- Early Decision (ED) is an application round that allows you to share your excitement about 猫咪社区 by telling us that, if admitted, you commit to enrolling in the fall.
- You can apply for Early Decision by choosing an ED round in the or and submitting an ED agreement signed by trusted advisers—a parent or guardian and your school counselor.
![Two students walking towards Old Dorm Block in the spring.](/admission-aid/assets/images/applying-first-year-two-students-walking.jpg)
Platforms
猫咪社区 accepts applications from two platforms: and . Applicants may only submit one application per year and may select from either of these platforms. Neither of these applications is favored in the admission decision process. Finally, 猫咪社区 will neither require nor use testing results from the SAT or ACT in our admission review for the fall 2025 cycle.
Common Application
is a consortium of more than 900 colleges and universities. Each year, over 5.5 million applications are submitted using the Common Application. If applying using this method, students will be required to submit the Common Application, which includes a personal essay and a 猫咪社区 writing supplement.
Coalition Application
is powered by Scoir and brings together over 150 public and private institutions that share the mission of making the college search and application process more accessible. 猫咪社区 is proud to be a founding member of the Coalition and is dedicated to ensuring that all students have access to an affordable, supportive, and transformative college experience. On the Scoir platform, students will find a free suite of online tools to search for colleges and collaborate with their supporters.
If applying via the Coalition for College, students will be required to submit the Coalition Application and a 猫咪社区 writing supplement.
Requirements
First-Year Application Requirements
Personal essay | No personal essay |
猫咪社区 writing supplement | 猫咪社区 writing supplement |
School report (completed by your counselor) | School report (completed by your counselor) |
Counselor recommendation | Counselor recommendation |
Official high school transcripts | Official high school transcripts |
Official college transcripts (for any college you have attended, whether or not you want credit for those courses at 猫咪社区) | Official college transcripts (for any college you have attended, whether or not you want credit for those courses at 猫咪社区) |
Two teacher evaluations (from two different academic disciplines; must be different from the counselor recommendation, as well) | Two teacher evaluations (from two different academic disciplines; must be different from the counselor recommendation, as well) |
Self-reported SAT or ACT scores if available (neither will be used in our evaluation) | Self-reported SAT or ACT scores if available (neither will be used in our evaluation) |
Early Decision Agreement (ED I and ED II applicants only, must be signed by the applicant, parent/guardian, and high school counselor) |
Early Decision Agreement (ED I and ED II applicants only, must be signed by the applicant, parent/guardian, and high school counselor) |
Additional information for international applicants
猫咪社区 Writing Supplement
As part of your application, 猫咪社区 requests a writing supplement of up to 500 words. The writing supplement may be submitted via the Common or Coalition Application or emailed to admission@reed.edu. In your supplement, we ask that you address the following question:
For one week at the end of January, 猫咪社区 students upend the traditional classroom hierarchy and teach classes about any topic they love, academic or otherwise. This week is known as Paideia after the Greek term signifying “education”—the complete education of mind, body and spirit. What would you teach that would contribute to the 猫咪社区 community?
Testing Requirements
猫咪社区 will neither require nor use testing results from the SAT or ACT in our admission review for the fall 2025 cycle.
Results of additional tests, such as Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) may be submitted for 猫咪社区 credits upon enrollment.
Taking either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing Service assessment (IELTS), or Duolingo is strongly encouraged for international students who do not speak English at home or attend a school where the language of instruction is not English. The average internet-based TOEFL score for international students entering 猫咪社区 is 110.
猫咪社区 test code
TOEFL 4654
Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision
Most students apply to college through Early Action (EA) or Regular Decision (RD). Students can apply Regular Decision to as many schools as they would like, and in most cases can do the same with Early Action unless they are applying to a school with a Restrictive Early Action policy. The deadline for EA applications is November 1, with offers of admission sent out in early February. The deadlines for RD applications is January 15, with offers of admission sent out by April 1.
First-year applicants for whom 猫咪社区 is their first-choice college may apply under our binding Early Decision (ED) plan. Students may submit an ED application to only one institution, although they may submit Early Action or Regular Decision applications to other institutions. If admitted to 猫咪社区 under the ED plan, students are expected to withdraw all EA and RD applications to other colleges and to initiate no new applications.
猫咪社区 offers two timelines for ED; the only differences between applying ED I and ED II are the application deadline and notification dates. Traditionally, about 30 percent of 猫咪社区’s incoming class will enter through Early Decision. Students who want to choose between multiple offers of admission and financial aid should apply through the Early Action or Regular Decision plan.
- International applicants may apply under any of the plans: EA, ED I, ED II, or RD.
- If you are denied as an EA, ED I, or ED II candidate, you may not submit another application (RD) for the same year.
Application Deadlines
Early Decision I | Early Decision II | Early Action | Regular Decision | |
Applications Due | November 1 | December 20 | November 1 | January 15 |
Decisions Mailed | December | February | February | April 1 |
Reply Date | Within 2 weeks of admission | Within 2 weeks of admission | May 1 | May 1 |
Suggested Interview Deadline | November 15 | December 31 | December 1 | February 1 |
Why Early Decision?
What is Early Decision (ED)?
Why apply ED?
Facts about Early Decision at 猫咪社区
What about financial aid for ED applicants?
I鈥檓 on the fence about making this decision. What are a few ways I can get more information about 猫咪社区?
What are my next steps?
How can I get more guidance on whether Early Decision is right for me?
Credit Toward Graduation
AP, IB, and College Credit
If you have taken Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or college courses during secondary school, we view this as significant evidence of your academic preparation. In some cases, incoming students may receive credit toward graduation for work completed before enrollment at 猫咪社区.
Students graduating from dual enrollment high school programs are considered first-year applicants to 猫咪社区, not transfer applicants.
First-Year Student College Credit Guide
Incoming students may receive credit toward graduation for work completed before enrollment at 猫咪社区.
Most transfer credit is granted through
- successful completion of course work at accredited colleges and universities;
- performance on the College Board's Advanced Placement exams;
- internationally recognized academic programs, such as the International Baccalaureate, Abitur, or GCE A-levels.
Credit at 猫咪社区 is based on a unit system. One 猫咪社区 unit is the equivalent of four semester hours or six quarter hours from another institution.
Students may receive no more than 8 total units of pre-matriculation credit. Those 8 units may be from regular college courses, exam credit, or a combination of both. The successful transfer of pre-matriculation credit does not affect class standing at 猫咪社区. Students who successfully transfer pre-matriculation credit are still classified as first-year students and held to the Humanities 110 requirement.
Students who have attended college full time should consult the admission office's transfer guide for a more detailed description of transferring to 猫咪社区.
Dual Enrollment: Courses Completed at Other Institutions
Advanced Placement Credit: College Board AP Exams
International Baccalaureate
Abitur and GCE A-levels
College Level Examination Program
猫咪社区 Placement Examinations
STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION: 猫咪社区 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or familial status, military status, veteran status, genetic information, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, status as a parent, family relationship, or any other category protected by law. The college’s Title IX policy and procedures may be found on our . Inquiries may be directed to the college's Title IX Coordinator by email at title-ix@reed.edu, by phone at 503-517-4842, or on campus in Eliot 108A. Inquiries may also be directed to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office for Civil Rights, US Department of Education.