Bucknell or Skidmore?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Having been accepted to 10 schools, Bucknell and Skidmore are at the top of my list at this point. Overall I am looking to a great liberal arts school with small class sizes and accessible professors. I don't have an intended major, but I do find myself interested in the social sciences. I know both of these schools are inherently different and both have their own set of pros and cons. </p>

<p>For Bucknell, it certainly has name recognition as it is a fairly prestigious school. I visited the other day and sat in some classes, which seemed to be intimate and stimulating (*no double entendre intended). The strong alumni connections is also very attractive in my mind as it seems as though a degree from Bucknell can take me pretty far. The campus is very beautiful, with more traditional architecture. The main question marks in my mind have to deal with the social life: the fact that it is in a very small, isolated town and the strong prevalence of Frats. I am not particularly against frats, but I do have some reservations. I like to party and have a good time, but I don't know how well I would enjoy it week in and week out. </p>

<p>I found the campus of Skidmore to be gorgeous, located in very scenic woods with more contemporary architecture, which is right up my alley. The class sizes seem to be great and the professors are very engaging. I found Saratoga to be a wonderful town, offering a better social scene than Lewisberg. My main reservations with Skidmore have to do with the student body. Skidmore preaches that "creative thought matters" and as many colleges books seem to report, the student body reflects that. From what I've read, the stereotypical Skidmore student is portrayed as very "artsy" and I'm hesitant on how well I would fit in. </p>

<p>All in all both of these schools are academically superb and have great reputations. I guess my concerns have more to do with the social aspects of the schools. After all, college is a place to go and learn and to put yourself in the best possible position after graduation, but overall happiness is very important to me. I am also considering Ithaca College and The University of Rochester, but I am definitely leaning towards either Bucknell or Skidmore. Any input whatsoever is greatly appreciated!</p>

2

<p>It seems to me you’ve provided a pretty accurate description of the two schools. I guess it depends on your academic interests. If you lean more toward math and science, I would go to Bucknell; otherwise Skidmore.</p>

3

<p>Regarding Skidmore, don’t be distracted by the studio art program or the new music building - Business, Government and English (among other non-Art majors) are also big. Depending on where you’ll be traveling to school from, you may also find Skidmore to be more accessible - the Albany airport (30 mins away) has reasonable service, whereas Bucknell is over an hour to Harrisburg, which also has more limited airline options. This proximity also puts you in the Albany metropolitan area for media (TV/Radio), whereas Lewisburg is going to be more remote.</p>

<p>As to the frat/no-frat issue, Skidmore’s no-frat culture does include on-campus apartments for many students after freshman year, so you can have a non-dorm living experience if you want it. You will also find a plethora of places to socialize on campus and in town when you want to get out.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>