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Reed College receives record 3,051 applications – up 15 percent – for 345 spaces in its Class of 2010
A 76 percent jump in five years may reflect added appeal of Reed's special status among national elite liberal arts colleges
PORTLAND, OR (February 24, 2006) – Reed College has
received a record 3,051 applications for 345 freshman spaces in its
Class of 2010.
"This represents a 15 percent increase over last year and
is the fourth consecutive record year for applications,"
Dean of Admission Paul Marthers said. "While a number of
our peer institutions are also reporting higher applicant numbers
this year, few if any can match the unbroken expansion in appeal
reflected in Reed's 76 percent increase since
2000–01. We think this may be an indication that
Reed's special status even among small, selective national
liberal arts colleges is attracting more and more attention from
students and parents."
In the past year, Reed's tradition of strong attention
to intellectual pursuits at the undergraduate level has received a
number of prominent mentions in the nation's press.
Princeton Review rated Reed first in the nation in
"overall academic experience" and
U.S. News featured a flattering profile of Reed in its 2006
college annual even though the College continues to refrain from
submitting rankings data.
Marthers said he anticipates that Reed will offer admission to
40–42 percent of those who have applied, down from 45
percent last year. The Reed admission office will mail decision
letters near the end of March and immediately prepare to host
visits, throughout the month of April, from admitted applicants and
their families.
Reed College
The distinctive Reed experience includes a challenging curriculum involving wide reading, conference and laboratory-based teaching in small groups, and a student body motivated by enthusiasm for serious intellectual work. Reed offers a B.A. in 22 major fields and numerous interdisciplinary fields, as well as a master of arts in liberal studies degree.
With an enrollment today of about 1,360 students, Reed has produced the second highest number of Rhodes Scholars (31), for any liberal arts college, as well as over 50 Fulbright Scholars, over 60 Watson Fellows, and two MacArthur ("Genius") Award winners. A very high proportion of Reed graduates go on to earn Ph.D.s, particularly in the sciences, history, political science, and philosophy. Reed is third in percentage of its graduates who go on to earn Ph.D.s in all disciplines, after only the California Institute of Technology and Harvey Mudd. Reed is first in this percentage in biology. Visit web.reed.edu for further information.