<p>Hi,
I was accepted to Bucknell and was hoping for some insight. I’m a very studious person who doesn’t like to party and am worried about Bucknell’s atmosphere, which so many people refer to as a party school. I am really anxious about attending, because of all the information about the partying. I might end up liking the partying atmosphere, but I’m not into it right now. The “Choice” Dorm is probably what I plan to do, but please explain the pros/cons of choosing this option (is it a “stigma” to be recognized as someone in Harris Dorm)? Also, please explain the Residential Colleges. Is this a good understanding of the R.S.s – I would sleep and live in Harris dorm (if I did opt to do “Choice”) with people who are majoring in what I am? When I visited Bucknell, in no way did I sense this party atmosphere that many people speak about; is partying all around the campus in every level (freshman, sophomore, etc.), or would I have to “look for a party” as a freshman.
Thanks!</p>
<p>When I attended BU, I felt that there was stigma associated with choice students, and that’s largely due to the fact that the social scene is largely dominated by Greek life. The party atmosphere certainly won’t be palpable during a daytime visit, but once the sun goes down it quickly becomes evident what’s on people’s minds… Parties are present at every class level; freshman guys will likely find themselves holding their festivities in the dorms since they can’t rush in their first year. If you went through high school not participating in the partying scene, it’s understandable to feel uneasy about entering an environment whose social events are largely driven by alcohol. The more exposure you have to these sorts of social interactions, the more comfortable you’ll become with them. I spent most of my time doing non alcoholic activities during the night, but every once in a while its nice to imbibe with your friends (particularly during House Party weekend). I think you’ll find that a good percentage of students adopt the work hard play hard attitude, a smaller percentage who espouse only the play hard attitude, and an even smaller fraction who avoid partying all together. There are non alcoholic events sponsored by the University as well as a group called ACE, but the turnout for these events pales in comparison to any Greek event unless there is a famous comedian or musical artist on campus. If you do think that you’ll avoid partying completely, I still think you can have an enjoyable experience. It just might be more difficult to find like minded people apart from joining choice. If it’s possible, you should try and do an overnight stay to get a better sense of what the social climate is like.</p>
<p>I would say that ilmor’s well written post reflects most colleges and universities other than the strictly religious schools. </p>
<p>There will be partying at Bucknell. There will also be alternative social events. The ratio of attendance to the two is probably equal to the majority of schools. Maybe big city or large state schools have lower ratios because of more alternative choices.</p>
<p>I think the Choice (HEalth/Wellness) dorm is separate from Residence Colleges. The HEalth?Wellness is in Larison according to the website. Larison is attached to Hunt but it is considered a separate dorm. </p>
<p>My S will be a freshman and I am concerned about the “partying” image, but I have to agree that it is probably no different than any other similar size LAC. I just hope he gets a laid back roommate and not one who will be coming home drunk 3 nights a week!</p>
<p>Here is info on the Res colleges:</p>
<p>[Residential</a> Colleges || Bucknell University](<a href=“http://www.bucknell.edu/x1251.xml]Residential”>http://www.bucknell.edu/x1251.xml)</p>
<p>and on the choice housing</p>
<p>[Health</a> and Wellness FAQs || Residential Education || Bucknell University](<a href=“http://www.bucknell.edu/x4936.xml]Health”>http://www.bucknell.edu/x4936.xml)</p>
<p>surfcity and pbucknell</p>
<p>I have a daughter who is finishing her first year at Bucknell and she is growing, learning, maturing and having a great time there.
