Apply to Graduate School
Many Reed graduates go on to earn an advanced degree. The Center for Life Beyond Reed is here to help with every step of the process—from exploring options to submitting applications.
Graduate School Information by Discipline
General Resources
Personal Statements
Personal statements—also called "application essays" or "statements of purpose"—are essays that explain why you are seeking to attend graduate school. There is no formula to follow in shaping your response, only choices for you to make, such as whether you should write an essay that is more autobiographically focused or one that is more professionally focused. The following sites can help guide you:
- Writing Personal Statements Online (Penn State)
- Writing the Personal Statement (Purdue University Online Writing Lab)
- Personal Statement, Grant, Fellowship, and Letter of Recommendation Resources
Letters of Recommendation
Our advice on requesting letters of recommendation outlines all of the etiquette around letters of recommendation. Remember: give your references three to five weeks notice when requesting a letter.
Test Prep Services
- Learning Express Library
- You'll need to register to access materials, but they're free. You can access GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT practice tests.
- Note: Learning Express Library is primarily available to current students and recent grads who still have access to their student accounts. Alumni access is only available via on-campus computers (or over Reed wi-fi networks) using their Kerberos credentials.
- Some local library systems also offer free access to Learning Express Library to their cardholders (the Multnomah County Library system, for example).
- Kaplan Test Prep
- The Princeton Review
Example Outreach Email
Part of applying to graduate school might involve outreach to potential advisors. Here's an example of this email which you can use as a template.