Reed College in Portland, Oregon, states on its admission pages that Early Decision I (ED I) and Early Action (EA) for fall 2027 entry are both due November 1, leaving Irvine 12th graders 11 days. Reed College neither requires nor uses SAT or ACT results in its admission review.
Who Is Affected by the Reed College Early Deadlines
The deadlines affect high school seniors applying to Reed College for fall 2027 entry. The four rounds are:
| Round | Application deadline | Decision | Reply date | Suggested interview deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 1 | December | Within 2 weeks of admission | November 15 |
| Early Action | November 1 | February | May 1 | December 1 |
| Early Decision II | January 15 | March | Within 2 weeks of admission | January 31 |
| Regular Decision | January 15 | April 1 | May 1 | February 1 |
Early Decision is binding; Early Action is not. Students denied in EA, ED I, or ED II may not reapply through Regular Decision in the same cycle. Reed College states that ED applicants are twice as likely to be admitted, and about 30 percent of each incoming class applies through ED.
What to Do About the Reed College Early Deadlines Now
Write the 500-word supplement. Applicants using either the Common Application or the Coalition Application submit a Reed writing supplement of up to 500 words; the prompt centers on Paideia, a week of student-taught classes, and asks what the applicant would teach. Common Application users also submit the personal essay.
Prepare recommendations and transcripts. Reed College requires a counselor recommendation, a school report, high school transcripts, and evaluations from two teachers in different academic disciplines. Students who have taken college courses must submit official transcripts from every college attended. Reed College considers graduates of dual enrollment high school programs first-year applicants, not transfer applicants; pre-enrollment college courses need a grade of C- or better, and college course and exam credit together may count for no more than 8 Reed units (one Reed unit equals 4 semester hours).
Families needing aid can request an estimate first. U.S. citizens may request an Early Decision Aid Review: submit the application and the CSS Profile and IDOC documents by November 10, receive an estimate by November 15, and then decide whether to switch to Early Decision. For early round planning, see the EDUBUS University Admissions Planning service; for the supplement, see the College Essay Bootcamp; for dual enrollment registration, see IVC Spring Dual Enrollment Opens Nov 24 for IUSD.
Sources
- Reed College: First-Year Applicants (accessed October 21, 2026)
- Reed College: Early Decision (accessed October 21, 2026)
- Reed College: Early Decision Aid Review (accessed October 21, 2026)
- Reed College: How to Apply (accessed October 21, 2026)
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