She is no a party kid and there is plenty of room for those students there - and more than you might think
Make sure that you visit the school again and check your fit - sit in the Cafe for a long time and really look around at the different groups of kids
also - look on the web site and see the section on residential colleges/student leaders - email the kid that looks like your kind of background and ask them about their experience - they will tell you the ins and outs</p>
<p>My son is a freshman at Bucknell and is in one of the Residential Colleges. I highly recommend it - he is having a great experience with it. I can’t say enough great things about it. If you are attending the Admitted Students day, there will be more information available about them - I know there was a reception last year and each Res College had a table with some information and current students were available so you could ask them questions about it.</p>
<p>The way it is set up is that the students in the Res College take the same freshman seminars and live in the same halls of a dorm. The one my son is in had several different seminars to choose from, and there were several different res. college hallways in his dorm, so everyone in his hallway was in the same Res college, but not necessarily in the same freshman seminar.</p>
<p>Because of the way it is set up, he got very close to the kids on his hallway very quickly. They are like a second family. They not only take the class together, but there is a meeting once a week where they do activities with the entire Res. College. and the professors. There are also sophomores that live on the hall that plan activities for the Res. College students. And his Res College took some field trips together, also.</p>
<p>Added bonus - the Res. College students are placed in the nicest Freshmen dorms.</p>
<p>I just had to respond and agree wholeheartedly with swampdraggin and benred. My daughter is also a first-year freshman and chose the residential college route her first year and couldn’t have been happier. She lives in one of the nicest dorms, has lots of friends and is so, so happy at Bucknell. She is not a big partier and says about 75% of her floor is not into the heavy party scene. She made dean’s list, has a job at Bucknell and is going to be an OA next year. Honestly, I have never seen her as fulfilled as she is today. I’m not sure what the living arrangements are for next year, but I think incoming freshmen should definitely check into the Residential College program.</p>
<p>There’s just one more quick thing I would like to add regarding the residential colleges. We were taking a campus tour last year on Admitted Students day. Someone asked the tour guide about the residential colleges. She was a freshman and said that she had a lot of friends in the residential colleges and that upon seeing all of the activities and experiences that they had, she really wished she had signed up for one. Then later we were taking a tour of the Biology labs. One of the prospective students asked that tour guide (a senior) what her biggest regret was during the time she had spent at Bucknell. And she said that she regretted not being in one of the Residential Colleges. After that, my son was sold :)</p>
<p>We will be going up for admitted students day, so I am looking forward to learning more about the residential colleges. Glad to hear so many positive things!</p>
<p>hi, I have the same concerns! I spoke to a freshman who goes to Bucknell currently who is also not a big partier and they said they love Bucknell. there will definetely be others who dont party all the time. have you joined the fb page you can ask on there if there is anyone with similar concerns!</p>
<p>Was anyone at the Admitted Students day? It was wonderful. There was a lot of info about the Res college system, and I believe they are trying to grow it so that more and more students are part of one. I remember touring F&M and I thought that all freshmen there were part of a “college”</p>
<p>As the P of a recent grad ('12), I will say BU is a party school, as is EYERY college other than the very strict religious schools. BU D is my third. Her siblings attended other top schools, one an Ivy, and each school was no more or less a party school. I honestly saw no more or less partying at each school.</p>
<p>What do your non-partying, ie non-drinking,smoking pot, children do for fun? Go to movies? Be in music groups or theater? Church groups? Hang out with friends and have their own parties? These are all available at Bucknell. Not a problem. There are many alternatives.</p>
<p>My D was in a res college dorm her F yr. She ended up in the environmental res. dorm. My D did not elect to be in a res college dorm. She was placed there because the room was open.</p>
<p>She loved her dorm floor and its res students. She partook of some of the res hall activities, but could not participate in all of them. Ironically, she actually ended up being an environmental studies major and winning the outstanding senior award at graduation. Haha</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>Although our daughter decided against Bucknell and will attend Occidental, I thought I would throw in my two cents. Both my husband and I are alumnae…we were both involved in Greek life. I think the movement to residential colleges is great and that Dr Bravman, the new president…stellar. That being said, I would at least have a conversation with your kids about the residential colleges. They sound wonderful. I am happy that Bucknell’s administration is diversifying the residential choices and de-emphasizing Greek life. It was way over the top in the 80’s, when we were there. Our daughter is primarily attending Oxy bc she got a great package…and loves Southern CA and the school.</p>