I am going into my senior year and will be applying to schools in just a few months (graduating class of 2019). I have been super interested in Bucknell University and am curious of my chances on getting in. I have read a bunch of reviews and I am getting mixed reviews if it is actually as competitive as the acceptance rate suggests. I have an uw GPA of 3.97 and a weighted of 4.5. My freshman year I took 1 AP, sophomore year 2, junior year 4 (passing all w/ a 3 or higher) and all my other classes had been honors. I am ranked 3/270 at my public high school (in South FL). I will graduate with almost 300 community service hours, president of our national honor society, member of 2 other honors clubs, 2 leadership clubs, will be a 4 year varsity lacrosse player (3 year captain), and a 2 year varsity golf player. I am extremely active within the community and my schedule shows consistency for classes and programs which colleges tend to like. However, my SAT scores are only a 1240 (not a very good test taker unfortunately). I plan on retaking it in August and applying Early Decision to Bucknell. Do you think despite SAT score I have a decent chance on acceptance? Will Early Decision help? My family doesn’t make too much money so would I be likely for scholarships / how is the financial aid? Any information will help. Thank you(:
@lax8bw My older brother is going to Bucknell in the fall. I think your chances are very good, especially if you apply ED1 (Bucknell fills the majority of its class with ED candidates) and if you can pull up your SAT score. Have you considered the ACT? Almost everyone I know does better on the ACT. If you want to stick with the SAT, take it in August and again in October. Bucknell superscores the SAT. What were your subscores? If you scored higher on one part, then try to prep (even using free resources like Khan Academy) exclusively on the other part. Bucknell does not have a large number of students from Florida, so that is in your favor too. Are you being recruited for lacrosse?
Congratulations on your hard work and success!
You’d be a competitive candidate at Bucknell, though it’s obviously impossible to say since there’s no way to know how your application will look when it’s all said and done several months from now. It would be good to get your SAT up, or try the ACT, but not a deal breaker. I do know (at least as of 2 years ago) that Bucknell requires students to declare an intended major, which can affect admissions chances. Run the NPC to see what it might expect you to pay, given your credentials and family financial situation.
If you really like Bucknell, PA has several other schools that are similar, in some respects (not saying identical), and might be worth exploring. I’m thinking of Gettysburg, Lafayette, Franklin & Marshall, and Dickinson. Gettysburg would be a good bet for you. I’d think you’d get some aid, and I believe it claims to meet full financial need (including loans). F&M is also a terrific school. I believe it claims to meet full financial need. If you’re driving from anywhere from the south, you could probably easily visit Dickinson and Gettysburg on a trip to Bucknell. And F&M and Lafayette are not that far away. All have nice campuses and are excellent schools, with different strengths and advantages.
Good luck!
I’ve had a few D2/D3 schools reach out to me, but my priority is academics for college and I wasn’t extremely interested in any of them. I have yet to register for the ACT but I’ve had multiple people recommend it so I probably will! My scores were the same on both and I’ve been doing lots of Khan. I took my last SAT in March so I am hoping to see improvement. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much that is super helpful! I will be looking into those schools as well now:)
Bucknell has a very beautiful campus with a picturesque and VERY small town (Lewisburg) immediately adjacent. It is outstanding. Have you visited?
Another I’ll throw out Denison. Also beautiful campus in a nice small town AND near a larger city with lots of business/tech (Columbus, OH). Is this one where you could play lax and have it as a hook in admissions?
https://www.denisonbigred.com/sports/mlax/index
For Franklin & Marshall lacrosse, team is very good but would that be a possibility,
https://www.godiplomats.com/sports/m-lacros/2017-18/releases/20180614mxozia
I will be visiting Bucknell in the upcoming weeks and am super excited! Denison is also on my radar now! I just recently have heard of it and been in touch with their head lacrosse coach and am going out to visit this month sometime, I am actually really excited because it looks beautiful. I will do some more research on Franklin and Marshall as you suggest. Thank you so so so much again
Curious as to which D2 & D3 schools have reached out to you for lacrosse. It would be helpful to know which schools you dismissed in order to better understand your likes & dislikes.
