If you want to know how to get accepted into Reed College and become a Reedie (that’s what they’re called, how cute!) this article is for you.
Reed College is a private Liberal Arts college known for its lush greenery, Tudor-Gothic architecture, and very progressive political culture.
Perhaps most interesting is its unconventional grading system. In their words…
“A conventional letter grade for each course is recorded for every student, but the registrar’s office does not distribute grades to students, provided that work continues at satisfactory (C or higher) levels. Unsatisfactory grades are reported directly to the student and the student’s adviser.”
Reed College Grade Evaluation System
But, don’t be fooled. Reed boasts minimal grade inflation; and, they also consistently place in one of the top 10 schools that produce grads who go on to earn their doctorates degrees.
Oh yeah, they’re also the first school to refuse participation in the US News and World Report rankings in defiance of their data manipulation. How cool!
And, before you ask: yes, it’s quite prestigious. It’s one of the top Liberal Arts colleges in the country. Thus, getting accepted into Reed College is no cakewalk. You’ll need a combination of strong grades, essays, academic rigor, and more.
So, this article will show you the profile you need to have a good shot at Reed.
Let’s begin!
Table of Contents.
- How Hard is it to Get Into Reed College?
- What GPA Do I Need to Get Into Reed College?
- The 3 Most Important Admissions Factors Reed College Looks At
- Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is Crucial to Reed
How Hard is it to Get Into Reed College?
We processed Reed College’s acceptance rate data throughout the years and provided our analysis below.
For the Fall 2023-24 admissions cycle, Reed College accepted 2,728 out of 10,045 applicants. This makes their latest acceptance rate 27.15% For Early Decision (ED) Reed accepted 111 out of 511 applicants, making their ED acceptance rate 21.72%
We’ve also graphed and tabled both their regular and ED acceptance rates over the past 7 years below.
| RD Acceptance Rate | ED Acceptance Rate | |
| 2017-18 | 35.63% | 57.41% |
| 2018-19 | 35% | 52.34% |
| 2019-20 | 39.46% | 48% |
| 2020-21 | 42.34% | 52.88% |
| 2021-22 | 43.7% | 43.41% |
| 2022-23 | 30.79% | 33.24% |
| 2023-24 | 27.15% | 21.72% |
This makes Reed College quite competitive and hard to get accepted into.
As one of the top Liberal Arts colleges in the nation, their acceptance rate has dipped to the 20s range. Additionally, their ED acceptance rate has been halved over the past 7 years. Their recent low ED acceptance rate contradicts their statement that ED students are twice as likely to get accepted.
Thus, if you want to get accepted into Reed College, it’s clear you’ll need a combination of strong GPA, academic rigor, essays, and more.
What GPA Do I Need to Get Into Reed College?
Be careful searching for Reed College’s GPA requirement. If you search up Reed College’s GPA requirement, you’ll notice the first few options are not correct.
Nothing against Google’s AI. But, there are a few errors.
First, students admitted to Reed College for the Fall of 2023 had an average high school GPA of 4.0. That does NOT mean the college requires a 4.0 GPA for admission. It’s not a barrier of entry. Rather, it’s preferred to be at or around a 4.0.
Second, Reed does not consider SAT or ACT scores in their admissions process. High standardized test scores will not make you more likely to be admitted.
Nonetheless, Reed College is still a very competitive institution. Judging by their admitted student profile, you should aim for a 3.5 GPA or higher if you want a solid shot at getting accepted into Reed College.
The 3 Most Important Admissions Factors Reed College Looks At
Below we’ve documented and circled the admissions factors Reed College ranks as most important.
Note: Reed College does NOT consider Standardized test scores. So, having a high SAT or ACT score will NOT increase your chances of getting accepted into Reed College
We’ll deconstruct the 3 factors below.
Academic Rigor
Reed College values students who take more challenging courses. The more you challenge yourself, the better.
Note that there is no solid number of AP or IB courses Reed College requires. In fact, Reed calculates academic rigor based on your current institution’s available course catalog.
For instance, if you attend a well-funded private school with many AP courses available, you may want to have 12 APs. However, if you attend a school with limited AP courses, you might get away with 6.
In short, you should take however many advanced courses you can given your school’s restrictions.
GPA
Of all the admissions factors Reed checks, academic performance (GPA) is the most important. Reed says “…academic accomplishments are given the greatest weight in the selection process”
As mentioned in the previous section, you should aim to have at or near a 4.0 GPA when applying for Reed College. This is because the average high school GPA for admitted students was 4.0.
This is a very important element of your application. As seen in in their enrolled student profile, only a minute fraction of students had a GPA below a 3.5.
If your GPA is not as high as you’d like, don’t worry. It’s not the end of the world. There are other things you can do to stand out from the rest of the admissions pool like having a strong set of essays.
Additionally, if your GPA isn’t competitive due to extenuating circumstances, consider sending the Undergraduate Office of Admissions a Letter of Explanation. For guidance on explaining your GPA to Reed’s admissions office, contact us for a free consultation.
The Essays
The essays are one of the most important aspects of your Reed application. Even with a solid GPA and strong academic rigor, students must stand out in their essays.
The Reed essays inform admissions officers of your talents, character, and personal qualities. These are crucial for determining which students will most contribute to the Reed culture and community. For, student fit plays a vital role in nurturing a productive, engaging incoming Freshman class.
This means you can’t just answer the Reed essay questions with banal answers.
You need to use the essays as an opportunity to stand out from the rest of the high-performing students. It’s the only space you can use qualitative writing to push admissions officers toward your favor. So, don’t lose out on that opportunity.
Oh, and that also means answering their optional question too. Don’t skimp out on it! The “optional” question is free real estate to show admissions officers more of your character. Leverage it to your advantage!
Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is Crucial to Reed
Look, we’re just going to say it.
We understand Reed College has a reputation has a reputation for being Hippie Heaven. Drug use is commonplace; and, the community is known for its progressive left-leaning philosophies.
This article doesn’t serve to discuss Reed College’s politics. That’s beside the point.
The fact is Reed College boasts a strong anti-establishment and pro progressive philosophy. This includes a strong dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Thus, if you want to maximize your chances of getting accepted into Reed College, you should demonstrate a dedication to DEI. This is crucial to showing the admissions office your “fit” in the college.
Reed is a small liberal arts college, and a well-known one for that. Their admissions office isn’t just screening for smart, bright students. They want to nurture a positive community that contributes to the school culture. Showing DEI ensures you’re both an ally and a net positive to the community’s dedication to providing a safe space.
The best place to show your dedication to DEI in your Reed College application is in the essays.
Remember: don’t force DEI into your essay. You want to show admissions officers that you share similar values; but, don’t shove it down their throats. It’s about subtly showing your alignment with Reed’s moral philosophy through subtext and implication.
If you’re still confused about your chances of getting accepted into Reed College, don’t worry. We’ve helped countless students get into some of the best LAC schools in the nation including Reed. Schedule a free consultation with us here, and we’ll help you maximize your chances of acceptance. We’ll also respond in 24 hours!
