents and abilities. To ensure as much socioeconomic diversity as possible, we offer need-based financial assistance that meets the full demonstrated need of each admitted student. Ultimately, by creating an undergraduate community that reflects the great variety in our national and global cultures, we energize and elevate the intellectual life of the Reed campus and send a message to bright, creative students from all walks of life that they can find a welcoming and accepting, as well as challenging, college experience at Reed."

Diversity-focused Admission Efforts

The Reed College admission office engages in a number of efforts to help ensure the most diverse freshman class possible. In addition to our off-campus work connecting with students in their hometowns and our outreach through publications and mailings, we host the four following on-campus programs designed to recruit, admit, and enroll students from under-represented ethnic groups.

Local College Admission Workshop
Early October

Each fall the we offer a college admission and financial aid workshop for local students, college guidance counselors, and community-based organizations. The program is designed specifically for students of color and students from lower-income backgrounds. The agenda includes an overview of the college search and application process, a conversation about financial aid, and an opportunity to review and discuss sample applications with Reed college admission counselors. Those interested in attending need only to make a reservation for the event. Family members are welcome.

Fall Fly-In: Reed Overnight Multicultural Experience
Early November

In early November we welcome 30–35 high school seniors from historically underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds to Reed. These selected students are brought from all over the country to our campus, free of expense. The group spends three days and two nights getting to know Reed, its community members, and the surrounding area. While here, students have the opportunity to sit in on classes, tour campus, eat in the dinning hall, sleep in the dorms, and maybe even read a comic book in our comic book library or throw a Frisbee with our Ultimate team. Applications for the program are due in early October.

Spring Fly-In Programs
Late March and Mid-April

During our two spring fly-in programs, 20–25 students to come visit Reed, free of expense. For these events, we invite students from historically underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds who have submitted an application to Reed. The spring fly-in events are similar to the fall fly-in program and provide students an in-depth and engaging visit experience.

Additional information about these programs can be found at:
http://www.reed.edu/apply/mrec/

Admission counselors Dahlia Grossman-Heinze (dahliagh@reed.edu) and Swati Shrestha (shrestsw@reed.edu) welcome your questions as you get to know Reed.

2010-11 Students

Fall 2010 Entering Class (373 students)

In 2010–11, students came from 46 countries in addition to the U.S.:

Download the Community of Cultures brochure [PDF]