I could tell you a heartfelt, sentimental, poignant story about first seeing a Reed College refrigerator magnet (my uncle got it at a reunion, I think) and feeling first deep emotions stirring somewhere inside my spleen. Or I could meticulously paraphrase the numerous brochures and articles about Reed that I have perused. Yet another option would be to rent a small airplane and skywrite, "I want to go to Reed," in colorful pollutants. And I probably would resort to one of these strategies, had I not some real incentives to attend Reed College. They are based on what I have learnedfrom The Princeton Review, general knowledge, conversations I haveoverheard, and other miscellaneous tidbits of information sent to me byfriends and relatives.First of all, I must express my admiration to the people who have decided that education is, after all, thepurpose and responsibility of a college and established the precedence of academics over sports at Reedcollege. I'd like to attend a school where I, a debater, will not be viewed as a second-class citizen byfootball players.Secondly, the notoriety of great educational standards has reached me all the way in Vancouver (OK, soit is only across the river) and enticed, attracted, and urged me to apply to Reed. Rumors of the "sideeffects" of avalanches of homework and sleepless nights have crept here, too, but I'm up to thechallenge. After two years of juggling high school, college, and extracurricular activities, receivingassignments only at one place just might be paradise.Lastly, Reed's geographical location is just like pretty wrapping paper and a big red bow on a presentthat's already great ( forgive the allusions to the Haagen-Dasz commercials). Living in Portland, I wouldbe simultaneously away from my family in Vancouver--and as close as I might need to be! Not only wouldI have the opportunity to become better acquainted with Portland, but also to judge at debatetournaments for my old high school...
