Friday 13 October, 2006 at 9:16:23 pm
filed under school
A couple of days ago, I received a package in the mail. It contained a letter, as well as an attractive, glossy foldout with the name “Reed College” on the front. Rather than the normal stack of papers about financial aid and student housing, this pamphlet listed a series of websites such as the Encyclopaedia Britainnica and collegeboard.com. On the back was a copy of the periodic table of elements. Intrigued, I decided to read the letter:
Dear Jacob,
Do you ever feel peer pressure to hide your brainpower?
This is weird…I don’t recall asking anyone to mail them my transcripts.
Is it okay to read a lot, ask a lot of questions, and show that you care about learning — or is that sort of going against the flow?
Funny you should mention it; our school isn’t to big on the success/graduation thing. I’ve been doing a lot of studying by candlelight, locked in my closet.
At Reed College, it’s not just okay to be smart and care about learning - it’s central. Passion for learning is at the core of the Reed universe: it’s what defines and unites our students.
Ahh… a college focused on learning I wish I’d known about those things before.
As you can tell from your mailbox, colleges and universities around the country — Reed included — are already vying for your attention, proclaiming their offerings. Yet as you sort through the myriad college possibilites, don’t lose sight of what you want.
Interesting…actually, my mailbox is empty. It appears I have no future. Then again, I haven’t given my mailing address to anybody.
…
Stalkers.
Reed students learn and live in a community of collaborative exploration. At Reed you will be challenged, surprised, rewarded, and challenged again. When you graduate, you will be ready for anything — any career, any calling, any adventure — you find in your future.
“At Reed you will be challenged, surprised, rewarded….” Sounds suspiciously like operant conditioning to me. At any rate, I’ve always secretly dreamed of going into musical theater — looks like Reed is just the place to prepare.
We’ll even help you get ready. Enclosed is a list of reference sites on the web that may help you with many of your school projects. You will also find links to all these sites at academiclinks.reed.edu. You may not click your way to knowing it all — but you might click your way closer.
This explains the mishmash of urls and the periodic table included. I’ve always wanted to read the encyclopedia.
To get more information about Reed, log on to web.reed.edu/apply, talk to Reed students, or visit the campus. If Reed is right for you, you’ll know it.
I wish you the best in your college search.
That’s the best you can do? You’re not sure you even want me at your school? I don’t quite understand what the point of all this was - all the information’s online, and “If Reed is right for me” I’ll know it anyway.
On the other hand, maybe I’m being too harsh. My mother informs me that the nice boy across the street went to Reed and is doing very well.
I guess I’ll just have to stay tuned and wait to see if any other colleges start “vying for my attention.” Maybe there’s an “unsubscribe” button somewhere.
This college thing is going to take a lot of getting used to.
Fona
on Friday 13 October, 2006 at 9:26:58 pm
Oh man, this site is so cool. I think Kelly Monson had one similar to this.
Lol to the college.
Davi
on Saturday 14 October, 2006 at 12:01:21 am
reed’s a fucking good school…
you can dissect every single other college’s entrance letter in exactly the same way. Which could either mean that the entire higher-education system is bullshit, or you’re a bit cynical. Or both.
andqso
on Saturday 14 October, 2006 at 8:44:48 am
I don’t know anything about the school - I was just a little surprised by the mailer.
Like I said, maybe I’m being too harsh. I don’t actually believe that the mailer represents the school –if Yale or Harvard wants to send me a stupid letter, I’ll poke fun at them, too.
dosnlinux
on Wednesday 18 October, 2006 at 1:05:18 pm
Excellent commentary, I like your sense of humor. It’s one of the funniest blogs I’ve read so far.
andqso
on Friday 20 October, 2006 at 6:12:34 pm
I do what I can. I think it’s the college admissions process that’s really humorous.
Anyway, glad you like it.