The most similar school to Bucknell University, in my opinion, is Colgate University.
St. Lawrence University may help with merit money since your class rank is outstanding as is your GPA.
Having a son who plays D3 lacrosse (top 25 played in NCAA tournament for a top 50 liberal arts school) I can attest to the concessions coaches can make in admissions. Your GPA will allow them a lot of leeway on the test score side and open you up for potential merit money.
There is also no commitment to play and they can’t rescind your scholarship money based on whether or not you play lacrosse. You just need to maintain a minimum GPA.
If you are interested in the NE look at the lower end NESCAC (Trinity and Connecticut College) as well as Gettysburg, F&M and Kenyon. If you have a highlight film send it to the coaches if not you might be able to do some prospect camps in New England in July and early August.
Realize these schools are serious about lacrosse and the time commitment in the Spring is no different than D1 but the Fall offers more free time and the ability to study abroad.
I was contacted by schools such as johnson and wales, brevard, montclair state, chatham, etc. Denison and Skidmore as well, but they are more competitive and less persistent. The schools I would be much happier playing for are schools like Denison, Hamilton, Colby, Amherst, etc that are in the D3. However, at this point it almost seems too late. I could still contact coaches and don’t mind doing so but academics is my priority which is what led me to Bucknell. Seems like a perfect fit. I am going to look at Colgate too. Haven’t heard much about St Lawerence but i’ll look into it! thank you so so much.
Super helpful information! I appreciate it, thank you:)
I’d recommend you submit a sport-specific recruiting form for any colleges of interest. Though it may seem late, you might nonetheless receive encouraging responses. If you might want to reach for a NESCAC, look into those, in particular, with test optional/flexible policies. Or, your test results may improve enough so that these colleges might be open to you on a more direct basis.
With respect to schools with somewhat lower thresholds for admission, St. Lawrence and Denison make great suggestions.
Do you know what you might want to study in terms of a possible major?
Some form of social science or communications as of right now. I like the idea of a liberal arts education for college because I am still partially unsure. Bucknell seems ideal. Playing a sport in college isn’t necessary for me because I can always join club, unless however it will pay for my college or get me into an even better college/university.
Make sure you re-take the SAT with some preparation. Likewise, try the ACT. Some do better on one than the other.
Don’t forget about letters of recommendation and essays to round out your application.
Run the net price calculator on their website to see if Bucknell is in the ballpark of affordability. You won’t know for sure if you can afford it until you get accepted and receive a financial aid packet but you can see if you are close.
If Bucknell is your first choice, and if you and your parents have determined that it is affordable, then consider applying ED.
I have been super interested in Bucknell University and am curious of my chances on getting in. I have read a bunch of reviews and I am getting mixed opinions if it is actually as competitive as the acceptance rate suggests. I have an uw GPA of 3.97 and a weighted of 4.5. My freshman year I took 1 AP, sophomore year 2, junior year 4 (passing all w/ a 3 or higher) and all my other classes had been honors. I am ranked 3/270 at my public high school (in South FL). I will graduate with over 300 community service hours, president of our national honor society, member of 2 other honors clubs, 2 leadership clubs, 2 community service clubs, will be a 4 year varsity lacrosse player (3 year captain), and a 2 year varsity golf player. I am extremely active within the community and my schedule shows consistency for classes and programs which colleges tend to like. However, my SAT scores are only a 1240 (not a very good test taker unfortunately). I plan on retaking it in August and applying Early Decision to Bucknell. I may also add I am a girl from a white, middle class family. Do you think despite SAT score I have a decent chance on acceptance? Will Early Decision help? My family doesn’t make too much money so would I be likely for scholarships / how is the financial aid? Any information will help. Thank you(: