I know that this is a little late, but for anyone attending Bucknell this fall, I will be happy to answer any questions! I’m currently a Bucknell student so if anyone is curious about what Bucknell is like, the food, the social scene, and basically anything in between, post to this thread and I will try to answer all questions to the best of my knowledge!
My d is very interested in applying to Bucknell in the fall. What do you know about early decision? Is it a useful thing for unhooked, non-varsity athletes? Can you describe the students as a whole? What dorms do you like and dislike? Is Greek rush cutthroat? Is it hard to get into a sorority? Do you enjoy your classes/professors? Is it easy for students to get good internships in the summer? Do alumni help with that? Thank you so much.
Hi @citymama9 !
Applying EDI or EDII is very useful for unhooked and non-varsity athletes as the applicant pool is smaller and less competitive. However, I would suggest making your d’s application stronger whether that be by test scores or leadership positions.
As for the students at Bucknell, we are a very welcoming and friendly bunch. Most students here are from NY or NJ and they are very extroverted too.
For freshman dorms, there are 4: Vedder, Smith, McDonnell, and Swartz. I would say that the newest, McDonnell, is the best as it’s the newest dorm and hosts the residential colleges that freshman can apply for. McDonnell and Swartz are uphill where classrooms are and Smith and Vedder are downhill. I lived in Vedder my first year and since most classes are uphill, it takes longer to get to class, so I would suggest aiming to live uphill if your d wants to have an easier commute to class!
Greek rush is pretty relax here from what I’ve seen and the girls are very friendly. There’s really no hazing or anything of that nature here. Most, if not all, people who rush get into the sorority that they want to.
At Bucknell, the classes here are small (about 10-25) students per class so it’s really easy to get to know your classmates, have good discussion and get to know your professors too! All of the professors that I’ve had here, so far, have been great! They really care about your education and if you have any problems, they are always willing to help!
Many great companies come to Bucknell to recruit talent for jobs and internships. Every year we have two job fairs where companies come to talk to students and even set interviews on campus. It should not be a problem to get internships here! We also have really great summer programs that students can apply to and gain experience that way! I would say that Bucknell’s alumni connections are one of the best! Bucknell alumni are very welcome in helping students get interviews for internships and jobs. Many students here get most of their internships from alumni.
Best of luck to you and your daughter!
Wow! That was so helpful. Thank you so much for answering all of my questions!!!
@Catury, thanks for offering to answer questions! My D will be a freshman this fall.
What is your major? I am concerned that the management and engineering schools get the most interest from recruiters. D will be in the arts and sciences school. Are the internship/job prospects as good in the arts and sciences?
Are students allowed to select roommates or is everyone matched by the school? Any thoughts on the residential colleges and foundation seminars - are there any you would recommend or have heard positive things about?
How easy is it to get into the classes you want? Are many classes restricted to students in a particular major?
Do you know what the average GPA is for students? Is there grade inflation or deflation? Are many of the exams curved?
Any downsides to the school? Lack of diversity, too small of a town, or too much partying are things I have read about. What has been your experience?
Hi @newbison !
I am an ACFM major (Accounting and Financial Management). I don’t know a whole lot about the arts and sciences school, but many of my friends who are in that school do get internships and job offers depending on what their major is. I know a lot of chemistry or biology majors stay on campus during the summer to research with professors and there are many other opportunities for other majors too! Does your d know what she wants to major in yet? I might be able to answer this question better if I knew her major.
For freshman, the school usually matches students up with others who they think will get along well. I believe your d will have to fill out, if she hasn’t already done so, an online questionnaire about her sleeping and living habits. After freshmen year, though, students are allowed to pick their roommates and rooms through a lottery system. I didn’t apply for a residential college as a freshmen, but I’ve heard only positive things about them from my friends. It’s a great way to meet others that have the same interest as you because each residential college has a theme. If you are in a residential college, though, you won’t be able to choose your foundation seminar class as you will be taking a seminar class with your residential college peers. I can’t suggest a specific foundation seminar because it really just depends on whatever interests your daughter and I believe they change every year!
When picking classes, it goes in order by class years, so seniors would go first then juniors, sophomores, and then freshmen. We also pick on different days and different times. The registrar office splits each class year’s students by the first letter of their last name into 4 different groups. 2 of the groups will pick on the first day and then the last 2 will pick the next day. This is rotational. Although freshmen are last pick, Bucknell sets aside first year courses that can only be taken by freshmen. It shouldn’t be hard to get into courses you want but that also depends on your time slot. We have options to waitlist and professors, usually, are very accommodating if their course is a requirement for you. Some classes are not restricted to a major per say, but do give first priority to students of that major.
I don’t know the average GPA for students. I think grade inflation really depends on majors. In the College of Management, there’s little to no grade inflation because most students score on a bell curve. However, if you’re in engineering or bio, there might be curves added, depending on how the class does on a whole and also depending on the professor because some professor are more open to curves than others.
I think Bucknell certainly is trying to become more diversified over the past few years that I’ve been here, but I do believe that Bucknell could do a lot better in being more diversified. I think Bucknell has a “bubble” where most people here are basically the same, if that makes sense. Lewisburg is a small town, there really isn’t any malls that are close, but there are a bunch of small stores in downtown Lewisburg! For it being a small town, it’s very safe. I also think that because it’s a small town there isn’t much to do other than partying on the weekends. Greek life is a very big here and most houses throw parties every weekend. I personally am not a partier myself and, instead, I just hang out with friends on the weekends. There’s also many events that Bucknell hosts on the weekends so there are many alternatives to partying if that is not someone’s scene. In my experience, I think, no matter what your d’s personality is, you can find a group of friends at Bucknell that are like you. It’s hard to adjust at first, especially because I didn’t like to party or go out, but once you find a group of friends that are the same, it gets better.
@Catury, thanks for your prompt reply and thorough answers to my questions! D is undecided on a major. Considering Econ, Psychology, maybe Bio. Do you know people in those majors and the job/interndhip opportunities? I know that Econ limits the number of students that can declare that major to 100, according to the website. Not sure how competitive it is to get in. Was thinking she may want to try an accounting or other business classes. Do you know many non management majors who take classes in the management school? We were disappointed to learn that it is not possible to switch Into the management school. Just hoping D finds a major of interest within arts and sciences, with the option of taking a few classes in management if she develops an interest there. Thanks again for your help. It sounds like you have enjoyed your time at Bucknell. Are you interning this summer?
disagree with Catury on Greek life description. My son is in a frat at Bucknell. It’s a pretty draining process emotionally and many not only don’t get into their frat/sorority of choice, but don’t get in at all. Luckily the school doesn’t allow rushing freshman year so your kid is guaranteed a good first year. By Sophomore year many friendships formed during freshman year end because of the constraints of Greek life. Bucknell is full of great and smart kids but the Greek life scene is a drag and very cliquey. Freshman boys won’t be able to go party in the frats but freshman girls are accepted open arms, kind of creepy actually.
It’s overall a great school, fantastic for engineering majors. It’s a pretty campus and the kids, although perhaps a bit too preppy and not bohemian enough, are a great group of kids. Diversity is an issue, and the town leaves much to be desired.
I would recommend the school but feel strongly that it would be a far better place if Greek life was eradicated as it has been in places like Bowdoin.
@newbison No problem, I’m happy to help! Many econ students end up with jobs in the financial industry so if that’s what your d is interested in, I would shoot for econ as it’s the closest you can get to being a management major. I don’t know about psychology or bio, but I believe most go on to grad school to get their masters and PhD. Econ is pretty competitive, however if your d keeps up her GPA, then she would have a solid chance of getting in. Non majors do take management classes, but it might be a little hard to get into those classes as they give priority to management majors. Honestly, if she has an interest in any of the management majors, I would suggest trying to take as many classes as possible in that major even if her declared major is something else. Experience and interest is key to internships and job prospects. I will be interning at a bank this summer!
Hi I know your a student so you may not be able to answer my question but I was wondering if you knew anything about the waitlist. Do u have any knowledge of It has been used in previous years?? I was just trying to get closer to an answer of whether I.T would be used this year
Hi @acceptmeplease99 !
I don’t know anything about the waitlist and how many students get off of it or if they even do. I would try possibly asking the admissions office to see if they would tell you anything!